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Life can be a bit challenging during the lockdown, with little to no human contact. However, internet shopping has made it possible to get the supplies needed and comply with the preventive measures set by the Moroccan authorities to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
During the containment period, expected to last until April 20th, several Moroccan delivery companies have seen their activities boosted. From buying food supplies to other services that require leaving the house, these companies have hugely contributed in making these difficult times a lot more bearable.
Fruit and vegetables deliveries boosted
For food-related matters, several companies offer vegetables and fruit deliveries. Khadar F’Dar is a Casablanca-based food delivery firm that offer farmer’s markets supplies. During these days, the orders the company receives have almost doubled. «We get 300 orders delivered every day to Casablanca, Mohammedia and Bouskoura», a Khadar F’Dar representative told Yabiladi.
The company which takes online and phone orders, had to «boost its delivery and packaging teams during the lockdown», to answer the needs of the clients. «The personnel responsible for packaging vegetables and fruit comply with the health safety instructions, systematically disinfecting their equipment and hands», the same source said, adding that «the bags used to deliver products are also disinfected».
Biotop is also another firm that does fruit and vegetables deliveries during the lockdown. Its commercial director Khalid Harbouze told Yabiladi that «orders have grown significantly these days». To protect their clients and employees and to comply with the national health emergency, the company has implemented a series of sanitary measures.
«Our delivery men are equipped with sanitized gloves and sanitizing gels to disinfect their hands while wearing a mask is compulsory. They are also forced to keep the necessary distance while on duty», Harbouze said.
The company is also planning to «introduce online payment to reduce human contact during the lockdown and respond to the numerous orders of their clients».
Meat, poultry and fish
Supplies Moroccans can order online are not only limited to fruit and vegetables but also meat, poultry, fish and seafood. La Source, is a butcher shop in Casablanca, that delivers red meat and poultry during the lockdown. «There are orders for people who want to stay confined, while the shop remains open until 5 pm», one of its employees said on Thursday.
«We strictly respect the sanitary measures and our staff is equipped with the adequate materials for that sake», he added.
Samaki is a fish and seafood delivery company that provides similar services. The company mentioned a surge in its activities lately: «The orders are significantly higher than before because everyone is just home and some of them would rather have food delivered to them than go out», an employee at the company told Yabiladi.
Despite the decreasing supply, the company made sure not to stop its operations. «It is a bit hard to find fish and seafood these days because authorities have limited the activities of fishing boats and automatically the prices have risen», he added. The company also makes sure the delivery personnel avoid close contact with clients and follow the necessary sanitary measures.
Drugstores, gas and other supplies
The same thing goes for hygiene, health and beauty products, delivered by a company called Drugstores of Morocco. The shop, which opens from 10 am to 6 pm, has a home delivery service operating in Casablanca, Mohammedia, Dar Bouazza and Bouskoura.
«All the staff are equipped with gloves, masks and hand sanitizers», Drugstores in Morocco founder Wafaa Ghiati says. In addition to sanitary measures, «our delivery people are not allowed, for example, to enter the buildings they deliver to», she added.
«People lack products so they buy them. They order hand sanitizers, devices such as blood pressure monitors, bottles for children, in addition to shampoos and shower gels», she said.
Another necessary supply is butane gas bottles. These can indeed be purchased through a delivery company in addition to grocery stores. «The grocery stores are always open, the demand remains the same compared to other periods», an Allo Gaz service representative said. As for the current sanitary crisis, the same source explained that «each truck is disinfected at the depots with a sanitizing product».
«On delivery, before handing the gas bottle to the customer, it is also disinfected», he said, adding that deliverymen are also equipped with gloves and hand sanitizing gels.
Other types of deliveries in Morocco are also experiencing a major surge, especially during the lockdown. Hassan, who works for Magicourses, said that in addition to food, supplies and e-commerce products the company delivers «administrative paperwork». «We can also can pay electricity and phone bills for our clients or run errands for them», Hassan said.
During these deliveries, the staff wear masks and gloves and use hand sanitizers. They also make sure to disinfect packages before handing them to clients, Hassan concluded.
These delivery services are thus added to the traditional distribution channels, such as grocery stores and convenience stores, which are also trying to adopt to the preventive measures set by the authorities amid the coronavirus outbreak.
