What Small Businesses Need To Know About The Coronavirus
So, we’ve all heard about Coronavirus, it has been presented to us by the media as a mysterious ailment that exists a world away. So far, it has had very little effect on our daily lives. Well, that may be the case now but, what if this changes?
Scientists and public officials alike are unsure exactly what the risk level is for the United States, and that is a little scary. We are hearing about best case scenarios and worst case scenarios, but it’s difficult to know how much we should worry.
The best thing to do is arm ourselves with as much information as possible and think about the simple steps we can take to ensure our safety and the safety of our friends, family, and employees.
What Is The Coronavirus?
The official name that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has given this virus is COVID-19.
The origin of this virus is actually pretty mysterious. Scientists theorize that it most likely originated in small animals and worked its way up to humans.
The first cases appeared in Wuhan, China back in december. Since then scientists in China and now all over the world are working to learn more about this highly contagious virus.
What Are They Symptoms?
According to the CDC, here is what you need to watch out for. One of the most interesting aspects of this virus is that the symptoms can present in a major way or a very minor way and cases can vary widely in intensity.
Overall, the main symptoms are cough, fever, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can present themselves in as early as 2 days or as late as 2 weeks following exposure.
How Does Coronavirus Spread?
We have seen the sea of people wearing medical masks in China all over the news, this is because the CDC reports that Coronavirus is an airborne illness. However, medical professionals are realizing that this disease spreads from touching infected surfaces as well. This virus spreads easily and consistently among people in close contact…just like you and your team!
How Can Small Organizations Stay Healthy?
We know you are a small, tight-knit team, but the best method of prevention is to encourage your ill employees to stay home. Being down a team member for a few days may be tough, but in the long run it is the most effective way to keep everyone else at your office healthy.
You may need to become more flexible when it comes to how your business completes its work. Should you reassess your PTO policies to make sure that your employees feel comfortable admitting when they need to take a few sick days? That could be helpful to your business in the long run.
To prevent days of lost work, perhaps you could offer the option of telecommuting. If your employees are able to work from home just one day a week, that might make them feel happier and ultimately healthier.
Another easy fix to prevent the spread of any illness is being sure that you have the cleanest work environment. Encourage your employees to take extra care with the cleanliness of their workspace.
Do you have a professional cleaning service or do your employees chip in to clean? Contracting professionals will ensure a tidier, safer work environment and it will take the pressure off of your staff. There are so many methods of prevention, implement them and you will see the fear of illness lessen amongst your employees.
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