Toilet paper shelves at Newcastle supermarkets have been stripped bare again as panic buying ensues with the re-introduction of COVID-19 restrictions.
No stock was available at Aldi Newcastle West, Coles The Junction nor Big W, Coles or Woolworths at Marketown on Monday afternoon. Limits of two packs per customer have been introduced at Big W, Coles and Woolworths in response to the increased demand.
Hand towel and tissues also appeared to be running low in several stores.
A small amount of toilet paper was available at smaller retailers IGA Merewether and Foodworks Newcastle East on Monday afternoon.
IGA introduced a limit of one per customer in order to maintain stock levels and Foodworks said the only stock available was in the less popular brands.
Foodworks said it expected the store's toilet paper to run out before new stock arrived mid-week, and supply in the warehouse would determine whether the store introduces limits per customer.
Staff said they noticed people increasingly purchasing toilet paper from Saturday - the day NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced and introduced restrictions for the whole of the state to curb the growth of the Bondi coronavirus cluster.
The majority of customers at each supermarket were following the current public health order by wearing face coverings. Uniformed police were spotted patrolling at Marketown East on Monday afternoon and handed a mask to one of the few people not wearing one.
