The Government has contracted Shop N Save and New World supermarkets to supply food and essential item packs to families in isolation or lockdown areas.
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they had called for an expression of interest from the private sector and had 19 applications from various businesses.
He says Shop N Save staff will be delivering food items and have completed training with the Ministry of Health.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they have expanded nearly $2 million for the provision of these packs and they expect this to continue.
He says the idea of outsourcing is to create efficiency and to ensure that resources from the medical field are not tied up in delivering food packs to these people.
The Attorney General says the two supermarkets have also been told that they need to provide these services on a short notice.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they are currently giving food packs to around 5000 people who are in isolation or targeted lockdown areas.
He says the Government has a responsibility to not just provide groceries but also some essential household items.
