The coronavirus is creating acute shortages of high-consumption foods and commodities. Despite the calls for social distancing, with Algeria ordering a distance of at least one meter between people, there have been mass gatherings of people looking to buy semolina and flour, two major staples in the Algerian kitchen.
There have been scenes of fights in many stores in across the country, in stores and areas that have taken no precaution to avoid a possible spread of the devastating disease. The problem has been magnified by the challenges facing the Commerce Ministry in coordinating the supply of food and necessities, forcing people to congregate in stores.
Authorities have been attempting to reassure the public about the availability of semolina and flour but have been unsuccessful in bringing a clear message. Over the past few days, Internet users have been sharing videos of countless scenes showing people gathering in large numbers without any safety measures or reasonable distance due to shortages of food.
