What are good practices to slow the spread of infections?
Ways you can reduce or slow the spread of infections include:
- context Get the appropriate vaccine.
- context Wash your hands frequently.
- context Practice physical distancing from members outside your household, when appropriate (staying more than 2 metres (6 feet) apart).
- context Stay home if you are sick (so you do not spread the illness to other people).
- context Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand and turn away from other people.
- context Use single-use tissues. Dispose of the tissue immediately.
- context Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or using tissues.
- context If working with children, have them play with hard surface toys that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
- context Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (viruses can enter your body from unwashed hands).
- context Do not share cups, glasses, dishes, cutlery, cigarettes or cellphones.
- context When recommended by public health authorities, wear a non-medical mask when in a public space and physical distancing cannot be maintained.
What can a workplace do?
Workplaces can help by having an infection control plan which includes:
- context Providing clean hand washing facilities.
- context Offering alcohol-based hand sanitizers with minimum 60% alcohol content, when regular facilities are not available (or to people on the road).
- context When recommended by public health authorities, screening employees and visitors before they enter the building (i.e., using a questionnaire or other measures). Do not allow an individual into the building if they screen positive.
- context Providing boxes of tissues and encourage their use.
- context Providing disinfectant wipes, especially for use in common areas and at personal workstations.
- context Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces on a schedule, such as doorknobs, handles, stair railings, bars, desks, phones, kitchens, shared computers, cash registers, elevator buttons, and restaurants tables/menus. High touch items and surfaces should be disinfected multiple times a day.
- context Reminding staff to not share cups, glasses, dishes, and cutlery. Be sure dishes are washed in soap and water before used by another person.
- context Removing magazines and papers from waiting areas or common rooms (such as receptions, break rooms and kitchens).
- context Disinfecting items such as pens at receptions and service desks between users.
- context Cleaning and disinfecting a person's workstation (or other surfaces they came in contact with) when they suspect or confirm they have an infection.
- context Making sure ventilation systems are working properly, are maintained according to manufacturers recommendation and are adjusted to provide the maximum air exchanges per hour.
- context Washing hands after handling garbage.
- context When handling of linen contaminated with secretions from persons thought to be or are sick, wash using detergent and dry items completely. Do not shake dirty laundry. Perform hand hygiene afterwards.
- context Considering the creation of teams or crews (“cohorts”) of workers that will work together exclusively to reduce the spread of the virus.
- context Limiting visitors. Rescheduling or limiting appointments with suppliers, vendors, service technicians and others where possible.
What is meant by physical distancing?
Physical distancing is a strategy where you try to avoid crowded places, large gatherings of people or close contact with a group of people. For example, viruses can spread from person to person. In general, a distance of two metres (6 feet) will slow the spread of a virus, but more distance is more effective.
When physical distancing is recommended, steps to follow include:
- context Use communication technologies including telephone, teleconferencing, online or cloud solutions to conduct as much business as possible (including within the same building).
- context Allow employees to work from home, or to work flexible hours to avoid crowding the workplace.
- context Increase the distance between desks or work stations.
- context Increase the number of times touch points and surfaces are cleaned.
- context Cancel or postpone any travel, meetings, workshops, etc. that are not absolutely necessary.
- context Drive, walk, or cycle to work, but try to avoid public transit. Alternatively, workplaces can consider allowing staff to arrive early/late so they can use public transit when it is less crowded.
- context Allow staff to eat at their desks or have staggered lunch hours to avoid crowded lunch rooms.
- context Spend as little time as possible in break rooms or photocopy centres.
- context When meetings are necessary, have the meeting in a larger room where people can sit with more space between them (at least two metres apart).
- context Avoid shaking hands or hugging.
What should a workplace do if an employee becomes ill at work?
Generally, employees should be allowed and encouraged to stay at home if they are not feeling well. However, in the event of a pandemic, use of screening tools or a list of symptoms as determined by your local public health authority as a checklist may be appropriate. If employees are showing any symptoms, allow them to go or remain at home. If there is doubt if a person is sick, they should stay home until they feel well and are able to resume their regular activities. Your local public health authority may have specific guidance on return to work after illness.
For example, if a person becomes ill at work and COVID-19 is suspected, they should report to first aid or ask for medical attention. If the worker is acutely and severely ill (such as difficulty breath or chest pain) call 911 immediately and provide first aid. Otherwise, they should:
Clean and disinfect any surface or item that the ill worker was in contact with.
- context put on a medical mask, if not available use a non-medical mask.
- context wash or sanitize their hands, and isolate in a designated room until they are able to return to their home, avoiding public transit, if possible.
- context contact their local public health authority or use a self-assessment tool for more information and instructions.