[ ENG ] COVID-19: Domestic Workers and Employers Fight Together

The video clip is about infection prevention and control in general, with an attention to situation when you are living with someone who is undergoing home quarantine.

What is COVID-19?

The reported illness ranged from mild to severe illness, and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the Coronavirus. Symptom includes fever, cough, shortness of breath.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

This virus spreads mainly from person-to-person, especially through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes. There droplets land in the mouths or noses of people nearby or being inhaled into the lungs.

General cleansing tips

Some general advice from World Health Organization and Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong:

i) First, you should avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections, with symptoms like coughing, sneezing, runny nose. Social distancing is important. In crowded places and in public transportation, we shall keep distance with others for at least 1 metre.

ii) Second, we recommend hand hygiene. Wash your hands with water and soap if you have water supply nearby. While water is not around, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

iii) Wear a medical mask when you go out in crowded place or with symptoms.

iv) Always avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

General Household Cleaning tips

i) Use room temperature water to dilute bleach. DO NOT use hot water.

Home should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week with 1 in 99 diluted household bleach, leave for 15-30 minutes and then rinse with water.

1:99 diluted bleach is for general household cleaning.

1: 49 is for disinfecting vomitus, respiratory secretions, excreta.

Concentrated bleach is HARMFUL to yourself, your home and your children.

Bleach is not for cleaning on metal. Use 70% alcohol instead.

Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) and pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene.

Wear gloves to protect yourself. Ensure good ventilation at home while you clean.

For the bathroom and toilet, cover the toilet lid before flushing. Turn on the exhausted fan after you have left the bathroom and closed the bathroom door.

Special tips while you are staying with someone under home quarantine.

If someone you are staying with is under home quarantine, maintain personal hygiene is the key.

Home confinee shall stay in a well-ventilated single room. And all others who are not under home quarantine, including other family members and you, shall stay in different rooms. Keep at least 1 meter distance from one and another person.

Do not share towels or personal items, use serving chopsticks and spoons at meal times. Do not share lunch boxes and drinks.

Do not give left over food with anyone else including your workers. Separate the food and divide the meal boxes before the mealtime.

Handling rubbish and laundry

Household wastes shall be disposed in rubbish bins with lids. Tie it up well before disposals. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Wear a mask during your cleaning and household work. Wear an apron for extra protection. Remember masks are only for one-off use. Do not reuse it for more than 1 day. Aprons can protect your clothes from infection. Use 1:99 diluted bleach to disinfect the used apron or clean it as usual in laundry. You can also use a plastic disposable apron.

When you are handling laundry, wear gloves while handling dirty clothes. Hand hygiene is always important.

Household cleaning plan

Open communication between employers and workers are important. Inform everyone if there’s any risks of infections.

How shall I clean the cars? Follow general cleaning guidelines. Employers shall inform the workers if they have driven any persons of suspected or confirmed cases of infections.

Stay calm and be smart

Everyone shall take part in fighting against COVID19. Everyone shall follow well personal and environmental hygiene. Share your concern and worries with the others. Understand the risks. Know your capacity and limit.

During this pandemic, it is normal to feel overwhelm, to be fear and panic. Stay calm, be alert but not panic. Follow guidelines and do not overreact.
Employers shall respect that workers are trying their best to protect themselves and your families’ safety from getting infections. Social distancing is important.

It is important for employers to discuss and come up with a safe and feasible plan. Share news, updated information and guidelines with your workers. We are all in this fight together.