If you’ve been keeping up with the news, the world is on pins and needles anxiously awaiting more information on the infamous Coronavirus or COVID-19. What started across the globe has snuck its way into the US. With flu-like symptoms, this illness can turn scary...quickly. From Washington state now to Florida and New York, the virus is taking it’s travels nationally. It’s a pandemic - let’s just call it what it is, and it’s unsettling.

You may be asking yourself: What do I do? How do I stop it? How Can I Prevent this? Will I catch it? Do I have it now? Does my coworker have it? Why is she coughing?

You’re not alone. If you aren’t a bit on edge over it, you’re one of few as it feels as though the entire world is holding its breath waiting for impending doom. It seems this will be affecting the globe, it basically already has and we can’t avoid the sickly elephant in the room any longer…

So, what do we do? The best way to approach this freaky flu is to educate yourselves. Bring awareness to your office, your home, and your community. Take precautions NOW to offset any potential spread in your direction. Let’s take a look at the facts shall we?

All facts pulled from WHO and CDC:

• CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in 60 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

• Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

• Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

• Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

• Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

• For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.

• People in communities where ongoing community spread with the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated though still relatively low risk of exposure.

• Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.

• Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure.

• Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure.

So, now that you have a better understanding of what we’re dealing with here, it’s time to get proactive. What can YOU do at work to prevent coronavirus knocking on your company’s door? Let’s find out:

1. Sick Employees MUST Stay Home - This should be true for any illness going around: Anyone Who is Sick MUST Stay at Home! Whether you take a remote day, you’re taking a sick day, or you’re taking an unpaid leave...Do it! Your health and the health of others around you is not worth it. Any good employer will be understanding of your sickness and should use proper discretion.

2. Employees Who Become Sick at Work MUST Be Sent Home - Another given but, if you become ill at work...Don’t stick it out! Leave. Tell your boss you’re ill, and take the day. Don’t think you’ll feel better because you won’t. As a manager, if you hear about your teammate feeling ill - Send them home! It’s going to spread, we’re all using the same doors, handles, fridges, etc. Send.Them.Home. No excuses.

3. Keep Your Office and Building Clean - Keeping your space clean is vital regardless but in times like these it’s essential to your livelihood. Keep your office clean. Clorox is your friend. Wipe down counters, clean bathrooms, sanitize desks. It will pay off in the long run.

4. Cancel Any Upcoming Company Travel Plans - You can’t bar people from wanting to travel on their own time, but you can stop them from traveling on the company dime (great rhyme!) Anyways, whether it’s a convention, conference, meeting, etc. Cancel it. You can reschedule until a later date or, better yet, do it over the phone or via webcam! Don’t take that risk.

5. Have a Plan - According to the CDC, “all employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from COVID-19 while ensuring continuity of operations. During a COVID-19 outbreak, all sick employees should stay home and away from the workplace, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene should be encouraged, and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces should be performed regularly. Employers should:

   • Ensure the plan is flexible and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan.

   • Conduct a focused discussion or exercise using your plan, to find out ahead of time whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected.

   • Share your plan with employees and explain what human resources policies, workplace and leave flexibilities, and pay and benefits will be available to them.

   • Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts.”

6. Cover Your Mouth When Coughing and or Sneezing - If you have a little cough or must sneeze...Be a decent individual and cover your mouth. Nothing else to it. Cover it up - No one wants those germs flying across the office!

7. Wash Your Hands - “Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty” (CDC). They say the best way to wash your hands is to use warm, soapy water and sing “Happy Birthday” twice…Yep, that’s how long you should be washing…You’re just rinsing aren’t you? Cut it out!

8. Face Masks? Won’t Work! - According to multiple sites, the wearing of face masks won’t prevent anything. Why? The bacteria is small enough to creep through the mask leaving you infected. Face masks should only be worn by the sick to prevent spread...Not the healthy preventing illness. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted this: “Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

9. Keep Healthy - Diet, Exercise, Rest, Supplements, etc. - As always, keep your immune system strong. Keep eating healthy, exercising (sweating is a good thing), get your 8-hours, and take any supplements such as Vitamin C. If you can build up that immune system now, you’re better off fighting this sickness and or avoiding it all together (remember, the Flu is still floating around out there too…)

10. Share Best Practices - Much like the CDC mentioned before, share best practices with your office. Tell your team what’s working and what isn’t. Tell them what to do. Get bossy. This is serious. Don’t leave anyone in the dark…

Don’t panic. Prevent. That’s the key here...If you or someone you know is a potential carrier of the virus visit your healthcare provider and request testing. Don’t take a chance.