Ficci suggests gradual approach to unlocking
NEW DELHI: With the number of coronavirus infections declining in the country, industry chamber Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has suggested the government to follow a graded approach in unlocking economic activities.
It said any unit that is able to create an isolation bubble should be allowed to operate at all times even if it does not qualify as essential.
The chamber said the second wave highlighted that waiting too long to impose restrictions can result in a surge of cases thus putting immense strain on medical infrastructure.
Learning from the first and second coronavirus waves, “Ficci suggests a graded approach to permissible economic activity which balances lives and livelihoods”, it said in a letter to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
It said that there should be surveillance testing on a continuous basis, even if number of cases come down sharply.
For example, at points of entry (airport, railway station), people should be randomly tested, Ficci added.
It added that units which have vaccinated at least 60% of the workforce with a single dose can be exempted.
“High touch point non-essential sectors like leisure activities, retail, etc, will only be permitted in a minimal risk situation (level 1) i.e. total positivity rate below 2.5%.
“This restriction will prevail until a significant part of the population has been vaccinated with at least one dose,” the chamber said.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called upon industry associations to prepare a comprehensive checklist that needs to be followed for a possible third wave to deal with the crisis.
He also suggested them to help the children impacted by the pandemic.
The minister said this while meeting industry associations on June 1 to review their preparedness to meet the present and future challenges because of Covid-19 pandemic.
Goyal has said that in the recent past, due to the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, the industrial production was severely impacted due to lockdowns, non-availability of oxygen, migration of workers, and the spread of the virus amongst the workforce. It is expected from industry associations to draw upon the lessons learnt from past experiences to meet the present and future challenges, he has said.