During the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have an integral role to help stop person-to-person spread. Maintaining physical distance in the workplace can be challenging, but there are things your business can do to help.
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through close contact (approximately 6 feet) via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths and noses, or can be inhaled into the lungs of nearby people. Additionally, the droplets can contaminate and temporarily survive on surfaces. People can become ill by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Physical distancing is a prevention method to slow the person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent the novel coronavirus, so the best way to prevent illness from COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to it.
Recommendations for physical distancing in the workplace:
- Sick employees should be encouraged to remain at home, and not come to work when ill.
- Consider your company’s telework capacity and limit in-person placement to essential personnel.
- Consider staggering shifts to limit employee contact.
- Encourage employees to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more from other co-workers and customers.
- Make supplies readily available for employees to disinfect their work stations and frequently touched surfaces (keyboards, door handles, telephones, etc.)
For more information on how your business can prepare and what to do if an employee becomes sick, visit our ADHS COVID-19 site for businesses. The Arizona Department of Health Services encourages everyone to participate in physical distancing to keep you safe and healthy and we thank you for your participation in this pandemic response. For the latest information about COVID-19, please visit our website.
