The Coronavirus outbreak is now officially labelled as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is causing a lot of the population to be concerned about their health. Although the chances of contracting the virus still remain low for the majority of us, it is advised to adopt extra precautions to help stop the spread of the outbreak to keep yourself and others safe in the long run. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe and minimise your chances of contracting the virus;
• Wash your hands frequently
• Maintain social distancing
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Practice respiratory hygiene (covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing)
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
• Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider Symptoms of Coronavirus; • Coughing • High temperature • Shortness of breath.
The symptoms of Coronavirus are similar to other illnesses which are much more prevalent at this time of year, including the common cold, so if you have these symptoms simply seek advice from 111.
• In the event of a pandemic, all organisations have a key role to play in managing the risks to the health and safety of employees and maintaining essential operations
• A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a disease and occurs when a new virus emerges to which most people do not have immunity
• It is important that all organisations develop robust and flexible business continuity arrangements that will help to minimise the impact of disruptions.
In a pandemic, all organisations and businesses have a key role to play in managing the risks to the health and safety of employees and maintaining essential operations. Zurich have developed some guidance to provide an overview of the steps that an organisation can take to prepare for a pandemic. It is important that all organisations develop robust and flexible business continuity arrangements that will help to minimise the impact of disruptions. Whilst the timing and extent of any pandemic is unpredictable, the preparing of suitable response plans in advance will enable organisations to respond effectively to a range of scenarios and help to minimise the impact upon essential operations. You can read our full guidance on pandemic planning, along with a checklist that can be used to plan for a pandemic and minimise its impact here.