Thousands of shoppers flock to Brisbane supermarkets ahead of three-day lockdown

Thousands of Brisbane residents have disregarded pleas to not panic buy and headed straight to the supermarket ahead of a three-day lockdown.

Panic buying has broken out across Greater Brisbane as the city prepares to enter a strict three-day lockdown from Friday evening.

Despite pleas from the Queensland Premier and chief health officer, queues quickly formed outside the city’s supermarkets and shelves were rapidly emptied.

Under the lockdown, residents of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands and Ipswich City Council areas will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: to attend work if they can’t work from home, to buy essentials including groceries and medicine, to look after the vulnerable, and to exercise within their neighbourhood.

The strict rules, in place from 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Monday, have been introduced as authorities battle to ensure an “incredibly contagious” mutant strain of COVID-19 from the UK does not spread throughout Brisbane.

It was revealed on Thursday a cleaner in a quarantine hotel had contracted the mutant strain and was unknowingly infectious in the community for five days.

At one Woolworths store, the queue for a checkout wrapped around the store. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young on Friday morning urged Brisbane residents not to panic buy.

“There is absolutely no issue, all our shops are fully stocked, there will be nothing stopping that from happening,” Dr Young said.

Toilet paper is once again a hot ticket item.. why??????? 🧻 @7NewsBrisbane @sunriseon7 pic.twitter.com/0d6UoVZsES

— Bianca Stone (@Bianca_Stone) January 8, 2021

This is craziness... I’ve never seen so many people at my local Coles (on the Gold Coast) .. Even outside the declared hotspot of Greater Brisbane and people are panic buying!! @sunriseon7 @7NewsBrisbane @7NewsGoldCoast pic.twitter.com/kiA5CrU0Ww

— Bianca Stone (@Bianca_Stone) January 8, 2021

“There will be no need to buy up big. If you’ve got enough for the next three days, stay home and wait to do your shopping until next week.”

Trolley bays were wiped out at Woolworths Lutwyche. Picture: NCA NewsWire

But almost immediately at Lutwyche Market Central on Brisbane’s northside, cars were backed up around the block as they waited for a free carpark, and huge lines formed outside the centre’s three supermarkets.

The Greenslopes shopping centre carpark quickly filled up. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass POOL via NCA NewsWire

Trolley bays were stripped empty, and extra staff had to be called in to manage the hundreds of shoppers.

Lines of shoppers waiting for the checkout at Aldi, Stones Corner, Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The variant authorities fear could be circulating within the Brisbane community is at least 70 per cent more infectious than previous strains of the virus.

“This can spread very rapidly if it gets hold. My hope is that it hasn’t taken hold,” Dr Young said.

Masks have also been made mandatory when outside the home.

Staple items such as brown onions and bread were quickly snapped up by shoppers at Woolworths Spring Hill on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire courtesy Declan Wright

Panic buying was back in Queensland on Friday as residents prepared for a three-day lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire courtesy Declan Wright