LJAJIC: Supplies plentiful, no reason to stockpile

The Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of Serbia, Rasim Ljajic, has stated that supplies are plentiful and that, while people's fears are understandable, there is no reason to stockpile.

– The situation is serious and requires a serious approach, but panicking can only make it worse – Ljajic said last night on TV B92 and pointed out that it was important for citizens to be responsible and to listen to what the experts, the authorities and the competent institutions are saying.

Ljajic said that stores, pharmacies and supermarkets were to remain open, but that the operations inside them needed to be adjusted to the declared state of emergency, meaning that no facility can have more than 50 people inside at any moment, employees included.

When asked how this is to be controlled, Ljajic says that all the competent inspection services will be available, as well as the police, which, as he says, is crucial in enforcing this order.

He said that having store chains open on Sundays was not being considered and added that there was another problem – keeping people sufficiently supplied.

Ljajic said that they were communicating with large store chains which cover almost the entire Serbia and that the supply was regular, but that the shopping was not, as there's an increased demand for vital supplies.

The minister said that, despite the appeals, people bought more and added that there was no need to stockpile. He reminded that the Government of Serbia had reached the decision to limit the prices of 36 product categories, including vital supplies, protection equipment and disinfectants, so that they would not exceed the prices from March 5, 2020.

He also reminded that the decision on the ban on export of certain products had been adopted and that he believed that it would contribute to preventing any problems with the supply.

– All the measures we've taken aim to secure the availability of vital supplies and prevent any misuse when it comes to the prices – Ljajic pointed out.

He said that tourism also suffered greatly due to coronavirus and added that it was too early to estimate the damage, but that hotel managers had come out with an estimated damage of around EUR 2.7 million in canceled arrangements for March and the first half of April alone.

– Arrangements for May are already being canceled as well. So, 80% of the arrangements have been canceled, which means great losses, not to mention that the arrival of foreign tourists has been almost completely stopped – Ljajic said.

He said that many countries and their institutions had been unprepared for the crisis and added that it was important not to repeat their mistakes.

Ljajic said that the government held sessions every day, adopting new measures in line with the changing situation, and added that the the primary goals were to protect people's health and reduce the economic consequences of the pandemic

Ministarstvo turizma i omladine Republike Srbije

Ministry of Trade Tourism and Telecommunications

Rasim Ljajić

supply

coronavirus

stores

vital supplies

tourism

canceling travel arrangements