Effective as at 28 June 2021

PROTOCOLS FOR COVID SAFE BUSINESS OPERATIONS ______The following principles set the mandatory minimum parameters for safely operating businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The said principles and protocols are applicable to essential businesses, support industries to essential businesses and other businesses. High risk businesses must remain closed, which includes: Gyms, Movie Theatres, Video Gaming Shops, Cyber Cafes, Taverns, Bars, Billiard Shops, Amusement Arcades, Beauty and Massage Therapy Venues, Sauna and Tattoo Parlors. The protocols and measures contained herein are designed to ensure minimal risk when continuing essential services and businesses and may be subject to review (modification, additional or removal).

NON-NEGOTIABLE PROTOCOLS

1. Businesses must ensure all employees, customers, clients wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks and maintain 2-metre physical distance at all times (excluding vehicles). The employer/business must bear the responsibility to provide all employees with PPE.

2. Businesses must make available provision for hand washing facilities and/or sanitisers to employees and customers.

3. The employer must ensure that all employees within the operational area are seated at least 2-metres apart and have minimal interaction.

4. All employees, customers, clients must download the careFIJI mobile application and keep the device Bluetooth turned on. In the event an employee does not have a smartphone, the employer/business must bear the responsibility to provide smartphones. Only in exceptional circumstances where the use of careFIJI is not possible, businesses must maintain a register for contact tracing information for employees and customers. This must include but not limited to name, time/date, ID Card, residential address and next-of-kin contacts.

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Effective as at 28 June 2021

5. Businesses must register and acquire, careFIJI check-in, a unique digital geo- identification indicator, QR Code (checkin.digitalfiji.gov.fj), to identify the location of businesses and various branches. The QR Code must be displayed in entry and exit locations of the business and various branches. All customers must scan the QR Code using their careFIJI application when visiting the business location.

6. Where mobile phones are not permitted in the area of operation, provision for deposit and collection must be made at the entry and exit points.

7. Where possible, businesses shall have video surveillance installation activated with footage to be made available to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

8. Businesses must operate at a maximum capacity of 50% of the establishment. However, where the premises or the business activity cannot operate with 50% capacity, then a strict 2-metre physical distancing must apply.

9. Businesses must set up temperature monitoring at the entrance or employee gate to take temperature. Only those with a temperature below 37.8ºC can enter. Once an employee is identified to have fever (37.8ºC and above), and/or COVID-19 like symptoms, this must be documented and communicated to MHMS.

10. Businesses must maintain an Absentee Register. Should an employee show COVID- 19 like symptoms whilst at work or do not report to work on their scheduled time, the employer must make contact with the employee to ascertain the reason for absence. Should an employee report sick with COVID-19 like symptoms, the MHMS must be notified immediately on 158, with all details of the employee.

11. Should an employee be identified as a primary or secondary contact of a positive case, the employee must inform the employer immediately and contact the MHMS. The employee must self-isolate until clearance is obtained from MHMS.

12. Businesses must establish a dedicated isolation room/section to isolate suspected COVID-19 cases with a referral process to MHMS in place. Employees should be trained in recognising and responding to symptoms of COVID-19 as they become apparent in themselves or in others, know the protocols for reporting sick employees and customers and where the isolation room/section is.

13. Businesses must maintain safe hygiene protocols and disinfect all frequently-touched surfaces on a regular basis.

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Effective as at 28 June 2021 14. Businesses must form and maintain Operational Bubbles, with a register of details of movement amongst a group of employers/employees. Businesses must ensure that there is no inter-mingling of separate bubbles or shifts. Awareness to be created to maintain the integrity of an established bubble, even outside of the office.

15. Businesses must designate and clearly demarcate space for employees to have lunch. Individuals must consume their meals alone, keep a distance of at least 2-metre from any other individual and refrain from interacting with anyone. They must also ensure that these employees wear their masks immediately after eating or drinking. The employers must ensure breaks are staggered and employees at no time, co-mingle, share cutlery, utensils, cups, bilos and cigarettes or any other consumables.

16. At no time must there be social gathering at the workplace.

17. Businesses must have adequate ventilation and circulation of air within the operation area.

18. All employees must be from within the same Containment Area, as defined by the MHMS. There will be no moving in and out Containment Areas, between Containment Areas, or between Containment and non-Containment Areas. If a person is from outside the Containment Area, they shall be relocated and remain in the Containment Area of the business site or office.

19. Businesses, within designated containment zones, must provide company transportation to employees, from home to the business site, to maintain the integrity of the respective Bubbles. Businesses can arrange for collection points, where staff from nearby areas may assemble for pick up. The 2-metre physical distancing must be followed at the collection point.

20. Employees with personal vehicles must ensure strict protocols, such as, mask wearing, 2-metre distancing, sanitisation and maintaining adequate ventilation in the vehicle, are followed at all times.

