Coronavirus: Protecting your employees from respiratory illness
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on February 14, 2020
If you’re an employer, you’re probably looking at the current news regarding the nova coronavirus and wondering what you should be doing for your employees.
Step 1: Educate
- Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs.
- Common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, and breathing difficulties.
- Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to the virus.
- Maple, our partner for our Online Doctors' service on Connected Care, has an overview on understanding the coronavirus here.
- Click here for resources and additional Public Health information on coronavirus
- Information about coronavirus and Medavie Blue Cross travel benefits is available here.
Step 2: Communicate
Sick Time
Do your employees know what to do if they are exhibiting symptoms of a contagious illness? How about your managers? With the flu season in full swing, and coronavirus continuing to evolve, now is a good time for a refresher on how sick leave is earned, taken and managed so that employees and their managers have a clear understanding of your policy.
Illness Prevention
Encourage employees to practice good hygiene to prevent exposure to a wide range of illnesses, including coronavirus, the common cold and seasonal flu. This includes:
Best practices, precautions
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and dispose of used tissues appropriately. If a tissue is not available, cough and sneeze into your sleeve or arm, not a hand
- Disinfect/sanitize your immediate and common work surfaces including doorknobs, keyboards and mice surfaces
- If possible, avoid close contact with people who are ill
Continue to check here for information about coronavirus and our travel coverage. Our page will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
Coronavirus Symptoms & Prevention
Download and share this document with your employees.
For over 75 years, Medavie Blue Cross has been a leading health services partner for individuals, employers and governments across Canada. As the country’s leading Blue Cross plan with over one million card holders, we are a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits to...
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