Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak—what does it mean for you?

17.03.2020

We would like to inform you about the current situation regarding the coronavirus disease outbreak and give some useful advices to protect your employees and your business. According to the Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 could be characterized as a pandemic.

Which countries are currently affected?

There are now more than 164 837 cases in 146 countries as of March 16, 2020. The situation can be tracked via following link.

What do I as an individual have to do?

We recommend you to make simple precautions and planning because good respiratory hygiene prevents the spread of COVID-19:

  • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
  • Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Practice respiratory hygiene.
  • If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care as soon as possible.
  • Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider.
  • Those who have returned from an area where COVID-19 is spreading should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days and take their temperature twice a day. If they develop even a mild cough or low grade fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.3 C or more) they should stay at home and self-isolate as well as telephone medical services, giving them details of their recent travel and symptoms.

What is required from employers?

  • Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic.
  • Promote regular and thorough hand washing by employees, contractors and customers.
  • Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace.
  • Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips.
  • In case of increased temperature, suspend employees from work and support with ensuring self-isolation at home. They should also stay home (or work from home) if they have had to take simple medications, such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which may mask symptoms of infection.
  • Should an employee be infected, provide information about all contacts which the infected had and disinfect the premises where the infected was present.
Source: World Health Organization. Official website.

Stay healthy!