Take steps to shieldyour staff: Mellon

Sinn Féin Ballyarnett Councillor Aileen Mellon said many local companies have been proactive in providing protective gloves and hand sanitisers to their staff.

She appealed to all businesses that have face-to-face contact with the general public to ensure that they have sanitisers at the entrance to their premises and that all front line staff have protective gloves and facilities to wash their hands.

“We know this a very fast-moving situation and resources are stretched but I have been contacted by a members of the public with concerns that they have entered a number of premises with no sanitisers at the door. They have also said that staff who are dealing with hundreds of people a day have no gloves or protection coming into contact them.

“It’s vital that all frontline staff in local businesses have protective gloves and facilities to wash their hands,” she said.

Meanwhile, Translink has asked people not to use their buses or trains if they are feeling unwell and has rolled out hand sanitisers to all front line staff in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We have regular enhanced cleaning regimes in place for our fleet and passenger facilities including keeping surfaces clean and sanitising hand touch areas.

“Hand sanitisers have also been rolled out across all frontline bus and rail staff.

“Passengers should wash their hands for 20 seconds before and after they have been on public transport where stations are equipped with hand washing facilities in toilets,” a spokesperson said.