A message from our PRESIDENT
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Based on recent activity associated with the CoronaVirus (COVID-19), the Board of the Chamber have decided that in the best interests of our members and guests, the Business After Five scheduled to be hosted by BusinessDEPOT on Thursday 19th March be postponed. The health and well-being of our members and guests is paramount and as a Board we feel that the risk associated with a public event even of this nature at this time is too high. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you at a future event. GBBC will provide weekly updates to all members to keep you informed of any changes to our schedules.
As the impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) are increasingly felt across Australia and the world, it is important that we are all ready for the impacts to our personal and professional lives. At this stage the full and long-term impacts are unknown, so it is important that we are preparing ourselves for business continuity and keep up to date with what is happening at a global and local level.
To minimise your risk of exposure:
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1.5 metres distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
For further information and daily updates please visit the websites listed below:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
https://www.who.int
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/current-alerts/novel-coronavirus
Take care and stay safe.
Trevor Oldfield AM KSJ JP
GBBC President
