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The Path to Recovery: Industry-specific guidance from Cleveland Clinic about transitioning to the workplace during COVID-19

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Beach Enclave Turks and Caicos staff ready to serve, File Photo

The coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected people all across the world, sending massive shock waves through the global economy and leaving a trail of death in its wake. There were many unforeseen challenges with millions advised to practice social distancing and wear masks daily.  As global cases edge closer to 15 million, there is still much uncertainty, but people have begun asking: how do we move forward and remain safe at the same time?

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The Bahamas, like many countries around the world, began focusing its efforts toward economic recovery and returning to everyday life beyond quarantine from mid-June 2020 with phased re-openings for certain groups, full opening of commercial travel from July 1, and now effective July 22, closing commercial travel again from certain destinations due to a huge spike in Covid-19 cases. However, one thing has remained constant – ensuring organizations and business houses alike establish the right measures and safety guidelines to prevent further contagion of the virus in the local community.   

As a part of the business reactivation plan, the Ministry of Health, along with other institutions, stepped up to offer guidelines and resources for organizations to implement. For example, last week, the Ministry of Health released “Workplace Guidelines During Covid-19 (V8), an updated version of the “Health and Safety at Work Act of 2002.  The document provides recommendations to employers regarding best practices for maintaining the physical and mental health of their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also requires employers to provide a hazard-free work zone, and substantially reduce risk of injury and death in the workplace setting.   The Atlantis, Paradise Island resort also collaborated with Cleveland Clinic, a world renowned healthcare provider, and launched the “Atlantis Clean and Safe Promise” initiative to help ensure the health, safety and well-being of guests, team members and the local community,  in preparation for re-opening after months of being shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. 

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As schools and hospitals begin to make preparations to re-open in September, here are a few industry-specific Covid-19 safety guidelines from Cleveland Clinic:

Education

  • Disinfect high-touch areas and objects (chairs, desks, computer equipment, doors, etc.) often and create disinfecting stations across campus
  • Establish clearly communicated guidelines to ensure social distancing measures are properly implemented, and reduce the number of students and faculty in one area at once.
  • Reconsider usage of shared classrooms and supplies and discourage students from sharing their equipment/materials.
  • Alter food & beverage service practices like only serving food that can be easily distributed.
  • Create a culture of responsibility by developing a pledge students, staff, and faculty can follow to keep each other safe.

Hospitality

  • Maintain physical distancing at entrances and exits, the front desk, concierge spaces, pools and beaches, fitness facilities, restaurants and back-of-house areas. Use floor markers or other signage to reinforce physical distancing
  • Reassign employees at high-risk for contagion (65+ and those with pre-existing conditions)
  • Increase frequency of cleaning in all areas and adjust policies for fitness & swimming areas
  • Consider suspension of valet services

Retail

  • Disinfect high-touch areas frequently, such as doorknobs, push bars and door handles, light switches, carts and baskets, touchscreens, keyboards and credit card machines
  • Require employees and guests to wear face masks inside the store
  • Determine maximum occupancy and use signage to reinforce distancing or prompt symptomatic customers to not come inside
  • Specify hours for at-risk populations and switch to contactless payments whenever possible
  • Decide whether to re-open fitting roomsand use appropriate sanitation measures if opening them. Encourage customers to use hand sanitizer/wipes before trying on items and to keep a protective mask on during fitting. Develop a procedure for disinfecting fitting room items (not just clothing, but also jewelry, eyewear, etc.)

For other tips and information for employers, visit clevelandlclinic.org/coronavirus and the ‘For Employers’ section for the full guides on returning to work.

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Caribbean News

CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Caribbean News

Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Caribbean News

Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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