Coronavirus: First day of Woolworths' elderly and disabled shopping hour sees some leave empty handed

Today marks the first morning of the major supermarkets' elderly and disabled-only shopping hour to manage the impacts of panic buying on vulnerable members of society.

Woolworths has dedicated one hour between 7am and 8am for senior and disabled shoppers to purchase essential items. 

Shoppers had their eligibility checked upon entry by presenting their concession cards before being allowed inside.

Panic buying in recent weeks sparked by the spread of COVID-19 in Australia has seen supermarkets stripped of toilet paper, pasta and tinned and other dried goods.

"I'm shopping for my mother who's in isolation," said one Sydney shopper.

"I want to get toilet paper and hand disinfectant before the panic buying sets in."

9News reporter Gabrielle Boyle said the initiative had so far been "extremely successful".

 "Droves of the elderly, the disabled, people with compromised immune systems, (are) turning up to Woolworths to stock up on the essentials," she told Today from a Neutral Bay supermarket.

But in Victoria, the first day of the new measures have already presented complications with reports of shoppers leaving empty-handed despite the dedicated window.

The measures are in place until at least Friday and are being taken up by some IGA supermarkets as well.

The Coles shopping hour will start tomorrow, when its stores also open at 7am for customers holding a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Companion Card and Health Care Card.

It also plans to dedicate grocery deliveries to people who are isolated and vulnerable. 

This means deliveries for other customers will be temporarily suspended, as will the Click&Collect service.

- Reported with AAP