Costco to bring back temporary limits on some items amid COVID-19 delta variant surge

Costco is bringing back temporary purchase limits on some items at its warehouse locations as the delta variant continues to sweep the U.S.

According to an update on its website last Saturday, Costco said "some warehouses may have temporary item limits on select items."

The retailer did not specify which items might see limits in the amount customers can purchase per trip.

Last month, Costco said it will also follow mask regulations for state and local jurisdictions, and "strongly recommends that all members and guests wear face masks inside our locations."

As the delta variant continues its rapid spread through the U.S., more Americans are reportedly stockpiling toilet paper, similar to when consumers cleared store shelves in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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As a result last year, many retailers placed limits on the number of certain products they could purchase in one trip, such as toilet paper and paper towels.

In a statement emailed to USA TODAY, Kimberly-Clark, which makes Cottonelle and Scott toilet tissue, and Kleenex, said it "is monitoring the situation closely." Georgia-Pacific, which makes Angel Soft and Quilted Northern toilet paper as well as Brawny and Sparkle paper towels, said customers "may be experiencing small demand surges locally and we are responding."

Consumer goods company, Procter and Gamble, which produces Charmin toilet paper, could not be immediately reached for comment.

In July, Costco said it would continue to hold special operating hours for members 60 and older and vulnerable shoppers twice a week, until further notice. This announcement came weeks after the company said it would end the senior hours effective July 26.

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Contributing: Mike Snider and Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.