With the recent announcement that the majority of Coronavirus restrictions will end on July 19th and the end of official guidance for people to work from home, employers everywhere have some difficult decisions on their hands. While some major companies have opted to make remote working the future, other employers are keen to reintroduce people to the office for improved collaboration, a more supportive working environment and greater teambuilding.
However, with the past 18 months demonstrating that productivity needn’t be compromised by remote working, any return to the office must be encouraged and not forced. With many workers still harbouring anxieties over Coronavirus, infection-spread and facilities cleanliness, how can a safe return to offices be encouraged and implemented?
Of course, there is no replacement for following official guidance. The use of hand santisers, basic handwashing routines and the fundamentals of infection control should be actively promoted and communicated to employees. But how can you go a step further to convince employees that you are doing all you can to make your premises infection-free?
One way is by facilitating effective air disinfection. Experts believe the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily from person to person. The most common route of transmission is through the air. The infection is spread when pathogens leave their hosts via coughs and sneezes or even just speaking. These pathogens are then transmitted to a new host either by direct ingestion of aerosols or through indirect contact after infected particles land on surfaces which are then touched by others. A carrier may not exhibit problems and appear healthy with no clinical signs, particularly as we now know that symptoms are not always obvious with Coronavirus.
Therefore, targeting the quality and cleanliness of the air within office spaces will provide an additional line of defence against the spread of not just Coronavirus, but other similar contagious respiratory illnesses, such as influenza. Proper ventilation is a key strategy to overcoming this problem, but where this is difficult additional defence can be achieved through the installation of secondary air disinfection devices which remove all bacteria and viruses from the air in indoor spaces.
UV light has long been proven as a germicide and can purify air and thereby reduce the transmission of airborne diseases in the environment. An effective UV air purifier works by drawing air into the unit and exposing it to high intensity, shortwave UV light, thereby killing bacteria and viruses. The clean, sterilised air is then re-circulated back into the room, greatly diminishing the risk. Unlike other methods, UV light actually kills rather than collects pathogens in filters. Perhaps more importantly, it is effective even if a virus mutates.
In an office environment, a UV light device such as Medixair, is designed to be installed within enclosed working spaces where ventilation is restricted. Small and compact, the unit blends perfectly into an office environment and can be activated with ease for all-day air purification and employee peace of mind. Many air purifiers have appeared recently in the market however Medixair is one of the most powerful UV air purification devices on the market, the plug and play element of Medixair makes it highly convenient even to those without a technical installation background.
As Coronavirus case numbers decrease, we are going to have to learn to live with the virus and concerns around airborne transmission of pathogens will remain for the foreseeable future – and probably even beyond that. By using UV air purification as part of any in-office infection control regime, it is possible to welcome employees back to work safely and effectively.