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Woolworths, Coles make 'precautionary' move with millions in lockdown

Woolworths and Coles have reintroduced product limits as Victorians wake to their first day of an expected five-day snap lockdown.

The supermarket giants both reinstated a purchase limit of two toilet paper packs per customer to deter Victorians from panic buying as the state rushes to contain its latest coronavirus outbreak.

Customers stand outside a Woolworths store.
Woolworths has reinstated purchase limits in Victoria. Source: Getty

Woolworths said in a statement it would also redeploy health ambassadors at the front of stores who will sanitise trolleys for customers.

All customers and team members will also have to wear face masks and sign-in to stores using the QR code.

"As a precautionary measure, we've reinstated product limits on toilet paper following the Victorian Government's announcement," Woolworths general manager for Victoria Andrew Hall said in a statement.

“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain and our team members will be hard at work making sure it continues to flow into our stores in large volumes for our customers.

“As always, we encourage our customers to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need.

“We also ask customers to follow all social distancing and COVIDsafe measures in our stores and to treat our team members with respect as we work through this unsettling time together.”

Coles said customers were also asked to ensure they were wearing face masks before entering stores, unless they had an exemption.

The supermarket also added it had plenty of stock and the temporary purchase limits would help stores manage demand.

"We ask that customers stay calm, shop normally and be respectful to our hard-working team members," Coles said in a statement.

In May, supermarket shelves in Melbourne were stripped bare as it was plunged into a seven-day Covid lockdown.

Pictures posted on social media showed shelves stripped bare at Woolworths and Coles stores across the city.

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