BUSINESS AS USUAL:
Thousands of people were forcibly removed from their homes in the dead of night and all mentions of the incident were scrubbed from the Internet

Thousands of COVID-19-negative Beijing residents were forcibly relocated to quarantine hotels overnight due to a handful of infections, as the Chinese capital begins to take more extreme control measures resembling virus-hit Shanghai.

Beijing has been battling its worst outbreak since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 1,300 since late last month, leading city restaurants, schools and tourist attractions to be closed indefinitely.

China’s strategy to achieve zero COVID-19 cases includes strict border closures, lengthy quarantines, mass testing and rapid, targeted lockdowns.

More than 13,000 residents of the locked-down Nanxinyuan residential compound in southeast Beijing were relocated to quarantine hotels overnight on Friday due to 26 new infections discovered in the past few days, according to photographs and a government notice widely shared on social media.

“Experts have determined that all Nanxinyuan residents undergo centralized quarantine beginning midnight May 21 for seven days,” authorities from Chaoyang district said on Friday. “Please cooperate, otherwise you will bear the corresponding legal consequences.”

Social media photos showed hundreds of residents with luggage lining up in the dark to board buses parked outside the compound.

“Some of us have been locked down for 28 days since April 23, and we all tested negative throughout,” one resident wrote on Sina Weibo. “A lot of my neighbors are elderly or have young children.”

“The transfer really makes us feel like we’re in a wartime scene,” resident and real estate blogger Liu Guangyu posted on Weibo early yesterday.

Residents were told to pack their clothes and essential belongings, and that their homes would be disinfected afterward, according to screenshots shared on Weibo.

Last month, thousands of negative Shanghai residents were bused to makeshift quarantine centers hundreds of kilometers away as the metropolis of 25 million doubled down on efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Weibo users expressed widespread anxiety that Beijing authorities were taking a similar approach to Shanghai, where residents have chafed under a months-long lockdown that has denied many people adequate access to food and medical care.

The Weibo hashtag “All residents of Nanxinyuan compound were dragged to quarantine” was blocked by yesterday morning.

“This is exactly the same as Shanghai, the first step is to cut off water and electricity, then demand keys … then disinfect homes. Electrical appliances, wooden furniture, clothes, food — they’re all done for,” read one comment.

Beijing authorities yesterday extended work from home guidance to one more district, one day after halting the vast majority of public bus and subway services.

Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

News and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here.

PureWay® launches safe and environmentally friendly medical waste solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device manufacturers.

HOUSTON, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Each year, approximately 9 million patients receive at least 3 billion injections outside of healthcare facilities.  These medications are used to manage a variety of health conditions including diabetes, allergies, arthritis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, infertility, sclerosis, osteoporosis, and more. 

Recent regulations, including California Senate Bill 212, have highlighted the lack of year-round safe containment and disposal options for patients at-home. This challenge has motivated pharmaceutical manufacturers, and medical device manufacturers to improve the patient experience and use PureWay’s safe, secure and eco-friendly programs to proactively manage the collection and recycling of injectables at home. 

PureWay® has partnered with leading pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device manufacturers including Novo Nordisk and Ultimed Inc. to provide safe collection, transportation, disposal, and recycling options for patients who self-inject or self-test using needles at home. 

Together, our efforts have supplied more than 200,000 units to patients who otherwise would be limited to Drug Take Back days or even discard these items in the regular trash.

PureWay® is an innovative and leading provider of at-home sharps mail back systems, which safely collect, contain, disinfect, and recycle medical waste. This year marks a major milestone for PureWay with over 200,000 patients served and the successful launch of our eco-friendly disposal solution which reduces volume, separates recyclable materials, and recycles up to 85% of recyclable materials.

PureWay co-founder Jeffery Miglicco states, “This is a great step forward for both patients – who have been asking for safer and more environmentally responsible solutions – as well as our partners pursuing ambitious ESG initiatives.”

About PureWay®: PureWay® is a nationwide provider of regulated waste (medical, pharmaceutical, hazardous) disposal and manufacturer of sharps mail-back solutions. For more information about PureWay please visit www.pureway.com. 

Related Images

Image 1

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

• Featured Image for PureWay Compliance, Inc.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Right in the centre – Do rules always make sense?

Details

Published on Friday, May 27, 2022

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner & Press

Sometimes rules make sense and some times they need to be questioned.

