Approximately 85 people, including staff members from ITC Grand Chola in Guindy here, tested positive for COVID-19
since December 15 last year, a senior official said here on Saturday. Of the total of 609 samples collected to date, 85 were positive.
After this, the Greater Chennai Corporation was ordered to carry out saturation tests of all hotel guests, said Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan. ITC Grand Chola, in a statement, said that all events on the property have been carried out in accordance with regulations imposed by the authorities.
Also, only 50 percent of the room’s capacity is used to ensure maximum distance and safety, he said. The first case was reported after a chef became infected on December 15.
Up to 16 and 13 cases were reported on December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021. “Of the total of 609 samples collected so far at the hotel and in and around staff residences, 85 have so far been found to be positive.
They all showed mild symptoms and were sent home after treatment, “Radhakrishnan said. ITC Grand Chola said that all associates were regularly assessed and monitored,” which is an ongoing process and part of our hygiene protocol. ” Extreme care and diligence continue to be followed at all points of contact and all necessary information has been shared with authorities, “he said.
Radhakrishnan said hotels are regularly screened and sensitized. They were also told to strictly adhere to government guidelines on precautions. “The Chennai Corporation was asked to conduct a saturation test for all residents of the hotel,” he told reporters when his attention was brought to the new emerging group at the hotel, immediately after 200 students from IIT Madras tested positive. in COVID-19 Last December.
ITC Grand Chola stated that “while the GCC has classified some associates as asymptomatic and mild, the majority of our associates are working from home and have been absent from the property, so they have no contact with other associates and guests.” The civic staff of the Joint Health Commissioner, GCC, S Dhivyadarshini, conducted fever camps and all employees and guests were advised to undergo testing. The corporation, which began screening of staff and guests at luxury hotels on Saturday, expects to complete COVID-19 testing at more than 25 luxury hotels in two days.
Currently, the number of people allowed for a banquet depends on the seating capacity of the hall, but the number should not exceed 50 percent of the seating capacity, said a senior official at the corporation. Because COVID-19 Restrictions, event organizers have been asked to allow only 500 people in a 9,000-square-foot room, instead of 1,000.
ITC Grand Chola said the health and safety of guests and associates is of the utmost importance. “The property has been practicing the necessary SoPs established by the authorities, along with its own strict accredited hygiene and sanitation protocol,” he said.
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