Officials with the Washington State Department of Health are urging residents not to buy more than what they need as people stock up on hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and other supplies in response to the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Forty people have died from COVID-19, in Washington as of Saturday, and there have been 642 confirmed cases of the deadly virus in Washington, an increase of 568 from Friday.

Health officials are asking residents to buy what they need, and not more.

“Before you sweep the store aisles clean of these items, you might want to remind yourself of the harm you’re causing to yourself and your community by overstocking,” health officials said in a message late Saturday.

“The more you overstock those supplies, the less is available for your sick neighbors, and for doctors, dentists, and emergency response personnel. Doing our part to keep vulnerable people healthy includes making sure they have access to necessary supplies.”

Officials said they have heard from grocers who say that consumer overstocking, and not problems from deliveries from warehouses, is the main reason their store shelves are empty of many supplies and food items, especially hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, toilet paper, and plastic gloves.

“We want the public to be assured that if they will return to their normal pace of grocery shopping that there will be an adequate supply of products for their consumption,” said Jan Gee, president and CEO of the Washington Food Industry Association and its educational foundation.

“We also want the public to be assured of the fact that the grocery stores are taking extensive measures to reduce any opportunity for contamination in our stores, and with the public’s cooperation, we will continue to provide a clean, virus-free environment stocked with healthy and fresh foods for everyone,” Gee said.