I was recently told that new residents at care homes have to be isolated in their rooms for 10 days upon arrival at the care home. I asked Manitoba Shared Health if that was correct and if so, what was the reasoning for that?

A Shared Health spokesperson got back to me with the following answer.

“Manitoba’s guidance is regularly reviewed and updated to balance the need to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spread among vulnerable populations with the ability for residents to maintain important in-person connections with loved ones.

Current guidance includes a 10-day isolation period for any person newly admitted or readmitted (including following a period of more than 24 hours in hospital) to a personal care home, who has not had COVID-19 in the past 180 days.

Residents that have not had COVID-19 in the past 180 days will be screened and tested between days five and seven of their 10-day isolation period.

Other measures in place to mitigate spread of the virus in long-term care facilities, such as personal care homes, include:

•Ongoing screening of staff and visitors;

•The use of appropriate personal protective equipment by health-care workers, designated caregivers and general visitors;

•Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices;

•Other protocols which may vary based on the level of COVID-19 activity in the community and the outbreak status of a unit or personal care home.

Health regions do work with individual residents and families to minimize as much as possible the impacts of the 10-day isolation period. It is important to note that while a resident is required to isolate, they are able to continue having designated family caregivers visit them, provided appropriate personal protective equipment is worn.”

I have also found out from first hand family reports that a 10 day isolation means no contact with other residents, meals by themselves in their rooms and in some cases very restricted access by family members.

This may be a case where the rules don’t make sense. I know Manitoba Health is trying their best, but is this isolation process going to achieve the desired results? I question that. While isolating the residents from each other “may” curb the spread between residents, what about the possibility of the staff spreading infection? The staff are in contact with a number of residents. They are out in the community, in contact with their families and friends. Why are the staff somehow less a source of possible infection to residents than residents are to each other? Considering the respective risk, the damage that isolation does and the extra staffing time and costs, I question the need and net effectiveness of this rule.

To look at an entirely different scenario: the construction industry. Consider this, lumber is expensive and there are tons of used lumber available. Most of it heads to the burning pile or the landfill. Many people who are environmentally aware and cost conscious would like to be able to utilize recycled lumber. Trouble is that most planning districts and construction rules don’t allow the use of recycled or used materials. Worse than that, if you buy an old house, to relocate, you may have to take out reasonably good windows, doors and siding to meet code. While construction is very different from health care, it does seem strange that both industries are hampered by rules that don’t make sense.

Our problem is that the rule makers aren’t all that practical. They set up a set of rules and cling to them even when they don’t make sense. That’s a real problem in Canada and it seems especially in Manitoba.

There are likely many other similar situations. I would welcome your input. Email me examples of questionable rules to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the Banner & Press staff.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Photo credit — United Electrical Workers

240 workers at a Refresco bottling plant in Wharton, New Jersey won their election for union recognition May 21. After two years of intense struggle and against all of the dirty tricks the boss could muster, these workers have made it clear that they won’t back down until they get what’s right.

Workers at the Wharton plant began organizing in February 2020. They had faced years of abusive supervisors, poor safety conditions, low wages, and an unforgiving attendance and scheduling system. Anthony Sanchez, an employee at the plant for 15 years, said he started organizing with his co-workers to stop the “despotic attitudes of our supervisors and the management.”

The company had plans of their own though. Refresco is the largest multinational bottling company in the world and made over $2 billion in profits in 2020. The company purchased the Wharton plant in 2016 along with other smaller competitors, and began making changes at the expense of the workers. They began cutting health insurance benefits by shifting costs to workers, and already-low wages stagnated. 

Refresco saw the pandemic as an opportunity for them “to institute 12-hour shifts which they had been wanting to do for a while,” according to John Ocampo, the United Electrical Workers organizer on the campaign. This change from 8-hour shifts would be immensely draining on workers. Meanwhile, they ignored serious health concerns raised from the pandemic.

Diana Acevedo, a Refresco Worker, reported that “One of my co-workers had gone to management to ask them to stop production so that they could disinfect and so we could have better safety protocols concerning our health. And the manager just said no and told us we were “essential.” The company even claimed that “experts” told them that if workers get COVID, to let the fever run and “drink gatorade.”

