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We live in a germy world, considering the world’s worst pandemic. Everything has changed in the past year, so people are trying to adapt to the new “normal”. Although there’s no need to change everything, we still need to make some adjustments regarding our working space. If there was a way in which the coronavirus pandemic has affected us, is mostly in the way we work. Although there are professions where it’s possible to work from home, there were many people who lost their jobs during this time.
Moreover, some speculations are saying that coronavirus could spark a revolution in working from home. But are we ready for that? However, until we discuss this field, let’s focus our interest in the current situation. We’ve all been going through hard times lately, but now’s the time to return to our jobs. So, what do we need to consider when heading back to the office? Is it dangerous? Are there any restrictions? How can we protect ourselves from the virus? Down below are some practical ways to stay away from germs and “sneezy” coworkers.
First, how does the Covid-19 spread?
There’s a lot of information that we might miss about SARS-COV-2, and especially its causes. What we certainly know that it spread around the world quickly. The virus is spreading faster through contact and respiratory droplets. For those who don’t know (which are probably none), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a strain of coronavirus, a type of virus that causes serious respiratory problems. It first appeared in December 2019, in Wuhan, China, and by March 2020, the World Health Organization announced a worldwide pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic is a critical case, with many reports of infection rates and deaths.
With all the crisis around the virus, it seems like things have calmed down a bit lately, with companies opening their doors again for their employees and customers. However, most people are still afraid of socializing, especially when it comes down to the cold and flu season. You must be extra careful if you have ongoing health conditions (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, etc.), you take any medicine that might lower your immune system, or you’re older than 65 years old. The virus hits these groups of people hardest, so you’ll want to make sure that you protect yourself best.
How can employers work in this situation?
If you think about it, we all spend most of our time at work, so you want to make sure that you keep the distance from your coworkers. This way, you’ll avoid all those germs brought in from all over the place. There’s a reason why no one wants to sit next to that sneezy colleague, as illnesses can spread fast between all of you. Bacteria pass through the air from person to person. For example, when a person sneezes, tiny drops of mucus flies through the air. If you don’t keep distance or don’t wear a mask, you can get them right inside your mouth or nose.
You probably wonder how far you should be from sick people at work. Usually, those precipitations can spread out to about 6 feet. So, if possible, keep distance and wear a mask as much as possible. Also, people who have symptoms like runny nose, cough, fever, are likely to care with them germs. It’s essential to recognize these symptoms and avoid staying near to a sick person. Also, you don’t want to share anything with anyone, from towels, food, and other personal objects. Make sure you refresh the room anytime you feel like the air gets too dry because the germs will stick around longer. If it’s possible, get a humidifier to avoid illness to spread around. Also, have you ever heard about Sign Hero sneeze guards? Well, you might want to check it; they’re easy to clean, and perfectly made to protect yourself from germs at work.
Tips for employees
As soon as you are back at work, especially if you know that it’s flu season, you must keep yourself away from the germs. There are many ways how you can prevent getting a cold and spreading the germs around the office. The first thing you’ll need to do is you have any symptoms of a cold is to stay home. It’s obviously the best thing to do to avoid illness to other employees. Stay at home for a while, until you feel better. Protecting the workplace is essential so that everyone can be healthy and work in peace. Already mentioned above, keeping a distance from other coworkers, no matter is they have flu or not, it’s important. Honestly, you don’t have to be around others to keep in touch or have a conversation. This includes sharing any of your stuff, too.
Whenever you feel the need to sneeze, you might want to avoid covering your mouth and nose with your hands. Coughing and sneezing into your hands means that all the germs will be spread through anything you touch. You can use a tissue to sneeze in it, or simply distance yourself from others, and don’t forget always to keep a hand sanitizer at your desk. It will help you ward off germs. Properly washing your hands should be a daily rule for anyone. You’re an adult; being told every time to wash your hands, it seems a bit awkward. It’s an important thing to avoid spreading germs daily. Avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth throughout the day, as this will increase the possibility of picking up germs yourself. Use disinfectant wet wipes to keep everything sanitized.
Before you go…
Sure, these tips might seem already known, but it’s important to educate others around you. It will make a significant impact on your workplace. Take the initiative to keep everything disinfected, and teach others to protect themselves and others around. It takes a bit of an effort to keep your office clean and germ-free, but it’s a responsibility that every team should assume. Remember that even if you don’t have flu, you can carry germs and bacteria with you. Use these tips to avoid spreading any virus to your coworkers.