Residents of South Ossetia react to coronavirus threat by buying out foodstuffs

In recent days, South Ossetia watches a massive buy-out of foodstuffs and essentials; there is a shortage of medical masks, while the demand for airline tickets has dropped, local residents inform.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since the midnight on March 18, Russia imposed a restriction on foreign citizens' and stateless persons' entry into the country because of the spread of coronavirus.

Tskhinvali residents are buying out foodstuffs and essentials at stores for fear that if the situation with the coronavirus worsens, the border with Russia may be closed for a long time, a resident of the capital of the republic named Marat has stated.

"Everyone is scurrying around, buying up everything, running around with full bags to their cars," said Akhsar Tigiev, a young man.

"Such excitement over foodstuffs like on the New Year's Eve," a saleswoman of one of the shops told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Medical masks are not available in all pharmacies of South Ossetia; the price of them has increased from 5 to 17 roubles, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported.

An employee of an air ticket office in Tskhinvali told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that demand for tickets has decreased markedly; and many people are returning their tickets back.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 18, 2020 at 07:31 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.