Hanoi authorities have requested local grocery retailers to apply QR codes to manage customer information at sale points as well as continue strengthening compliance with disease prevention measures. 

Local shoppers at Big C Thang Long supermarket on September 6. Photos: The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi People's Committee has wanted owners/managers at retail outlets across the city to draw up disease prevention plans and fully comply with the competent authorities’ instructions on safety measures in stores, especially in the case that a virus-infected shopper is detected (F0). 

The owners/managers must strictly control the list of employees in service to ensure compliance with regulations on disease prevention, promptly coordinate with relevant authorities to carry out an epidemiological investigation and tracing when the F0 case is detected.

All supermarkets, shopping malls, convenience stores, and other chains must be equipped with cameras and QR codes. For wet markets, the municipal People's Committee required the management and sellers to encourage the customers to scan QR codes for making health declarations. 

The People's Committees of districts and towns need to guide retail points including traditional markets and modern grocery chains to implement regulations related to disease prevention and control. The competent authority will handle cases of violations.

Though many wet markets, supermarkets, and convenience stores have been temporarily shuttered due to Covid-19, the local authority and the distribution system have ensured the supply of essential goods to the people with stable prices and convenient shopping. 

Earlier, Hanoi’s retailers have built a plan to diversify sources of goods supply and offered various online and offline distribution channels which are available around the clock to avoid disease transmission.

Nguyen Thai Dung, Chairman of Hanoi-based BRG Retail, owner of the Hapro and Fuji Mart supermarket chains, told The Hanoi Times the retailer has increased the stockpile of essential commodities by 300% at each store and by ten times at the central warehouse.

Northern Region Director of Big C Le Manh Phong said Big C's stockpile increased by 30-50% compared to the daily amount. The stock of some items is in high demand and that of fresh food rose by 100%. 

According to the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, the supply volume of essentials is expected to triple in the remaining months with a value of about VND194 trillion (US$8.4 billion).

Fresh vegetables and fruits are sold at Nam Dong wet market, Dong Da District.

The municipal Department of Industry and Trade in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has made public a list of nearly 1,000 businesses and cooperatives ready to supply essentials with stable prices, as well as fully meet people's demands in all situations.  

The Department of Industry and Trade has also made public 35 businesses and 565 essential goods supply locations selling online, thereby reducing the number of shoppers at stores.

The city has implemented many models of goods supply to the people including organizing 62 mobile sales points in 11 districts and 13 “zero VND supermarkets” to support the poor. It also sent nearly 22,000 donations with a total value of about VND8.8 billion (nearly $386,500) to many workers with VND400,000 ($17.5) each. 

The city also turned 342 post offices, bookshops, and electronics stores into outlets selling basic necessities as well as established five goods transshipment places to reduce the load of goods at wholesale markets.