Hospitality sector must be alert to COVID threat

Medical staff inoculate civil authority workers with a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at the Nair Hospital’s vaccination centre in Mumbai. Pic/AFP

A hotel in Ghodbunder was sealed after 21 of its 90-odd staffers tested positive for COVID-19. The hotel management, which had decided to test the staff, was taken aback by the results. They approached the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), which has now sealed the premises. A tentative reopening date has been set for March 4.

Civic officials claimed that they were trying to trace the contacts, but it is next to impossible to trace every guest that has been to the establishment, maybe just for a meal. One does hope though, that guests take requisite steps and are mature enough to follow procedures, now that these staffers have tested positive. The guests should not wait for the municipal authorities to trace them, but take the initiative to undergo testing, isolation or appropriate measures in these situations.

This must also alert establishments, hotels, clubs, in fact, the hospitality sector to make regular checking mandatory for staff. A lot of staffers also live at the workplace so as far as possible, one must have decent, sanitary living conditions for the employees. They themselves must be made aware of the importance of sanitising and when possible, distancing, in these times. There must be adequate training in these aspects, including the need and importance to wash hands regularly, not just while serving guests but also when off duty.

Habits of washing clothes, cleaning the living space daily must be inculcated and adequate water must be provided to make this possible. Our civic authorities need to look at how the staff is being housed at these establishments. While one understands space crunch, any tardiness about hygiene cannot and should not be excused. Staffers have to earn their living; hospitality has to get back on its feet but let us do so with great dignity and responsibility.