COVID-19 has devastated livelihoods and has negatively impacted many businesses throughout the world. If the economy is to come through the crisis and recover, it needs businesses to do the same. As restrictions lift and more businesses start to re-open, infection control must be a priority to protect the health of employees and the public. 

Infection Control for the Post COVID-19 Workplace is an online infection control training course that will explore the impact of COVID -19 on infection prevention and control standards across all industries. 

In this short infection control course, you will develop the skills that are critical in decreasing the risk and transmission of infection in the workplace

You will learn how to respond to infection risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and implement strategies and procedures that will minimise the spread of this infectious disease in the workplace. 

On completion of this course, you will have developed your understanding of COVID-19 as it impacts a workplace and will be able to establish and maintain stringent infection control standards. 

Learning Outcomes 

In this short online infection control course, you will learn:

• Hygiene practices and hand washing techniques
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) regulations 
• Respiratory hygiene 
• Importance of masks and respirators 
• Cleaning and waste management 
• Prevention of transmission of infections 
• Decontamination processes 
• Identify infection hazards 
• Worker health and safety 
• Maintenance of clean and contaminated zones 
• Confine records, materials and medicaments 
• Confine contaminated instruments and equipment 

What is a Pandemic? 

A pandemic is the global spread of a new disease. Viral respiratory diseases, such as those caused by a new influenza virus or the coronavirus (COVID-19), are the ones that can most easily turn into a pandemic.

A pandemic is different from an epidemic. In an epidemic, many more cases of a health condition occur than would typically develop in a community or area, but the disease does not spread widely. 

COVID-19: Know the Facts 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Coronaviruses form a large group of viruses that cause a wide range of illnesses, from the common cold to more severe diseases like SARS, MERS and COVID-19. 

For the majority of people, COVID-19 will be experienced as a mild to moderate respiratory illness and will not require special treatment. However, vulnerable people – those over 60 or with underlying medical problems – are more likely to develop a serious illness. 

The symptoms of the virus include fever, coughing, a sore throat and shortness breath. Other symptoms that may present include runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell and taste, loss of appetite and fatigue. If you or any employees have any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to stay away from the workplace.  

The best way to protect your workplace is to be informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes, how it spreads and how to implement and enforce stringent infection control procedures. 

How Does the Virus Spread? 

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. As such, workplaces must promote proper respiratory etiquette.

Prevention and Treatment 

Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines or treatments for the COVID-19 virus. But ongoing clinical trials are underway to evaluate potential treatments for future use. In the meantime, the only protection against the disease is avoidance.

If you are concerned that you may have contracted the COVID-19 virus, the Department of Health recommends:

• Use of the symptom checker
• Seek medical attention
• Testing

COVID-19 & the Workplace 

As restrictions ease and people return to a new normal, workplaces and businesses must ensure they are compliant with infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

If your business or workplace is unable to isolate, such as enforcing a work from home policy, the best form of defence is education on how to minimise the spread. Those employees who are sick must stay at home, employees in the workplace should adhere to social distancing, hand-sanitiser should be readily available for use, and stringent cleaning and disinfecting procedures must be in place.

 

If you are responsible for infection prevention and control in your business or workplace, then Infection Control for the Post-COVID-19 Workplace is an essential professional development course for you.