Big stores like Costco are dissolving into chaos as Canadians rush to prepare for coronavirus.

On Thursday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam urged Canadians to prepare for a possible outbreak of the virus by "keeping extra food and medication on hand, managing childcare arrangements, and preparing alternate arrangements for work."

She reiterated that the risk to Canadians remains low.

4/5 We all have a role to play when it comes to preparedness for #COVID19:
• keeping extra food and medication on hand
• managing childcare arrangements
• preparing alternate arrangements for work and caregiving should you become ill pic.twitter.com/TdPzjtsbeQ

— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) February 27, 2020

This weekend, many Canadians took Tam's advice to heart and rushed to stores to spend thousands of dollars on cereal, canned vegetables, Kraft Dinner, bottled water and rice.

went to costco today and bought my supplies i am ready for the quarantine!!! #Canada #coronavirus #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/f85zaZy3K6

— Yoland Gingras🍺🚜 (@gingras_yoland) February 29, 2020

Many Canadians couldn't even get into the stores because they were so jam-packed; in Burlington, Ontario, the line to get into Costco stretched around the block.

@chrismartenson Greetings from the Burlington, On Canada Costco. pic.twitter.com/EwDbPdrCOY

— Brian C (@BeeZee05) March 1, 2020

The Costco in Burnaby, B.C. was in chaos as shoppers rushed to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak; Spam, black beans, Lysol wipes and toilet paper were among the most sought-after goods.

I was in the neighborhood so I decided to pop in at the Burnaby @costcocanada panacea seems to have created a doomsday scenario. The line extends the entire length of Costco and around the aisle. Been like this for over a week. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/1WtylOo9VH

— Elizabeth Mazzei (@Exodus_Wellness) February 29, 2020

In Vancouver, red meat and chicken flew off the shelves; the entire deli at Costco was wiped clean as shoppers frantically stocked up on packaged meat.

Something we don’t know @costcocanada ? #yvr #CoronvirusCanada pic.twitter.com/5U1XvtTQlZ

— PhilQ™ 😷 #FreeSpavor #FreeKovrig🖐🔥#NoCCP🔥 (@AddoilNoccp) March 1, 2020

Although hilariously, not every Vancouver shopper made canned goods and meat their priority.

I was sent to a Costco to see if people are stocking up (even though health officials say it’s not necessary) in case COVID-19 gets more serious here. This guy came out of the store with 16 boxes of condoms and a big jar of coconut oil. We all have priorities. pic.twitter.com/C3edUsgZzH

— Jill Bennett (@jillreports) February 29, 2020

Walmart and IKEA also experienced shortages this weekend, with shoppers desperately grabbing supplies to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak.

The empty shelves gave the stores an eerie, post-apocalyptic look.

#coronavirus food PAanic - what are you stocking up on? #Vancouver hanging out in #NorthVan at #superstore and #walmart #covid19Canada #COVID2019 more stories on my instagram https://t.co/oaJsmLMgsg videos below @CKNW @GlobalBC @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/Wx4e8HIxXd

— Shawn Sviridov (@galleryss) March 2, 2020

As of March 1, there are 24 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Canada. Ontario has 15 cases, British Columbia has eight cases, and Quebec has only one case.

Forty-seven Canadians aboard the Princess Diamond cruise ship have also tested positive for the virus.