McDonald's will sell bread and milk at restaurant drive-thrus to help Australians get hold of everyday essentials during the coronavirus pandemic.

A McDonald's spokesman said the household staples will be available through its contactless drive-thrus and takeaway service across the country from Wednesday.

The restaurant has been closed to diners since March 23, with food and drinks only available through to takeaway to abide by social distancing rules.

It comes as supermarkets across Australia have had their shelves left bare by coronavirus panic-buyers who stockpiled goods, including toilet paper and eggs.

McDonald's restaurants (including this branch in Melbourne) have been running as takeaway only since March 23

Customers will now be able to pick up two or three litre bottles of milk, as well as packs of English muffins or bread rolls.

A spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'As part of our commitment to continue to support local communities during these uncertain times, Macca’s will now offer customers another way to access milk and bread, through its contactless drive-thrus and takeaway service, across the country.

'From Wednesday onwards, in addition to our usual Macca’s menu, customers will also be able to pick-up two or three litre bottles of full cream or skim milk, as well as packs of English muffins and gourmet bread rolls.

'Our contactless service removes any need for touch contact between our employees and customers, making it a safe way for people to get food and drinks, as well as these essential basics.

McDonald's has been takeaway only since March 23 due to social distancing guidelines to help stop the spread of the coronavirus (pictured, a Melbourne branch on Chapel Street)

Panic-buying frenzies earlier this month forced supermarkets to bring in strict buying restrictions for essentials including pasta, rice, eggs, soap and toilet paper.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has Scott has vowed to punish shoppers who stripped supermarket shelves bare - with some even selling the products online for profit.

He said the government was already in the process of making it illegal to buy large quantities of certain supplies and then export them overseas.

It echoed comments made by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who promised harsh consequences for anyone found to be profiteering through stockpiling food, toilet paper and other products.

'We will come down like a ton of bricks on those individuals because I think they're the ones that have created this pattern of behaviour of hoarding and clearing out shelves,' he told 2GB radio on March 19.

Empty shelves pictured at a Bondi Junction Woolworths store in Sydney on March 20 (pictured) after stockpiling shoppers left supermarkets bare

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 26,898 Victoria: 20,042 New South Wales: 4,200 Queensland: 1,152 Western Australia: 662 South Australia: 466 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 26,898 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES: 903 DEATHS: 849 Updated: 8.50 PM, 20 September, 2020 Advertisement

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Australia produced enough food for 75 million people, three times the nation's population.

'There is no risk of us having any issues around food security,' Mr Littleproud told ABC News.

He said the only pressure on supply chains was coming from people panic-buying unnecessarily.

'They need to take a deep breath, have a cold shower and understand that if they shop normally, then the shelves will be stocked normally,' he said.

Coles has taken out full-page newspaper advertisements announcing limits on toilet paper, pasta, flour, eggs, some meat, hand sanitiser and soaps.

Woolworths is also limiting purchases of similar products, as well as chilled fresh milk, with similar rules also in place at Aldi.

Limits have been brought in in Australian supermarkets to help stop stockpiling (pictured is a Woolworths in Sydney on March 13)