keep your distance
This means that the physical distance between you and other people is an important part of stopping COVID-19.
Non-contact greetings help prevent the spread of the virus. Most notably:
- The way we greet our friends and colleagues brings us closer together, but in the current situation, their safety should be your priority. The close personal contact of a handshake can easily spread infection.
- Play it safe, keep a distance and say your hellos from 1 meter away. Practice non-contact greetings such as waving or placing your hand on your chest.
At work, be adaptable and leverage digital technology to protect your health and productivity.
Assess if some face-to-face meetings could be replaced by a conference call or video call, e.g., postponing regular communications meetings.
If an office meeting must take place, choose a location with good ventilation, and space the seating 1 meter apart to avoid crowding. Check in advance that the meeting room has hand sanitizer and tissues available.
The World Health Organization recommends that if an in-person meeting must occur, keep a record of the names and contact details of all participants for at least one month. This will help trace people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 if one or more participants become ill shortly after the event.
Special attention to shared spaces
Shared office environments require special attention to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
It is vital to ensure all shared workspaces and items are routinely cleaned — similar to what you would do at the gym when sharing equipment, wiping down machines after use. Office surfaces and technology must be cleaned with antimicrobial wipes between users/shifts to keep the spread of infection low.
Wipe down the following items with an antimicrobial wipe between shifts:
- Computer, keyboard, and mouse
- Desks
- Office landlines
- Shared mobiles
- Arm rests on office chairs.
Food and drink safety
Many offices and work areas have coffee and food preparation areas for the convenience of employees. If it is not possible to temporarily close the area, follow these guidelines:
- Use sealed individual packages for coffee stirrers, coffee, tea, sweeteners, and dairy
- Provide individually package dates, crackers, biscuits, breads, and other food items
- Do not share mugs and utensils, or store them in a common area
- Disposable cups should be covered when stored
- Canceling gatherings is best. However, if you must gather and have food, provide individually wrapped food items and sit 1 meter apart.
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