In response to rising COVID cases, the workers staged a walkout on March 21, 2020, demanding adequate protections and contact tracing. While the employer didn’t concede on these demands, it began to build the workers’ confidence in their own collective strength when they are organized.

Workers defeat “culturally sensitive” union busting

In a year’s time, the workers would bring together a majority of their co-workers to form a union. With a majority on union cards, they went public and filed for a National Labor Relations Board election.

Refresco was determined to crush the union by instilling fear, confusion and hopelessness. Acevedo described how during the run up to the election “Our cafeteria is covered in anti-union propaganda, the TVs are displaying anti-union messaging, so we’re bombarded with this anti-union messaging – false information, of course.”

The company also ran captive audience meetings, a very common anti-union tactic. They hired Lupe Cruz, a union organizer turned anti-union consultant to run them. Cruz specializes in “bilingual consulting,” which the company believed would be especially important for the over 85% Latino workforce at the plant. 

The union busting meetings were presented as “classes” to teach the mostly immigrant workforce about U.S. labor law. Unsurprisingly, they were imbued with anti-union messaging against the national union and urging the workers to vote no. Anyone who spoke out against this was kicked out of the session.

Despite everything the company threw at the workers, the union turned out in support and won the vote in June 2021. In light of the victory, the workers could see their strength and their worth.

“We do the work that makes this company rich. But they only see us as dollar signs, not people. This was our time. It was now or never. With our union we will finally win the better pay and respect that we deserve,” said Cesar Moreira, a Refresco employee for seven years and an immigrant from Ecuador.

The NLRB and another dirty trick

Rather than recognize the democratic will of their workers and negotiate, Refresco would proceed to spend the next nine months making bogus claims to overturn the result of the election. According to Ocampo, “At no point has Refresco alleged union misconduct. They alleged that the National Labor Relations Board agent who was conducting the election opened the voting center up at 6:05 a.m. one day instead of at 6 a.m. when the polls should have opened.”

The NLRB ruled in favor of Refresco, overturned the result of the election, and required a second election be held. 

Despite the unjust decision by the NLRB, the workers continued to organize. Even throughout the NLRB hearing process the workers were far from silent spectators. In fact, the union continued to organize around safety issues, including pools of chemicals, hearing loss from loud machinery, and two plant fires which failed to set off alarms. 

Leading up to the second vote, Refresco once again ramped up their anti-union campaign in the plant. They likely thought this time they would drive home the message of hopelessness even more than before.

But in fact, support for the union grew between the first and second election. Licinia Ochoa, a Refresco worker and Colombian immigrant said, “There’s a bunch of folks that voted no the first time that now want to vote yes.” 

And sure enough, the union succeeded in their second vote by an even greater margin than their first election. The workers would not allow the boss to rob them of their voice and their union. The fighting attitude of these workers and their victory surely won’t end here.

Just days before the vote, Ochoa spoke to the potential of their union win. “And this way, other Refresco plants can organize and form their unions. Refresco can’t imagine what a blow we’re about to land on them.”

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Four years ago, Chantel Mila Ibbotson started making her own cleaning products. “The driving force was my kids,” the styling and organisation content creator says.

She made the switch shortly after her daughter was diagnosed with asthma.

According to Better Health, chemicals and strong smells from things like household cleaning products are a common asthma trigger.

“At the time, I was on maternity leave too so the cost benefit was great for our household budget,” Ms Mila-Ibbotson adds.

But how effective (and safe) are home-made concoctions when it comes to cleaning your home?

I spoke with a molecular pharmacologist to find out.

Are DIY products really cleaning my house?

Loading

DIY solutions can work, says Ian Musgrave, a senior lecturer in pharmacology at the University of Adelaide — but you might need to apply a little more elbow grease.

“We have an expectation that they’re cleaning because that’s what our parents and grandparents used, but it can take a lot of scrubbing to get the same results as commercial products,” Dr Musgrave says.

“It depends on the surface you’re cleaning and how dirty it is. For light cleaning, vinegar [and bi-carb soda] work quite nicely.”

White vinegar and baking soda are the most common pantry items used in homemade cleaning products because they’re cheap and can be used in many ways — from cleaning shower doors to a fabric softener.

“Vinegar is an acid; it cleans organic matter off surfaces by attacking the material, but it’s a weak acid — after all we put it in our salads,” Dr Musgrave says.

