NATDA Magazine May/Jun 2020 | Page 10

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Recommendations Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) is committed to providing valuable, helpful information to its members. As such, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations and have included important information and links below. Recommended strategies for employers to use now: Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies. Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way. Employers should maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other ill family members than is usual. such as workstations, counter-tops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down by employees before each use. Advise employees to check themselves for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick. Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. For more information, including the CDC’s environmental cleaning and disinfection recommendations, please visit www.cdc.gov. CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e., cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available). Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcoholbased hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, 10 NATDA Magazine www.natda.org