Govt. says no need for public to panic buying and stockpiling of goods
March 12, 2020· Govt. to inform the public in advance to stock good in an emergency
· No plans to conduct house-to-house quarantine
The Government has requested the public not to get panic and stockpiling goods from supermarkets and other retail shops due to fears triggered after some rumors of conducting house-to-house quarantines to detect Corona virus (COVID- 19) carriers.
Some fake news and rumors over rapid spreading of COVID -19, globally, and detecting two Corona positive cases from Sri Lanka, have resulted in panic buying among people who rushed to supermarkets and other retail outlets to stock items like dry rations and other goods, today.
“With this sudden influx of buying goods in large quantities have prompted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to inform the public that there is no reason for them to get panic as the Government has not taken any decision to implement a house-to- house quarantine process,” Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt.Gen. Shavendra Silva said.
He told the defence.lk that when people were suddenly purchasing food and other essential items in large quantities, it would create a shortage in those items in supermarkets and other retail shops, where they had stocked the goods sufficient only for three to four days.
He said if there was an emergency situation, the Government would announce it in advance for people to get prepared to stockpiling necessary goods.
“Just because two confirmed cases of corona have been reported from Sri Lanka so far, there is no reason for the public to be panic to keep stocks at homes,” Army Chief said.