I assume everyone is now well aware of COVID19 especially about its symptoms and transmission. It is the reason why in every corner of the street you can see people wearing masks. 😷
Now that most of the countries are becoming loose of their quarantine guidelines and business operations are starting to resume again, it is important that employers are prepared for the COVID19 measures for their employees who are returning to work.
Yes! Employers can protect the safety and health of their employees by preventing and slowing the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace.
Creating and updating your COVID-19 preparedness, response, and control plans are very necessary.
Let me share with you how you could screen your employees who are returning to work, based on the Department of Health’s Interim guidelines on the return-to-work.
• Returning employees and workers physically reporting to their place of employment shall be screened for symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, colds and other respiratory symptoms, and/or relevant history of travel or exposure within the last 14days
a. The following exposures should have happened two (2) days before or within 14days from onset of symptoms of a confirmed or probable case:
1) Face-to-face contact with a confirmed case within 1 meter and for more than 15 minutes,
2) Direct physical contact with a confirmed case,
3)Direct care for a patient with probable or confirmed COVID-19 disease without using proper personal protective equipment.
• Returning employees and workers who are symptomatic with relevant history of travel/exposure on the date of work resumption shall NOT be allowed to physically return to work and must consult with their primary care provider.
Before returning to work, employees are encouraged to call their employers and/or healthcare provider if they currently have symptoms that are associated with COVID19 in order to properly coordinate the care needed for them.
• Returning employees and workers who were symptomatic with relevant history of travel/exposure within the last fourteen (14) days prior to the date of work resumption shall present the Certificate of Quarantine Completion duly
Certificate of Quarantine Completion is issued by the step-downcare facility or local health office. Without this document, employee will be advised to stay at home and complete the required quarantine based on the latest DOH guidelines on reintegration of suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19cases.
• If asymptomatic within the last fourteen (14) days prior to the date of work resumption, employees and workers can be cleared to physically return to work. 👌
In the workplace, it is important to continully enforce infection control procedures such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, meticulous hand hygiene, and cough etiquette. 🤭
This is how we can control and prevent COVID19 in the workplace.
For more information, you can check on the actual guidelines that was published by the Department of Health. Click here.
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