In response to growing concerns about the Novel Coronavirus, BOMA International has released a short guide regarding the outbreak of the new respiratory illness termed “2019-nCoV.”
From BOMA International’s site: “Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the immediate health risk to the American public from 2019-nCoV is considered low at this time, it is important to prepare your building occupants and employees for this and other potential outbreaks.”
BOMA’s guide offers a foundation to understand the contagion and how to prepare a commercial building. Download the free guide here.
Some recommendations to protect your tenants and staff include:
- “Cleaning surfaces and items that are most likely to be touched frequently with the cleaning agents usually used for those surfaces and items. The CDC has not recommended additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning at this point.
- Advise employees to stay home if they are sick.
- Purchase supplies, such as tissues, soap and alcohol-based hand cleaners to encourage healthful habits in the workplace.
- Engage your state and local health departments to confirm channels of communication and methods for dissemination of local outbreak information.”
Other recommendations include:
- “Review your company’s current pandemic flu plan or develop a plan.
- Develop flexible leave policies to allow employees to stay home to care for sick family members . . .
- Plan for how business can continue if many employees must stay home.
- Distribute educational literature about prevention.
- Provide resources and a work environment that promotes handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes.”
For up-to-the-minute information about the coronavirus, be sure to visit the following webpages: