Woolworths and Coles reinstate lockdown toilet paper limit across Victoria

Woolworths and Coles have reinstated a purchase limit of two packs of toilet paper packs per customer across Victoria.

Woolworths general manager for Victoria, Andrew Hall, said it had reinstated product limits on toilet paper as a precautionary measure. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Woolworths has reinstated a purchase limit of two packs of toilet paper packs per customer both in-store and online across Victoria, as the state enters a five-day lockdown following a flare up of the Delta strain of Covid-19, which has also plunged Sydney into a prolonged shutdown.

Woolworths said it will also redeploy ‘health ambassadors’ at the front of stores to support with additional cleaning and wiping down of trolleys.

In line with Victorian government directives, all customers and team members are expected to wear face masks and check in using the government QR code at Woolworths stores.

The initial break out of Covid-19 last year triggered panic buying with customers stripping supermarket shelves of toilet paper and other staple goods, forcing Woolworths, Coles and other retailers to place limits on items such as toilet paper, meat, rice and long-life milk.

The initial outbreak of Covid-19 sparked panic buying of toilet paper in supermarkets. Picture: AAP

Woolworths general manager for Victoria, Andrew Hall, said it had reinstated product limits on toilet paper as a precautionary measure.

“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,” he said.

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

“We also ask customers to follow all social distancing and Covid-safe measures in our stores and to treat our team members with respect as we work through this unsettling time together.”

Coles has also introduced buying limits on toilet paper to match the rules put in place by Woolworths.

The supermarket giant said late on Thursday that to ensure customers have access to toilet paper, Coles has introduced a temporary two packs per person limit in Victoria.

“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain, and purchase limits are a temporary measure to help us manage demand so that we can return our stores to a fully-stocked position as quickly as possible,” a spokeswoman said.

“The health and safety of customers and team members remains Coles’ top priority, and we have increased the frequency of cleaning in high touchpoint areas, including self-checkout screens and keypads, in addition to our existing safety and hygiene measures in stores to help keep customers and team members safe.”

Coles said it will continue monitoring customer numbers and encourage them to use the sanitising stations at the entrance to our stores, which include hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes for trolleys, before they enter.

“We also ask that customers check in each time they visit our stores by scanning the QR codes on display at the front of the store, above the sanitiser stations within the store, or at the checkouts.

“We ask our customers to ensure they are wearing a face mask before entering our stores, unless they have an exemption – and the same rules apply to our team.”