Woolworths and Coles have imposed purchase limits in West Australia as people rushed to shop before the five-day lockdown. 

At Woolworths, customers are allowed to buy only two packets of toilet paper per person, while Coles has limited the sale of toilet paper to one pack per person. Other items, including hand sanitiser, rice, pasta meat and canned food are also limited in Coles and Woolworths stores. 

“Coles asks that customers only buy what they need to help ensure everyone in the community has access to food and everyday essentials,” the supermarket chain said in a statement.

“We have increased the number of team members in stores and expanded our Coles Online capacity to help serve customers quickly and safely during this busy time,” said Pat Zanetti, state GM for WA at Coles.

The panic buying has started since the announcement on Sunday that residents in Perth, Peel and South West would enter a lockdown. 

“We encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need,” said Karl Weber, GM at Woolworths West Australia. 

This story originally appeared on sister site Inside FMCG.