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Panic buying begins in Adelaide as coronavirus lockdown set to start on Thursday - ABC News

South Australians are rushing to stock up on essential items ahead of tomorrow's lockdown despite the police commissioner warning against panic buying.

There were long lines at supermarket across Adelaide this afternoon, along with bottle shops and businesses selling face masks.

From Thursday, most businesses will be closed for six days, to stop the Parafield cluster of cases spreading further.

Businesses that will remain open include supermarkets, petrol stations, bottle shops, post offices, banks, vets and medical services.

Cars lined up through a carpark to a bottleshop
Customers line up at a drive-through bottle shop in Plympton in Adelaide's south-west.(ABC News: Sarah Mullins)

People have been stripping stores of toilet paper, tissues, masks, hand sanitiser, pasta, bread and rice.

There has also been panic buying in regional areas.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said today would be very challenging for retailers.

"Supermarkets are going to be open beyond today, there is no need for people to rush to supermarkets, and if you do go shopping this afternoon, you are going to be managed by staff at the supermarkets," Mr Stevens said.

"This is completely unacceptable — there is no need for panic buying."

Security guards are in place at the Central Market to control crowds.

A security guard stands in the aisle of a market and a nut shop
A security guard monitors shoppers at the Central Market in Adelaide.(ABC News: Claire Campbell)

Mr Stevens warned people to be considerate.

"If you're going to go shopping, think about other people, treat everybody with respect and a bit of kindness," he said.

"Everybody's in the same boat."

A shoe shop
A shoe shop at the Central Market has quickly become a mask shop.(ABC News: Claire Campbell)

Run on face masks

Until now South Australians have been free to go about their lives without wearing face masks, and stores, including pharmacies, are reporting a rush on their supplies of the protective gear.

Pharmacist Greg Scarlett said there were queues outside of his chemist where masks have sold out and that they might not be available for days.

"'There is a run' is an understatement," he said.

"There's a line up outside my door after masks and we've completely sold out here.

"I know that's the case with a lot of community pharmacies at the moment and we're now waiting for more supplies to come in."

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Shoppers and diners react to South Australia's coronavirus lockdown.(ABC News)

One woman the ABC spoke to visited two supermarkets to stock up.

"It's better to be safe than sorry, but [I'm] a bit nervous about the COVID coming back."

Another woman said she was "just getting some cheese and bikkies"

"As long as I've got my Netflix, it's all good. We've got to pull together and go with it," she said.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTE4L3BhbmljLWJ1eWluZy1pbi1hZGVsYWlkZS1hcy1sb2NrZG93bi1zZXQtdG8tc3RhcnQvMTI4OTY1MjbSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI4OTY1MjY?oc=5

2020-11-18 06:33:00Z
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