“It can also bind minerals and attack scale on glass [like on shower doors or windows].”

Vinegar can be toxic to plants and can’t be used on surfaces like granite, so do some research and patch test before you spray it on any surfaces.

Mixing some ingredients with vinegar can reduce its ability to clean.

“Recipes that contain vinegar and detergent negates the effect of having vinegar in the first place,” he says.

Chantel combines vinegar, water and an essential oil like tea tree, which Dr Musgrave says can be a good way to disinfect your home.

What about baking soda?

Baking soda is another ingredient that is great for removing stains or grease and grime — and acts as a great deodoriser too.

“Baking soda is a base which will also break down organic matter [like unblocking drains]. But it’s a much weaker base compared to commercial products, so for mild blockages it’ll work but serious blockages it won’t,” Dr Musgrave explains.

Some other popular items you can use to clean your home are tea tree oil, which works as a disinfectant, as well as citrus fruits like lemons or oranges which are acids and work in a similar way to vinegar.

Overall, Dr Musgrave says, if you’re looking to scrub less or get quicker results, commercial products are the way to go.

“In terms of cleaning power, the commercial ones generally work better,” he says

“It also depends on the portions you mix together [in DIY products] and how long you leave it.”

But if you have allergies, are looking to save money or in search for a natural alternative, making your own cleaning products could be a good option for you.

“Vinegar or baking soda does work, but you’ll need to put more effort in to get the same effect of a commercial product,” Dr Musgrave says. 

“If you have adverse reactions, or don’t like the smell of commercial products, [home-made products] can be your go to.”

ABC Everyday in your inbox

Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday each week

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

SHERIDAN — The percentage of out-of-compliance health inspections at Sheridan County businesses more than doubled during the first five months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

According to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture website, 22 of 73 routine health inspections conducted in Sheridan County between Jan. 1 and May 23 were out of compliance. This means roughly 30.1% of Sheridan County inspections were out of compliance.

During the same period in 2021, 13 of 92 Sheridan County routine health inspections — or 14.1% — were found to be out of compliance.

Among the out-of-compliance businesses in 2022, Buckhorn Grocery in Ranchester had the most violations: 14, according to a March 24 report. These included: meat being obtained from a source non-compliant with state law, ready-to-eat food being stored on top of raw foods, products not being date-marked and mold in the ice machine. More than 33 pounds of meat from non-approved sources were removed during the inspection.

Glazed ‘N Confused in Sheridan had nine violations, followed by the Pony Lounge and Sheridan Hampton Inn with eight each, the Daily Grind and the City Brew on Main Street with seven each and Taco Johns/Good Times with six violations.

In addition to the routine inspections, the Department of Agriculture conducted a special inspection of Jimmy John’s in Sheridan April 8 following complaints of vomiting and diarrhea from customers. It was determined three of the five employees were experiencing vomiting and diarrhea at the time of inspection but had continued working anyway.

The county’s increase in out-of-compliance inspections comes as the Wyoming Department of Health reports viral gastroenteritis has increased in Wyoming, particularly in Sheridan and Park counties.

Commonly described as “stomach flu” or “food poisoning,” gastroenteritis can spread easily when people eat or drink contaminated food and beverages, touch contaminated surfaces or are in close contact with someone already sick, said Matt Peterson, WDH surveillance epidemiologist.

To avoid spreading gastroenteritis, WDH recommends frequently washing hands, staying home if ill, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces with bleach after vomiting or diarrhea, removing contaminated clothing and minimizing contact with other people while sick.

Park County — which is also listed by the WDH as a current gastroenteritis hot spot —  experienced a similar but smaller increase in out-of-compliance health inspections, increasing from 24.8% during the first five months of 2021 to 26.9% during the same period in 2022.

The increases in out-of-compliance inspections in Sheridan and Park counties are outliers in Wyoming, which out-of-compliance inspections declined from 261 during the first five months of 2021 to 233 during the first five months of 2022.

Health inspections are conducted by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture/Consumer Health Services inspection specialists in most of the state with the exception of Laramie, Natrona, Sublette, Sweetwater and Teton counties, which have individual health departments.

