Financial Tribune - Despite reassurances by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade that Iranian ports have ample stocks of food and essential goods, people are racing to buy in large quantities supplies from sanitizers to meat and ginger, amid growing coronavirus fears.

�The national stockpile of sanitizers and essential goods is sufficient; people need not raid supermarkets," Hossein Modarres Khiyabani, deputy industries minister, was quoted as saying by IRNA.

�Our strategic reserves of essential goods are twice the country�s need. People should not lock up their liquidity and stock up in excess of needs.�

The ministry has called on chain stores and municipalities� grocery distribution centers and guilds to supply products without interruption.