Panic Buying Slows as CCP Virus Cases Lower in Australia

Shoppers at Woolworths supermarket in Sydney on March 17, 2020. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

Australians are not stockpiling as much as they were 10 weeks ago marking a change of behaviour among shoppers. This comes as new cases of the COVID-19 disease are declining, which health authorities attribute to good social-distancing practices.

An Essential Vision survey published on April 7, showed that about four-in-five of those surveyed are now sticking by the health advice to stay at home unless strictly necessary and to keep 1.5 metres (4 feet) from others.

Furthermore, 70 percent of Australians feel duly informed by the government about the pandemic and 63 percent say they trust the information they are receiving.

Overall, about 38 percent of people surveyed said they have stopped stocking up on essential items, which is down from 41 percent on March 29.

The survey also found that there has been a 50 percent drop in the use of cash to make purchases. The Australian Department of Health advised the public to use contactless payments instead of cash, as one of seven social-distancing public health tips.

Cases of people having the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, started to decline on March 31, after reaching a peak on March 29.

Back in March, supermarkets were crowded with people jostling for essentials, such as toilet rolls, pasta, and rice. This lead to Woolworths and Coles restricting purchases on selected items.

Speaking at a press conference on March 11, Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the behaviour of some shoppers as “disappointing” and “Un-Australia.”

As of April 8, there are 5,956 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and more than 313,000 tests have been conducted nationwide.

Easter Shopping

Easter is a busy period where people tend to travel and visit family and enjoy meals together. Australian state and federal government and supermarkets are working together to ensure the spread of the CCP virus continues to decline.

Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi said they would limit the number of customers allowed in their stores and manage queues outside to ensure shoppers remained at least 1.5 meters apart from each other.

Piccones IGA in Far North Queensland has asked its customers to shop early for Easter to be mindful of what is a traditionally busy time for supermarkets.