COVID-19 Qld: Greater Brisbane residents panic buy ahead of three-day lockdown

Despite a plea from the Premier not to panic buy, Greater Brisbane’s supermarkets have been slammed ahead of a three-day lockdown.

Toilet paper has been stripped from supermarkets around Brisbane despite a plea from the Premier not to panic buy as the city prepares for a snap three-day lockdown.

Residents living in Brisbane, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Logan council areas will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons for three days from 5pm on Monday – to buy essentials like groceries and medication, to work or study if not possible from home, to exercise locally, and to receive healthcare or provide care or support.

Annastacia Palaszczuk told the 2.5 million Queenslanders affected not to panic buy.

Despite a plea from the Premier not to panic buy, hundreds flocked to Coles Belmont to stock up ahead of the three-day lockdown.

“The supermarkets are full of supplies and you will still be able to go out and get food as part of this lockdown,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“So please, don’t go out and panic buy today. The food shops will operate as per usual.”

Despite her pleas, supermarkets around the city went from calm to chaos in a matter of moments, with long queues forming outside shops and shelves stripped bare.

At Coles Newmarket, toilet paper was one of the first items to be completely wiped from the store.

Here we go again. No toilet paper at coles Newmarket @10NewsFirstQLD one lovely bloke asked me (the pregnant woman) if I wanted the last 4 rolls 😂 I said I was fine pic.twitter.com/b7A9JbrhbK

— Georgina Hill (@GeorgiHill10) March 29, 2021

One Facebook user said Deception Bay’s supermarkets were “a bloody madhouse”.

Redlands residents were wrapped around the store awaiting a checkout shortly after the announcement.

Posted by Redlands Zone on Sunday, March 28, 2021

Others questioned why people continued to panic buy when shops would remain open during the three-day lockdown.

At Gasworks Woolworths, shoppers reported having to wait “for about 20 minutes” to get into the store, while they struggled to get a hold of some items inside.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath took to social media to call on the panic buyers to stop.

“This is not required. Please stop!” she wrote.

I am seeing reports of huge lines at our supermarkets with people stocking up on supplies.

THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. PLEASE STOP!

Supermarkets and grocery shops will be open in the Greater Brisbane area and people can go to the shops during the lockdown to get grocery items.

— Yvette D'Ath MP (@YvetteDAth) March 29, 2021