Since Friday night when Viet Nam's 17^th Covid-19 patient was confirmed in Ha Noi, supermarkets and retail outlets across Da Nang have seen a growing number of shoppers to buy food and essential items like rice, instant noodles and soaps over fears about the spread of coronavirus.

Shoppers at a supermarket

On Saturday, such supermarkets as BigC Mall, Co.op Mart, Lotte Mart and Mega Market saw a spike in sale of rice, instant noodles, canned food, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.Therefore, BigC Mall imposed a limit on sales of such items as rice and instant noodles amid shoppers panic-buying over coronavirus fears.

Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Ha Bac remarked his unit has closely worked with distributors, retailers and district-level authorities to take actions to stop panic-buying.

Despite high purchasing power, food and essential items are still plentiful at supermarkets

Mr Bac also advises local residents to buy enough food and essential items for their families to prevent stockpiling because retailers in Da Nang have assured customers they are prepared and have adequate supply. In addition, he warned local residents against panic buying spurred by fears of the coronavirus outbreak which could spark food riots and empty shelves as well as impose more burdens on the city's authorities in the context of coronavirus . 

By LE MUA - Translated by MAI DUNG