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IndoorDoctor’s Plan for Office Reintegration

April 16, 2020

Fear of Returning to Office and Office Reintegration 

When stay-at-home orders are lifted, many employees will be nervous to return to work in the wake of COVID-19. Some will decide the risk is still too high for their families and will not return to the office at all. Employers will be tasked with taking special precautions to ensure environmental safety upon office reintegration, especially if employees are in close contact with customers, clients or patients. Routine facility and janitorial maintenance will not be enough post-pandemic—especially for a virus that is proven to be transmitted through air and on surfaces. Administrators need an actionable plan of how to safely re-introduce their employees into an office setting.

Dangers of COVID-19 in Office Setting

Among top concerns for employees in close range to each other or customers/clients/patients are the following facts:

  • COVID-19 can be displaced by airflows and relocated onto equipment including vents
  • COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for hours to days
  • COVID-19 stays airborne for up to 3 hours
  • COVID-19 is transmittable not only by sneezing or coughing, but simply by talking. Further, allergy season is coming quickly, which will intensify spasmodic exhaling.
  • COVID-19 is “stickier” than previously seen viruses – therefore, infection is easier

How Indoor Doctor Can Help: Office Reintegration 

IndoorDoctor has researched environmental solutions to reducing COVID-19 transmission so you can spend your time getting your business back on track during these uncertain times. Here are the following recommendations for making your office as healthy as possible. These additional environmental precautions will reduce exposure to COVID-19 and ease anxiety about returning to work:

General Precautions:

  1. Schedule air duct cleaning even if you have done so recently to ensure any lingering COVID-19 has been removed and is not going into recycled air.
  2. Schedule professional carpet and upholstery cleaning. You will want to do this before it gets humid, otherwise mold spores will lead to unnecessary coughing/illness.
  3. Schedule detailed cleaning and sanitizing on all vertical and horizontal surfaces.

IndoorDoctor Virus Sampling, Testing, and Air Purification:

  1. Surface Sampling: Schedule IndoorDoctor’s COVID-19 virus sampling on surfaces to provide documentation that critical touch points and surfaces have been properly cleaned. This allows you to validate proper sanitization efforts.
  2. Air Quality Testing: Schedule IndoorDoctor’s comprehensive air quality testing to make sure your office is as healthy as possible – that there aren’t hidden issues like mold, allergens, chemicals, poor airflow etc. that could lead to coughing/sneezing, further transmitting viruses and illness.
  3. Get Air Purifiers: purchase medical-grade air purifiers to reduce airborne transmission of viruses such as COVID-19 and remove harmful particulates such as mold, allergens and ultrafine particles. Indoor Doctor recommends the following units for offices:
    • IQAir HealthPro: a top-of-the-line, mid-sized unit that creates a clean air sanctuary for up to 1,150 square feet. Additionally, these units are especially effective in: lobbies, reception areas, conference rooms, cafeterias, classrooms, auditoriums, health care settings and large group rooms. Hyper-HEPA filters. https://www.indoordoctor.com/product-category/iqair-purifiers/
    • Austin Air Full-Sized Healthmate: excellent, mid-sized, more economic units also great in lobbies, office areas, and break rooms. These medical-grade air purifiers require less maintenance and superior filter life. Covers 1,500 square feet with four-stage filtration 5 year pro-rated warranty on filters. https://www.indoordoctor.com/product-category/austin-air-purifiers/
    • Austin Air Health Mate Jr: excellent, small units recommended in smaller rooms such as offices, bathrooms, small break rooms. Covers up to 750 square feet. 5 year pro-rated warranty on filters. https://www.indoordoctor.com/product-category/austin-air-purifiers/
    • IQAir ATEM Desk Purifier– a personal, portable unit that filters viruses from your breathing zone. Ideal for reception desks. Hyper-HEPA filters. Get IQAir ATEM Desk Purifier
    • IQAir ATEM Car Air Purifiers: if your business requires or utilizes transportation services, add the Hyper-HEPA filtered IQAir ATEM Car Purifier (video).

IndoorDoctor delivers and installs locally.

Business Statements for Peace of Mind for Office Reintegration

After taking the steps outlined above, your business can issue a statement to employees and customers/clients/patients along these lines: “Sanitization has been validated by an environmental firm; office surfaces tested negative for COVID-19 virus; air quality tested; medical grade air purifiers with Hyper-HEPA technology have been installed in the workplace to reduce transmission of viruses such as COVID-19, mold, and other allergens. At [INSERT NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS], we have taken environmental precautions to ease your peace of mind as you transition back to work.”

For questions, to schedule or to purchase, text 978-482-7341 or https://www.indoordoctor.com/contact-us/

  1. N van Doremalen, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973 (2020).
  2. Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient
  3.  Sean Wei Xiang Ong, MBBS1Yian Kim Tan, PhD2Po Ying Chia, MBBS1et al
  4. UNMC study gives more indication of airborne transmission of coronavirus Joanne Young https://journalstar.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/unmc-study-gives-more-indication-of-airborne-transmission-of-coronavirus/article_4a08b9e6-bd53-5a2a-a16a-7ccf26f5cdcf.html
  5. https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/aerosol-coronavirus-spread-white-house-letter/index.html
  6. N van Doremalen, et al. Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2004973 (2020).
  7. Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient
  8.  Sean Wei Xiang Ong, MBBS1Yian Kim Tan, PhD2Po Ying Chia, MBBS1et al
  9. American Dental Association, Summary of ADA Guidance During the COVID-19 Crisis (April 1, 2020). https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/COVID-19_Int_Guidance_Summary.pdf?utm_source=adaorg&utm_medium=covid-resources-lp&utm_content=cv-pm-summary-guidance&utm_campaign=covid-19
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