HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - The rising incidence of COVID-19 has led manylocalities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region to adopt social distancing.

Business activity has shrunk dramatically but consumers have been buying andstockpiling food, resulting in a shortage of certain products and pushing uptheir prices.

After the An Giang provincial People's Committee announced social distancingunder Directive 16 in nine districts and city for 10 days from July 15, peoplerushed to buy goods.

The day before at Long Xuyen Market the prices of many vegetables shot up. Forinstance the price of a kilogramme of bottle gourd quadrupled to 44,000 VND.

Nguyen Minh Hung, director of the provincial Department of Industry andTrade, told Tuoi Tre onlinethat this happened because people in some places were worried.

"We have plans in place to ensure steady supply of goods. Currently goodsare being transported to traditional markets."

In Can Tho city, which announced Directive 16 in Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang and BinhThuy districts and Directive 15 in other places from July 12, 64 out of 105traditional markets are closed. The difficulty in transporting goods fromoutside has also affected supply of goods in recent days.

A resident of An Khanh ward in Ninh Kieu said since July 12 he has had to getup early every day to buy food, but has to go to three or four places beforefinding all necessary items such as meat, vegetables and eggs.

Most places do not have enough poultry eggs to meet demand, he added.

A resident of An Binh ward said she bought 20 duck eggs from a seller on Facebookfor 80,000 VND, while it was only 60,000 VND earlier.

An employee at a Satra convenience store on Nguyen Van Linh street, Ninh Kieu district,said pork and vegetables used to be available at his store until evening, butnot since July 11 when they are sold out at 8am.

The situation is similar in Hau Giang province, where Directive 16 is in placein Long My town’s Long Phu commune since July 13.

Traditional markets and supermarkets have been crowded with shoppers coming tobuy mainly items such as rice, instant noodles, milk, packaged foods,vegetables, fruits, and meat.

At traditional markets many sellers said they sell out much earlier than before.

Tran Thi Nhu Lan, who sells agricultural products at the market, said:"Gourds, melons, squash, and pumpkins are in high demand. Each customerbuys two or thrice times the usual volume, and so I sell out goods prettyearly.”

This high demand means the prices for agricultural goods at traditional marketshave shot up, especially those transported from other provinces, according totraders.

Nguyen Van Tham, deputy director of the Hau Giang Department of Industry andTrade, said the pandemic has had a significant impact on production, business,markets, and commodity prices.

The province has plans to stockpile goods to ensure adequate supply fordifferent COVID scenarios, he said.

“So people should not panic and buy goods to hoard."

According to the Can Thơ Market Management Department, prices are up mainly attraditional markets and small shops, and it would co-ordinate with otherrelevant agencies to strengthen oversight.

Ha Vu Son, director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said a numberof sales outlets would be set up for people to buy goods at regular prices.

Supermarkets and convenience stores in many places have seen the number of shoppersincrease by 100-200 percent besides a surge in online orders.

But they have promised to keep prices steady.

La Ngoc Truong, director of Co.opmart Can Tho, said the number of online ordershas increased by 500 - 600 percent and the store has increased stocks bymore than 50 percent to meet demand./.