As we fight against the spread of Coronavirus in our communities and workplaces, there are things each of us can do to help slow and stop the spread of COVID-19. Read on for more information about the virus, how it’s spread, what we can do in our offices and workplaces to help prevent transmission and why Perspex® social distancing screens are a great way to help keep you and your colleagues safe.
What Is COVID-19? What Is Coronavirus?
Covid-19 and Coronavirus are both names given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus which is responsible for the current global pandemic.
How Is The Virus Spread?
The virus spreads in 3 main ways: contact or droplet transmission, airborne or aerosol transmission and fomite transmission.
- Contact/Droplet Transmission
Respiratory droplets, which are usually >5-10 μm in diameter, are expelled when an infectious person sneezes, coughs, shouts or sings. These cannot travel far or ‘hang’ in the air for long, which is why keeping socially distanced from one another and using protective screens helps to prevent the transmission of the virus through this method.
- Airborne/Aerosol Transmission
Droplet nuclei or ‘aerosols’ are <5 µm in diameter and remain more actively in the air, particularly in a non-ventilated room. Relatively little is known currently about how this affects the transmission of COVID-19, but studies are showing that the infection rate indoors can be minimised by all parties in the room wearing masks, the room being well ventilated, and reducing the amount of time people spend together indoors.
Fomites are surfaces that have been contaminated with respiratory droplets from an infected person, which is why we are asked to sanitise our hands and our contact surfaces regularly. The WHO says that: ‘Despite consistent evidence as to SARS-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces and the survival of the virus on certain surfaces, there are as of yet no specific reports which have directly demonstrated fomite transmission.
What Are The Main Symptoms Of The Virus?
The most commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- A new and persistent cough (for more than an hour, or 3 or more episodes in 24h)
- A fever (usually accompanied by a headache, but not always)
- A change to or loss of your sense of smell or taste
What Does The WHO Recommend We Do To Prevent The Spread of Coronavirus?
The best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to reduce the opportunities the virus has to transfer from one person to another. This means maintaining a safe social distance in public spaces, wearing a mask over our mouth and nose when out in public, washing or sanitising our hands regularly and using protective measures such as PPE and Perspex® social distancing screens in our offices, workplaces and public spaces. Using Test & Trace methods where possible to track Coronavirus cases in the community is important, as is self-isolating when you or someone close to you shows symptoms or receives a positive test result.
What Are The UK Government Guidelines About Social Distancing Screens In The Workplace?
The UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) advises offices and other workplaces to ensure employees are kept at least 2m apart. Where this is not possible, they recommend using screens and partitions to keep employees safely socially distanced and help prevent the transmission of virus droplets from person to person.
When used in conjunction with taped-off areas, signage, limiting workforce numbers, proper ventilation of offices and education around hygiene and safety measures, social distancing screens can help reduce the transmission of the virus (when kept clean and sanitised regularly).
How Do You Set Up Social Distancing Measures In The Workplace?
The kind of screens, dividers or barriers you need for your workplace will depend on a range of factors including practicality, cost and layout. We sell many different Perspex® screens in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
Perspex® Screens For Offices
For Perspex® desk bank dividers, these Framed Clear Perspex® Screens For Desks offer a contemporary, solution for an office space. Link them inline, or in a cross formation. If you need something that stands on the office floor, we recommend a style such as this Freestanding Perspex® Office Partition.
Perspex® Screens For Shops & Receptions
We recommend a style of screen divider that’s easy to set up and that has a service hatch in the base to make customer transactions easy and safe. This Folding Perspex® Screen Guard is ideal for shops, bars, tills, counters, post offices and receptions.
Perspex® Screens For Medical & Care Facilities
These are environments where close, 1-2-1 interactions happen regularly, so high-quality, practical social distancing screen options are important to have. Choosing something portable, like this Mobile Perspex® Divider Medical Screen, is useful in many situations. For a specific treatment option, the Perspex® Arm Vaccination Screen offers protection for nurses, doctors and pharmacists while carrying out basic medical procedures.
Perspex® Screens For Restaurants, Salons & Gyms
When they are allowed to be open, public-facing venues like gyms, restaurants, beauty salons, hairdressers and bars need versatile and adjustable methods of social distancing. A Perspex® screen that’s easy to move around, such as these Portable Perspex® Protection Screens on Wheels offers a flexible option. Or for smaller venues these Hanging Perspex® Protection Screens offer a hygienic barrier without taking up any floor space.
Why Choose A Perspex® Screen?
Transparent Perspex® allows 92% of light rays to pass through it, which means that quality Perspex® panels will give your workspace a light, open feel. In fact, the high-quality Perspex you’ll find in our social distancing screens offers a better optical clarity than glass, making communication between your employees easy and safe.
Perspex® is also easy to keep clean and sanitised, which is important for preserving a hygienic, socially distanced workspace.
How Do You Keep Perspex® Screens Clean And Sanitised?
Use a microfibre cloth to wipe down your Perspex® screen with warm, soapy water to remove smears and smudges and everyday dirt. The microfibre cloths are soft and designed to be more effective than paper towels in removing harmful bacteria and viruses – and they’re less likely to scratch your panel. DO NOT use ammonia-based products on your Perspex® screen as these can damage the surface of the acrylic, eventually causing cloudiness and discolouration.
To sanitise your Perspex® screen and remove all traces of viruses and bacteria, use an antibacterial wipe or diluted bleach solution, and then polish the surface with a microfibre cloth.
For more information on how to find the right social distancing screen option for your workplace, speak to our knowledgeable team by using the Contact Us page or calling 01733 511030.
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