Happi Staff01.30.20
ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association has released an official statement regarding the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, also known as the “Wuhan coronavirus.”
According to The New York Times, 170 people have already died from the new coronavirus and more than 7,818 cases have been confirmed.
“Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is critical reducing the transmission of infectious diseases that can cause human illness, including the Wuhan coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. ISSA, the leader in the commercial cleaning industry, is dedicated to educating you about best practices in cleaning, sanitization and disinfection,” reads the statement. “As your association, ISSA is committed to ensuring that you and your customers have access to this vital information, a resource webpage is being created via our website at issa.com/coronavirus.”
Protecting Yourself from Infection
ISSA also issued a tip sheet entitled, “Recommendations for Personal Protective Equipment for the Cleaning and Forensic Recreation Industry in Response to 2019nCoV (Wuhan Coronavirus).” The recommendations in the tip sheet are intended for workers or individuals that enter into clean spaces to clean and disinfect, where an infected or potentially infected individual is or has been located with the Wuhan coronavirus.
In situations where there is a potentially infectious or confirmed infectious person present, the minimum Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance is:
In areas where an infectious individual has been, but is no longer present, minimum PPE recommendations are:
According to The New York Times, 170 people have already died from the new coronavirus and more than 7,818 cases have been confirmed.
“Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is critical reducing the transmission of infectious diseases that can cause human illness, including the Wuhan coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. ISSA, the leader in the commercial cleaning industry, is dedicated to educating you about best practices in cleaning, sanitization and disinfection,” reads the statement. “As your association, ISSA is committed to ensuring that you and your customers have access to this vital information, a resource webpage is being created via our website at issa.com/coronavirus.”
Protecting Yourself from Infection
ISSA also issued a tip sheet entitled, “Recommendations for Personal Protective Equipment for the Cleaning and Forensic Recreation Industry in Response to 2019nCoV (Wuhan Coronavirus).” The recommendations in the tip sheet are intended for workers or individuals that enter into clean spaces to clean and disinfect, where an infected or potentially infected individual is or has been located with the Wuhan coronavirus.
In situations where there is a potentially infectious or confirmed infectious person present, the minimum Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance is:
- A N-95 respirator or higher level of respiratory protection such as a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR)
- Eye protection or face shield
- A disposable gown or covering, if disposable gowns are not available, a protocol for laundry must be in place
- Gloves should be worn
- Shoe covers or dedicated shoes that can be decontaminated may be needed based on the site risk assessment.
In areas where an infectious individual has been, but is no longer present, minimum PPE recommendations are:
- A surgical mask or similar. If the risk assessment indicated a high likelihood of generating aerosols during the cleaning process, the surgical mask should be replaced with a minimum of a N-95 respirator or higher level of respiratory protection such as a PAPR.
- Eye protection or face shield
- Disposable gown or covering. If disposable gowns are not available, a protocol for laundry must be in place
- Gloves should be worn
- In the absence of noticeable human waste material on the ground (sputum, etc.), the use of shoe covers to protect the wearer from the coronavirus is not currently recommended.