The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global pandemic and it has had a massive impact on individuals and businesses around the world. During these unprecedented times, we will all be feeling the impact of the virus on our daily lives, however, we are responsible to do everything that we can to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. In this article, we will talk you through what COVID-19 is and how it is spread before moving on to methods of prevention for both people that are working from home and those that are still working as usual.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19 is a recently discovered coronavirus that causes an infectious disease. The majority of people that become infected by COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and will be able to recover without requiring specialised treatment. However, for older people and those that have underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease it is more likely to develop into a serious illness. Currently, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19, so we must do all we can to protect ourselves and others.
How Does COVID-19 Spread
The virus is spread mainly from person to person which then causes COVID-19. COVID-19 primarily spreads through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person has coughed or sneezed. The droplets/discharge can land on other people or surfaces which can potentially lead to the spreading of the virus. The virus is more likely to spread when people are in close contact with each other, this is said to be around 6 feet. So, this is why we must remain apart while in public spaces. There has been evidence so far to show that the COVID-19 virus can remain on surfaces such as plastic or metal for up to 3 days. So, these surfaces can easily be touched by others which can lead to further spreading.
How to Prevent COVID-19 from Spreading at Home
Under government guidelines, many businesses are now operating remotely with their staff working from home. However, although it is safer to be indoors at home, there are still methods to follow to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. While at home one of the most important things we can do is ensure that we are washing our hands properly. This involves washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol hand sanitiser. After you have left your home or opened any outside packages this is especially crucial as this can prevent any potential droplets or discharge you have picked up from spreading. Another essential task that can be completed to keep your home a safe place is to use a household cleaner or antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces that are often touched. This includes door handles, light switches, sink handles, counters and phones. This will help to ensure that your property remains clean during this period.
How to Prevent COVID-19 from Spreading in the Workplace
Although a lot of businesses are no longer open, companies that operate in supermarkets, warehouses and factories remain open to provide the public with essentials. If your business is still operating, you must be following COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that your employees can remain safe during this pandemic. If you are a business that is currently still open and will remain open during this time you should follow all of the steps below:
- Keeping your workplace clean is a priority along with excellent hygiene measures
- When it comes to workplace cleaning you should pay a lot of attention to surfaces such as tables and desks and objects such as phones, light switches and door handles. These surfaces will encounter a lot of traffic regularly, so it is essential that they are wiped down frequently with disinfectants
- Promoting regular and thorough hand washing has been highlighted heavily so far by the NHS and governing bodies, so everyone on your site from employees, contractors and customers must be following this guideline
- To further aid good handwashing practices you can also place hand sanitisers around your workplace and display handwashing posters to promote thorough hand washing. – Washing your hands properly will kill the virus on your hands and prevent the spreading of COVID-19
- Alongside promoting good hygiene for washing hands, you should also be promoting good respiratory hygiene in the workplace. This can be done through the use of posters to display good respiratory hygiene
- Employers should also make face masks and paper tissues available at workplaces, with closed bins available to dispose of these items – This will prevent COVID-19 from spreading to keep your staff safe at work
- If any employees in your organisation are displaying symptoms, they should remain at home in self-isolation for a minimum of 14 days before returning to work. If employees are working while suffering from these symptoms it will put a large number of people at risk, so it is vital that they are sent home straight away.
Now we have talked you through how to stop the spreading of COVID-19, it is time for you to play your part by keeping yourself and others safe during these challenging times. If you need to purchase cleaning essentials during this period, we have great deals on hand soap and hand sanitiser dispensers, and disposable face masks to help your business remain safe and hygienic.
