AKIPRESS.COM - Supermarket shelves have been cleared in minutes in Sydney, Australia despite authorities stressing there is no shortage of toilet paper over coronavirus fears.

On social media, #toiletpapergate and #toiletpapercrisis were top trending on Wednesday. Rolls were being flogged for hundreds of dollars online, while listeners were calling into radio stations to win packs of 3-ply loo roll, BBC reports.

The situation in the past 48 hours has unravelled so much there are also reports of people stealing from public loos.

As of Wednesday, Australia had recorded 41 cases of Covid-19, and one death. These are numbers significantly lower than that of other nations.

Official guidance advised people to practice good hygiene and wash their hands. It was also suggested that people could prepare two weeks worth of food and water, as well as other household goods, if they felt it necessary.

The demand for toilet paper surged - ahead of long-life food and other non-perishable goods. Posts on social media showed customers seizing rolls and piling packets on trolleys.