COVID-19 is now a Pandemic At the W

COVID-19 is now a Pandemic At the WHO Member States information session held today March 12, 2020, the WHO Director-General stated “…that countries should not give up on stopping the outbreak now that WHO has characterized it as a pandemic. A shift from containment to mitigation would be wrong and dangerous. This is a controllable pandemic.” We ask that every employee please continue to take this seriously and do your part to help contain and minimize the spread of the virus. Cleaning Guidance:We have taken guidance from the CDC and developed f two presentations for your consideration. The first covers content for household cleaning and disinfection recommendations. The second covers cleaning and disinfection recommendations for a business. Please consult your local Health Authority for guidance on cleaning. If they don’t provide recommendations please use this material. We have also provided a link to EPA approved cleaners that are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, and proper use of PPE). Please make sure that cleaners are compatible with the material that they are used on. Guidance and Best Practices: We are recommending that plants consider the possibility of limiting contact of employees during shift changes if possible. Additionally we are recommending that we stagger breaks and meal times to limit the number of people that are together in close contact with one another. You can see examples of many of these practices in the COVID-19 Information and Best Practices power point. Some of the practices may not be applicable depending on your site location but may offer you an example that you can adjust to meet the needs of your facility.