REVIEW ARTICLE
Year : 2020  |  Volume : 24  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 16-18

Tackling corona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19) in workplaces

Naveen Ramesh, Archana Siddaiah, Bobby Joseph
Division of Occupational Health Services, Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College, Sarjapur Road, John Nagar, Bengaluru, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Archana Siddaiah
Division of Occupational Health Services, Department of Community Health, St John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, John Nagar, Kormangala, Bengaluru - 560 034
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_49_20

Coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses and six species of Coronaviruses are known to cause human disease such as cause common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. In January 2020, scientists in Wuhan, China isolated a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for an outbreak of unknown pneumonia that had not been previously reported among humans. This virus spreads from person to person, through respiratory droplets, close contact, and by touching surfaces or objects contaminated by the virus. The incubation period varies between 2 days and 14 days. Symptoms usually include fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome. Older age and co-morbid conditions increase the fatality. Any person with a history of travel to and from COVID-19 affected countries in the past 14 days or any person who has had close contact with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 are suspect cases and needs evaluation. Currently no vaccine is available and treatment is mainly supportive. Measures at workplace should include- avoiding non-essential travel, identifying and isolating sick employees at the earliest, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, environmental hygiene and social distancing.

Keywords: Containment, prevention, SARS-CoV 2, travel, workplace

Introduction

Disease Transmission

1. Fever and/or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath) with or without the requirement for hospitalization.
2. A history of travel from China or places currently reporting confirmed cases of COVID-19 within 14 days of the onset of symptoms. These currently include Japan, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Iran, France, Spain and Germany.
3. Any person, including any health care professional, who has had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of the onset of symptom.

• Hand hygiene: Hands have to be washed often with soap and water for at least 20 s, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, when hands are visibly dirty and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Respiratory hygiene: Mouth and nose should be covered while coughing or sneezing with a tissue and throw the tissue into a closed bin followed by hand hygiene. It is also advised to cough into the bend of the elbow.
• A distance of at least 1 m (3 feet) should be maintained between individuals and those having coughing, sneezing, and fever. Crowded places and mass gatherings should be avoided.
• Regular screening for fever should be instituted and employees who have mild respiratory symptoms are advised to stay at home. Any experience of fever, cough, and breathing difficulty especially if the employee has traveled to any of the countries reporting COVID-19 cases or had close contact with a confirmed/suspected case of COVID-19 within 28 days should be reported immediately to the health facility.
• WHO does not recommend the use of facemask by healthy people. Facemasks are recommended for people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the virus to others. Using facemask is crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of a suspected or a confirmed case in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). If a mask is worn, a medical mask is to be used, ensuring that it fits well and that there are no gaps between the mask and the face. Masks should be discarded in a closed bin when it is damp, followed by hand hygiene. Individuals should avoid touching the nose, mouth, and eyes when the mask is on.
• Environmental hygiene should be maintained especially in common areas used by employees like restrooms and canteens. Regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular disinfectants is necessary. Windows and doors should be kept open for cross-ventilation.
• In case employees are traveling out on work they should be advised to be cautious and avoid visiting live animal markets, wet markets, or animal product markets. Consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Personal hygiene should be maintained at all times.

• Any employee with symptoms of acute respiratory illness like fever (temperature more than (100.4°F [37.8°C]), with mild respiratory symptoms, should be encouraged to stay at home. Those who are having severe respiratory symptoms such as difficulty in breathing should seek health care at the earliest, and if possible, with prior appointment.
• Separate sick employees—any employee who reports sick to the workplace or becomes sick at the workplace should be separated from other employees. These employees should be educated about respiratory hygiene and should be provided a medical mask and sent home or to a hospital immediately depending on the severity of symptoms.
• To prevent transmission of the disease the employers should be flexible with policies regarding sick leave.
• The importance of respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene by all employees should be emphasized. Make sure adequate tissue paper and soap/hand sanitizers are available in the workplace.
• Studies suggest that the COVID-19 virus may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days and, therefore, regular environmental cleaning is recommended with a disinfectant. Make sure the workplace, workstations, and commonly used surfaces like doorknobs, washrooms, keyboards, telephone, remote controls are frequently wiped using disinfectant or cleaning agents.
• Travel advice to employees—specific travel advice should be provided to employees traveling to and from China and countries with active infection. Employees returning from affected countries should stay at home for 14 days irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms.
• Informational/educational materials about “Do's and Don'ts”, personal hygiene, and other relevant health messages should be displayed at prominent places.

References

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