Positive Covid-19 case in the workplace? This is what’s next
The Health Department outlines the protocol which should be followed when a case is confirmed at your place of work.
POLOKWANE – Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba says it is not necessary to close down an entire building after a case of Covid-19 has been identified.
Ramathuba spoke to Review on the criteria the department uses to determine the action to be taken after an institution, business or school, has a confirmed case. “If a case has been confirmed, the person will be isolated and close contacts will be quarantined as they are at risk of contracting the virus. The department will conduct a risk assessment and give recommendations on the management of the staff. The whole building does not have to be closed down and fumigated as fumigation is a measure in fighting pest control.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/436272/covid-19-in-my-school-what-awaits/
She says deep-cleaning is advised but only on the surfaces used by the patient who has tested positive. “Common areas such as the bathrooms may also be sanitised and cleaned but it is not necessary to close the building down.”
According to Ramathuba, the closing down of buildings is due to misinformation and it perpetuates the stigma of Covid-19.
https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/436197/fear-of-the-virus-fuels-stigmatisation-says-mec/
The health department has further released a document on the procedure to be used when cleaning a building with a confirmed case. These procedures also work for households who have had to isolate a patient.
It is recommended that cleaners should have the following PPE items during cleaning: heavy-duty gloves, cloth face masks and closed shoes. “It is important for cleaners to wash their hands thoroughly before and after cleaning. The cloth face mask used during cleaning should be washed and ironed daily. The cleaning chemicals should be mixed in a well-ventilated area.”
Detergents that should be used every four hours for daily cleaning in the context of Covid-19 includes bleach, a 70% alcohol-based solution can be used for the disinfection of small items or small surfaces.
“Alcohol-based solutions must not be used to disinfect large environmental surfaces which include furniture, electronics, stairway rails, tables, chairs, computer keyboards, touch-screen devices, floors, walls, sinks, toilets, taps, light switches, door knobs and cupboard handles.”
- First clean all surfaces including floors with soap and water
- Clean from higher to lower levels so that debris may fall on the floor
- Clean from the least soiled areas, to dirtiest areas
- Floors are cleaned last in a systematic manner, using an S-shape, to avoid missing areas
- Following cleaning, environmental surfaces are wiped, NOT sprayed with disinfectant
- Allow contact time of not less than 10 minutes after disinfection surfaces
- Discard all unused cleaning solutions
Read more about the non-health Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection 08.06.2020
How Covid-19 is spread
In the same document the department gave an explanation on how the virus is spread: “SARS-CoV-2 which causes Covid-19, is transmitted from person-to-person mainly through the deposition of respiratory droplets on mucosal surfaces or airways (direct transmission) of healthy individuals, and by contamination surfaces which act as a reservoirs of infection (indirect transmission), the department.
“When a person with coronavirus coughs or sneezes, they leave the virus on surfaces. The virus spreads when you touch these surfaces and then touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth.”
Ramathuba reiterated that the SARS CoV 2 virus is known to survive on surfaces for up to seven days. She advised the public to help reduce the spread of the virus through washing your hands regularly, cough etiquette, wearing cloth mask and to maintain social distancing.
