What Businesses Need To Know About COVID-19 & Device Sanitization
Business leaders would be wise to implement strategies to minimize COVID-19 spread. These include device sanitization methods and expanding remote Cloud access.
The WHO recently declared the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic, and many business leaders are concerned about the spread among their valued employees.
On Wednesday, March 10, WHO (World Health Organization) Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reportedly said the agency is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity. All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response.”
The directive has decision-makers pivoting to implement workplace safety protocols and strategies to continue achieving goals without putting workers at risk.
How COVID-19 May Be Transmitted
The WHO upgraded the status of COVID-19 as an increasing number of countries have reported cases. While the U.S. has rolled out proactive measures to mitigate the contagion’s spread, the number of infected Americans has surged. Along with avoiding physical contact and tight crowds, COVID-19 remains a workplace risk. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided insightful information about the virus that includes the following.
“People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads,” the CDC website states. “It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
What Industry Leaders Can Do To Prevent COVID-19 Spread
It’s important to know that coronavirus is a family of contagions. Other strains have also posed significant health risks to people. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) are also offshoots of the coronavirus family that spread globally.
SARS reportedly infected upwards of 8,000 people with upwards of 750 fatalities. MERS had a reported 35-percent death rate and infected about 2,500 people, according to The Guardian. While such contagions cannot be predicted, there are measures businesses can implement. One step in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 is to clean and sanitize devices properly. Consider following these steps to ensure your work or personal or workplace device does not become a conduit to transmit the virus.
- Desktops: Unplug your device from any power sources or cables. Utilize a soft sanitary cloth or wipe to clean the product thoroughly. Avoid abrasive materials or direct spray-on products that might damage the device.
- Monitors: Start by wiping the dust from the screen with a soft cloth. Apply an appropriate sanitizing agent to a soft cloth and wipe the product thoroughly.
- Keyboards & Accessories: Mildly moist cloths with sanitizing agents are widely considered adequate. It’s essential to make sure wipes are not soaked to the point seepage could damage an accessory.
- Carrying Cases: Contact with cases can lead to contamination. Follow the same guidelines when cleaning carrying cases as keyboards and accessories.
It’s also in everyone’s best interest to wipe down hard surfaces in the workplace. Many everyday household cleaners are considered effective at eliminating the virus. Surfaces to consider include handrails, doorknobs, and elevator buttons, among others.
While it may be impractical for businesses to clean every surface throughout a shift, it’s essential to prioritize high-traffic surfaces. Companies would also be wise to consider expanding Cloud capabilities and endpoint device access to allow employees to conduct company business remotely.
