Covid-19 Series Pt4 - Increase the Frequency of Cleaning

6 Things you can do now to help fight against COVID-19. Part 4

For hospitals and Aged care facilities, you should be thinking about what areas within your facility, and what Touchpoints in those areas pose a higher risk of cross-contamination.  Emergency departments, public toilets, common dining rooms, entrances, lifts and hallways would be the types of areas you should consider cleaning hourly, instead of daily.

Obviously, this will take more time but keeping your High Risk Touchpoints in High risk areas clean more often, will reduce cross-contamination in the same way that social distancing works.

The less times we touch surfaces, the less times they get infected and the less times you or other people could pick up germs.

To keep your healthcare facilities as safe as possible, you will need to increase cleaning hours in high risk areas, and make sure when your staff are cleaning that they are using, Clean hands, Clean cloths and an effective disinfectant.

Your cleaners are essential in the fight against COVID-19, they should be trained, well equipped, provided with the right PPE, knowledge and time to save lives, through science based cleaning.

The message to our cleaners is simple:

• Wash your hands. Use soap and water or alcohol hand rub. Whatever you can access, just use it and do it as often as you can.

• Practice social distancing, and make sure you are washed and clean before leaving your workplace or as soon as you arrive home.

• When cleaning, the most important thing to do, is to just do it! Clean properly and as often as you can. If time permits, clean Touchpoints more regularly, using your normal detergent or disinfectant.

Remember, Clean Hands, Clean Facilities and Healthy families.