Panic-buying across South Australia as state goes into lockdown - Daily Mail

Panic-buying erupts across South Australia as the state goes into covid lockdown with fears supermarkets could run out of stock - as cops admit there's NOTHING they can do to stop the chaos

• South Australia is battling a cluster of 22 cases in the city's northern suburbs 
• It will introduce the harshest restrictions country has seen from midnight
• Woolworths and Coles stores rapidly filled up with long queues of shoppers 

By Charlie Moore, Political Reporter For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 02:59 GMT, 18 November 2020 | Updated: 04:35 GMT, 18 November 2020

Adelaide residents have started panic-buying in supermarkets after Premier Steven Marshall announced a six-day coronavirus lockdown. 

South Australia is battling a cluster of 22 cases in the city's northern suburbs and will introduce the harshest restrictions the country has seen to slow the spread from midnight.

The lockdown - described as 'extreme' by state chief health officer Nicola Spurrier - bans residents from leaving home for exercise and allows one shopping trip per household a day. 

As it was announced at about 1pm, Woolworths and Coles stores, chemists and bottle shops rapidly filled up with long queues as residents rushed to stock up on food and supplies. 

Shoppers stocked up on food at as soon as the lockdown announcement was made. Pictured: Woolworths at Cumberland Park, Adelaide

Premier Steven Marshall insisted there was no need to panic buy but he was largely ignored. Pictured: Woolworths at Cumberland Park, Adelaide

Lines of shoppers desperate to stock up were seen outside several stores around the South Australian capital. Pictured: Woolworths at Cumberland Park, Adelaide

From midnight all schools will close along with universities, pubs, cafes and food courts. Pictured: Shoppers lining up for supplies at Woolworths

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the Parafield cluster had only grown by two cases to 22 - but restrictions were needed. Pictured: Full trolleys at Woolworths

Waiting for a drink: Shoppers also queued at bottle shops to get their hands on alcohol

South Australia police chief Grant Stevens said panic buying was not necessary but admitted he expected it to happen.

He has put police on 'stand-by' to deal with any 'civil disorder' at stores. 

'I don't think people will listen and I do think people will flood the supermarkets,' he said. 

'If you are going shopping, think about other people, treat each other with respect and kindness, we are all in the same boat and think of those who are working on the supermarkets, doing it tough and they will be inundated over the next few days and if we have to take action to protect those people, then we will do so.'

Premier Marshall urged residents not to panic buy, saying: 'There is no point going off to the supermarket this afternoon.

'Supermarkets and the supply lines will be remaining open.'

Left: A chemist in Adelaide with a large queue. Right: A man buys beer after waiting in a huge line at a bottle shop

Adelaide residents have started panic-buying in supermarkets after Premier Steven Marshall announced a six-day coronavirus lockdown

Woolworths and Coles stores rapidly filled up with long queues as residents stocked up on food and supplies. Pictured: Empty shelves in Adelaide

Shelves were cleared out in Adelaide as panic buying set in on Wednesday afternoon

South Australia police chief Grant Stevens said panic buying was not necessary but admitted he expected it to happen. Pictured: Empty shelves in Adelaide

Commissioner Stevens said the six-day lockdown would be followed by another eight days of continuing restrictions, similar to those seen in Melbourne.

From midnight all schools will close along with universities, pubs, cafes and food courts.

Regional travel will be banned and aged care centres will go into lockdown.

Factories will close, along with the construction industry.

Wedding and funerals will be banned. All outdoor sport and exercise will be banned, and masks will be mandatory outside the home.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the so-called Parafield cluster had only grown by two cases to 22.

Seven more people are waiting for test results. 

The disease spread into the community after a cleaner at the Peppers Hotel - a quarantine facility for Aussies returning from overseas - came in contact with the virus, most likely on a surface, and then infected members of her family. 

The lockdown - described as 'extreme' by state chief health officer Nicola Spurrier - bans leaving home for exercise and allows one shopping trip per household a day. Pictured: An empty shelf 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S SIX-DAY LOCKDOWN

• Closing all schools, universities, takeaway restaurants, cafes and food courts;

• Exercise will not be permitted outside the home;

•  Masks will be mandatory;

•  Aged care and disability residential care would be locked down;

•  Factories other than food and medical products will be closed (with limited exceptions);

•  Construction industry and FIFO work will be ceased;

•  Elective surgery ceased;

•  Property open inspections and auctions stopped;

•  No travel to holiday homes or regional areas;

•  Weddings and funerals are banned for six days; and

•  Regional travel will not be allowed.

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Premier Marshall said the state was hit by a 'particularly sneaky' and 'highly contagious' mutation of Covid-19.

The mutation has a very short incubation period of 24 hours or less and SA Health have noticed a number of positive patients had little symptoms or none at all. 

Professor Spurrier said the new strain was faster moving with a shorter incubation period than previous strains seen in the state making it more difficult to contain.

'It has a very, very short incubation period,'  she said.

'That means when somebody gets exposed, it is taking 24 hours or even less for that person to become infectious to others.

'Other characteristic of the cases we have seen so far as they have had minimal symptoms and sometimes no symptoms but have been able to pass it other people.' 

Residents are seen waiting for a coronavirus test in Adelaide on Tuesday, following an outbreak in the northern suburbs

Pictured: A quarantined hotel quest on the balcony of the Peppers on Waymouth Hotel waves on Wednesday. COVID-19 spread into the community after a cleaner at the Peppers Hotel came in contact with the virus

What will remain open: 

· Supermarkets will remain open to provide access to food and essential product

· Medical including mental health, supplies, access to services will be available

· Public transport will be open

· The airport and freight services including courier services will be able to operate

· Petrol stations, access to financial institutions and post offices will be able to be accessed

· Mining, smelting and large factories will also be able to remain open but only those parts of the facilities that will need to operate to ensure continuity of service delivery or to prevent damage to the plant

· Childcare will be available only for families of essential workers

· The minimum operations of government including local government will be permitted to operate

· Veterinary surgeons will be able to remain open

· People will be restricted from going out of their house for a six-day period

· South Australians are being asked to stay at home unless they are accessing essential services or are an essential worker

· Food purchases will be available and people will be able to leave – one person per household once a day to access groceries

· Agriculture will be able to move about to ensure the safety and welfare and processing of animals, and the production of dairy and other agricultural services

· End of life services will also be available through organised arrangements

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2020-11-18 02:59:00Z
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