The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) says that if Guyana is to truly stop the transmission of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), then behavioral patterns need to change, along with the practice of social distancing.
The chamber said that it is ready, willing and able to assist the Health Ministry in its efforts to increase its resources to effectively fight COVID-19.
Currently, there are four persons in mandatory isolation and one person of national interest.
The Ministry is working within the Eight-Pillar Framework from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Moving ahead, the GCCI said that it would like to see a convening of the first meeting of the COVID19 National Taskforce which it was invited to participate in, so that the GCCI can help to relay information to its members as well as give feedback to the Taskforce’s coordinated response to the virus.
Whilst waiting for directions from the National Authorities, the GCCI encourages members of the business community and the general public to voluntarily practice social distancing.
The GCCI also offers 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 (PPE) 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.
