Hassan Azzein, chairman of Spinneys, emphasized the necessity for the relevant authorities to reverse the decision to close supermarkets due to its negative implications on the sector. He called for including supermarkets in the exceptions and integrating them into the IMPACT application by granting citizens permission to shop through organized visits and extending allowed periods to ensure the required social distancing.
In a statement, Azzein urged for serious and rapid efforts to establish effective strategies that can impose practical and scientific solutions, facilitating citizens' lives and providing them with hope in the midst of the grim conditions they are experiencing. He stressed that health and food security operate in parallel, and their proper status is capable of facing this crisis, alleviating citizens' fear and anxiety.
Azzein explained that health security is threatened due to the collapse of the healthcare sector, surpassing hospitals' maximum capacities, alongside the loss of medications and oxygen supplies, among other issues, and the exhaustion experienced by workers in the sector who dedicate all their efforts to combat COVID-19 and save citizens' lives.
He considered that an effective strategy is the only means capable of halting the ongoing hemorrhage, which includes securing the vaccine from several companies and commencing a well-planned vaccination process as soon as possible. He highlighted the need for cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and other relevant ministries with both private and public hospitals to overcome all obstacles and prepare for receiving a larger number of patients and treating them, as well as securing the necessary credits to import medications and supplies to avoid shortages and monopolies.
Azzein noted that food security is also at risk of collapse following the haphazard closure of supermarkets and reliance on delivery as an alternative method, explaining that this led to citizens rushing to stockpile supplies, which would subsequently lead to an increase in infections once the rush ended.
He recalled the success of the closure that took place last March, which kept essential sectors open and eased access for citizens to their basic needs, pointing out that citizens adhered to all preventive measures imposed by supermarkets at that time, which resulted in a 90% reduction in cases. He mentioned that no country in the world has followed the same measure but instead kept stores open alongside delivery services.
The Spinneys chairman stated that an increase in demand for delivery services is expected this week, especially with grocery stores closing as well, which will exceed the company's maximum capacity to respond to and fulfill all orders, leading to unfortunate shortages of some essential goods. He indicated that there would be a rising outcry from local producers in numerous sectors due to their inability to market their products and secure an income.
Azzein further observed that the proposed solutions are limited because expanding delivery services logistically and in terms of personnel can only meet needs at a rate ranging from 3% to 6%. He suggested exempting supermarkets from the closure decision, including them in the IMPACT application for shopping permissions through organized visits, extending the allowed periods, and requiring only one person per family to enter the store.
He affirmed that there is still enough time for the authorities to reconsider the decision and spare the nation from a health disaster marked by an increase in infections post-closure and, secondly, the negative consequences on the sector, which is relatively continuous. This includes the issue of food shortages, the bankruptcy of grocery stores that have seen an 80% drop in sales, damage to the food supply and distribution chain, losses in agricultural and food production, and the potential for citizens to violate closure orders to meet their needs, leading to the failure of such measures. He called for coordination among all concerned sectors and consultation with their overseers before making any decision, as they are well aware of the sector's needs and know the best ways to adapt to the situation within available resources.
