COVID-19 is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. It is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it has spread from China to many other countries around the world, including the United States. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia.

Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads, the first human cases of COVID-19 likely resulted from exposure to infected animals however, infected people can spread SARS-CoV-2 to other people. Previous coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

• The air (coughing or sneezing)
• Close personal contact (shaking hands)
• Touching a surface the virus is on & then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
• In rare cases, contact with fecal matter

People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, some reports suggest that serious illness occurs in up to 16% of cases. Older people and people with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, regardless of age, seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.

At this time, the risk to the general public is low. However, the level of risk depends in part on the industry type, need for contact within 6 feet of people known to be, or suspected of being, infected with SARS-CoV-2, or requirement for repeated or extended contact with persons known to be, or suspected of being, infected with SARS-CoV-2. High risk jobs are those in the healthcare field, such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, etc. As of now, there are a relatively small number of individual cases in the United States.

To minimize the spread, the following precautions are recommended:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Use hand sanitizer when soap and/or water is not available
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you are sick and contact your health provider

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (i.e., experiencing fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms, there have been reports of this type of asymptomatic transmission with this new coronavirus, however this is not believed to be the main way the virus spreads. Although the United States has implemented public health measures to limit the spread of the virus, it is likely that some person-to-person transmission will continue to occur.

At this time there are no medications specifically approved for COVID-19. In the absence of a vaccine, an outbreak may also be an extended event, so preventative measures should be implemented.

For most employers, protecting workers will depend on emphasizing basic infection prevention measures. As appropriate, all employers should implement good hygiene and infection control practices, including:

• Promote frequent and thorough hand washing, encouraging hand washing of at least 20 seconds, with soap.
• If soap and running water are not immediately available, provide alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 70% alcohol.
• Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• Employers should explore whether they can establish policies and practices, such as flexible work sites (e.g., telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), to increase the physical distance among employees
• Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible.
• Maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment.
• Create a physical barrier between employees, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, where applicable
• Keep employees informed about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• Consider ways to limit face to face time

Staying informed about the latest developments and recommendations is critical. Symptoms, prevention and treatment can change quickly when dealing with an outbreak of this type. Global efforts at this time are focused concurrently on lessening the spread and the impact of this virus. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat.

 The CDC is implementing its pandemic preparedness and response plans, working on multiple fronts, including providing specific guidance on measures to prepare communities to respond to local spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. There is an abundance of pandemic guidance developed in anticipation of an influenza pandemic that is being adapted for a potential COVID-19 pandemic.

For additional information or guidance on workplace precautions, please feel free to contact us at (419) 882-9224 or info@cardinalhs.net