As of March 11, COVID-19 coronavirus has infected more than 120,000 people globally and killed close to 5,000. This morning, the World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading virus as a pandemic, which, according to their site, is a “worldwide spread of a new disease.”
The Current Situation
Confirmed cases in the US have surpassed 2,030 and a death toll of 45 has been racked up. The US is facing the troubling truth that these figures could rapidly increase and mimic the growth rates that China, Italy, and South Korea have endured. Schools in Los Angeles and San Diego will be closed, starting Monday, which will impact more than 750,000 students. While only microscopic in size, this virus can leave you bed-ridden with symptoms including coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. But if it gets worse, it can lead to viral pneumonia and even death. President Donald Trump has declared the virus a national emergency and his administration is taking extreme measures to set up emergency operations centers nationwide. According to the New York Times, private company leaders have agreed to provide financial aid to support systems that are testing for the virus.
Steps You Can Take
It may seem daunting to fight an enemy that is invisible to the human eye, but stocking up on mass amounts of toilet paper or using hand dryers and spraying alcohol won’t help. You can, however, take some simple steps within your office and the workplace that can reduce the likelihood of contracting the potentially dangerous virus.
Wash your hands often, and always after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or, if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Wipe down your workstation or desk with a disinfectant, particularly the keyboard, computer mouse, work phone and any other objects or surfaces that you touch a lot.
Use a damp, soapy microfiber cloth or disinfectant wipe to clean the screens and backs of iPhones and Androids – just avoid getting water in any of the ports.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
For now, avoid close contact with people who are sick. This includes handshakes and hugs. Instead, resort to friendly waves or thumbs-ups.
Clean and disinfect other frequently touched objects and surfaces like the photocopier, watercooler, and door handles.
Work From Home Safely
Many organizations are implementing mandatory work-from-home policies that prohibit employees from physically coming into work. Work-from-home policies are an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your office space.
If you are working from home, it’s important to check in with your employer, both to discuss work tasks and responsibilities, and to confirm your safety. Establishing a check-in procedure is an effective way to confirm the safety of your employees who are working alone from home. Setting predetermined check-in times for your staff will allow them to confirm their safety throughout their shift.
Stay Up to Date
To stay updated on developments around the pandemic, regularly check the USA.gov, The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization websites.