Some supermarket chains in Australia have set restrictions on several essential supplies as more customers are ‘panic-buying’ in response to coronavirus fears.
The World Health Organisation said it is in “uncharted territory” as it continues to combat the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 90,000 people around the world as of Monday.
Bulk goods retailer Costco has applied restrictions in its Canberra store on goods such as toilet paper, eggs, milk and hand towels.
Customers were limited to a maximum of two 48-packs of toilet paper per transaction due to declining stock at the store.
Woolworths has confirmed that it will be limiting the number of toilet paper packs to four per person.
“It will help shore up stock levels as suppliers ramp up local production and deliveries in response to higher than usual demand,” the supermarket giant said in a statement to 9News.
A Coles spokesperson told the ABC it had “increased the number of deliveries to stores this week to improve availability on popular products”.
CEO of Ritchies Supa IGA, Fred Harrison said supplies of fresh foods and long-life products are starting to dry up.
“We still had stock of toilet roll on our shelves this time yesterday morning, you are right, it’s almost a wiped out now,” Harrison told 2GB.
“We do need the public to be a little bit more responsible. We are not going to be isolated indoors for the next three or four months. We will be able to get out and shop.
“The trouble is, manufacturers can tool up but it takes time. It is not something you can fix in 24 hour, 48 hours. If we are not careful we will have gaping gaps aplenty on the supermarket shelves by the weekend.”
There were 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning. Of those cases, 21 were reported to have recovered.
