Cold and flu tablets and throat lozenges also in short supply as country battles rising influenza and Covid infections

Supermarkets and chemists are limiting purchases of facial tissues as stocks dwindle amid soaring influenza and Covid-19 infections.

Medications, including painkillers and cold and flu tablets, have also been stripped from shelves in some chemists along the east coast as Australia battles winter illness.

Australia recorded 43,595 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours and the influenza rate more than doubled on its previous record in May.

“Given the recent cold snap and early start to the flu season, there’s been increased demand for a range of medicinal and paper goods products including cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and tissues,” a Woolworths spokesperson said on Thursday.

“Supply of tissue has been particularly impacted, so to help ensure more customers have fair access, we have implemented a two pack per customer limit on all tissue products across Australia.”

Coles has also introduced a two-pack limit, saying it was a necessary measure to protect consumers, however, a spokesperson said it was “due to supply issues, not so much customer demand”.

Some suffering illness reported they were now resorting to using toilet paper as they suffered coughs and sniffles.

The supermarket chain did not appear to have observed the same heightened demand for tablets and lozenges. The Coles spokesperson said sales were “consistent” and not “unusual” for this time of year.

Nevertheless, shoppers across the country have taken to social media to vent their frustration over shelves left completely bare of painkillers.

The products have also become increasingly difficult to buy online.

Chemist Warehouse’s online store shows widespread unavailability for Panadol tablets across the east coast.

There did not appear, however, to be an immediate supply issue for the medicinal products – many pharmacies and supermarkets surveyed around Sydney on Thursday had some options available.

“Customers might notice that the availability of some of their preferred brands (lozenges and tablets) might be limited, we continue to offer a wide range of alternatives across these ranges. We encourage everyone to continue shopping as they normally would and only buy what they need,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.

In some cases, the bare shelves were more likely an indication of growing demand outstripping retailers’ ability to keep shelves stocked.

These products join a growing list of difficult to obtain goods. Last month, Coles released a statement outlining shortages of berries, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, broccoli and herbs, urging its customers to shop for alternatives.

“The devastating floods earlier this year, the ongoing heavy rainfall, recent cold weather and lower levels of sunlight have meant many of our Australian growers are experiencing impacts to their supply,” the update read.

Neither Woolworths nor Coles confirmed when the pack limits on tissues would end.