New guidelines for food industry coming

There will soon be new guidelines for the food industry which will include new ways of social distancing and sanitation for those involved in the industry.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said a committee is working on these new measures, to be implemented when government lifts restrictions on food outlets initiated as part of the overall covid19 restrictions. He was speaking at the Ministry of Health's daily virtual media press conference on Friday.

“This is to let everyone know how we are to behave. This is for both the general public as well as the employers and employees,” Parasram said as he referred to the food industry guidelines. Specific protocols for dealing with sick employees are also being strongly considered.

“Most critically and the biggest change is, people who are sick need to stay home. We are seeing people have a viral illness, staying home for two days and then returning to work,” Parasram said. “We have to understand if you have a viral illness, yes, you may feel better, but you can continue to spread the virus up to a week, and in the case of children, for up to ten days.”