BUY-UP IN RUSH TO THE SHOPS

WITH rumours of an impending lockdown circulating across southern Tasmania, people swamped grocery stores as panicbuying set in.

Huge numbers of shoppers were observed at several locations across greater Hobart, with long lines and depleted shelves a common sight.

It occurred well before the official announcement of a three-day lockdown, starting at 6pm on Friday, was officially announced just after 2.30pm.

Andrew Inglis, of Taroona, said the Woolworths on Argyle St was packed on Friday afternoon, with queues stretching into the aisles.

“There’s people everywhere,’’ he said. “Everyone’s relaxed, but if you look at the trolleys, it’s panic buying. There’s lots of staples: toilet paper, bread, milk, pasta, all that stuff.”

Meanwhile, a Mercury reporter observed the Coles store in Kingston was much busier than usual.

“There are barely any trolleys left, nobody can get a park, the streets are backed up with people trying to get into the car park,” she said.

“Someone just walked past me carrying two big packets of toilet paper.”

Another shopper said the checkout line at Woolworths in New Town stretched around the store and into the freezer aisle.

It prompted Coles to introduce a two-unit purchase limit on toilet paper statewide.

Supermarkets are open throughout lockdown and shopping for essential items is one of the reasons people can leave their home.