Exercise equipment and weights are the latest items to go flying off the shelves as gyms around the country close their doors under new social distancing restrictions.
Gyms, restaurants, cafes, places of worship, cinemas and similar public venues were closed to the public as of midday today after the government announced extreme new measures to control the spread of COVID-19 across the country.
With panic buying of groceries and office equipment already sweeping the world, now stores like Target, Kmart, Big W and Rebel Sports are being inundated with shoppers purchasing weights, treadmills and exercise bikes to set up home gyms while in isolation.
"Due to current circumstances, we are sold out of most of our weight training equipment," a sign in the Decathlon store in Sydney's Inner West read.
"We are currently working on the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience."
Panic buying has swept supermarkets around the world in recent weeks, with staples like toilet paper, pasta and tinned foods being cleared off shelves.
"It is not sensible, it is not helpful and, I've got to say, it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week.
Over the weekend, bottle shops were also filled with shoppers buying alcoholic drinks despite supermarkets and most bottle shops remaining open for the foreseeable future.
Office supply stores faced a similar demand for desks, computers, and remote connection cables as the majority of office staff have been asked to work from home.
Stores like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have placed purchase limits on how many items customers can buy in a transaction.
