Growing demand of rapid antigen tests has left businesses struggling to keep up as people in Greater Bendigo look for kits.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Supermarkets, chemists and other stores are seeing their stocks sold out in a matter of hours after they restock their shelves.
Multiple posts in the Bendigo Exposure Site group on Facebook have outlined where stock could be found throughout the city, but the stocks weren't on the shelves for long.
"There is a long line (at UFS Chemist in View Street)," one person said.
"(Chemist Warehouse Kangaroo Flat) sold out within 10 minutes," another said.
A Woolworths Supermarket spokesperson said the company had put in a large order to try and keep up with demand.
"We've been sending tens of thousands of rapid antigen testing kits to our Victorian stores each week, but they're selling through very quickly with the recent surge in demand," they said.
"We have a much larger order of stock on the way from our suppliers and expect the availability of kits to improve for our customers this week.
Other stories:
"We understand it's frustrating when our customers can't get the products they need and we'll continue to do all we can to meet the growing demand."
Chemist Warehouse chief operating officer Mario Tascone said the retailer would fly in half a million RAT kits every second day, but it still wouldn't be enough to meet current demand.
"You've got to understand - 24 million people want a rapid antigen test. You can't fill that pipe in a week," he said.
Mr Tascone said other retailers were feeling the pinch and it would take a few weeks for the system to catch up.
Residents said they didn't want to see people panic-buying kits "like they're rolls of toilet paper".
"So much panic buying going on considering Bendigo isn't swarming with cases. Leave them for people who need them please," one person wrote on social media.
"Seriously please don't stock up on these. Someone is really going to need one and selfish people will just stock pile at home not giving a hoot about anyone else," another said.
Woolworths supermarkets have introduced limits to help combat stockpiling, limiting each customer to 10 tests each (either five packs of two tests or two packs of five tests).
You can also see where tests are available on the new Find a RAT website at findarat.com.au
-With AAP
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News