The Georgetown Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCCI) has issued a number of recommendations that it feels would help stymie the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
In a release yesterday, the GGCI expressed its concern regarding the preparations being made to reduce the spread of the virus once local transmission occurs in Guyana, stating, “In order to do this, we need to change our behavioural patterns and adopt the approach known as Social Distancing.”
The Chamber assured that it welcomes the preparations by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and “is ready, willing and able to assist the MoPH in its efforts to increase its resources to effectively fight Covid-19.”
It referred to the press conference that was recently held by the MoPH where the Minister, Volda Lawrence, disclosed that four persons were placed in mandatory isolation and one person is of national interest. The Minister also iterated that the ministry is working within the Eight Pillars Framework set out by the World Health Organization.
According to the GCCI, it has been invited to participate in a Covid-19 National Taskforce that has been set up and it is looking forward to a convening of the first meeting in an effort to relay information to its members as well as give feedback to the taskforce’s coordinated response to the virus threat.
While it awaits directions from the national authorities, the Chamber issued the following recommendations:
Avoid large gatherings. There should be no congregation of people in groups of more than 15 persons.
Employers should encourage employees to work from home/telecommute where possible.
Businesses such as restaurants, bars and similar services should discontinue ‘dine- in’ services for customers and facilitate takeout, delivery and ‘drive-thru’ options.
Minibus and speed boat owners should sanitize their vehicles and boats after every trip and should try to maintain a 3ft distance between each passenger if possible.
Employers should disseminate guidelines on sanitation and hygiene to employees and ensure that employees have access to sanitizing materials.
Businesses should not price gouge on materials needed for sanitizing and prevention of the spread of Covid-19.
The public should remain calm and refrain from panic buying and hoarding of Personal Protective Equipment and sanitizing materials which limits availability for essential personnel who need the materials and are on the frontlines of fighting the spread of the infection.
The GGCI also encourages members of the business community as well as the general public to voluntarily practice social distancing, the release added.
