Across Canberra supermarkets, the number one battle it seems is how to get your hands on products for your number twos.
As coronavirus fears spread across the country, panic buying has also spread across supermarkets with shoppers clearing the shelves of items, in particular toilet paper.
Images seen on social media show entire aisles cleared and trolleys at checkouts stacked with packs of toilet paper.
But while shoppers were being urged not to panic amid the virus outbreak, retailers have taken measures to deal with the mass runs on toilet paper.
There’s no toilet paper left at Costco Canberra. Zero! pic.twitter.com/vNdnimGHn2
— Erna Glassford (@SimplyCheecky) March 2, 2020
Supermarket giant Woolworths announced on Wednesday it would be limiting purchases of toilet paper to four per customer.
"It will help shore up stock levels as suppliers ramp up production and deliveries in response to higher than usual demand," a Woolworths spokesman said.
"Our teams are continuing to work hard on restocking stores with long-life food and groceries from our normal distribution centres."
Meanwhile, limits are also in place at Costco's Majura Park store.
Customers were restricted to one large pack of toilet paper and paper towels, while limits were also put in place for milk and eggs.
Such is the apparent demand for toilet paper, some are even selling theirs online, some even jokingly offering a single roll for $95 or $5000.
Toilet paper manufacturers have sought to assure customers a shortage of supplies.
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Kimberly-Clark, the business that makes Kleenex toilet paper, said its plant in South Australia had stepped up production after an increase in demand.
Australia makes roughly two-thirds of its own toilet paper supply.
The Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said while shelves were emptied of toilet paper along with hand sanitiser and canned food, there was no need to panic buy.
"We're comfortable there's no risk to the availability of food or household essentials," he said.
"There is still plenty of stock in distribution centres to supply retailers of essential items across the country."
As of Wednesday morning, there are no coronavirus cases in the ACT, while 15 have been recorded over the border in NSW.
Seen any shortages near you? Email: andrew.brown@canberratimes.com.au
