Covid-19 coronavirus: Queues persist as shoppers gear up for lockdown

Queues have been seen out the doors of Rotorua supermarkets this morning, while Tauranga shops continue to buzz.

The high number of shoppers comes as people prepare for the Government's four-week national lockdown coming into effect at midnight tonight.

Large queues were spotted at the doors of Rotorua's Countdown supermarket in the Central Mall this morning, similar to those seen in the past two days as Bay of Plenty shoppers filled their stocks.

The queues would likely be a result of Countdown NZ introducing a limit on customers allowed in a store at once.

This meant that customers could maintain physical distance between themselves and staff.

General manager of health and safety at Countdown NZ Kiri Hannifin said all Countdown stores had today introduced additional safety measures.

Every second checkout would also be closed at Countdown supermarkets and customers were asked to pack their own groceries to speed up processing and limit handling.

Foodstuffs New Zealand that covered New World, Pak'n Save and Four Squares nationwide had staff wearing masks.

All supermarkets had also installed physical distance guides and perspex screens had also been installed at checkouts to protect both team and customers from any sneezes or coughs.

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

The measures had been hailed as a must as New Zealanders dashed for the shops over the last few days.

On Monday alone, Kiwis nationwide spent a total of $111 million at food and drink shops following the Government's afternoon lockdown announcement.

The New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council was calling for calm as bottle stores across the country were subjected to massive panic buying, while supermarkets were pleading for people to shop normally.

A Rotorua bottle store manager, who did not wish to be named, told the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday that they had been "inundated" with customers and online ordering had spiked at an unprecedented rate.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern continued to reassure people that essential services, like supermarkets, would remain open throughout the lockdown.

She continued to put out a plea for people to "shop normally".