We’re currently experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic’s second wave. Already several months into social distancing, regular cleaning and sanitization, and isolation. In New York and other states across America, businesses have been reopening. However, with some slight changes, including social distancing during office hours, one-way systems in the workplace, and where possible, working from home.
The second wave is fully upon us and cities and states are considering further shutdowns. This makes sanitization and cleanliness the top priority to help prevent this. As a place of work usually consists of multiple people, sometimes hundreds if not thousands of employees, sanitization, and killing off germs are paramount. This is especially true for hot spots and touchpoints (think door handles, banisters, communal areas, and bathrooms).
Nonetheless, just how clean does your office really need to be during a pandemic and this second wave? This article will discuss how often you should be cleaning, protecting yourself, your employees, and your local community.
Greater attention should be paid to communal areas
When it comes to cleaning your office, greater attention should be paid to communal areas, hot spots, and touchpoints. Individual workspaces do not need to be cleaned as regularly, as these should be used by one or two people at a time. However, this does not mean they do not need to be cleaned. At a minimum, aim to clean each workspace at least once a day, ideally before leaving the office.
When it comes to communal areas, these should be cleaned several times a day, especially the bathrooms. These areas are a breeding ground for coronavirus and bacteria, easily spread through surfaces. After each person has used the space, they should clean what they have touched. These spaces should also be cleaned routinely every 2-3 hours throughout the day, once every hour if your office contains more than 50-100 members of staff. Be mindful not to overlook wall scuffs that can harbor germs.
What about individual workspaces?
We briefly touched on this above; however, individual workspaces do not typically require as intense cleaning schedules as communal areas and hot spots. If avoidable, workspaces should not be shared, meaning each employee works in the same area/at the same desk every shift.
If this is not possible, then cleaning and sanitization must be more intensive, with each workstation cleaned after use and ready for the next employee to work in a safe and clean environment.
Keeping the office clean
If your office consists of more than ten people, it may be worth hiring a part-time cleaner to clean throughout the day. You want to pay greater attention to communal spaces and hotspots, however, not ignoring individual workstations.
Strive for these areas to be cleaned multiple times a day, at least twice, with no maximum set number. To further promote cleanliness and social distancing, informative posters can be put up, e.g., reminding employees to wash their hands for twenty-seconds, telling them to spray surfaces after use, or not to enter certain rooms to stop the spread of the virus.
To find out more information on how to keep your workplace clean during the second wave, browse through our recent blog entries by clicking here. Alternatively, if you work or operate out of either the New York City or Long Island areas, you can submit an inquiry for a quote to Galaxy Maids office cleaning services to safely and effectively de-sanitize, and regularly clean your office or workspace. This allows you to focus on your work in a safe manner, protecting all employees and customers.
