The Journey Back to Reopening Your Business During the Pandemic

During COVID-19’s spread, the White House and public health officials urged people to stay home to flatten the curve. Most governors then directed non-essentials businesses to close, either having their employees work from home or take temporary leaves.

Fortunately, the spread has slowed enough that many businesses are gradually beginning to reopen. However, to prevent a second wave of COVID-19, strict guidelines must be followed, including intensive deep cleaning of workspaces.

How America’s Businesses Are Reopening

The White House is proposing a systematic, 3-phase approach to reopening commercial spaces. This includes new instructions for how to sanitize common areas. The CDC and OSHA have also provided guidance and regulations. And most state health departments have strict requirements as well, including routine cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas.

How to Follow COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines and Regulations

Coronavirus has quickly gained a reputation as an insidious virus. It’s capable of surviving on diverse surfaces for up to 17 days. Once infected, an employee may not show symptoms for up to two weeks. This makes tracking and containing the virus extremely difficult. Plus, COVID-19 is a novel virus, so the CDC should be continuously consulted to check for approved disinfectants and approaches.

This may make following regulations to lessen the risk of COVID-19 in workplaces seem impossible – but it’s not. Instead of trying to handle this alone, enlist the health of trustworthy professionals.

Why You Need Professional Cleaners to Reopen

Hiring professional cleaners with experience against biohazard remediation can make following COVID-19 reopening regulations simple. While this coronavirus may be new, a company with experience disinfecting other dangerous viruses will be well-versed in needed precautions.

You’ll want to be certain the company you choose adheres to OSHA regulations and strictly follows all the latest procedures. Also, be sure they have an Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC). This will allow you to trust that they know how to handle the intensive COVID-19 disinfection techniques that must be implemented.

Professional crews are also trained to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This minimizes the risk to themselves and others, keeping everyone in your commercial space safe. PPE includes:

  • Head protection gear;
  • Goggles;
  • N95 respirators;
  • Tyvek suits;
  • Gloves;
  • Boot protection.

Hiring a specialized cleaning team, instead of using your staff or employees, helps reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.

What to Expect from COVID-19 Preventative Deep Cleaning

As your business reopens, and while COVID-19 remains a threat, strict CDC and OSHA guidelines will have to be followed. These include regular cleaning and sanitization of high-touch areas around the office. Some examples of high-touch areas are:

  • Keyboards, computer mice, and phones
  • Desk accessories
  • Digital touchscreens
  • Coat hangers and racks
  • Lightswitches
  • Elevator buttons
  • Door handles
  • Appliances, fixtures, and furniture in kitchens and breakrooms
  • Bathrooms
  • Monitors, technology controls, and whiteboard accessories in conference rooms
  • Mail and resource room postage meters, packaging and mail tools, and rolling package carts, trolleys, and bins

Professional cleaners are capable of reaching difficult-to-access parts of your facility, ensuring COVID-19 is targeted everywhere. They’re also trained in proper, intensive deep-cleaning techniques. Some common methods of doing this include:

  • Fogging using a fine spray that delivers disinfectant
  • Surface wiping using an industrial-grade disinfectant
  • Wet spraying surfaces
  • Cleaning and disinfecting all cleaning tools used
  • Safely disposing of waste

With the Help of a Professional Cleaning Team, You’ll Be Ready to Reopen

As businesses get back to work, keeping workspaces infection-free is a vital concern. Choosing to trust experienced, certified professional cleaners is the best way to keep your employees safe and reassured. Together, we can help ensure America opens in the most thoughtful way possible.

Rylie Holt