ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba's offers tips for restaurants on COVID-19 cleaning
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, cleaning is a critical service for the restaurant industry. According to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleaning and disinfection are two of the best ways to battle the spread of COVID-19 in the foodservice environment. But how do these recommendations change when there is a positive case in your Chicago restaurant?
Here's what you need to know.
What to do if an Employee Tests Positive
Having one of your restaurant employees test positive for COVID-19 sounds like a nightmare. Fortunately, you can manage the situation by following these simple guidelines:
Emphasize Home Isolation Criteria
If an employee is ill, do not allow them to return to work until they meet the CDC's criteria to discontinue home isolation. Requirements include the following:
• Three days with no fever
• Improvement of respiratory symptoms
• Ten days since the first symptoms appeared
The employee must meet all these criteria to be considered eligible to discontinue isolation. Furthermore, employees should notify the manager if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for the virus, or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.
Clean and Disinfect
This is a critical step in limiting the spread of COVID-19. According to Chicago's local government, you must "perform enhanced cleaning and disinfection after persons suspected/confirmed to have COVID19 have been in the facility. Follow CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations."
To sanitize your space, follow these steps:
• Clean and disinfect high-risk areas. When you realize an employee is ill, clean and disinfect the spaces they used. To ensure the safety of your cleaning crew, wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting these spaces.
• Use professional-grade cleaning and disinfection products. Not all cleaning products will kill Coronavirus. With this in mind, hire a professional cleaning team who can provide the EPA-approved cleaning products you need to keep your space sanitary and safe.
Notify Health Officials
Finally, notify local Chicago health officials if you have a case of COVID-19 at your restaurant. Keep in mind that you'll need to maintain confidentiality under the Americans with Disabilities Act. You'll also need to advise those who had close contact with the affected person to stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms.
Do you Need Professional COVID-19 Cleaning Services?
Dealing with a positive case of COVID-19 can be frightening, and many restaurant owners don't feel confident cleaning and disinfecting the space on their own. That's where ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba's Chicago cleaning services come in.
A professional cleaning company at the forefront of COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection efforts, our team has the skills, experience, and products needed to kill COVID-19 and keep your employees and customers safe from ongoing infection. When you hire us to clean your facility, we promise the following:
• Our techs will wear top-quality PPE during the cleaning process.
• We will clean all surfaces before disinfecting them with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• We will fog surfaces and the air of your space with an electrostatic fogging machine using EPA-approved disinfectants.
• We will allow the disinfectant ample time to kill virus strains on your surfaces.
• We will provide ongoing recommendations for the daily cleaning and disinfection of your high-touch surfaces.
By following CDC-recommended cleaning guidelines, we can help you do your part to reduce further spread of COVID-19. For best results, the CDC recommends establishing a disinfection routine and training employees to complete it, as well as ensuring the safe and correct use and storage of disinfectants to avoid contamination and allergic reactions.
While these are strange times for restaurants throughout the Chicago area, following CDC and EPA regulations is a surefire way to help stop the spread of Coronavirus and ensure we can get back to business as usual.