The recently announced port closures are only meant to limit the movement of people and will not affect the flow of goods to the country, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has said.
According to Patel critical industries such as healthcare, food and beverages were also making sure that their supply chains remain intact. The retail sector is also securing its supply chains to ensure that the current panic buying does not lead to more panic and disruptions to the supply chain.
Trade Law Centre researcher Willemien Viljoen said that people might opt for non-perishables such as rice, pastas and long-life milk in preparation for a lockdown. She warned against panic buying which has led to shortages of supply in supermarkets.
The complete article is available on the Fin24 website.