City Mart shoppers will only be allowed to buy three of the same items on 17 products and just one item on other products, the supermarket chain announced yesterday.
Myanmar’s biggest supermarket is rolling out new measures amid a spike in demand caused by the first confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country this week.
The supermarket—along with Aung San Suu Kyi—has urged people to show restraint and refrain from panic buying.
“We want to assure all customers that we have sufficient stock,” stated the chain, adding that the move was “a precautionary measure to discourage re-sellers and ensure as many customers have access to daily essential items.”
Customers will only be able to buy a maximum of three packs of rice or toilet paper, three bottles of cooking oil, and three trays of eggs, among the restrictions.
Alcohol and hand sanitizer are rationed to one big bottle or two small bottles. See below for the full list of rationed goods.
The chain has also reduced its opening hours for 24-hour supermarkets in Yangon’s Myay Ni Gone, Waizayantar, Thamine, Pinlone Sittaung to 9am-9pm.
Marketplace by Citymart (6.5 Mile) will now close at 9pm, two hours earlier than its previous closing time of 11pm.
Shoppers will also be limited to one pack of 10 face masks—the centrepiece of controversy as people seeking to protect themselves from the airborne virus clash with mask vendors looking to exploit the situation.
More than 8,000 Facebook users reacted to a post on the group Myanmar Covid19 Community that complained of rocketing prices for masks.
“While other countries are donating as much as they can, these shops manned by Myanmar people selling to Myanmar people are selling single-use masks at 1,500 kyats per piece,” the user wrote.
The mask was originally priced at 50 kyats, the user said.
“Should a family with a breadwinner dad earning 4,000 kyats a day have to starve in order to afford masks? Should they feed themselves or risk their health instead?”
Another user published photos of foreign nationals distributing free masks to Yangonites, drawing a contrast between the steep prices set by some Myanmar sellers.
But not all mask sellers are looking for a quick buck. Ka La Chi pharmacy on the outskirts of Yangon stuck a notice on its shop saying it would give one free mask to each person in need.
In Thailand, face masks are on a price control list and last week five vendors were jailed for selling them at inflated prices.
To curb the spread of Covid-19, Shwedagon Pagoda has reduced its opening hours from 4am-10pm to 9am-4pm, said the pagoda’s board of trustees.
Other measures at one of Myanmar’s most sacred sites include temperature screening for visitors and limits on lift passengers.
Meanwhile, the board said it has erected washing basins at the pagoda and is giving masks and hand sanitizer to visitors.
