Fears a second wave of panic buying could grip Melbourne after stage three restrictions announced

There are fears panic-buying could return in Victoria after the state government imposed a six-week lockdown period for 32 local government areas.

Shortly after Premier Daniel Andrews held a press conference announcing the measures, social media began lighting up with pictures and stories of crowded supermarkets.

The move comes just hours after Coles and Woolworths removed purchase limits following a suspected "new wave" of panic buying.

LIVE BLOG: Australia reacts as Victoria plunges back into six-week lockdown

READ MORE: Victoria records highest number of coronavirus cases

One user on Twitter said they were met with queues when going to the supermarket this afternoon.

"Please don't panic buy. Just tried to go to the supermarket and there was a queue round the corner. Yikes," user Caitlin Woods tweeted.

Another posted images of a queue of shoppers waiting outside a Melbourne Coles.

READ MORE: Victoria's lockdown by the numbers: What it takes to keep five million people inside

Others have shared images of bare shelves just hours after the premier's announcement.

Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will enter stage three restrictions from 11.59pm tomorrow.

Under those restrictions, residents will have just four reasons why they can leave their home: to shop for essential goods and services such as food, to give and receive care, to work or study, and to get daily exercise.

The restrictions will remain in place for six weeks.

Bars shutting down - again

Meanwhile, pubs and hotels in Melbourne are serving up their last meals and tap beer for six weeks, amid warnings the industry is facing a "devastating" blow.

Just weeks after reopening, bar venues in Melbourne will be forced to shut down again.

Management at the Auburn Hotel in Hawthorne told 9News it would be a huge blow to the hospitality industry.

The Auburn is one of 40 pubs and motels run by the Australian Venue Company in Melbourne.

The return to lockdown means 1100 staff are set to be stood down tomorrow night, and the company is unsure how it will employ them once JobKeeper ends in September.

CEO Paul Waterson said the news was "devastating" for staff and suppliers.

And with "little to no notice" of the government's decision, a high level of food wastage was expected.

READ MORE: How Melbourne will be cut off from Victoria

For breaking news alerts and livestreams straight to your smartphone sign up to the 9News app and set notifications to on at the App Store or Google Play.

You can also get up-to-date information from the Federal Government's Coronavirus Australia app, available on the App Store, Google Play and the Government's WhatsApp channel.