Supermarkets across New South Wales are being inundated as residents facing a two-week coronavirus lockdown stock up on essentials.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned against panic buying when she announced Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains would be subject to stay-at-home orders from 6pm today.
However, despite shopping for essential items being listed as one of the four reasons to leave home, people are flooding into stores across the state to stock up on popular household items including toilet paper and cooking essentials.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the lockdown
Huge lines have been seen in supermarkets in Sydney suburbs including Marrickville, Crows Nest, Seven Hills, Sylvania, Neutral Bay, Wentworthville and Marsden Park.
Shoppers have reported extended waits to get into Woolworths and Coles.
Ms Berejilkian made it clear today there would be no reason to rush to the shops.
"There is no need to panic buy. All the shops will be open every day of the week," she said.
"There is no curfew. You can leave your home at any stage to purchase any essential goods that you need to and that is a given.
"Be thoughtful and considerate about fellow citizens and no need to panic buy."
Shelves had started to be stripped bare yesterday as four local government areas in Sydney's east were locked down.
Today 29 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were detected in the last 24 hours to 8pm, 17 of which we already knew about.
Twelve cases were previously unannounced.
The premier warned restrictions could last up to two weeks.
