First coronavirus death news prompts panic buying

Mostafizur Rahman went to Meena Bazar in the capital's Maghbazar on Wednesday night, a few hours after the first coronavirus death was reported in the country. 

He bought 10 litres of soybean oil even though his four-member family needs five litres a month.

The employee of a private company also purchased five kilogrammes of chicken, and five kilogrammes of big and small fish.  

"Stores are closing amid the coronavirus fear. I am buying in bulk amounts because shops might run out of products," said Mostafizur. 

"My family and I need to eat even if the coronavirus situation turns worse," he said.    

Like Mostafizur, many others were on a shopping spree at the supermarket at 10pm. Some even asked the chain store employees to help them load the big assortment of products into their cars.

The same situation was observed at the Satmasjid Road outlet of Meena Bazar.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research announced the first coronavirus death. 

Its Director Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said the victim, a 70-year-old man, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday (March 17).

He was suffering from comorbidity or one or more additional health conditions. He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney problems.

Meanwhile, prices of some food items and household essentials have gone up due to the panic-buying in the last few days.

Price of rice has increased by Tk2-5 per kilogramme in the last couple of days, while that of lentil and sugar rose by Tk5 per kilogramme and Tk2 per kilogramme respectively. 

Prices of milk powder like Dano, Diploma, Fresh, Marks increased by Tk50-100 per kilogramme.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has urged people not to panic as the government has enough stock of food grains and daily household items amid the pandemic fear that caused jitters around the world.

At a press briefing at the ministry on Wednesday, the minister claimed that there is no scope for shortage of goods.

"The government has stocked about 40 percent more goods this year than it did in the previous year," he said.

Tipu also warned that the ministry would take stern action if anyone charges extra from retail customers. 

"Now, seven mobile teams are working to keep market prices stable. The number of mobile teams will be almost doubled from Thursday," he said.

"We have asked the deputy commissioners to convey the message to people in their respective districts in order to prevent commodity price hike," the minister added.  

At present, 16 suspected patients remain in isolation while 42 are in institutional quarantine, Dr Flora said.   

Of the 14 cases detected so far in the country, seven were infected through local transmission.