CAIRO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Adel-Fattah al-Sisi on Monday instructed the concerned authorities to exert efforts to provide basic commodities and enhance strategic reserves in order to meet people's needs in appropriate quantities and prices amid COVID-19 spread in the country.

Sisi's remarks came during his meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and ministers and officials, including ministers of finance, agriculture, and supply and internal trade, Bassam Rady, spokesman for presidency said in a statement.

The president and the ministers discussed the situation regarding food supplies in local markets, and scenarios to deal with the impacts of the novel coronavirus, the spokesman added.

Sisi also directed the concerned authorities to control the markets, tighten control over sales outlets, combat monopolistic practices, and strengthen the role of consumer protection agencies to ensure the availability of various commodities.

The ministers, meanwhile, confirmed that the government has strategic reserves of basic commodities, highlighting the efforts of state agencies and ministries to achieve sustainable development in all development and service areas across the country, including achieving food security.

Egypt has been recently taking strict preventive measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, including night-time curfew, temporary closure of schools and universities, suspending flights, reducing employees and sterilizing public transport vehicles, government offices, hotels and tourist attractions.

Egypt also temporarily shut down mosques and churches nationwide, while coffee shops, clubs, malls, restaurants and other entertainment places were told to close from early evening to early morning over coronavirus concerns. Enditem

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