Regardless of your position on the COVID-19 outbreak, the repercussions are real, and, at least for the time being, the new normal for businesses, schools, facility managers, and building occupants will require an adjustment to established routines.
Adapting to the New Normal of COVID-19
The lockdown and quarantine procedures implemented in an attempt to thwart the community spread of COVID-19 have established a new paradigm for which businesses, school administrators, students, customers, and other building occupants must adhere to, if for no other reason than to ensure that the facility in question remains open and able to operate.
This new normal, at least for the foreseeable future, will require many to:
- Wear personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves.
- Socially distance, whether by action or through physical barriers.
- Wash their hands regularly with soap and water, and;
- Maintain ongoing enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Personal Protective Equipment
In many states, workers and customers alike are now forced to wear face masks and, in some instances, gloves.
Regardless of the effectiveness of this PPE, additional precautions should be taken to ensure the wearer's personal safety and the health of those around them.
- First and foremost, do not allow the PPE to give you a false sense of security.
- Avoid touching your face as much as possible.
- Dispose of the mask and gloves in an assigned waste bin when you're done using them.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds immediately after removing the PPE.
Social Distancing
Thus far, the research has shown that COVID-19 spreads primarily via the inhalation of contaminated mucus or water vapor particles, specifically after spending a prolonged amount of time within six feet of a contagious person.
In truth, the vapor from breathing or speaking, as well as the sputum from coughing or sneezing, can travel a great deal further, so six feet is often referred to as a minimum distance.
The purpose is to reduce the infection rate of one contagious person to another to one--flattening the curve--as opposed to two or more individuals, which represents an increase in the rate of transmission.
Except in extreme cases, often related to comorbidity, COVID-19 recommendations follow along with outbreaks of influenza or the common cold:
- If you're ill, stay home and avoid direct contact with others as much as possible, and;
- If you're caring for someone that is ill, wear protective equipment, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and wash your clothes separately from other materials.
Wash Your Hands
Personal hygiene is the single most effective and recommended method for preventing the spread of any infectious disease, including COVID-19, and that means washing your hands regularly, which studies have shown, anywhere between 95-97% of the population does incorrectly, if at all.
The minimum recommended guidelines are:
- Rinse your hands with clean running water.
- Scrub every square inch of your hands, top, bottom, and in between the fingers, as well as your fingernails, for a minimum of twenty seconds with soap and water.
- Rinse the soap from your hands with clean running water.
- Dry your hands thoroughly with a paper towel.
- Apply hand sanitizer after exiting the restroom, covering your hands liberally, and allowing the solution to air dry.
Keep in mind that:
- Wet hands spread and attract germs faster than dry hands, and;
- Hand sanitizer is no substitute for soap and water, and its efficacy is significantly decreased on dirty, unwashed hands.
Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures
While exact information is not currently possible to come by, there is enough evidence to show that the COVID-19 virus remains detectable on certain surfaces commonly found in schools and businesses for up to 72 hours.
The half-life of most viruses outside of the human body ranges from 5.6 to 6.8 hours, so it is likely the virus will have been rendered inert after half a day.
However, since there is no way to effectively determine the amount of time a virus has been residing on the commonly touched surfaces in any given facility, routine deep cleaning and daily disinfection services are highly recommended, including:
- Regular deep cleaning of all vertical and horizontal surfaces with an EPA-registered cleaning detergent and microfiber, and;
- Daily disinfection of all furniture and surfaces with an electrostatic disinfection appliance and an EPA-registered medical-grade disinfectant.
References & Resources
- FAQ: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)
- Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
- The Rationale Behind Social Distancing and Hand Washing
- Effectiveness of wearing gloves to prevent spread of COVID-19
- Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation
Takeaway
Thanks, in part, to the outbreak of COVID-19, the new normal for schools and businesses has been altered dramatically.
The new paradigm requires not only employees, but guests, students, and customers to adhere to specific hygiene and personal protection standards to enter and use the facility.
In addition to maintaining personal hygiene standards and observing social distancing recommendations, enhanced cleaning and disinfection services are required to ensure the health and safety of all building occupants.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale CA, or Lancaster CA, call (661) 371-4756
