Recommendations and preventive measures in response to COVID-19: Guidance for the industrial sector

What started as an epidemic in China, has now become a global pandemic. The world is currently facing the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 disease. The Lebanese government adopted strict measures and imposed complete closure of most businesses and institutions to reduce the transmission of the virus.

However, some industrial sectors such as food production facilities, supply chains, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, cleaning and disinfectant suppliers are part of the country’s “critical infrastructure” and must remain operational to provide food, key supplies and fulfill societal needs. Keeping the workers in those industries healthy and safe is critical to protect the public health and survive the current pandemic. The current challenges for industries are on one hand, to meet the high market demand for supplies and food and on the other hand, to protect their employees from disease. All this along with the responsibility to maintain high levels of quality standards, food safety, consumer confidence and trust.

This guidance is intended for industries across all sectors in Lebanon to help in the implementation of preventive measures against COVID-19. This document is only a guide and any given company is strongly encouraged to adapt it to fit its situation and circumstances. It is based on the current knowledge about the COVID-19 virus and has been developed based on the request of the Lebanese Ministry of Industry to support the industrial sector cope with COVID-19 and to respond directly to the public health in general, and to the safety of workers at the factories in particular.