Southern localities ensure adequate supply of essential goods amid COVID fears
Southern localities ensure adequate supply of essential goods amid COVID fears
Provinces and cities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta have co-ordinated with relevant agencies and businesses to ensure the COVID-19 outbreak does not disrupt the supply of essential goods or causes price hikes, and plan to carry out food safety inspections to ensure people can shop safely. 
According to authorities, amid the epidemic, ensuring the supply of goods is the top priority.
The industry and trade departments in the region have called on all production units, distribution systems and retailers to make plans to stockpile essential goods, especially price-stabilised items, to ensure supply does not dry up.
Nguyen Van Tham, deputy director of the Hau Giang Province Department of Industry and Trade, said his department has co-ordinated with districts, towns and cities, businesses, supermarkets, and department stores across the province to stockpile rice, pork, chicken, eggs, seafood, vegetables, instant noodles, salt, cooking oil, bottled water, antibacterial cloth masks, antiseptic liquid, and toilet paper.
In case of an emergency, authorities would use specialised vehicles to distribute essential goods to people in quarantine, he added.
In Can Tho City, 11 businesses have registered to stockpile food and foodstuffs worth a total of over VND553 billion (US$23.97 million), especially rice, meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, instant noodles, bottled water, processed foods, and eggs.
Some others have registered to stock other products such as masks, antiseptic liquids, toilet paper, and petrol.
The Can Tho City Department of Industry and Trade has co-ordinated with relevant agencies and departments to set up three teams to inspect traditional markets, supermarkets and businesses to ensure they comply with anti-COVID measures.
It also plans to stock essential goods to meet demand under all circumstances.
Similarly, the Dong Thap Department of Industry and Trade has instructed commercial centres, supermarkets, traditional markets, and businesses in the province to carry out an assessment of the risk posed by COVID and report plans to ensure supply of essential goods.
Stockpile double
Businesses in the region have proactively made goods production and supply plans, and distributors are actively working with suppliers to stock a variety of goods.
Nguyen Kim Cuong, deputy director of Co.opmart Can Tho, said the volume of stocks is worth around VND18 billion ($781,476).
It has stepped up sales via telephone and app to make it easier for customers.
Like other Co.opmart supermarkets across the country, it has ensured sufficient stocks of goods at the best prices, she said, adding that it could provide 1,000-1,500 hot meals a day.
Van Quoc Hoang, director of Co.opmart in Vinh Long Province, said currently his supermarket focuses on increasing stocks of essential items that people could store for long-term use such as canned foods, rice, spices, frozen goods, spring rolls, meat paste, milk, vegetables, fresh meat, and fish.
According to industry and trade departments in south-western provinces, along with stockpiling of goods, authorities also continue to exhort people to stay calm assuring them that the supply of essential goods is always abundant.
They also warn people not to hoard essential items, especially inflammable and explosive items such as gasoline and oil.
