Chaos ensues in Kmart as shoppers rush after lockdown is lifted
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Moments after NSW reopened following 15 weeks of lockdown, Kmart was flooded by crowds who wanted to get their hands on the latest deals.
Several pieces of footage were posted to social media showing large numbers of people inside the retail store in Mt Druitt, which then sparked outrage.
Lines outside the entrance of Kmart, moments just before reopening. Photo from Facebook.
In July, retail outlets were closed down due to the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. But just last week, the state has achieved its 70 percent double vaccination target, thus allowing the stores to reopen for fully vaccinated individuals.
Just before Kmart opened its doors, one uploaded clip revealed stretched lines of people enduring the hard weather outside the entrance. The queues started before midnight, just before the lockdown was lifted.
By the time the retail stores in Blacktown and Mt Druitt opened their doors at 12:01AM, chaos ensued as dozens of people rushed to be among the first inside.
With the virus still in sight, this could trigger a “superspreader event”.
In a report by Rebekah Scanlan, Kmart told news.com.au that the stores have safe precautions in place to ensure customer and team safety, including reduced store capacities, and none of these had been breached in the reopening.
“We are lucky to operate large format stores like supermarkets that can have a number of people safely shopping and I can confirm that none of our stores have gone over these capacities this morning,” said the spokesperson.
“The footage at our Mt Druitt store does show lots of excited customers in line to check out – we often see this a short time after opening and we will continue to work together with our customers and continue to adhere to our safety practices and government requirements.”
Even with the assurance of safety from the store, many were still shocked by the clips.
“How much sh*t do people “need” that it can’t wait for a reasonable hour?”, one social media user asked. “Isn't there supposed to be a customer limit???”, another added.
“Superspreader event waiting to happen,” another person commented, recognising the possible risk of this turmoil.
“We should not forget what we went through from the last 106 days and how not to repeat it again. Please be wise, smart, safe and take it easy to all.”
People can only comment in disbelief, with one saying, “Seriously. I am not going anywhere for the next couple of weeks until things settle down again. But wow. At least still wearing masks.”
Even though people are wearing masks, there is hardly any social distancing. Photo from Twitter.
Kmart also has a Click & Collect feature wherein shoppers could order online the products they want and just pick it up from the store, and people are seriously questioning why these midnight shoppers couldn’t just use it.
“But but but...Kmart has been open for online shopping and click & collect this whole time!!! Why the urgency??!! This is absolutely ridiculous,” one user said.
Other people also agreed, saying, “Looking at the crowds in Sydney last night is terrifying. I really don’t understand crowds queuing @kmart at all. Everyone could shop online during the lockdown. The behaviour is baffling.”
In today’s Daily Telegraph, Kmart reminds shoppers that while stores are reopening, they can still use the store’s online shopping services, such as Click & Collect and SocialQ.
Several pieces of footage were posted to social media showing large numbers of people inside the retail store in Mt Druitt, which then sparked outrage.
Lines outside the entrance of Kmart, moments just before reopening. Photo from Facebook.
In July, retail outlets were closed down due to the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. But just last week, the state has achieved its 70 percent double vaccination target, thus allowing the stores to reopen for fully vaccinated individuals.
Just before Kmart opened its doors, one uploaded clip revealed stretched lines of people enduring the hard weather outside the entrance. The queues started before midnight, just before the lockdown was lifted.
By the time the retail stores in Blacktown and Mt Druitt opened their doors at 12:01AM, chaos ensued as dozens of people rushed to be among the first inside.
With the virus still in sight, this could trigger a “superspreader event”.
In a report by Rebekah Scanlan, Kmart told news.com.au that the stores have safe precautions in place to ensure customer and team safety, including reduced store capacities, and none of these had been breached in the reopening.
“We are lucky to operate large format stores like supermarkets that can have a number of people safely shopping and I can confirm that none of our stores have gone over these capacities this morning,” said the spokesperson.
“The footage at our Mt Druitt store does show lots of excited customers in line to check out – we often see this a short time after opening and we will continue to work together with our customers and continue to adhere to our safety practices and government requirements.”
Even with the assurance of safety from the store, many were still shocked by the clips.
“How much sh*t do people “need” that it can’t wait for a reasonable hour?”, one social media user asked. “Isn't there supposed to be a customer limit???”, another added.
“Superspreader event waiting to happen,” another person commented, recognising the possible risk of this turmoil.
“We should not forget what we went through from the last 106 days and how not to repeat it again. Please be wise, smart, safe and take it easy to all.”
People can only comment in disbelief, with one saying, “Seriously. I am not going anywhere for the next couple of weeks until things settle down again. But wow. At least still wearing masks.”
Even though people are wearing masks, there is hardly any social distancing. Photo from Twitter.
Kmart also has a Click & Collect feature wherein shoppers could order online the products they want and just pick it up from the store, and people are seriously questioning why these midnight shoppers couldn’t just use it.
“But but but...Kmart has been open for online shopping and click & collect this whole time!!! Why the urgency??!! This is absolutely ridiculous,” one user said.
Other people also agreed, saying, “Looking at the crowds in Sydney last night is terrifying. I really don’t understand crowds queuing @kmart at all. Everyone could shop online during the lockdown. The behaviour is baffling.”
In today’s Daily Telegraph, Kmart reminds shoppers that while stores are reopening, they can still use the store’s online shopping services, such as Click & Collect and SocialQ.
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