How to prevent the spread of coronavirus at the workplace

• Clean your phone
• Disinfect your workstation
• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid shaking hands
• Practise good hygiene
• Stay at home when sick

With the coronavirus outbreak in the UAE and across the globe, it’s important that we, as individuals, also do our part in curbing the spread of the virus. From practising good hygiene to implementing protective measures, there are certain steps you can take to prevent the spread of coronavirus in places you frequently spend time, such as your workplace. Find out some of the important and basic methods for preventing coronavirus at the workplace below.

Tips for preventing coronavirus at the workplace

Wondering how to protect yourself and others from coronavirus? Here are some of the best hygiene practices to ensure you stay safe at work.

Clean your phone

In today’s digital age, we use our phones more than ever, especially at the workplace. This makes it a carrier for germs, and possibly, the coronavirus. One of the best practices to prevent coronavirus from spreading is to wipe down your phone with a disinfectant wipe that has 70% isopropyl alcohol, which Apple has confirmed can be used on its smartphones.

Disinfect your workstation

Another one of the critical ways of preventing coronavirus at the workplace is to disinfect your workstation, including your keyboard, mouse, work phone and laptop. In short, anything that you or your colleagues may touch frequently on your desk should be wiped down with a disinfectant approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against the coronavirus, such as Clorox Disinfecting Wipes or Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes.

However, when you do disinfect your workstation, wipe down the surface in one direction only and don’t go back over in the opposite direction. This will ensure that you do not redeposit any germs that you have just wiped away.

Wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitiser

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to wash your hands regularly with soap for coronavirus prevention at the workplace! It’s best to do this after sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose or after you eat. It is recommended to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to rid them of any viruses, as per the guidelines by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Keep a hand sanitiser at your desk as well, to ensure that your hands are clean at all times. Make sure to use a hand sanitiser that has at least 60% alcohol, for it to be effective.

Protect your coworkers by practising good hygiene

Look anywhere for tips to prevent coronavirus at the workplace, and you’ll see that the best practice is to avoid sneezing or coughing into your hands. Instead, it’s best to cough or sneeze into a tissue and dispose it immediately. If tissues are not available, use the inside of your elbow to protect your colleagues from viruses such as the flu, common cold or Covid-19.

Avoid shaking hands

While shaking hands with your colleagues or clients may seem normal, it’s best to avoid the practice right now, since the coronavirus spreads through human transmission. Instead, you can opt to greet others with a friendly wave.

Stay at home if you are sick

In the case that you do develop symptoms of respiratory illness, such as a fever with cough or shortness of breath, it’s essential that you stay at home and avoid your workplace. This is essential in not just preventing coronavirus at the workplace, but also other common viruses, which can help ease the burden on healthcare facilities right now.

You should also consider working remotely if there has been a case of coronavirus in your community and you are feeling mildly sick, as a protective measure for the rest of your workplace.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a coronavirus infection, and have recently travelled to a high-risk country or have been in contact with someone suspected of being infected, you should get yourself tested for coronavirus. Find out how to get tested for coronavirus in Dubai with our step-by-step guide.

That concludes our guide to preventing coronavirus at the workplace. While these steps are simple, when implemented properly, they can help in containing the spread of the virus and help businesses maintain efficient operations.

Stay informed about the latest developments around the coronavirus outbreak in the UAE with MyBayut. You can learn more about the UAE Government’s measures against the coronavirus, from airport screenings, sterilisation programmes and the temporary shutdown of attractions in the UAE.

As the global coronavirus pandemic develops, many companies in the UAE are looking for ways to maintain business operations while keeping in mind the health and safety of their employees. Read up on the Business Continuity Guidelines published by The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA, to help companies keep up productivity and efficiency during this time.

Planning to work remotely? There are certain steps that you can take to work efficiently from home, such as maintaining a proper schedule, communicating frequently with your team and watching your health.

Follow MyBayut to stay updated on the evolving coronavirus outbreak in the UAE.