People are being urged not to post pictures of empty supermarket shelves on line.
Retail Excellence Ireland is reassuring shoppers that shelves are restocked daily, and this will continue to be the case.
It says sharing images of bare supermarkets is "sensationalizing the matter" after the Government earlier urged people not to stockpile or panic buy.
However, people have begun stocking up on food and essentials after this morning's announcement.
This man describes what it was like inside one large supermarket in Waterford at midday.
"It's absolutely crazy, I passed here walking the dog three-quarters of an hour ago and there was hardly anybody here, look at it now it's totally packed.
"There's a huge run on stuff but, I think it's a bit ridiculous to be quite honest with you, I just took a photograph of the shelf inside the likes of toilet paper and kitchen towels completely gone.
He says he didn't stock up on anything himself.
"Not really no, I just shopped as normal.
"I know people are concerned but, at the end of the day, the likes of supermarkets and chemists will still remain open.
"The Taoiseach coming out with the schools closing I think there's an element of panicking, it's a bit like Christmas inside there.
"I just wonder how much will go in the bin after because the sell-by-dates will be gone.
"I think if people be a bit more sensible, get what you need, leave the things that might be necessary for older people to stock up on, the younger people can get out and do what they need to do."
He doesn't believe there's any need to panic buy.
"You just wonder when they talk about limiting outdoor events to 500 people, there are certainly more than 500 people in the supermarket at the moment.
"Maybe they will restrict the number of people going in at a time.
"I don't think there's any need to panic for buying at all, to be honest."
