Outlets offering home deliveries must have staff tested: capital admin.

Byline: Munawer Azeem and Aamir Yasin

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI -- The capital administration on Saturday said that all outlets offering home delivery services should get their staff tested for Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Also on Saturday, Islamabad saw another rapid rise in Covid-19 cases after 51 more brought the city's total to 609.

The administration's decision was made based on advice from the Ministry of National Health Services, District Health Office (DHO) and Epidemiologists from the Deputy Commissioner's District Covid Nerve Centre.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia toldDawnthat Covid-19 tests forworkers- and delivery persons in particular - have been made mandatory after 25 employees of a restaurant in F-7 tested positive within a few days. The restaurant's two buildings in the sector have been sealed until further orders, he added.

Four restaurant staffers were initially diagnosed with Covid-19, following which the DHO directed that the restaurant have 25 more tested as well; 21 tested positive.

Floor in DHO sealed after one staffer tests positive; localities in Taramri unsealed

Dr Zia said most of the staffers are from other parts of the country, and efforts are ongoing to send them to their hometowns, which are also being approached to take precautionary measures.

He said that there is now a set criteria for sealing any locality or outlet under which an area will only be sealed if seven people test positive either on the same day or altogether.

A notification has been issued which stated that after input from the aforementioned bodies, all home deliveries or food and non-food items are to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOP) for personal hygiene, hand sanitisation and the sanitisation of deliveries.

All restaurants offering home deliveries shall ensure all employees are tested for Covid-19; only those who test negative may be allowed to deliver or prepare delivery items.

Pharmacies, restaurants and stores are also directed to ensure manual deliveries practice hand sanitisation, social distancing and ensure that items are handed over after sanitisation. The provision of hand sanitiser at entry and exits should also be ensured.

A floor of the DHO in F-8 was also sealed after one staff member tested positive, administration officials said. The staffer was working inside the office and was not involved in any outdoor activities.

The staffer has been isolated at home and the second floor of the office...

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