Daily Disinfecting is Key to Returning to the Office During Omicron

Throughout the 2021 Holiday Season, the Omicron variant swept across the country, infecting millions and disrupting family plans at home. Now, as employers eye a broad return to the office in 2022, they face at least one major issue: how do you make sure your workforce feels safe on your premises?

Surveys have shown that the most important thing to do to ease tensions is to clean and properly disinfect at least once a day. Other important tasks include making hand sanitizer widely available, thoroughly explaining cleaning protocols, and demonstrating cleaning procedures through ample signage in the workplace.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmissible both by airborne droplets and by surface contamination, and therefore, in areas of high-touch points, sub-par ventilation, and lack of handwashing stations, the CDC is recommending cleaning more than once per day in these spots.

Unfortunately, offices are a great place for disease to spread; and not just COVID, but the flu, the common cold and other afflictions. But there is at least one hopeful prospect --- the COVID-19 virus, while highly contagious, is actually fairly easy to kill with the right disinfectant, due to the envelope nature of its structure.

A recent industry trade group whitepaper, developed with the help of infectious disease specialists, outlined some things to do to properly reopen an office in these times. Here are some of the highlights.

returning to the office during omicron --- proper signage

Initial Site Assessment: Perform an initial site assessment to help plan and prepare for building and occupant health and safety.
Decontamination Plan: Develop a decontamination plan in partnership with trained cleaning professionals to ensure a streamlined response should a positive COVID-19 case be reported.
Occupant Communication Signage Kits: Prioritize clear and consistent communication through signage and transparent updates to help employees adhere to the rules of the building – including keeping spaces clean – and feel comfortable returning to the workplace.
High-Touch Disinfection: Adopt more robust, frequent disinfection of high-touch surfaces using EPA-registered disinfectants qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, and supplement that with advanced technologies like ultraviolet disinfection and electrostatic spraying.
Broader Disinfection: Disinfect large surface areas to complement the scope enhancements and increased frequencies of high touch point cleaning and disinfecting. Note that the right method of deployment and proper training is essential to ensure efficacy and safety.

cleaning agent dwell time

Additional surveys have found that the factor most likely to put workers’ minds at ease relating to returning to the office is regular disinfecting. In that study, nearly 8 out of 10 workers said they wanted their office cleaned at least daily.

When considering which specific disinfectant to use, make sure to consult the EPA’s List Nexternal (List N). All of these have been found to be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Aqua ChemPacs Disinfectant cleaner kills the COVID-19 virus on hard, non-porous surfaces in 60 seconds, and kills 99.9% of germs. And its dissolving “pac” technology means you’ll be spending less than ever on disinfectant. That’s important when you have to use it every day, sometimes more than once.

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