Businesses seek Govt intervention

SOME private businesses have been temporarily closed and their workplaces disinfected in the past two weeks as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
The concern was raised in a letter to National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning by the business community, signed by PNG Business Council president Nuni Kulu and PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ian Tarutia. The letter stated: “On behalf of our members, we write to request urgent dialogue to discuss the recent spike in local transmission of the Covid-19 virus.
“The data made available to us indicates that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of cases, particularly in the National Capital District, and anecdotal feedback from our member companies tends to validate the statistics.
“As you are aware, the business community that constitutes our membership has enjoyed a positive dialogue with your office and has put in place a number of agreed Covid-safe protocols.
“These measures have worked really well and are still being followed. However, our employees remain vulnerable, and regrettably we are now seeing more instances of positive cases in workplaces.
“Please be assured that companies are still diligently applying the protocols and, where appropriate, adjusting them to fit our purpose.
“In the last two weeks, we have seen some workplaces being temporarily shut down and disinfected, with the appropriate testing and quarantine measures being actioned. The safety of our employees remains our greatest priority.
“While we are doing everything in our control to ensure safe workplaces, we are anxious to understand the government’s plans to arrest transmissions, and bring the situation under control.
“We are also keen to work with authorities (in) delivering solutions. Of particular interest to us is the eventual vaccination plan, something many of us believe will be a necessary strategy to eventually conquer the pandemic.”