Good Morning DMI Staff, Members, and Business Partners,

 

I am sure everyone has been following the news regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus. The coronavirus (COVID-19) was first found in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This virus had not been seen in humans before. 

 

This coronavirus can lead to fever, cough, and trouble breathing or shortness of breath. There are thousands of diagnosed cases in China and new cases being diagnosed in several countries, including the United States. 

 

What is DMI doing about this?

Like most companies, DMI is following the news on this outbreak and regularly checking with the CDC resources for business, and staying aware of any local news regarding COVID-19. We have hand sanitizer stations available for staff at both break rooms, and one at our main entrance for guests when they arrive. We encourage ALL staff to follow proper hygiene etiquette by washing hands properly. 

 

Below is some useful resources regarding COVID-19.

 

DMI encourages any staff member who becomes ill to stay home - Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify HR and stay home if they are sick. 

 

What do we know?

Since this virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working hard to learn as much as possible about this new virus so that we can better understand how it spreads and causes illness. The CDC considers this virus to be a serious public health concern. Based on current information, the CDC recommends avoiding travel to China. Updated travel information related to 2019-nCoV can be found at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china  

 

How does the virus spread?

Person-to-person spread - The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

    • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

    • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

    • People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

    • Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the primary way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

 

How easily the virus spreads?

How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.

The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.

 

How to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19?

Hygiene etiquette involves practices that prevent the spread of any illness and disease. A critical time to practice proper hygiene etiquette is when you are sick, especially when coughing or sneezing. Serious respiratory illnesses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by:

• Coughing or sneezing

• Unclean hands

• Touching your face after touching contaminated objects

• Touching objects after contaminating your hands

 

To help stop the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Put your used tissue in a wastebasket.

• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

• Remember to wash your hands after coughing or sneezing:

 

Wash with soap and water, or Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

 

Cough etiquette is especially important for infection control measures in healthcare settings, such as emergency departments, doctor’s offices, and clinics. 

 

One final practice that helps prevent the spread of respiratory disease is avoiding close contact with people who are sick. If you are ill, you should try to distance yourself from others, so you do not spread your germs. Distancing includes staying home from work or school when possible.

 

Remember, if your hands are not properly washed don’t touch your face, your mouth, nose, or eyes! When washing your hands follow the guide below.

 

For more information on COVID-19 go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

 

DMI will continue to communicate with Staff, Members, and Business Partners as needed, regarding this situation.

 

Thanks,

DMI Mgmt.