All food establishment inspection reports from the Department of Agriculture are broken into two categories: foodborne illness risk factors and good retail practices. The former are the types of violations that can make someone ill if they are not corrected, while the latter are important for protecting public health, but have less potential to cause a significant foodborne illness.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Dots, dots, and more dots. The rash and bumps covering your hands, feet, and the inside of your mouth aren’t chickenpox, though. Nope, you have a case of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

If you or your little one has HFMD, you may need to stay home for 7 to 10 days, depending on your symptoms. It takes between 4 and 6 days for symptoms to show after you have HFMD.

Read on to find out what you should expect when it comes to recovering from HFMD and how you can avoid transmitting it to others.

HFMD is very contagious. To help prevent the spread of HFMD, it’s important to stay home from school or work while you or your child have symptoms.

Anyone with HFMD needs to feel well, be fever-free for at least 24 hours, and have all HFMD blisters completely healed for quarantine to end. For most people, this means avoiding contact with others for at least 7 days.

HFMD is a very common viral illness. It’s transmitted through spit, poop, respiratory particles, and even contaminated surfaces.

Be sure to notify your child’s day care, nursery, or school as soon as possible if they are diagnosed with HFMD. People with HFMD need to stay home and away from other people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you wash and sanitize toys. Sanitize surfaces in your home, especially surfaces other family members may touch, too.

Treat symptoms like fever and itching with over-the-counter remedies as needed. Drink plenty of fluids and rest.

HFMD is a viral disease that can leave a rash or blisters on your hands, feet, and mouth. People with HFMD may also have bumps on their elbows, knees, or buttocks.

HFMD is most common in young children — especially those under 5 years — who have not built up the same immunity levels most adults have.

Symptoms of HFMD usually begin to develop about 3 to 6 days after contracting the illness. They can include:

• fever
• sore throat
• decreased appetite
• fatigue
• headache
• painful red blisters in the mouth
• red rash on hands and the bottom of feet

A fever and sore throat are usually the first signs of HFMD. These symptoms are typically followed within a few days by a rash and bumps that cover the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks.

It’s extremely rare, but some people may develop symptoms of complications from HFMD, such as:

HFMD can be transmitted through:

• respiratory particles (e.g., coughing, sneezing, spit)
• fluid from the blisters
• feces
• saliva
• surfaces that have the virus on them

HFMD is very contagious. It can be transmitted to others before you notice symptoms.

HFMD is typically caused by a strain of coxsackievirus, specifically coxsackievirus A16.

However, the coxsackievirus is part of a group of viruses called enteroviruses, and other types of enteroviruses can also cause HFMD.

HFMD will typically go away without treatment in 7 to 10 days.

Because HFMD is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t work to cure it. Instead, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter options to help relieve symptoms. These might include:

• ointments to help relieve itch from the rash
• acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to ease headaches or other pain
• lozenges or syrups to help relieve a sore throat

There are home remedies that may also help reduce common HFMD discomforts, such as:

• swishing with warm salt water
• sucking on ice or other frozen treats like popsicles or ice cream/sherbet
• drinking cold water or other beverages
• eating soft, easy to swallow foods
• limiting acidic foods like citrus fruits and soda
• avoiding hot or spicy foods

HFMD should clear up in about 7 to 10 days. You’ll want to notify your doctor if symptoms get worse or last longer than 10 days.

The body typically builds up an immunity to HFMD after having it, so the chances of getting it again are low. Though, since a number of viruses are responsible for HFMD, it’s possible to get it again from a different virus.

Very rarely, HFMD may lead to:

• dehydration (especially if a sore throat is decreasing how much you’re drinking)
• viral meningitis (inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord)
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain tissue)
• paralysis (loss of muscle function)
• myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)

Can you get hand, foot, and mouth disease twice?

Yes, you can get HFMD twice. Because there are multiple viruses that can cause HFMD, you may become immune to one virus but get HFMD again from a different virus.

Is hand, foot, and mouth disease dangerous during pregnancy?

There’s typically no reason to be overly concerned if you get HFMD while pregnant.

You’ll still want to try to avoid exposure to HFMD, though, because if you get HFMD shortly before delivery, there’s a chance it can be transmitted to the baby.

Notify your healthcare professional if you become ill with HFMD while pregnant so they can closely monitor the situation.

What can you do to avoid getting hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of HFMD. Avoiding contact with people who have HFMD is also important to help reduce your chance of contracting it.

