41: Preventing COVID-19 infection in the offices and workplaces

- May 06, 2020

For Employees

Q: I have to go to the office to work. What should I do to protect myself from infection?

💁Tracy: During the pandemic, everyone working in offices and shared spaces must be very careful to protect themselves. Please consider the following guidelines:

On the road: Try not to use public transportation. Use private cars or taxis instead. If you have to take a bus / metro / train, find a place with fewer people, wear a mask, and wear disposable gloves if needed if you have to touch public places such as handles.

Elevator: If possible, use stairs instead of an elevator.

Ventilation: Ventilate regularly, ideally with outdoor air, especially in areas with multiple people sharing the same work space; air conditioning may be ok if it has a high standard HEPA filter and disinfecting system.
Meeting room: Minimize physical meetings, use online video or teleconferencing instead.
Social distancing: keep a minimum of 6 feet away from others, avoid hand shaking, hugs, and other physical contacts.
Practice common-sense hygiene just as in COVID-19 prevention.

Office space:

Disinfect your work area before, after and during work, by wipe and clean desktop, mouse, phone, and all areas that are often touched; clean public places as often as possible.
Use electronic files instead of paper documents whenever possible; clean your hands with sanitizers or wash hands often.
Reduce conversations and maintain social distaincing with other employees in office.

Public cafeteria: Eat at alternating times, sit in every other seat, talk less, eat quickly, and wash hands carefully before and after meals.
Masks: Wear masks if needed in offices.

Public toilets:

Avoid places with urine or water stains; choose a toilet with clean toilet ring.
Use a toilet seat cover on the seat; otherwis it can be replaced with toilet paper, or wipe it with disinfecting tissue first.
Avoid splashing urine outside the toilet and other areas.
Wash your hands carefully after using toilet.
Avoid touching public areas such as door handles; use your elbow or paper towel to cover the area instead.

Arriving home: Keep your outfit, shoes, bags, hats, scarves, etc, outside the house and disinfect them if possible; take off disposable gloves and masks, put them in sealed bags or disinfect them, and wash your hands.
Stress release: come up ways to relax and maintain mental health during the pandemics, minimize work stress and keep a prorioty on personal health.
Illness: If you start to feel ill or experience COVID-like symptom, report to your employer and let other co-workers know as sson as possible; take time off from work and try to protect both yourself and others.

References

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/stay-safe.html
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/16/health/coronavirus-how-to-protect-yourself-trnd/index.html

Writing: Vicki Cheng; Translation: Xiaoming Dong; Proofreading: Li Ou, Helen Shih, Alice Cai; Artwork: Sun Liu