Ministry of Commerce releases guidelines for safely operating businesses during COVID-19

The Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport has set the mandatory minimum parameters for safely operating businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say the protocols and measures are designed to ensure zero to minimal risk when continuing essential services and may be subject to review (modification, additional or removal) in this endeavour.

It further says the principles and protocols are applicable to essential and economically essential industries only.

High risk businesses shall remain closed, which include schools, gyms, movie theatres, video gaming shops, cyber cafes, taverns, bars, billiard shops, amusement arcades, hairdressers, barber shops, beauty and massage therapy venues, sauna and tattoo parlors.

The Ministry also says any person who directly or indirectly refuses or neglects to comply with the authorisation by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services commits an offence and is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years or both under the Public Health Act 1935.

The non-negotiable protocols are that businesses shall ensure all employees, customers, clients shall wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and maintain 2-metre physical distance at all times (excluding vehicles).

The employer/business shall bear the responsibility to provide all employees with Personal Protective Equipment.

Businesses shall make available provision for hand washing facilities and/or sanitisers to employees and customers and all employees, customers, clients shall download the careFIJI mobile app and keep the device Bluetooth turned on and in the event an employee does not have a smartphone, the employer/business shall bear the responsibility to provide smartphones.

In the event a customer or client does not have the careFIJI app downloaded with the device Bluetooth turned on, the business shall disallow entry onto the premises.

Once the careFIJI check-in service is available, businesses shall be required to register and download a unique digital geo identification indicator, through the use of a QR

Code, to identify the location of their businesses and various branches.

The QR Code will need to be printed and displayed in entry and exit locations of their business and various branches. All customers shall be required to scan the QR Code using their

careFIJI application when visiting the business location, whereby phone number and the time of entry and exit will be recorded.

Where possible, businesses shall have video surveillance installation activated with footage to be made available to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

Businesses shall only operate at a maximum capacity of 50% of the establishment, except in production lines where the 50% capacity may not be possible. In this case, the 2-metre physical distancing shall apply.

Businesses shall set up temperature monitoring at the entrance or employee gate to take temperature. Only those with normal temperature can enter. Once an employee is identified to have fever (37.8ºC and above) and/or COVID-19 like symptoms, this

must be documented and communicated to the Health Ministry.

Businesses shall maintain an Absentee Register. Should an employee show COVID19 like symptoms whilst at work or not report to work on their scheduled time, the employer must make contact with the employee to ascertain reason for absence.

Should an employee report sick with COVID-19 like symptoms, the Ministry of Health must be notified immediately on 158, with all details of the employee.

Should an employee be identified as a primary or secondary contact of a positive case, the employee must inform the employer immediately and contact the Health Ministry. The employee must self-isolate until clearance is obtained from the Health Ministry.

Businesses shall establish a dedicated isolation room/section to isolate suspected COVID-19 cases with a referral process to the Health Ministry in place. Employees should be trained in recognising and responding to symptoms of COVID-19 as they become apparent in themselves or in others, know the protocols for reporting sick employees and customers and where the isolation room is.

Businesses shall maintain safe hygiene protocols and disinfect all frequently-touched surfaces on a regular basis and businesses operating shall form and maintain operational bubbles, with a register of details of movement amongst a group of employers/employees.

Businesses must ensure that there is no intermingling of separate bubbles or shifts and this needs to be documented. Awareness to be created to maintain the integrity of an established bubble, even out of office.

Businesses shall ensure breaks are staggered and employees at no time, co-mingle to create a crowd (3 or more), share cutlery, utensils, bilos and/or cigarettes or any other consumables.

At no time shall there be social gathering at the workplace.

Businesses shall have adequate ventilation and circulation of air and all employees shall be from within the same Containment Area, as defined by the Health Ministry.

There will be no moving in and out Containment Areas, between Containment Areas, or between Containment and non-Containment Areas. If a person is from outside the Containment Area, they shall be relocated and remain in the Containment Area of the business site or office.

Businesses shall provide company transportation to all employees from home to the business site, to maintain the integrity of the respective bubbles. Employees shall not use public transportation. private transportation may be used with strict protocols.

Businesses shall also engage in regular on-site training and awareness on the