SYDNEY, March 4, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s biggest supermarket on
Wednesday announced a limit on toilet paper purchases after the global spread
of coronavirus sparked a spate of panic buying Down Under.
Woolworths said the restriction of four packs of toilet paper per person
would apply “to ensure more customers have access to the products”.
“It will help shore up stock levels as suppliers ramp up local production
and deliveries in response to higher-than-usual demand,” the company said in
a statement.
Despite government assurances, there has been a run on some items at
Australian supermarkets in recent days, with images on social media
purportedly showing shelves stripped of goods such as toilet paper, pasta and
canned food.
Retailers have also experienced shortages of masks and hand sanitisers amid
fears over the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than
90,000 people and killed 3,100.
The vast majority of cases have been in China, but South Korea, Italy and
Iran have also emerged as hotspots.
Australia has reported 41 confirmed cases of the virus, including one
death.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had spoken to the country’s two major
supermarket chains — Woolworths and its rival Coles — about their response
to panic buying.
“I can understand why people may be concerned, and go to supermarkets, and
do those sorts of things. But the advice is that’s not necessary,” he told
2GB Radio on Wednesday.