Strategies for employers to prevent the spread of COVID-19

BRANTFORD, ON, Mar. 6, 2020 – It’s always best to be prepared, and when it comes to the health and safety of your staff and students, there’s no exception. Career Colleges Ontario (CCO) is encouraging the province’s career colleges to be a part of the solution in protecting Ontario communities and taking the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While important to note that the Public Health Agency of Canada considers COVID-19 to be a low risk to public health, the agency, along health authorities across Canada and the world are encouraging individuals and businesses to adopt best practices to curb the potential spread of the disease.

The COVID-19 disease is spread from person to person in similar ways one catches a cold or flu. It may be spread through cough or sneezing, and it can be contracted when a person comes into contact with infected surroundings. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.”

In recognizing the role businesses play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and communities as a whole, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published recommendations for businesses to appropriately plan and respond to the outbreak.

1. Summary of recommended strategies for employers to use now:
   Actively encourage sick employees to stay home.
2. Separate sick employees who do arrive at work (and then send them home).
3. Emphasize coughing/sneezing etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees.
4. Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace.
5. Advise employees to take appropriate steps and precautions before travelling, such as reviewing the Canadian Government’s latest travel advice, encouraging them to check for symptoms before their trip, and notifying their healthcare professional for advice if need.

Additional Resources:

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), February 2020
• Government of Canada’s Updates on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• COVID-19 Q&A – World Health Organization (WHO)

About Career Colleges Ontario

Career Colleges Ontario (CCO) is a not-for-profit association that was established in 1973 to advocate on behalf of career colleges in the province of Ontario. The association’s purpose is to help governments, key decision makers and the public understand the critical role its members and their students play in supporting Ontario’s post-secondary education system and improving the province’s economic well-being. CCO’s members contribute to Ontario’s economy by providing highly qualified graduates in hundreds of essential, skilled fields such as Applied Arts, Business, Healthcare, Human Services, Information Technology, Services and Trades.

For further information, please contact:
 
Dyson Wells
Marketing and Communications Officer
dysonwells@careercollegesontario.ca
(519) 752-2124 Ext.115

DISCLAIMER: CCO is not providing healthcare advice. We are not holding ourselves out to be or representing ourselves as persons who may provide healthcare services. Readers are urged to consult their own professional advisors for further confirmation and further information.