Don't panic, companies are stocked enough with basics.

Since the government's early measures, and especially after presenting the first cases with Covid-19, citizens have reacted by providing food, drugs, and other basics, in case they are to be isolated in their homes, as has happened in many countries.

The chairman of the Kosovo Economic Ode, Berat Rukiqi, told Radio Free Europe about the supply of products there is no concern that there may be a shortage.

Businesses, he says, are prepared.

One thing citizens need to be assured of is that for basic articles there are enough stock and enough goods in the market as well and there is no need to create panic or excessive purchase. Most companies these days are supplied with more existing stock planned for a longer time”, Rukiqi says.

Rukiqi adds that before the Kosovo government takes preventive measures, trade businesses have made additional imports for certain articles.

I don't see any problems yet, at least not expected, in the version of whether this lasts longer than four months when new situations should be seen. But, in this situation that is now, with this level of virus distribution worldwide, I don't see that there will be a supply problem, he says.

The Kosovo government has already taken preventive measures, as well as has made a decision to temporarily suspend airlines and land lines.

Kosovo Customs spokesman Adriatic Stavileci tells Radio Free Europe that in recent days there has been a slight increase in imports of some products, but not in large measure.

“We can't say there's a huge import increase. We have seen increases in products such as flour, but it is not high”, he says.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, meanwhile, has assured citizens there will be no shortage of goods and that borders will not be closed to goods, but to travellers.

The “Malls will still enter Kosovo because we depend on import”, he says.

The chairman of the Millis Association in Kosovo, Muhamet Selmani, has said flour producers have enough wheat and will not lack this product.

The flour producers that are over 30 are very active producing flour. It's not the problem that there are no amounts of wheat, but the biggest problem is the time to turn wheat into flour because their capacity is limited, they have no capacity because the flow is too large. The amount of flour has enough for these days and flour factories will be fully ready to supply the citizens”, he said.

Meanwhile, following reactions on social networks and the media that there have been expensive prices of food products, Economy and Transferences Minister Besnik Bislimi has indicated that in all cases, tax administration inspectors see irregularities would be authorised to close those businesses.

Kosovo's Tax Administration during these days has handled over 500 cases of total 1,809 calls received by citizens for price hikes from businesses.

In a media communiqué, ATK has indicated that a considerable number of businesses have increased the prices of basic products, as well as pharmaceuticals, so ATK in co-operation with competent organs has said it will take legal action.

Physical and legal persons who do not respect and violate recommendations made by the Kosovo government will be punished in line with legislation in force.

The new Coronavirus is accompanied by temperature, dry cough, and respiratory problems. He was first reported to have appeared in China.