Woolworths and Coles reintroduce product buying limits as Covid and influenza cases surge

New buying limits have been introduced at Coles and Woolworths as illness surges and retailers grapple with supply issues.

Dreaded supermarket product limits have returned as Covid and the flu wreak havoc on the health of Australians.

Stock levels of products popular among people battling illness have been dwindling for weeks, leaving Coles and Woolworths with no choice but to reintroduce strict buying caps.

Coles customers across the country have been limited to two packs of facial tissues per person, with a two pack limit also being placed on Woolworths tissue products nationwide.

Supply issues had been touted the main cause of the limits in both Coles and Woolworths.

“Given the recent cold snap and early start to the flu season, there’s been increased demand for a range of medicinal and paper goods products including cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and tissues,” a Woolworths spokesperson told news.com.au.

Woolies has limited customers to two packs of tissue products per person. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Supply of tissue has been particularly impacted, so to help ensure more customers have fair access, we have implemented a two pack per customer limit on all tissue products across Australia.

“For other medicinal products, customers might notice that the availability of some of their preferred brands might be limited, we continue to offer a wide range of alternatives across these ranges. We encourage everyone to continue shopping as they normally would and only buy what they need.”

A Coles spokesperson said sourcing adequate supply of tissues had been more of an issue than extraordinary customer demand.

@Coles and @woolworths

Where are all the tissues and toilet paper?

Explain the "supply chain issues" to me like I'm an engaged 6 year old, please.#auspol#Economics#CostOfLivingCrisis

— Beth D Kicinski (@no1historychick) July 7, 2022

Another round of cold and flu? And there are no tissues at coles or Woolies.

— D R 🇦🇺 (@oliverbeerortwo) July 6, 2022

#Tissues are becoming scarce in my local supermarkets. None in Woolies, Only a few left in Coles. I think it's safe to presume #COVID, #Influenza and #Colds are doing their thing in #Brunswick

— Lucille2 🐶🐈🐾 (@GlitterGdn) July 3, 2022

They told news.com.au the limit was introduced “due to supply issues, not so much customer demand”.

“We’re working hard with suppliers to improve availability as quickly as possible.”

Current sales of flu tablets and lozenges were consistent for the time of year and not particularly unusual, they added.

Consumers have meanwhile been venting frustrations online over difficulty in sourcing common painkillers.

Popular products have also seemingly become difficult to buy online, with Panadol tablets unavailable via the Chemist Warehouse website for people on the country’s east coast.

Availability does not appear to be widespread for in-person pharmacies and supermarkets though, with shelves spotted with adequate supply.

Coles limited the sale of tissues due to supply issues. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Covid-19 is still rampant among the NSW community, with 13,343 cases reported on Thursday, while 62 people are being treated for the infection in ICU.

NSW Health confirmed there was a high level of influenza activity across the state in combination with a new wave of Covid transmission driven by BA. 4 and BA. 5 sub-lineages.

The health department predicted the current Covid wave would peak sometime in late July or early August, dependent on factors like the growth advantage, immunity levels in the population, and environmental and behavioural factors.