Food handlers warned to take precautionary safety measures

COVID-19

Thus far, research has not proven that the coronavirus known as COVID-19 can be transmitted through food but as a precautionary measure, the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department is urging food handlers to maintain food safety and sanitation practices.
With Guyana being crowned with its first case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, many persons are taking precautionary measures to guarantee their safety.
According to the Public Health Ministry, the virus is transmitted from person to person contact and respiratory droplets. However, there is a possibility that the virus can be passed by having physical contact with food sellers. Nevertheless, the Centers for Disease Control stated that there is no evidence to support COVID-19 transmission through food.
Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, Marlon Cole told the media that while the virus is not known to be contracted through food, food handlers must maintain sanitation practices.
“Ensure you keep hot food hot, you keep cold food cold, make sure those who are handling the food are qualified food handlers and do make sure that there is running water, soap, and hand sanitisers to clean the hands and sanitise surfaces. It is important that they would practice what we preach at food handling seminars”, he explained.

Cole further noted that now that there is a demand for sanitisation supplies, his Department will be on the lookout for bogus products.
“Persons tend to take the opportunity to flood markets with substandard items, we would have to be vigilant as a Department and play our role to ensure that the items that prepared to be bacterial resilient, have the necessary content that they are supposed to have,” he said.
The COVID-19 virus is expected to last three to four days on surfaces depending on the temperature.
Further, the Director stated that his Department will also be checking for the authenticity of food items. He said because of the country’s climate, it is unlikely that the virus will survive in the country for long.
“This is a tropical region, and the survival of the virus, though in other countries it tends to last between seven to nine hours on fabrics, that might not be the case here. However, we still have to ensure that our officers are protected…”, he explained.
Meanwhile, the death rate of the virus has risen to 5397, leaving a recovery rate of 93 per cent globally.a