Panic buying fears in Coles, Woolworths ahead of lockdown
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pleaded with people not to panic-buy as Brisbane and surrounding areas prepare for a snap three-day lockdown.
The premier announced on Monday, Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich and Greater Brisbane would go into a three-day lockdown starting at 5pm after four cases of community-transmitted coronavirus were found.
“This is a huge job now that we have to do because we've got more of this community transmission,” Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.
“I know this will mean some disruption to people's lives but we've done this before and we've got through it over those three days in the past, and if everyone does the right thing I'm sure that we will be able to get through it again.”
After making the announcement, the premier urged people not to “rush out” and panic buy ahead of the lockdown and the coming Easter long weekend.
“The supermarkets are full of supplies and will operate as per usual,” she tweeted.
“Groceries and essentials will still be available while we’re in lockdown.”
However, it appears not everyone is listening and pictures of queues forming in Brisbane supermarkets and shelves emptying were shared on social media on Monday.
Panic buying in Brisbane ahead of snap lockdown
Georgina Hill, from 10 News Queensland, tweeted a photo of an empty shelf of toilet paper at Coles in Newmarket, Brisbane.
“Here we go again,” she tweeted.
Shoppers were also seen queuing outside of Woolworths at Gasworks Plaza in Newstead and at Coles in nearby New Farm.
Here we go again. No toilet paper at coles Newmarket @10NewsFirstQLD one lovely bloke asked me (the pregnant woman) if I wanted the last 4 rolls 😂 I said I was fine pic.twitter.com/b7A9JbrhbK
— Georgina Hill (@GeorgiHill10) March 29, 2021
Supermarkets in Nundah, West End, North Lakes and Moorooka were also seen packed to the rafters with panic-buyers.
The scenes have led to the dismay of many Queenslanders, frustrated at people rushing to the shops ahead of the lockdown.
A woman, nine months pregnant, was shopping at Arana Hills and told The Courier-Mail she was hit by a shopper with a trolley trying to desperately buy flour.
#Brisbane residents are back to their favourite lockdown hobby which is panic buying the toilet rolls. 😂 #brisbanelockdown https://t.co/WVnLrdIcQG pic.twitter.com/WSL6192qjk
— STG (@GoneSpeaks) March 29, 2021
People online slam 'ridiculous' behaviour
People on Facebook also decried the behaviour.
One man hoped it was “old footage” because “surely” “all the muppets aren’t at it again”.
“We are trying to stop the spread of Covid,” one woman wrote.
Panic buying is not nearly as bad as Brisbane’s last lockdown. Line at Fairfield Coles is up one side of the shops & all the way up the dairy aisle (long but shorter than last time). Eggs, meat in lower supply. Heaps of powdered milk & bread. People somewhat calmer @brisbanetimes pic.twitter.com/X9eF6Pr97K
— Felicity Caldwell (@fel_caldwell) March 29, 2021
“But there’s no way of stopping the spread of stupidity.”
Another woman called it “absolutely ridiculous”.
“Seems we haven’t learnt from the first few times,” another woman wrote.
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