As we continue to navigate the impact and influence the Corona Virus pandemic has had on our South African community, it is imperative that local communities continue to practice meticulous cleaning methods and management. Reopening South Africa requires that we advance cautiously together by practicing social distancing and other daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus. In addition to this, the continued cleaning and disinfection of public spaces is fundamental to ensuring we can progress as a safe, healthy community. Whether you are part of a corporate business, run a school, or simply want to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your local park, we have the tips for you! Here we discuss essential tips for managing and maintaining safe public environments.
Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of reopening public spaces that will require careful planning. We want to call upon each and every community member to do their part to slow the spread of the virus through various preventative measures. Each and every individual is responsible for the maintenance of a safe and healthy environment for our country. Equipping yourself with the necessary and appropriate cleaning equipment and supplies will ensure you can contribute effectively to disease control and infection prevention.
As the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) suggests, the cleaning and disinfecting of any public space requires that you;
- Develop a strategy
- Implement your strategy
- Maintain and revise your strategy
Develop a Cleaning Strategy
Evaluate your space – your work place, school, home, or business. Determine what kinds of surfaces and materials your space consists of in order to determine what methods of cleaning need to be conducted. Most surfaces will simply need normal routine cleaning while other more frequently touched surfaces and objects require more concentrated disinfection.
Determine what surfaces and objects need supplementary disinfection in order to further reduce the risk of infection. Read up about the difference, and importance of cleaning and disinfection to gain further insight into what hygiene methods you should be conducting in your space.
Additionally, one should consider what items can be moved or removed completely to reduce frequent handling or contact from multiple people. Soft and porous materials, such as area rugs and seating, may be removed or stored to reduce the challenges with cleaning and disinfecting them.
Implement your Strategy
Once you have a well thought out plan, it is time to take action! Read up on all the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the equipment, consumables and disinfection products you will be using before you begin. This ensures you are well prepared to implement your hygiene strategy. Ensure you are equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and understand all the procedures required of your sanitization process.
Clean visibly dirty surfaces and objects with general surface cleaners prior to disinfection. After your surfaces have been prepared for disinfection, it is now time to handle the disinfection chemicals. Follow directions, and handle these chemicals with caution. When you finish the cleaning process, remember to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
It is important to follow the instructions as directed on the labels for all cleaning and disinfection products. These instructions will guide your understanding of concentration, dilution, application method, contact time and any other special considerations when applying. Always follow the directions on the label Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Additionally, the label will mention various precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.
Maintain and Revise your Strategy
In order for a hygiene strategy to be successful, it should be applied consistently. Reducing risk of exposure to yourself and others is a shared responsibility. In this way, it is necessary to continually revise and update your cleaning routine based on updated guidance and current circumstances. Routine cleaning and disinfecting are an important part of reducing the risk of exposure to not only COVID-19, but other disease-causing germs that we may come into contact with.
Additionally, continue to maintain safe behavioural practises. Social distancing, frequent sanitisation of hands, wearing face masks and thoroughly disinfecting frequently touched surfaces are only a few of the many ways we can take on the responsibility of creating a safe and healthy environment for country.
Another way to reduce the risk of exposure is to make long-term changes to practices and procedures. These could include reducing the use of porous materials used for seating, leaving some doors open to reduce touching by multiple people, opening windows to improve ventilation, or removing objects in your common areas, like coffee creamer containers.