HFMD is a common, easily transmitted illness that can leave your hands, feet, and mouth covered in uncomfortable red bumps. If you get HFMD, you’ll need to stay home and avoid contact with others until your symptoms are gone, which can take up to a week.

Washing your hands and any objects that go into the mouth can help reduce the risk of contracting HFMD.

Notify your doctor or another healthcare professional if you believe you or your child has HFMD. They can diagnose, advise, and prescribe medication as needed.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Chinese health experts have cautioned against inappropriate disinfection practices to curb the spread of COVID-19, and called for minimizing the impact on people’s regular life when conducting necessary disinfection.

“We should avoid blind or excessive disinfection, and make it targeted. Disinfection is only necessary when the virus transmission can be cut off this way,” said Zhang Liubo, chief disinfection specialist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

“If we have multiple methods to block the spread of the virus, we can choose the safest, most effective, economical and convenient one. Disinfection is one of the available options,” he added.

For example, items not touched by the infected people in their homes can be sealed off and left unattended for a period of time, instead of getting disinfectant sprayed on them, according to Zhang.

During the battle against the latest Omicron wave in China, there have been media reports and online complaints about some questionable disinfecting approaches, such as workers in protective gear spraying disinfectant all over someone’s home.

Is indoor disinfection necessary?

In accordance with China’s Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, places and items contaminated by infectious disease pathogens should be strictly disinfected, said Lei Zhenglong, deputy head of the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control at the National Health Commission.

Disinfection of places that may have been contaminated by the coronavirus, such as the living areas of the infected people, has played an important role in ensuring the safety of the environment, he said.

Zhang further explained that after the infected people were relocated to other places, there might still be living virus on the objects or in the environment that have been contaminated, which need to be sanitized.

Sometimes it’s difficult to determine whether there still exist living virus in the contaminated environment, because how long the virus can survive on the surfaces of objects is associated with a lot of factors, including the characteristics of the virus, the viral load, the temperature, humidity and the intensity of sunlight in the environment, he said.

Previous studies have shown that the novel coronavirus can live for two to three days on environmental surfaces, and even up to 28 days under certain conditions. 

It is also possible that people can get COVID-19 by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, both Chinese and foreign health authorities like the U.S. CDC have said.

Terminal disinfection of the contaminated places can ensure that the environment and the objects are free of living virus. Therefore, indoor disinfection of infected people’s homes is one of the effective measures to prevent against the virus transmission among family members.

Safe and effective disinfection stressed

Although proper disinfection of the contaminated environment is necessary, Lei pointed out that there have been problems in the disinfection practices in some places, like inadequate communication with the affected residents and improper operations.

It’s necessary to strengthen the training of proper disinfection procedures, as well as the supervision of the disinfection process, he said.

When organizing indoor disinfection of someone’s home, local health authorities should strictly follow relative technical specifications and procedures, and keep the residents informed about the whole process, so that they can understand and support the disinfection work, he added.

People should choose safe and effective disinfectants and disinfecting methods, Zhang said, adding that different methods should be adopted for different items and materials.

They should also protect the valuables and minimize the damage to the objects inside some’s home when conducting the disinfection work, he noted.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Companies always have a wide number of responsibilities, whether they’re business or people-related. They’re required to stay on top of their financial and legal requirements and to provide a safe working environment.

Maintaining a high level of hygiene is important in any business setting. Not only is it necessary to protect your employees from illness but it also preserves the well-being of your customers and visitors. in this article, we’ll discuss 6 hygiene practices that you should adopt in your company.

1.   Provide Clean Uniforms or Work Clothes

Many jobs involve people wearing uniforms or special work clothes. This applies whether they’re employed in the food service, healthcare, construction, or something else. If your employees are in contact with the public, it’s important that they’re cleanly dressed. Studies confirm that if people see employees with soiled clothing this has a negative impact on sales and repeat customs. You can help ensure your employees’ clothes are always clean by providing them with on-site laundry facilities or a laundry service allowance.

You could consider having a dress code that includes only easy-to-clean fabrics like polyester and cotton blends. Another option is to provide each employee with two sets of uniforms or work clothes so they can always have a clean set to wear. You may also decide to invest in a UV shoe sanitizer that’s been clinically proven to kill up to 99.99% of infections, contaminations, and pathogens (in only 8 seconds). This ensures that unhelpful organisms deposited on floors don’t proliferate to workspaces, high touch surfaces, and other regularly touched equipment.

