Chaos as shoppers strip supermarket shelves bare in panic-buying frenzy across regional NSW after entire state was plunged into lockdown
The shelves of supermarkets across regional NSW have been stripped bare after panic buyers packed their trolleys following news the entire state was in lockdown.
A massive queue formed outside Woolworths in Griffith, in central NSW, on Saturday afternoon with toilet paper running out at 4pm.
Similar scenes were reported across the region.
Footage from Griffith Woolworths showed dozens of shoppers filling their trolleys and stocking up on essentials - despite supermarkets staying open during lockdown.
Meanwhile, a Coffs Harbour local was so desperate they offered to sell their spot in a Woolworths queue on a Facebook group because of wait times of up to an hour.
Similar scenes were seen at supermarkets in Broken Hill, in far-western NSW, with bread, milk and toilet paper in high demand.
Fragments of the virus were recently found in a sewage treatment plant in the outback town, despite there being no confirmed cases in the area.
One resident in Coffs Harbour, in north-eastern NSW, was so desperate they offered to sell their spot in a queue on a Facebook group at a Woolworths with wait times estimated at 40 minutes
Griffith lockdown soon …panic buying …
Posted by Jack Patel on Friday, August 13, 2021
Griffith lockdown soon …panic buying …
The shelves of supermarkets around regional New South Wales have been stripped bare after panic buyers packed their trolleys following the lockdown announcement.
'This is of particular concern... everyone in the area is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received,' NSW Health said.
Long lines were also seen at the registers of the Ulladulla Woolworths on the South Coast while a store in Jindabyne, in the Snowy Mountains, had queues spilling out the doors.
The new restrictions around regional areas mean everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, with residents unable to have visitors from outside their household over including family and friends.
People fulfilling carers' responsibilities are permitted to have one visitor for compassionate reasons.
Supermarkets across the state were flooded with shoppers on Saturday afternoon after it was announced the state would go into lockdown at 5pm
Lines were seen spilling outside some supermarkets in regional NSW on Saturday
Two people who are in a relationship but do not live together may also visit each other.
All hospitality venues in regional areas must shut, including pubs, restaurants and cafes, except for takeaway.
Mask mandates are also in place and must be worn when working outdoors, by school staff, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in outdoor queues when waiting for takeaway services.
NSW Health has given a one-day grace period for planned weddings and funerals in regional areas which may still go ahead until 12.01am on Monday August 16 but only if guests are from areas that have not already been subject to a lockdown.
The new restrictions around regional areas mean everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave
The bread section is seen completely sold out at a Woolworths in Broken Hill amid panic buying
Another busy supermarket is seen following 466 new cases across NSW
From the 466 cases, a staggering 390 were likely to have been infectious in community.
There were also four deaths confirmed overnight including a man in his 70s, a man in his 80s, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 70s. The woman in her 40s was in palliative care and unvaccinated.
'It's our worst day ever. We are in a really, extremely concerning situation,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
'This is the worst situation New South Wales has been in since day one, and as a consequence of that, the worst situation Australia has been in.'
There are now a total of 42 infections in western NSW after nine more cases were recorded on Saturday.