Virus tests compulsory for restaurant workers in Islamabad

Restaurants and stores have been instructed to place hand sanitizers at their entry and exit points

ISLAMABAD: The administration of the federal capital has made testing for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) compulsory for all restaurant employees who deliver food across the capital.

A notification issued by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) read that only those who test negative for the virus will be allowed to prepare food items and then deliver them.



“Home deliveries of both food and non-food items are directed to adhere to the SOPs of personal hygiene and sanitisation of both themselves and the deliveries,” read the notification.

Restaurants and stores have also been instructed to place hand sanitizers at both their entry and exit points.

“We have come across a few cases where some deliverymen have tested positive for Covid-19,” said Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat.

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“The decision has been taken to ensure that the spread of the deadly virus is curbed,” he added.

Restaurant owners, however, have complained that coronavirus tests are quite expensive and take time to complete. “Big restaurants have around 100 employees while small ones have at least 20,” one of them said.

They demanded that the government provide them with incentives or packages so that they can easily get their staff tested.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2020.