CDC COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection Guidance for Workplaces in Puerto Rico if someone gets Sick

With thousands of confirmed cases of COVID-19 already in Puerto Rico, businesses and institutions across the islands need to have plans in place if an employee, customer or building occupant is found to be infected.
 
To help in this matter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidance for organizations faced with cleaning and disinfecting a building or facility where someone is sick. As of May 2020, those recommendations include the following:

• Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
  
  1. Companies do not necessarily need to close operations, if they can close off affected areas.
  
  
• Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
• Wait 24 hours before cleaning or disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
• Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls and ATM machines.
• Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
  
  1. Do not vacuum a room or space that has people in it. Wait until the room or space is empty to vacuum, such as at night for common spaces, or during the day for private rooms.
  2. Consider temporarily turning off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.
  
  
• Once the area has been appropriately disinfected, it can be opened for use.
  
  1. Workers without close contact with the person who is sick can return to work immediately after disinfection.
  
  
• If more than 7 days since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.
  
  1. Continue routine cleaning and disinfection. This includes everyday practices that businesses and communities normally use to maintain a healthy environment.
  
  

“Both small and large businesses and institutions need to have a plan in place to swiftly react to the news of an infection at their location,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Without one, more people could become sick and it could result in the business having to close once again or even a building closure. To help in these efforts, our infection control and building science professionals at Zimmetry Environmental have been busy developing contingency plans, conducting building assessments, providing third party confirmation of cleaning and disinfection protocols, and offering air and surface testing for environmental pathogens. These services are available throughout Puerto Rico and the surrounding region.” 
 
Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about the CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting a workplace if someone has COVID-19. It can be seen at: https://youtu.be/5YHxFutfvjY
 
To learn more about building assessments, infection control, environmental pathogens, indoor air quality (IAQ) or other industrial hygiene services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

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