SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has infected nearly 40 million people in the United States alone and claimed more than 600,000 lives. However, with more than 45 percent of the U.S. population now fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released new recommendations for private businesses.
These strategies are not only important to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but are also a vital piece of airborne infection prevention and infection control. The new guidelines, updated on June 2, include the following precautions:
- At least once a day, clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched by multiple people. This includes door handles, desks, tables, phones, light switches, and faucets.
- Consider options to increase physical space between employees in work areas and between employees and customers.
- Consider assigning a person to rotate throughout the workplace to clean and disinfect surfaces.
- Evaluate building ventilation systems and consider upgrades or improvements.
- Ensure HVAC maintenance is up to date
- Consider implementing flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices
The CDC also recommends that employers create strategies to limit workplace disruptions caused by employees experiencing post-vaccination side effects and symptoms. For a full list of the guidelines, click here.
Cases of COVID-19 have decreased dramatically since the public release of the vaccine. However, it is not guaranteed that the current vaccine will be effective against all future strains of the virus. In addition, there are other airborne infection risks to take into consideration. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how underprepared our country was to combat a highly contagious airborne disease. To prevent future pandemics, new safety protocols must be developed and adopted—especially by businesses and healthcare facilities that work with vulnerable populations.
Life Balance Technologies helps hospitals and other companies easily analyze airborne infection control conditions and effectively manage their HVAC systems. By streamlining the process for compliance, auditing, and reporting, we help reduce costs and save lives.
