Ottawa, July 8 -- Stores in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne are struggling to manage a spike in demand for essential goods ahead of a six-week lockdown that takes effect on Wednesday night, media said on Wednesday.

Some stores have already sold 80 percent of their goods, according to the 7 News channel, while others have imposed limits on purchases of most popular foods, hand sanitizer and toilet paper rolls.Australians in Victoria state rushed to the stores to stock up on supplies after state premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday that Melbourne and the surrounding area would be forced back into lockdown to prevent the second wave of coronavirus.The state reported 134 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, after seeing a ...