Australian supermarkets have created a special "elderly hour" for elderly shoppers and those with disabilities to have a chance to shop essentials as panic-buying continues amid the COVID-19 outbreak. /Xinhua

Supermarket chains Woolworth and Coles have started to open their doors exclusively to vulnerable groups for an hour before opening to everyone else at 8:00 a.m. /Xinhua

The move is aimed at helping people disadvantaged by panic buying and at great risk from the virus. Panic buying driven by coronavirus fears has led to empty shelves in supermarkets. /Xinhua

Some stores in the U.S., Canada, France and the UK have also adopted similar measures. /Xinhua