COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (nCoV). The disease was first recorded in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It continues to wreak havoc across the globe and affects many countries’ health, security, and economy.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be mild to severe and may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms include:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Headache
- Congestion or runny nose
- Fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Muscle or body aches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of taste or smell
- Diarrhea
COVID-19 transmits directly between two or more people. A person produces respiratory droplets when coughing, sneezing, talking, or even breathing. Exposure to these respiratory droplets can cause another person to catch the virus, especially when in close contact with the infected individual. Even a person showing no signs and symptoms of infection can be a carrier, and can also transmit the virus to others.
Transmission can also be airborne like the common cold virus. This usually occurs when an infected individual is in an enclosed space or in a room that has poor ventilation. A person can also catch the coronavirus after touching contaminated surfaces and then touching parts of their face like the eyes, nose, or mouth. Classrooms and offices are particularly vulnerable to this type of transmission.
Ideally, offices and public spaces must be closed to prevent the risk of transmission. However, essential industries and governments have agreed to reopen commercial establishments in an attempt to save the economy and provide a livelihood to numerous citizens. However, strict protocols are still in place to ensure the health and safety of workers. This is why it’s important to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Here are 5 ways to keep your office safe from COVID:
1. Require Everyone To Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A facemask is a type of PPE that should be worn inside the office. Wearing facemasks in the office promotes good respiratory hygiene. Facemasks can help prevent the spread of droplets to reduce the risk of transmission. You should require everyone to wear facemasks upon entering the office. This should include all employees, partners, clients, and visitors.
2. Install Hand Sanitizer Dispensers.
Installing a hand sanitizer dispenser is ideal because it conserves water and encourages regular hand cleaning. Tissues or paper towels should also be readily available in closed bins in prominent areas in the office and should be properly disposed of after use. Regularly cleaning your hands with effective disinfectants such as Touchland Hand sanitizer is a good way to prevent the spread of the virus. It also improves general hygiene in the office.
3. Maintain A Clean Working Environment.
Your workplace should always be kept clean and hygienic to prevent the spread of the virus, especially in pantries and lavatories. Disinfecting objects that are most likely to get touched like doors, telephones, computers, and surfaces like desks, tables, and chairs are a must. If possible, the disinfection must be done every hour or so.
4. Deep Cleaning and Weekly Disinfection.
Deep cleaning and weekly disinfection ensure that the office remains a clean and healthy working environment. It will also give you and your employees peace of mind and make everyone productive at work. This may seem costly, but treatments would be more expensive if someone tests positive for COVID-19 in the office. This is also a small price to pay compared to the losses you might incur as a business owner for being penalized or getting shut down due to COVID-19.
5. Consider Teleworking/Work From Home.
Although teleworking is not meant for everyone, several tasks can be done remotely. This is ideal because it can limit the number of employees in the workplace and can help reduce the risk of transmission. In some cases, teleworking can also be cost-effective for both employees and employers. So, if you haven’t done this yet, it’s time to determine which departments and workers are suitable for a work-from-home setup.
Final Word.
Employees that are required to travel should be monitored for 14 days upon return. If signs and symptoms of infection begin to appear within that period, they should be isolated in their homes and be tested immediately.
With all these precautions in place, you can keep your office safe from COVID and prevent further transmission of the disease. Aside from keeping your business afloat during the pandemic, you are also keeping your employees — and their families — safe and healthy as well.
