Here we go again: Lockdown announcement sparks panic buying in SA supermarkets

Panic buying has once again begun in South Australian supermarkets, just hours after a seven-day lockdown was announced.

Just hours after a seven-day lockdown was announced, South Australians have flocked to supermarkets and have begun panic buying.

Images have emerged online showing some empty shelves at supermarkets across the state.

Kurralta Park in Adelaide’s southwest, Gilles Plains in Adelaide’s northeast and Port Pirie, south of the Flinders Ranges, are some of the supermarkets seen with long queues of shoppers and half-empty shelves.

Empty shelves have been spotted in Port Pirie after toilet paper was snapped up following the lockdown announcement. Picture: Shari Hams

Shoppers have nearly emptied shelves of toilet paper at Kurralta Park. Picture: Twitter / Kate Somers

However, other posts have shown a shock contrast.

One user said she attended her local supermarket and discovered customers had purchased products like usual.

“Hurrah for South Aussies. Just been to the supermarket. No panic buying, just normal behaviour with masks,” she tweeted.

Another user from regional SA found the entire pile of toilet paper practically untouched at his local store.

“It's great to see rural SA is keeping its head,” he said.

Some users have taken to social media to show there are stores in SA that have experienced regular trade, with fully stocked shelves. Picture: Twitter / @LauraHillsLamb

During the lockdown announcement, Premier Steven Marshall reminded South Australians there was “no need for panic buying” as supermarkets would remain open.

Shopping for essential items, like groceries, remains one of the five reasons people will be allowed leave their home during the hard restrictions.

“We’ve seen with this situation before here in South Australia and interstate … There are plenty of supplies,” Mr Marshall said.

After the lockdown announcement, many people took to social media with the correct assumption that panic buying would quickly follow.

“Panic buying is so counter-productive, but there will always be people that do it,” one person wrote.

“Why people panic buy and don‘t consider elderly or disabled I don’t know,” another said.

“The panic buying was bad enough yesterday, I‘m worried about what today will be like at work,” a third posted.

People have been seen panic buying in Port Pirie. Picture: Twitter via NCA NewsWire

As a result, Woolworths has reinstated a purchase limit of two toilet paper packs per customer both in-store and online across SA.

The purchase limit began on Monday evening after Level 4 restrictions were announced.

“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain and our team members will be hard at work making sure it continues to flow into our stores in large volumes for our customers,” Woolworths SA General Manager Karl Weber said.

“As always, we encourage our customers to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need.”

Coles introduced the same purchase limit on its toilet paper.

A spokesman for the supermarket chain said the temporary limits helped manage the demand so all stores could fully stock shelves as quickly as possible.

“We ask that customers stay calm, shop normally and be respectful to our hardworking team members,” they said.

Queues of shoppers have been spotted lining up outside of Coles at Kurralta Park. Picture: Keziah Sullivan

Drakes Supermarkets currently don‘t have any restrictions in place but director John-Paul Drake said store managers were allowed to use their discretion if stores were running low on particular items, or if they felt customers were excessively hoarding.

“How people haven’t learnt from the first, second or third time – it’s not necessary to stock up on grocery items.

“When people unnecessarily stockpile items like toilet paper and meat it creates a temporary issue in the supply chain.

“We have plenty of stock in our distribution centres and our team are working around the clock to get more stock to our shelves, but this takes time.

“Please, buy only what you need and we won’t have supply issues that we saw last year.”

Customers at all South Australian supermarkets are asked to be kind to workers, wear a mask while in store and to maintain social distancing.

People panic buying in Adelaide. Picture: Twitter via NCA NewsWire

The premier made the lockdown announcement on Tuesday after a fifth locally acquired case linked to the Modbury cluster was discovered.

That particular infection concerned authorities because that person was not a close contact of the 81-year-old man who was initially diagnosed.

The man in his 60s was instead a secondary contact who contracted the virus while at The Greek restaurant on Saturday – which has been listed as an exposure site – where an infected close contact also attended.