Coronavirus Australia: Short-term lockdown sends South Australia into panic buying chaos

I watched Steven Marshall’s press conference at 12.30pm, filed a news story for the website at 1.15pm and at 1.30pm was at my local supermarket in Adelaide’s inner-south trying to buy a now-compulsory face mask.

So was everyone else. They were trying to buy everything.

Within one hour of the announcement of SA’s six-day lockdown, the city had erupted in a genuine fit of panic buying. The normally sleepy Foodland store at the end of my street looked like the Myer Boxing Day sales.

The queue outside David Penberthy's local supermarket on Wednesday. Picture: David Penberthy

I didn’t even bother going in. The queue extended out the door and into the carpark which on a normal Wednesday afternoon would have about 15 cars in it. Every spot was taken and more cars were trying to come in. People were parking illegally in permit zones. And while most of the lucky shoppers who had got what they needed were returning to their car with basic provisions – milk, nappies, bread, snags – there were more than a couple of halfwits carrying two or even three large packets of toilet paper, presumably with plans to spend their six brief days in lockdown going to the bathroom several thousand times.

I still needed a mask so I can get to and from work legally over the coming six days. I finally nabbed a park and walked around to Chemists Warehouse. “Sorry, they’ve all gone,” the shop assistant said.

My sister rang. She lives in Strathalbyn, a tiny Adelaide Hills town 74km away from the Parafield coronavirus cluster and where as far as I can tell not a single infection has ever been recorded.

There were big queues in supermarket carparks across the state on Wednesday. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“People are going nuts up here too,” Beck said. “You can’t even get into the supermarket. It’s like they’re stripping the joint.”

We chatted about how her son’s 18th birthday celebrations have been cancelled this Friday and my daughter’s Year 12 end of school weekend away canned too. Up yours, 2020.

I thought I’d try the local servo for the elusive face mask.

Every bowser was being used by people frantically filling up their cars, which seemed an odd reaction to the news that we aren’t allowed to go anywhere.

Inside, an old guy was holding a pack of 10 disposable masks. I asked him which aisle they were in and he replied: “Sorry mate, last pack.”

Instead, I bought four large bags of potato chips. I have no idea why. I am glad I did though, because the kind young guy who served me told me on the quiet that he had a box of masks hidden behind the counter and sold me a 10-pack.

Despite the lockdown lasting just six days, panic buying has gripped South Australia. Picture: Keryn Stevens

I thought I’d celebrate by heading to the drive through at the Goody Park hotel to buy a slab of beer and some sauv blanc for my wife, not knowing if the bottle shops will be open for the next six days (which they will be).

The drive through was a testament to what makes this country so absurdly great. It looked like this was SA’s last chance to drink alcohol ever again.

Shoppers were stocking up on refreshments across SA on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Getty Images

Alcohol has been flying off the shelves in Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Blokes were coming out with three and four cartons of Coopers at a time. Women were loading up on half-dozens of whites and rosés and juggling four packs of Pimms and bottles of Kangaroo Island gin.

Only one person per household can visit a supermarket per day during the six-day lockdown. Picture: Getty Images

This is Adelaide, after all. A lockdown seems as good a time as any for a vertical tasting.

The guy in the car in front of me in the express lane stopped to get out and browse anyway. He spent a good 10 minutes emptying half of the Barossa Valley into the back seat of his van.

“Priorities!” he laughed, giving me a thumbs up as he finally left. “This looks like about six day’s worth.”

By midafternoon Josh Peake, the SA secretary of the shop workers union the SDA, was pleading on Twitter for SA Police to send reinforcements to the local shops. Hopefully I will not have to return until next Wednesday. I have beer, wine, potato chips, and 10 disposable face masks.