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. As a matter of fact 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 about COVID-19:
can be displaced by airflows and relocated onto equipment including vents
can survive on surfaces for hours to days
stays airborne for up to 3 hours
is transmittable not only by sneezing or coughing, but simply by talking. Further, allergy season is coming quickly, which will intensify spasmodic exhaling.
is “stickier” than previously seen viruses – therefore, infection is easier
Filter COVID-19 Airborne Virus
How IndoorDoctor 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 consequently ease anxiety about returning to work:
General Precautions:
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.
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.
Schedule detailed cleaning and sanitizing on all vertical and horizontal surfaces.
IndoorDoctor Virus Sampling, Testing, and Air Purification:
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.
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.
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. For instance, IndoorDoctor 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 for instance. These medical-grade air purifiers require less maintenance and superior filter life. As a matter of fact, it 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/
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.
Austin Air 4 Stage Filtration
Business Statements for Peace of Mind For Office Reintegration
After taking the steps above, your business can issue a statement to employees and customers/clients/patients along these lines: “An environmental firm has validated the sanitization; 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/
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).
Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient
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).
Air, Surface Environmental, and Personal Protective Equipment Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) From a Symptomatic Patient
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
How to Protect Yourself From Toxic-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) indoordoctor.com/blog/how-to-…
Select units of Jergens moisturizer are being recalled because of the presence of a bacteria that could pose a health threat to people with weakened immune systems. #bacteriawcvb.com/article/jergen…