From our State Senator, Norm Needleman.
Recommended Rules for COVID-19 Recovery
While COVID-19 is an imminent threat, the current wave will eventually subside. But in the absence of a vaccine or a curative treatment, without taking the right steps, we may end up right back where we are today should another wave rear its head. As a small-business owner in addition to an elected official, I know the business community can play a major role in helping us recover from the hits our economy has recently taken. To restore the economy, we will need to restore workforce and consumer confidence.
I believe we should change the definition of “essential” from what is currently being used to one that will allow business to operate while taking the serious threat COVID-19 poses to our collective health seriously. By developing a description of business policies and procedures to protect workers and customers, we can set a standard of care for the economy that keeps us all safer. These policies can include:
- Developing proactive, simple and direct language to guide company practices. This includes limitations on people in the workplace environment based on business size and layout; implementing designated traffic through aisles; marking rules and enforcing separation; or installing barriers to limit contact between employees and consumers.
- Avoiding direct vendor and visitor contact whenever possible, encouraging telephone or video conferencing instead.
- Setting standards for common-sense hygiene, wiping all surfaces and setting rigorous cleaning schedules with regular use of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment whenever possible.
- Monitoring employees for symptoms and developing policies that fight the spread of illness, including working from home whenever possible, splitting shifts or other schedule changes to reduce employees in a location, or deep cleaning whenever possible.
- Paid absences should emphasize paid leave for anyone infected with COVID-19.
- Workplace travel should be eliminated unless absolutely necessary; communal rooms should be closed or limited whenever possible.
- Employees should receive emergency phone numbers and summaries of health care whenever possible.
- Incidental contact at access points should be minimized.
By establishing a system much like that of “good manufacturing practices,” the federal guidelines used for the manufacturing and sale of food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, each business could then create its own operating procedures. The “best practices” would allow workers and customers confidence in their safety.
Our workers and consumers deserve confidence that businesses will protect them, and businesses need help to restart the economic system. COVID-19 is serious; we must take it seriously to keep our economic engines moving.
As new developments surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak occur it is important we stay informed. For any questions or concerns, please call 2-1-1 or email covid19.jic@ct.gov.
