The Defense Commissary Agency wants military communities hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak to know they’ve got their back when it comes to increasing shipments of high-demand items like hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.
DeCA is working with its industry partners daily to procure and prepare items for shipments to Japan, Korea, and Europe via air and sealift, said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, DoD special assistant for commissary operations in a release.
“Right now we’re increasing deliveries to our commissaries in the Pacific and Europe to ensure product availability, and we will continue to fully maintain this level of support throughout the duration of the crisis wherever necessary,” Bianchi said.
Product availability rates in the Pacific are currently at 94 percent and in Europe at 95 percent, according to Bianchi. Products that are airlifted average seven to nine days from the time the order is transmitted until it is received. Orders transported by ship to Pacific commissaries average 21-25 days and to Europe 14 days.
“At this time, we recommend to our customers that they calmly purchase what they need and avoid any panic buying to ensure products are available for others in their communities,” Bianchi said.
Commissary customers should not worry if it’s safe to shop in the store, said Army Lt. Col. Angela Parham, DeCA director of health and safety.
“Our commissaries undergo daily sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning regimens tailored to protect our customers’ health,” Parham added. “These routine measures used by food establishments to prevent ordinary foodborne illness also work to keep viruses from spreading and help keep customers and employees from getting sick.”
In situations where transmission of the virus is high outside an installation, more stringent protection measures are being used, including deep store cleanings, Parham said.
“With policies and procedures like that in place, our stores will be using the most extensive protection measures available,” she said.
Parham added that the best way to keep the virus from spreading is to take commonsense precautions.
“Ultimately, the way to keep this virus from spreading and the way to keep folks from getting sick are very simple things that we should be doing every flu season anyway,” she said.
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