Opinion

The virus has triggered a surge in food insecurity. But there are ways to combat it.

THE NOVEL coronavirus has triggered waves of panic buying in grocery stores across the country, causing fluctuating shortages in staples such as eggs, milk and pasta. Most of these shortages are temporary — supply chains remain largely unaffected, and stocks will replenish. But restocked shelves won’t bring much relief to Americans who can’t afford to put food on the table. Soaring unemployment is set to swell the ranks of the 37 million Americans who were already living in food-insecure households. Ensuring Americans have enough to eat in this economic and public health crisis demands swift action to enact anti-hunger measures that are generous and flexible.