If you are an entrepreneur looking to ensure the best practices to disinfect your office or shop or you wish to learn about the best practices for cleaning your home, see the following information on what is known about COVID-19 and tips to disinfect your home and workplace.
We can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by keeping our homes and workspaces clean and virus free.
In this article, we will discuss important considerations regarding cleaning & disinfecting your home and workspace during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does the COVID-19 Spread?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), the main modes of transmission of COVID-19 are respiratory droplets and direct contact. A person who is in close contact with an individual affected by the virus is at risk of being exposed to potentially infectious respiratory droplets. The droplets may also land on surfaces where the virus could remain viable. The immediate environment of an infected individual can therefore serve as a source of transmission, as the virus may survive on surfaces for up to several hours.
Cleaning Tips to Protect Against COVID-19 at Your Workplace and Home
Personal Hygiene
Simple measures can help protect you and your family from COVID-19. You should follow the following basic guidelines to protect yourself:
- Wear a mask when going out.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of used tissue immediately.
- Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people in public places.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds.
- Use alcohol-based sanitizers frequently.
What Areas Should be Prioritized for Disinfection and Cleaning?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disinfection practices are important to reduce the potential for COVID-19 virus contamination in non-healthcare settings, such as in the home, office, schools, gyms, publicly accessible buildings, places of worship, markets, transportation and business settings or restaurants. High-touch surfaces in these settings should be identified for priority disinfection such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation areas, countertops, bathroom surfaces, toilets and taps, touchscreen personal devices, personal computer keyboards, and work surfaces.
The below list gives an example of frequently touched surfaces and objects for disinfection.
Cleaning with a COVID-19 Patient in Your House
- Keep a separate bedroom and bathroom to help maintain self-isolation for the patient.
- Always wear a face mask around the patient and use disposable gloves to clean the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the person who is sick.
- Dedicate a lined trash can for the patient.
- Caregivers can provide personal cleaning supplies to the person who is sick (if appropriate). Supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners, etc.
- Remove your gloves and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after cleaning.
- Wash hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after handling dirty laundry.
You can read the recommended guidelines by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination here.
Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline
You can visit the Government of Pakistan COVID-19 Health Advisory Platform to get updates on COVID-19. You can also call the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 made available by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination, Government of Pakistan.
Ask Bolo
Do you have additional questions regarding disinfecting your home or workplace or need COVID-19 related guidance? To receive personalized guidance on different service options in the country, you can send us a private message on Bolo Facebook, Monday - Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.