Actions to Suppress Airborne Virus Transmission
Improved ventilation, air cleaners, N95 masks, UVC light, testing, isolation when unwell.
COVID Safe Locations
Near as possible to outdoor safety.
Consider adopting ASHRAE Pathogen Mitigation Ventilation Standard
Learn more about transmission suppression methods. Further guidance is available from methods , covidisairborne.org and health.govt.nz.
COVID Safe Behaviors
- Anyone could be contagious even with no symptoms – encourage universal masking indoors.
- Encourage 2-way (universal) use of N95 masks.
- Ask guests and customers to sign in and share contact details, so you have a record of external visitors who have been on site and when.
- Keep regular records of which staff are on site on which days, including locations if relevant.
- Support regular working from home if it is suitable to your workplace.
- Encourage cohorting of staff, to minimise different bubbles overlapping.
- Encourage a test-to-return policy for staff who have symptoms.
- Encourage regular hand-washing and use of hand santiser.
- Ensure staff who are required to stay home as cases or contacts do not return until they have completed their isolation period. Consider how you can support their isolation while at home (e.g. supplying equipment, virtual meetings).
- Encourage all staff and your wider community to get vaccinated, including recommended booster doses for those who are eligible. Consider allowing staff to take paid time off to get vaccinated if necessary.
COVID Safe Policies
- Pass your knowledge on to others you are responsible for and you care about and call-out those who are in denial.
- Encourage managers to become familiar with infection prevention and control best practice.
- Conduct a COVID-19/environmental risk assessment, considering your health and safety policies and any measures required to address the health concerns of employees. (length of exposure, level of exposure, susceptibility, clinical consequences)
- Set room occupant limits, based on a minimum of 2 meter distancing, and time limits (ideally with public health advice).
- Encourage, stock and freely provide N95 masks, and educate staff on how to use and wear these correctly.
- Stock, make available and position/dispense hygiene supplies and appropriate PPE at all times.
- Regularly carry out Infection, Prevention Control assessments.