Hanoi (VNA) - 𒁏Hanoi ensures sufficient supply of goods for residents as the capital city started a two-week nationwide social distancing order to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade.

- Hanoi is entering a fierce fight against COVID-19. Could you please tell us about the current situation of goods supply and consumption in recent days?

Tran Thi Phuong Lan: Under the Prime Minister’s social distancing order against COVID-19, Hanoi’s municipal People’s Committee has directed local business facilities, except for those delivering necessities and essential services, to halt operation.   

However, as some localities in Hanoi have misunderstood the order, they closed shops delivering essential goods and services. Therefore, many people have flocked to shopping facilities on March 26 to stock up goods, resulting in local consumption doubling it on usual days. Because of careful preparations, local shopping malls, centres and supermarkets could meet surging demands of customers while prices of goods remain stable. According to statistics by the industry and trade sector, the consumption power only hiked on March 26 and returned to normalcy days later.

- How have firms prepared their supply to meet local residents’ demand?

Tran Thi Phuong Lan: ꦚFirms have stocked up their warehouses since early so they could provide the goods to Hanoi when the demand soared.

Therefore, goods supply in Hanoi-based warehouses could well provide locals within 60 to 90 days. People are advised not to worry and stock essential goods up.

- What plans that Hanoi has developed in response to unpredictable developments of the pandemic?

Tran Thi Phuong Lan: ༺Hanoi has developed multiple schemes for five scenarios to ensure sufficient supply of goods for local people.

The first scenario is when a positive case enters the city. The second scenario is when there are first direct contact infection cases. The third scenario is when there are 20 to 1,000 infected cases stretching in different districts, leading to a hike of 50 to 100% in consumption power. The fourth scenario is when the number of infected cases amounts to 1,000 to 3,000 with quarantine camps established in all 30 districts. If it were the case, consumption power would soar in days. The fifth scenario is when the number of infected cases amounts to 3,000 to 30,000, putting over two million locals in high risk of infection. In this case, people only go out for necessities. Consumers’ demand will shoot up. With the first three scenarios, the Department of Industry and Trade would direct firms to carefully circulate their goods to ensure sufficient supply. We also asked our counterparts in other localities to introduce us to their firms who have goods that are in high demand in Hanoi, just in case. With the fourth and fifth scenarios, the city would direct firms to focus their supply to serve demand of residents in the capital and open warehouses and selling points across the city. If necessary, the city would open field warehouses. We also proposed the municipal government to add more trucks from the public security and military forces, Hanoi Transport Corporation to support the city in bringing goods from other localities to Hanoi.

- What recommendations has the Department of Industry and Trade made for local supermarkets in preventing COVID-19 from spreading?

Local supermarkets and shopping centres have been deploying strict measures against COVID-19 as recommended by the health sector, including compulsory face mask wearing, body temperature checking, and frequently cleaning up surfaces, etc. The city recommends people to use e-commerce and home delivery. In case of shopping at public venues, they should keep a distance of at least two metres with others and regularly wash their hands.

- Thank you so much!