Workplace health and safety in the age of coronavirus

7th April 2020 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Workplace health and safety in the age of coronavirus

So, coronavirus is here.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that typically cause mild colds. They are nothing new and are year-round ailments, although like most cold/cough viruses, they tend to make themselves known in the winter. COVID-19 is a novel, or new, strain of coronavirus. That means it’s something our immune systems have never been exposed to, so we are less able to recognize and fight off the infection.

Just like its other coronavirus cousins, COVID-19 will cause cold/cough symptoms, accompanied by fever and shortness of breath. Because it is viral, the only treatment is symptomatic care. Like other viruses, there is a greater concern for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. For most infected people, the key is to stay hydrated (you may have noticed bottled water shelves are bare, but tap water does the trick as well) and frequent hand washing to avoid spreading the virus. Most people will recover well and without complications.

If you have symptoms, follow established CDC and local Health Department guidelines and stay home. Call your primary care physician and/or local health hotline and they can guide your next steps. If your fever or cough symptoms get progressively worse, call your physician so you can be advised on proper measures to take.

The spread of COVID-19 in other countries has been exacerbated by people flooding emergency rooms and doctor’s offices, exposing higher-risk individuals to this virus. (Do not do this). If you don’t have the virus, you may well catch it there.

As diagnosed cases of COVID-19 continue to increase, and testing in the US is still in the early stages, there are simple but effective precautionary steps to adopt immediately to help offset any type of virus or flu.

What should you do?

Protecting yourself is the most essential thing that you can do to prevent getting sick in the first place. There is training available for you to take today on preventative measures and a reminder on hand washing.

Empowering Trust UL Southern Africa