21. Only employees who are fully vaccinated1 may travel on public transport. Whilst travelling on public transport, employees must ensure that they follow strict protocols of 2-metre distance from the next passenger, wear masks at all times, do not interact with other passengers and have their careFIJI app activated and scan QR Codes when entering and exiting.

1 Fully vaccinated means that the individual has received 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine injections.

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Effective as at 28 June 2021

22. Businesses must ensure all back of house operations, such as kitchen, docking area, storage, car parks and office spaces are well ventilated with all COVID safe protocols, separate check-out/collection counters including 50% capacity, 2-metre physical distance, as applicable, and frequent sanitisation observed.

23. In addition to this Protocol, businesses should put in place Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to identify hotspots and manage large crowds and long queues, within and outside stores. These may include re-directing customers to other outlets, breaking queues into several sections, putting up signs that indicate length of queuing time and implementing queue or appointment management systems.

24. Businesses, for example, supermarkets and pharmacies, must control crowds in and outside the premises with floor markings to show where customers must stand. Only one person per family should be permitted inside the premises, except for single parents, guardians, and mothers with children under the age of 16 years. There should be dedicated shopping arrangements for the vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.

25. Businesses must engage in regular on-site training and awareness on the above COVID safe measures.

Retail Delivery and Services

1. For delivery services: (i) All delivery items must be packaged, packed and sanitised. (ii) Delivery staff must not enter the place of delivery unless necessary. If the item requires delivery staff to enter the premises, the delivery staff must ensure as minimal interaction as possible with customers and maintain all COVID safe measures, such as wearing of PPE and maintaining physical distancing. (iii) Prior to re-entering the vehicle, the delivery staff must sanitise. (iv) Businesses must maintain records of customers and vehicle operators/delivery staff for contact tracing purposes. (v) All delivery staff must download the careFIJI mobile application and keep the device Bluetooth turned on. (vi) In case of an emergency such as a mechanical issue or accident, the driver may attend to the emergency following all COVID safe measures such as wearing of PPE, 2-metre physical distancing and must ensure they do not come in contact with any person, unless there is a medical emergency.

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Effective as at 28 June 2021 (vii) Businesses (Drivers) must maintain a log-record of the items, date and time of delivery and the sanitisation procedures followed. If staff entered the premises, this must be noted to ascertain level of risk. (viii) High touch points of the delivery vehicle must be disinfected at the start and end of each day and when rotating delivery staff. (ix) For outsourced services of delivery, the businesses and service provider must ensure the service provider follows the said protocols. (x) Food delivery personnel entering a store or mall for food collection must have their careFIJI app activated, ensure that the QR Code is scanned and have temperature screening. There should be a dedicated lane for the food delivery personnel to avoid any interaction with individuals collecting their takeaway and better manage queues.

2. For on-call services2: (i) Service staff must maintain 2-metre physical distance and must ensure as minimal interaction as possible with customers. (ii) Delivery of service is preferred in-store. However, when providing off-site services, service staff must maintain all COVID safe measures, such as wearing of PPE and maintaining physical distancing. (iii) Prior to re-entering the vehicle, the service staff must sanitise. (iv) Businesses must maintain records of customers and service staff for contact tracing purposes. (v) All service staff must download the careFIJI mobile application and keep the device Bluetooth turned on. (vi) High touch points of the vehicle must be disinfected at the start and end of each day and when rotating service staff. (vii) For this purpose, on-call services include, but not limited to: Locksmith, Plumbing, Electrical, Tyre and Vehicle spare parts, Air-Conditioning, Landscaping and Mechanical.

3. Where practical, use of cash should be discouraged. Businesses are to use integrated technologies to enable automation, such as contactless payment, where possible. Where use of cash or card swipes cannot be avoided, ensure proper hygiene and sanitisation practices are in place.

2 On-call services mean that the listed businesses must only take appointments or order via telephone or electronic means – emails, online bookings, social media, to name a few. The business premises must not open for any retail purpose, and only facilitate delivery and pick-up. When a customer is to pick-up an item, the business must ensure that at any point in time, only one customer is at the store. It is the responsibility of the business to ensure that there is no crowd outside of the store. Where the service provider is going to another premises for delivery, repair, maintenance or other related activities, all COVID safe practices must be adhered to. 5

Effective as at 28 June 2021 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Any person who fails to comply with the mandatory requirements under this Protocol as ordered by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both under the Public Health Act 1935. In addition, the approvals provided to the business may be revoked.

I, ______, ______(position in the company/business) of ______(name of company/business name), hereby solemnly declare to implement and adhere to the Protocols for COVID-Safe Business Operation, which shall set the mandatory minimum parameters for safely operating my business or in the movement of goods and services.

I confirm that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and if proven otherwise, I acknowledge that I will be liable for penalties as stipulated under the False Information Act 2016.

Signature

Date of Signature

DD MM YY

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