Proportionate, coordinated response and messaging on Covid-19 needed workplace clusters needed

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has called on the Government to have a proportionate response to localised workplace clusters of Covid-19 and to ensure a more rapid turnaround for testing results for affected businesses to restore essential production.  
 
Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: “The delivery of a high-speed Covid-19 testing regime stands to benefit not only the health of society by better identifying emerging cases and clusters but would in turn curtail the disruption that Covid-19 has already brought on Irish businesses.   
 
“Essential businesses are defined as such as they need to continue to operate whilst dealing with the outbreak proportionately and with appropriate public health advice. Public clamour from Government sources calling for closing down of facilities deemed essential is a disproportionate reaction showing an insensitivity to supply chain dynamics and contractual obligations of businesses. 
 
“As Ibec has stated previously, the business community has a key role to play in combatting the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. However, the necessary tools must be readily available and in operation in order to effectively achieve this. Greater urgency is needed from Government with regards to ensuring faster turnaround times in receiving results from Covid tests. Ireland is falling behind its peers in this regard, and failure to address it urgently only stands to prolong the uncertainties posed by the virus’ ongoing presence in our society.   
 
“Similarly, existing GDPR legislation is hampering the sharing of information of Covid-19 test results and solutions must be found for these. Businesses cannot operate efficiently in the shadows of a possible reintroduction of measures that disrupt supply chains and potentially undermine the viability of the organisations.”