As everyone is on a more heightened alert about the spread of germs, it is important to make sure you feel comfortable when going to work. Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a large family of viruses, that originated from China and has a varied set of both mild and severe symptoms, such as headache, cold, fever, multiple organ failure, and pneumonia. The virus, to date, has affected more that 50 countries across the world and up to 94,000 cases have been reported.
What Are the Symptoms of a Person Infected with Coronavirus?
There are a set of diverse symptoms associated with the coronavirus. It can cause illness, varying from something as mild as a cough or cold to something as severe as pneumonia. The symptoms usually appear 2 to 14 days after getting exposed to the virus. Some of the symptoms to look out for in the workplace are:
- High fever and chills
- Cold and cough
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Rapid heartbeats
- Tightness of the chest
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Kidney failure
- Multiple organ failure
How Can I Protect Myself from Sick Coworkers?
The coronavirus has the tendency to spread faster compared to the to other flus and colds. It also takes up time in showing up through the medical scans and examinations.
Since there has been zero discoveries in terms of finding a vaccination or medication that can help cure and prevent this disease, it becomes the responsibility of the people to follow certain measures, to protect themselves from getting exposed to coronavirus. Some of them are:
- While coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue, which should be later thrown in the waste bin.
- Hands should be washed with any antibacterial soap and water for at least 20 seconds, each.
- Meat and poultry should be thoroughly cooked.
- Distance should be maintained from people in the workplace.
- Sprayers and spraying apparatus can be used to disinfect frequently used objects, like keyboards and chairs.
- People should maintain a hygienic lifestyle.
- Avoid touching the face constantly to spread germs from hand to mouth or nose.
- Contact with people showing flu-like symptoms should be avoided.
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What Should I Do If My Coworker Has Coronavirus
Coronavirus can easily spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. People may also become infected with the virus if they are in close proximity with a sick person or they touch a contaminated surface. If you know of coworkers who have been infected with coronavirus, it is imperative to reach out to your human resources representative to make them aware. Sick employees should be asked to remain away from work and should be advised to consult a health care provider. Close contact with a sick coworker should be avoided.
Conclusion
It is important for everyone to practice hygienic routines to keep themselves and coworkers healthy. Disinfect workplace items like keyboards, phones, lunch tables, avoid sitting in a commonly-used spaces like lunch rooms, wash hands after meeting with people, and maintain a distance from people that have flu-like symptoms.
