University of Newcastle expert Dr Craig Dalton's recommendations for stopping the spread of the virus is being used by the US government.
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WORKPLACES
No handshaking policy
Promote cough and sneeze etiquette (but focus is on excluding ill staff)
Videoconferencing as default for meetings
Defer large meetings
Enforced sanitisation of hands at entrance
Regular hand sanitation schedule reminders via email
Lunch at desk rather than in lunch room
Gamifying hygiene rules (e.g. to discourage touching face)
Ill people stay at home and ill workers immediately isolated
Hold necessary meetings outside in open air if possible
Staff with ill household contacts should stay at home
Disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly and between users
Work from home where possible and consider staggering of staff where there is no loss of productivity from remote work
Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning
Limit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace
Assess staff business travel risks
Enhance hygiene and screening for illness among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts.
Analyse the root cause of crowding events on site and prevent through rescheduling, staggering, cancelling.
SCHOOLS
Supervised sanitisation of hands at entrance and at regular intervals
Defer activities that lead to mixing between classes and years
Promote cough and sneeze etiquette (but focus on excluding ill persons)
Strict stay-at-home policy if ill
Gamifying hygiene rules (e.g. to discourage touching face)
Regular handwashing schedule
Disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly and between users
Outdoor lessons where possible
Consider opening windows and adjusting air-conditioning
Enhance hygiene and screening for illness among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
Review after-school care arrangements that lead to mixing of children from multiple classes and ages
HOUSEHOLDS
Enhanced hand sanitisation
Gamifying hygiene rules (e.g. to discourage touching face)
Disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly
"Welcome if you are well" signs on front door
Increase ventilation rates in the home by opening windows or adjusting air-conditioning
Promote cough and sneeze etiquette
Households with ill members (in addition to measures above)
Ill household members are given own room if possible and only one person cares for them
The door to the ill persons room is kept closed
Wearing simple surgical/dust masks by both infected persons and other family members caring for the case
Consider extra protection or alternative accommodation for household members over 65 years or with underlying illness
COMMERCIAL, ENTERTAINMENT, TRANSPORT SETTINGS
Sanitisation of hands at building entrance encouraged
Tap and pay preferred to limit handling of money
Disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly
Avoiding crowding through booking and scheduling, online pre-purchasing, limiting attendance numbers
Enhance hygiene and screening for illness among food preparation staff and their close contacts
Enhance airflow and adjust air-conditioning
Public transport workers/taxi/ride share vehicle windows opened where possible
* Dr Craig Dalton is a public health physician and conjoint professor at the University of Newcastle whose COVID-19 guidelines have been adopted by the US government.
CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS
Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly. People with coronavirus may experience:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue
- Shortness of breath
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