Management of Coronavirus, COVID-19 at Elleishas Property Services

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert and to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our Subcontractors, Clients and the General Public we have put some guidelines in place.

 

To ensure that we remain up to date on the developments of this health alert, EPS will continue to monitor recognised medical authorities’ advice and where necessary, review and update our management strategy. 

Strict compliance with these Guidelines will assist in prevention of the spread of the virus and help protect workers, other contractors, clients, employees and the general public from any potential illness associated with contracting the virus.

What you need to know

What is a coronavirus and COVID-19?

 Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This new coronavirus originated in Hubei Province, China and the disease outbreak is named COVID-19.

What are the symptoms/common signs of COVID-19?

Common signs of infection include respiratory systems, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Who is most at risk of contracting COVID-19?

Currently, according to health authorities, those most at risk are:

- People with compromised immune systems

- Elderly people

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

- People with diagnosed chronic medical conditions

- Very young children and babies

- People in group residential settings

- People in detention facilities

- Individuals who have returned from a country or region that is at high or moderate risk for COVID-19. 

How is this coronavirus spread?

 The coronavirus is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:

- Direct close contact with a person while they are infectious

- Close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or

- Touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.

Most infections are only transmitted by people when they have symptoms. These can include fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath.

• All office staff and cleaners have been advised that if they are exhibiting any illness or showing symptoms of COVID-19 they are to seek medical advice, stay home and take time to heal. They will self-isolate for 14 days as per the Government Guidelines currently in place.

• If any staff have travelled overseas within 14 days or have been in contact with any person that may have tested positive to COVID-19 they are to self-isolate as per the Government Guidelines currently in place.

• All cleaning staff have been issued with Industrial Grade Disinfectant and Heavy-Duty Sanitiser.

• All cleaners have been advised to wear PPE.- gloves, masks and safety glasses.

• All cleaners will wash their hands at the beginning and end of each visit.

• All cleaners will wear the correct PPE. Gloves will be worn to avoid unnecessary touch and masks will be worn if a client is present whilst the service is taking place to prevent the spread of germs etc.

• All surfaces throughout the home being furniture, appliances, kitchen cupboard doors, handles and or handrails will be cleaned using a cleaning agent which includes Heavy Duty Disinfectant and Sanitiser.

• All surfaces including bathrooms, showers and toilets are cleaned using Heavy Duty Disinfectant and Sanitiser.

• All mopping of hard surfaces will be performed using Industrial Grade Disinfectant.

• All cleaners have been asked to keep hand sanitiser with them throughout their working day and to use before and after each service.

• All cleaners will use disposable cleaning cloths that will be bagged and sealed within disposable bags with the gloves and placed in a rubbish bag that will be disposed of at the completion of each service.

• All clients are asked and advised that if they too are exhibiting any illness or showing symptoms of COVID-19 they are to put their services on hold, seek medical advice, and take time to heal. Please know that only on medical clearance will Elleisha’s Property Services re attend the site. All clients should follow Government Guidelines currently in place if this is to occur.

• If you the client or close family members have travelled overseas and returned in the last 14 days or have been in contact with any person that may have tested positive to COVID-19 you are to self- isolate as per the Government Guidelines currently in place and put your services on hold.

• We request, for the health and safety of our employees and other clients, that you reschedule your cleaning appointment if you or a family member is sick, experiencing flu-like symptoms, or again has tested positive for the flu or coronavirus. This will help reduce the spread of any illness to our technicians or between homes.

• We ask that all clients adhere to the social distancing guidelines put in place whilst cleaners are on site in their home. Please allow cleaners space to carry out the service, 1.5 mtrs guideline requirements. Where possible it would be beneficial for the client to not be in the premise whilst the service is taking place.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least one metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why?   When someone coughs or sneezes, they exert small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus in an affected person. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing or sneezing has the virus.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Our hands touch many surfaces and can pick up virus causing bacteria. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the bacteria to your eyes, nose or mouth, allowing the virus to enter your body.

 Practice respiratory hygiene

Ensure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Then dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you develop any of the symptoms or common signs of being infected, seek medical attention 

 If you develop symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath), seek medical attention and advise your local health authority in advance.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up top date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also assist in the prevention of spreading the virus and other potential infections.

What to be worn whilst onsite

Elleishas Property Services is requesting that all subcontractors and employees are always to wear gloves whilst attending an Elleishas Property Services controlled site.

Why? As a precautionary measure to prevent contracting the virus from surfaces.

Ongoing Monitoring

Monitoring of the situation will occur daily or as advice is issued by recognised health authorities. If there is a major change to the current situation these guidelines will be reviewed and where necessary, updated in response to health warning and advice.

Resources

- World Health Organisation 

- Australian Government Department of Health