• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Find a Specialty
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Pay a Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Getty Images 1150572144 1

How to Prevent Coronavirus in Your Workplace

Mar 20, 2020 |
By Jefferson G. Bohan, PharmD, BCPS
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many businesses are closing temporarily or are encouraging employees to work remotely to prevent the spread of the virus. However, many essential businesses are continuing to operate for the good of the public. If you fall into one of these groups and can’t self-isolate, there are still ways you can protect yourself from the spread of germs.

Maintain distance

According to the CDC, COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Try to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and your coworkers. This may mean rearranging your office space a little or avoiding gathering in the break room for a while.

Say hello to a conference call

Many workplaces already have video conferencing or teleconferencing options available, so skip the conference room and open a phone line for your next big meeting. You can share screens, give presentations, and prevent the spread of germs that comes from having people in close contact.

Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette

Cough and sneeze etiquette are especially important to control the spread of infection in the workplace. You can follow the below recommendations to prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets and slow the spread of germs.

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
  • Throw the tissue in the trash immediately after use
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coming in contact with objects that others have touched like doorknobs, the printer, or shared office supplies.

Make sure you wash your hands properly by following the steps below:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
  2. Lather soap in your hands, applying to the back, front, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Sanitize your workspace

Routinely clean the most frequently touched surfaces in your office such as tables, doorknobs, light switched, handles, desks, and shared offices supplies such as staplers, hole punches, printers, or copiers. Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and discard them after each cleaning. To disinfect, use diluted household bleach solutions or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol. The CDC has a full list of recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting.

Stay home if you are sick

Now more than ever it’s important to stay home if you are sick. If you develop a fever, 100.4 degrees F or greater using an oral thermometer, or show symptoms of respiratory illness you should stay home until you are free of fever and other symptoms for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing or symptom altering medicines. Some of these include Tylenol, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve. The CDC recommends that employers waive any requirements for healthcare providers’ notes for employees who are sick. Doctors’ offices and medical facilities may be experiencing a high volume of patients and may not be able to provide documentation in a timely manner.

The CDC currently offering COVI-19 recommendations for businesses and employers.

In early December 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their recommendations regarding COVID-19 exposure quarantine. While this doesn't apply to healthcare workers and other essential personnel, the guidance now states that quarantine can end after 10 days (rather than 14) with no testing and no symptoms. Quarantine can end after seven days with a negative test and no symptoms.

Defer non-essential business-related travel

If you have not already, you may consider postponing business-related travel as crowded travel settings may increase your chances of getting COVID-19. Here are a few other considerations that could impact your decision to travel:

  • Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going?
  • Do you have a plan for taking time off from work in case you are asked to stay home for 14 days to self-monitor or if you get sick from COVID-19?
  • Do you live with someone who is older or immunocompromised?
  • Is COVID-19 spreading where you live?

Stay hydrated

Getting enough fluids can help to thin mucus, flush out germs, and keep your system running smoothly. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of fluid each day. For example, someone weighing 160 pounds should consume 80 ounces of water each day. Bring a reusable water bottle to work with you to make sure you’re following this recommendation. Just make sure you thoroughly clean your water bottle!

Take advantage of virtual visits

If you are feeling ill, take advantage of Ochsner Anywhere Care. Ochsner Anywhere Care virtual visits offer immediate, 24/7 access to a healthcare provider from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Depending on your symptoms, travel history, and other factors, your Anywhere Care doctor may recommend you go to an urgent care, emergency room, or make a follow-up appointment with a primary care provider or specialist.

For the latest updates on COVID-19, visit Ochsner.org/coronavirus.

The information in this blog post is accurate at the time of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change, it's possible that information has changed since being published. While Ochsner Health is trying to keep our blog posts as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC website.

Tags
coronavirus
work
business

You may also be interested in:

Woman laptop Getty Images 1124997372
Conditions & Treatment
October 1, 2021

Is It the Flu or COVID-19?

Learn how symptoms differ between the COVID-19 and the flu.
By Katherine Baumgarten, MD
Getty Images 184956723 720x480 92c17454 9e41 47bf 9cb8 980d5e34ad93
Conditions & Treatment
November 29, 2021

Is it the Common Cold or Coronavirus?

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 corresponds with cold and flu season, which may leave you questioning if have the common cold, or something more serious.
By Katherine Baumgarten, MD
Woman on Couch with Coffee
Conditions & Treatment
September 4, 2020

How Social Distancing Can Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

As cases of coronavirus in the United States spread, recent precautions from the CDC urged people to consider social distancing to prevent the spread of infection.
By Katherine Baumgarten, MD

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637
Follow us: Facebook Visit Ochsner Health on Facebook Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok
Sign up for our free health and wellness newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide