As the strain of coronavirus which originated in Wuhan continues to sweep across the globe, responsible approaches in the workplace have become a key element to containing the spread of illness. Officially called SARS-CoV-2, the virus, which causes the illness known as COVID19, is thought to spread through droplets spread from coughing and sneezing and can be picked up from surfaces. Find out what the official advice is telling us to keep you and your workforce safe during the continuing crisis.
The official advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that employees should:
Stay home if they are coughing, sneezing, experiencing shortness of breath or have a temperature above 37.7 degrees Celsius.
Go home from work if they develop these symptoms during the day and alert their employers to their condition.
Shield coughs and sneezes with a tissue, elbow, or shoulder. Avoid using your hands as this can increase the spread of coronavirus on surfaces.
Regularly wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an antibacterial hand gel.
The CDC at this time don’t recommend face masks as a means of protecting yourself from contracting COVID19. Conventional surgical masks can’t fully protect you from the water droplets and the more effective N95 masks only work if they are fitted correctly by a professional.
SARS-CoV-2 can survive on surfaces for up to nine days, making appropriate hand washing the most effective means of protecting yourself. Employers should provide staff with adequate facilities to ensure this, as well as carrying out regular and intensive cleaning in the workplace.
We recommend this helpful guide on the Centre for Disease Control for further info: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html
We are currently carrying out deep cleans in London at both commercial and residential sites, using disinfectant and dry steam for clients. If you would like a site visit to quote for one of these, please get in touch with us directly.
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