As the number of cases of coronavirus jump, and social distancing measures ramp up, shoppers have hit supermarkets in force across the weekend.

Key points: Shoppers have been told to buy extra essential supplies, but not to stockpile goods

Shoppers have been told to buy extra essential supplies, but not to stockpile goods Woolworths will limit online shopping in Victoria because of the grocery demand experienced on the weekend

Woolworths will limit online shopping in Victoria because of the grocery demand experienced on the weekend Many supermarkets ran out of items like pasta and toilet paper on the weekend

On Sunday, Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, wrote a piece for the Sunday Herald Sun where he recommended families purchase enough food to last for two weeks and medication for 60 days.

He suggested that didn't mean stockpiling supplies, but sensibly planning to purchase a bit extra.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tried to warn against mass purchases of essential items.

"I would make the point that if everybody goes out and buys not two weeks worth of staples, but two months worth, the shelves will be empty and the only ones who suffer then are vulnerable people," he said.

So was the buy-a-little-extra-but-not-too-much advice clearly understood and followed?

Well, maybe not.

Last night, Woolworths put out a statement saying due to the "extraordinary levels of demand for groceries over the weekend" it is temporarily suspending delivery services out of its Victorian supermarkets until further notice.

But it will continue online deliveries to select areas from its West Footscray customer centre.

So how much did shoppers buy this weekend? And what have our supermarkets been left short of?

Plenty of fresh fruit, but no potatoes

The Southbank IGA in Melbourne had run out of toilet paper. ( ABC News: Elise Kinsella )

At the Southbank IGA, on the edge of Melbourne's CBD, which usually caters to office workers and inner-city apartment dwellers, panic buying was a little mixed.

When the ABC arrived on Sunday, the toilet paper aisle was crowded with shoppers.

They all left empty-handed — supplies were already exhausted.

Spaghetti and spiral pasta were sold out.

Rice, sold in 250gram sachets, was also running low — had someone bulk purchased single serves of rice?

There was plenty of fresh fruit, but no potatoes.

In the bathroom aisle, results were similarly mixed.

Hand sanitiser was predictably out of stock, soap was a little scarce, but there was plenty of toothpaste, painkillers and over-the-counter medication for cold or flu-like symptoms.

One man left with a single packet of potato chips — maybe he had taken heed of messages from our leaders not to stockpile supplies.

Another shopper's basket contained $24-worth of soft drink and chocolate; it was unclear whether this was a panic purchase.

After witnessing "unprecedented consumer demand", staff at an IGA store in Altona, in Melbourne's west, became worried elderly people and those with a disability might not get the supplies they needed.

So anyone with a senior or disability card will be given "exclusive" access to the store, which is opening one hour early.

Woolworths is following suit. From tomorrow, its supermarkets will open from 7:00am to 8:00am exclusively for those two groups.

In the suburbs, even long-life milk is selling out

One shopper at the Greensborough Woolworths store in Melbourne's north-east late on Saturday night told the ABC they couldn't get their hands on many essentials.

Toilet paper and tissues were not available.

The section devoted to pasta, rice and spices was empty at Woolworths in Greensborough. ( Supplied )

Pasta and pasta sauce had also sold out, cans of tuna were running low and long-life milk was down to the last few cartons.

Our shopper said a nearby IGA had taken to rationing: bags of toilet paper that included six rolls or more were being opened by staff and re-bagged for sale in two-roll packets.

Meat, tampons and cat litter in demand

At the Coles supermarket in Footscray, in the city's inner-west, there were some alarming shortages.

Tampons and sanitary pads were in short supply, as were nappies.

Nappies were in short supply late on Sunday at the Coles supermarket in Footscray. ( Supplied )

Again, the aisle for toilet paper and tissue was barren — there was absolutely nothing left.

In nearby Yarraville, shoppers at Coles had gone harder still — the entire meat section was nearly empty.

Shoppers had also gone on a cereal buying binge. Just one lonely box of Weet-Bix was left on the shelf.

And cat litter was sold out.

Cat litter had sold out at the Coles supermarket in Yarraville on Sunday. ( ABC: Dan Harrison )

So what happens now for families loaded with extra pasta, toilet paper, rice, cat litter, meat, tampons, canned food and long-life milk?

A nervous wait most likely, with bulging fridges and pantries.

And, hopefully, a chance for the country's supermarkets to replenish those toilet paper aisles.