Prepare for further waves of Covid-19, businesses urged
Coventry’s leading figure for public health in the city is urging businesses to seek advice on preparing for working life alongside Covid-19, after warning that future waves of the virus are likely until a vaccine is found.
Liz Gaulton, Director of Public Health at Coventry City Council, issued the advice during Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s #PolicyHour session, where she also praised the region’s businesses for supporting their local communities via volunteering and manufacturing public protection equipment.
She said: “The way that the business community has responded to this unprecedented situation is truly inspirational - not only have they adhered to the guidelines by putting the safety of their staff first, but business owners have dedicated time and money to supporting the nationwide fight against Covid-19.
“Understandably, a lot of business owners now are turning their attentions to how their business can return to normal when the lockdown eventually starts to be lifted, which will equally require a lot of careful planning.
“I believe we could be in lockdown for some time, but if businesses are given the green light to return to work, the question every business owner needs to ask themselves is this: can I maintain social distancing between my staff and customers?
“While the West Midlands has been reported to be one of the worst areas for Coronavirus cases, Coventry is in fact mirroring the national average with 176 people testing positive for every 100,000 people - and we would expect numbers to continue decreasing over the coming days and weeks as long as people continue to follow the national guidance.
“There is a real possibility that we could see a smaller second or third wave of Coronavirus in the future, so businesses really need to be treating this virus as if it is here to stay until we have widely-available vaccine that can combat it.
“I am also expecting to see contact tracing ramped up over the coming weeks as the confirmed number of cases decline. This will see people contacted when they have come into contact with a carrier of the virus, which will see them having to self-isolate - this will inevitably have some impact on workforces, and is another scenario for businesses to consider.
“For any businesses looking for guidance on how they can open their business in a safe way, I would recommend that they touch base with their local chamber of commerce.”
Sean Rose, Policy Officer at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, revealed that businesses in the region have already been devising equipment that promotes social distancing.
He added: “Solving the issue of social distancing is going to be crucial in helping businesses across the region to return to a level of normality.
“Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is working closely with some existing members - who have already produced some social distancing packs - and other organisations to explore the steps that businesses can take when they decide to re-open.
“If any business is unsure of what steps to take over the coming weeks, please contact us in the first instance, as we will be providing updates on this issue over the coming weeks.”
Pictured: Liz Gaulton
