Panic buying returns to Coles, Woolworths as Melbourne records second wave
Despite it being more than a month since Queensland recorded community transmission, locals have still returned to this “ridiculous” habit.
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It’s been more than a month since coronavirus cases in Queensland were spread through community transmission, but that hasn’t stopped locals from flooding the supermarkets to panic buy again.
Queensland’s latest positive case came almost two weeks ago – a returned traveller from overseas who is completing their 14 days of government-mandated hotel quarantine.
Wednesday, 1 July – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 30, 2020
• 0 new confirmed cases
• 2 active cases
• 1,067 total confirmed cases
• 370,973 tests conducted
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,054 patients have recovered.#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/WxOzVKDD4k
Despite Queensland almost being completely virus-free, the ridiculous habit has spread again.
New South Wales also wasn’t immune to panic buying, with Woolworths and Coles forced to reimpose limits on toilet paper and paper towel last week.
Speaking on Today this morning, host Ally Langdon said it “made no sense at all”.
Panic buying has returned to supermarket shelves across the country. #9Today pic.twitter.com/7Z1ZbDc4RV
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 1, 2020
Victorians in 10 postcodes across Melbourne’s north and west are waking up to their first day back in lockdown as a massive surge in coronavirus cases forced the state’s premier Daniel Andrews to clamp down.
Victoria has seen double-digit increases in daily cases for more than a fortnight.
The spike in cases triggered panic buying with supermarkets imposing nationwide limits on June 26 and Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for calm.
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“Stop it, it’s ridiculous,” Mr Morrison said.
“I’m sure it will pass as it did last time. There’s no need for it.”
Woolworths and Coles both said they were reimposing nationwide quotas on purchases of toilet paper and paper towels to counter a surge in panic buying not seen since the first days of the pandemic in March.
The supermarkets brought in the buying restrictions on stores in Victoria on June 24, but extended them after noting excessive demand spreading to other states.
Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said late last month that the move is precautionary and designed to support appropriate social distancing in stores during the weekends.
“We’ve regrettably started to see elevated demand for toilet roll move outside Victoria in the past 24 hours,” she said in a statement on June 24.
“While the demand is not at the same level as Victoria, we’re taking preventative action now to get ahead of any excessive buying this weekend and help maintain social distancing in our stores.”
Ms Peters said more than 650,000 additional packs of toilet paper have been added and there is enough for everyone.
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“If customers already have enough toilet roll at home, there is no need to buy more,” she said.
“The sooner we see buying patterns return to normal levels, as was the case throughout May and most of June, the quicker we’ll be able to wind back limits.”
In Victoria, purchase limits on eggs, flour, hand sanitiser, long-life milk, mince, pasta, sugar and rice are also in place at both major supermarket chains.
Coles is also limiting purchases at NSW stores near the Victorian border including Albury, Deniliquin and Lavington.
“We ask that customers continue to shop normally so that everyone can have access to the food and groceries they need,” a Coles spokeswoman said.
– with AAP
Originally published as Panic buying returns to Coles, Woolworths as Melbourne records second wave