Sanitisation Stations Still Encouraged at Businesses

By Sue-Ann Wayow

BUSINESS owners should still encourage the sanitisation of hands before customers or clients enter  establishments.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said as a precautionary measure against Covid-19 and other diseases, the measure should still remain in place although the mask mandate has been lifted.

Deyalsingh said, “If I can just make a plea to business owners, whilst that was never compulsory but was part of the three Ws… we would still like business places to keep on inviting your patrons to sanitise their hands on coming in. Let’s not do away with that one as completely as yet.”

He said, those measures others assisted in decreasing the spread of other diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic which began in 2020.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram also said there was a reduction in virus such as influenza during the pandemic.

They were speaking during the Ministry of Health’s virtual Covid-19 update on Wednesday.

However, with the rainy season and the flooding that occurs as a result, the ministry was expecting an increase in insect vector diseases.

Dr Parasram said to date, there were no reports of any red flags from an epidemiological perspective but close monitoring was taking place by health officials.

He said the Insect Vector Department played a key role.

Dr Parasram said, “We expect to see an increase in vector-borne diseases in the near future but we have not seen a significant increase as yet. As the rainy season goes onwards, we will be keeping an eye on the vector borne diseases in particular. Things like food-borne illnesses tend to increase as well.”

The CMO said there were significant decreases over the course of Covid-19 due to the decreased mobility of people and the increased hygiene and public health measures.

‘It is something that we are paying close attention to, to see if there is a rebound in vector-borne diseases and food-borne disease post-Covid-19 as well,” Dr Parasram said.