Greater Chennai Corporation finds 114 Covid positive employees at star category hotels in testing drive – Economic Times

New Delhi: The public health department of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said on Sunday that following a Covid-19 testing drive conducted at hotels in the city, 114 employees of star category hotels were found to be Covid-19 positive.

GCC said 11 employees of non star category hotels were found to be Covid-19 positive. The corporation said it tested 1623 employees of star category hotels from December 16 till January 3 out of which results of 159 employees were still awaited. It tested 2769 employees of other hotels, out of which results of 332 employees were awaited.

The South India Hotels and Restaurants Association said it was telling its members to ramp up sensitisation measures and protocols after the testing drive by GCC.

According to local media reports, the ITC Grand Chola in Chennai and The Leela Palace Chennai were found to have Covid-19 cases.

“Stringent monitoring of our associates’ well-being is part of our protocol, that we have been practicing since the hotels reopened. Those employees who have been proactively tested have been away from the workplace and the protocol of contact tracing and further testing, strictly followed. In fact, it is because of this process that cases came to light well before the intervention of the authorities,” an ITC Hotels spokesperson said, adding: “Of the reported numbers, a majority of the cases were already proactively tested and in isolation.”

The Leela Palace Chennai said “a few” of its associates had tested positive. “These associates were asymptomatic and have been isolated. They are being given the necessary medical attention. In keeping with the guidelines issued by the local authorities, all events and gatherings have been cancelled until further notice,” the hotel said in a statement.

“When staff members are in the premises, all measures and SOPs are followed by the hotels. But, hotels have no control on the staff when they are outside meeting other people,” said Sundar Singaram, director, operations at the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association. “It is unfortunate. This could have happened anywhere. But, we are telling members to follow the SOPs very strictly and be cautious,” he added.

The ITC Hotels spokesperson said while the GCC had classified some associates as asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic, a majority of its associates were working from home and had been absent from the property and had no contact with other associates or guests.