Banking world warns Tamworth will feel economic fallout of COVID-19 despite no confirmed coronavirus cases locally

Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said banks are on standby to help local businesses struggling with supply issues as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads.

As of Tuesday, there are no confirmed cases in Tamworth.

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"Even regions and towns where the health impact has yet to be felt, there will be many businesses starting to experience impacts on their supply chain," Ms Bligh told the Leader.

"As businesses face one off, short-term, critical issues, as may be the case with the COVID-19 virus, [banks are] there, they're standing beside them and they're working the issues through case by case."

Ms Bligh said the cash flow of businesses which rely on goods from China could be impacted.

As people prepare for a potential outbreak of the virus locally, supermarket and pharmacy shelves are running low on supplies due to a higher demand.

But Priceline Pharmacy Tamworth dispensary technician Tarisha Scaysbrook said there is no need to worry.

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The chemist gets most of their prescription medications from Australian suppliers and their stocks are safe from the economic fallout of coronavirus, she said.

But that hasn't stopped customers leaving shelves bare - Panadol has sold out along with face masks and hand sanitizer, and more people are pushing to get larger quantities of their prescription medication because of coronavirus concerns.

"We normally do one order per week but now we're probably doing three per week," Ms Scaysbrook said.

The pharmacy have also doubled their normal yearly stocks of the flu vaccine as they prepare for increased demand, she said.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia said they aren't aware of any medications directly impacted by coronavirus.

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