2.   Sanitize Work Areas and Equipment Regularly

Any surface that comes into contact with employees or customers should be cleaned frequently. This includes countertops, door handles, phones, light switches, keyboards, etc. Use a disinfectant cleaner or spray and wipe down the surfaces thoroughly. You should also sanitize any shared equipment, such as printers or copiers. Provide a designated area for your staff to have snacks and meals rather than letting them eat at their desks. Keep all sinks, microwaves, fridges, etc. rigorously maintained at all times.

These regular practices will help to prevent the spread of germs and keep everyone healthy. Make sure to have a cleaning schedule in place and that all employees are aware of it. Cleaning supplies should be readily available so that everyone can pitch in and keep the workplace hygienic. If you can afford it, you may choose to employ a cleaning company to work for you daily.

3.   Provide Adequate Handwashing Facilities

You might not think about it often, but how easy is it for your employees to wash their hands at work? If they don’t have adequate facilities, they may not be washing their hands as often as they should. According to the CDC, employees should wash their hands:

• Before eating or preparing food
• After using the restroom
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose
• After handling garbage or cleaning up around the workplace

You can help encourage handwashing by providing soap and water in all restrooms and break rooms. You could also place hand sanitizer dispensers around the workplace for employees to use when soap and water are not readily available.

4.   Promote Healthy Habits

The first step to promoting healthy habits in your company is to lead by example. If you have unhealthy practices, it’ll be difficult to encourage others to improve theirs. When someone sneezes or coughs, they release droplets into the air that can contain viruses and bacteria. To protect others, it’s important to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Encourage employees to sneeze or cough into a tissue, and make sure there are some available in all common areas.

Touching your face is one of the easiest ways to spread germs. If you touch something that’s contaminated and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can become sick. To avoid this, remind employees to avoid touching their faces as much as possible.

5.   Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Research has shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick. To promote better sleep habits, encourage employees to avoid working long hours and to take breaks during the day. As regards exercise, offer a corporate discount at a local gym or promote healthy lifestyles by organizing group activities such as walks or runs during lunchtime. Vaccinations are another way that your employees can protect themselves and others from serious illnesses. Make sure they’re up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations and encourage them to get vaccinated against seasonal illnesses like influenza.

If an employee is sick, it’s important for them to stay home. Not only will this help prevent the spread of illness, but it will also allow the employee to rest and recover. To encourage them to do so, have a policy that allows them to work from home when they’re sick. In addition, offer paid time off (PTO) so that they can take the time they need to recover without worrying about lost wages. Should an employee come to work sick, however, have a process in place for them to clean up and disinfect their work area.

6.   Dispose of Garbage Properly

This means having designated areas for trash and making sure that employees put rubbish in these areas. You should provide sufficient trash cans and recycling bins for employees to use. You need to have a policy in place for dealing with food waste, hazardous materials, and confidential documents.

It’s also vital to have a means of emptying these areas regularly so that refuse doesn’t build up. If you don’t, you’ll create an unsightly and unhygienic environment. If possible, have someone responsible for waste management, to ensure that all garbage is disposed of correctly and responsibly.

If you fully implement these 6 hygiene practices in your company you’ll create a safer and healthier environment. Be sure to check the legal aspects to discover if there are any areas where you’re still uncompliant. In exchange for some time, effort, and financial investment your workplace will be cleaner and more hygienic, benefiting both your staff and the general public.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

(Yicai Global) May 27 — Shanghai’s first temporary hospital for animals, used to care for pets belonging to people who test positive for Covid-19 and their close contacts, closed its doors yesterday as the last batch of furry friends were returned to their owners.

Located in downtown Huangpu district, the facility was home to 15 cats and 40 dogs. Volunteer professionals took turns to take care of the animals 24 hours a day, so their owners did not need to worry about them.

Staff move one of the last dogs out of the center.

Ms Lu embraces her cat Pepper who stayed in the hospital for five days.

Staff disinfect and clean the hospital after all the pets have left.

Zhai Jiang, the person in charge of the makeshift animal hospital and a professional guide dog trainer, puts a seal on the door to show that the center has closed.

Ms Lu gifts a thank-you banner to the animal hospital to show her appreciation.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Kim Taylor

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here