Charlotte Varcoe
BUSINESSES will be given direction on a case-by-case basis if a business is identified as a Covid-19 exposure site.
Limestone Coast Local Health Network executive director of medical services Dr Elaine Pretorius said in the past businesses would be shut down if a Covid positive case entered a business premise.
However, under new direction, Dr Pretorius said future management of these situations would be dependent on a risk assessment conducted by the Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health.
“It would depend on how severe the transmission is in the case of that positive test,” Dr Pretorius said.
Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce president Hayley Neumann said businesses were grateful for a sense of direction and hoped communication between health officials and businesses continued to improve.
“We are also hoping that this new information helps with confidence as well so people can get out there and enjoy themselves,” Ms Neumann said.
“We cannot have 100 per cent confidence because there are only so many contact tracers, however we still want to be informed of any changes as soon as possible.”
She said businesses also hoped for better confidence in conducting interstate business activities and remained concerned about possible quarantine requirements.
“We are hoping it will only be people who are double vaccinated who cross the border which would then reduce transmission rates,” Ms Neumann said.
“But businesses need to make sure they have plans in place and think about contingency plans now.
“Owners and operators need to be proactive and not reactive and make sure of their Covid safety plans and keep the QR check in code where it is easily accessible.”
Ms Neumann encouraged businesses to further develop the conversation with staff surrounding vaccinations and to work through all possible scenarios.
“We have done an amazing job these past 20 months and I know our business community will take it in their stride,” she said.
“I know they will do everything possible to keep themselves, their staff and customers safe while keeping their businesses going.”
