This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Published on June 26, 2020
Supermarkets in Australia have taken drastic measures to prevent panic buying of essential items, particularly toilet paper, following a surge in coronavirus cases in Melbourne.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Australians to stop stockpiling toilet paper, calling it 'ridiculous', as the country's second-biggest city, Melbourne, reported 30 new coronavirus infections overnight.
The outbreak in Melbourne has sparked fears of a second wave of the epidemic, with most parts of the country relaxing restrictions on business, public gatherings, and travel.
Woolworths and Coles, Australia's two biggest supermarket chains, have reimposed nationwide quotas on purchases of toilet paper and paper towels to counter the surge in panic buying.
"While the demand is not at the same level as Victoria, we're taking preventative action now to get ahead of any excessive buying this weekend and help maintain social distancing in our stores," Woolworths Supermarkets said in a statement.
Despite the outbreak, Australia's health officials remain confident in the country's ability to contain the epidemic, with a total of 7,500 coronavirus cases and 104 deaths recorded in a population of 25 million.
