Panic buying for face masks, coverings in Melbourne stores ahead of deadline
Melbourne stores are facing a rush for face masks before they are made compulsory from Thursday.
All residents in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must wear masks outside their homes as of 11.59pm on Wednesday or risk receiving a $200 fine.
The measure has triggered a spate of panic buying in shops and some retailers have introduced limited purchases of masks across Victoria.
Woolworths is now allowing only one pack per customer, Aldi two packs, while Bunnings has restricted masks to 50 per customer as authorities warn retailers against price gouging.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about face mask rules in Victoria
There were queues outside this Spotlight store to buy face masks and material for coverings. Nine
READ MORE: Premier warns against face mask price gouging
There were also long queues at fabric stores as people rushed to buy materials and elastic for home made masks with long lines out the door.
Chemist Warehouse revealed it sold 1.5 million masks in just one day.
Major retailers such as Myer, DJs and Kmart have confirmed that they will be refusing entry to any customer not wearing a mask after the deadline.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews warned retailers against price gouging ahead of the state's mandatory mask deadline.
READ MORE: How to wear a face mask correctly
Retailers are being warned against price gouging amid a rush to buy face masks in Melbourne, Nine
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