Coronavirus - COVID - 19

What can you do?

• Follow basic hygiene principles – this is the best line of defence against Coronavirus and any other virus such as the common cold
• Clean POS counters, telephones and other surfaces with antibacterial wipes.
• Check the Ministry of Health website daily for any updated information on Coronavirus as this will be your main source of accurate information.
• Refer customers and staff to the free MoH Healthline for further information on 0800 358 5453

Basic hygiene principles:  Advice for your staff and the public

 
The basic hygiene principles you should follow to reduce the general risk of acute respiratory infection are as follows. 

• Avoid close contact with people suffering acute respiratory infections
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, especially after contact with ill people or their environment
• Avoid close contact with sick farm animals or wild animals
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, call Healthlink or seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider
• Avoid spitting in public
• Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose, especially with unwashed hands
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette:
  • Maintain distance
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing
  • Wash hands

We also encourage you and your team to ensure you are all following the same principles and it is recommended that you are regularly cleaning your POS counters, telephones and other surfaces with antibacterial wipes and wash and sanitizing your hands. 
 
In general, surgical/medical masks prevent the dispersal of droplets by an infected patient and the inhalation of droplets if within 1 metre of a coughing individual.  The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as the correct face masks, can reduce the spread of infection when used correctly and in the appropriate context, and this may be recommended in workplaces where people are more likely to come in contact with the disease.  However, hand hygiene and cough / sneeze etiquette will have a bigger impact.
 

Keep up to date with the latest information

 
The Ministry of Health are regularly updating their website on the New Zealand status and advice to both the public as well as health professionals.  https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus MoH Update as of the 5^th March 2020 to read and share with your staff.  Past updates can be found on the MoH website too.
 
We encourage you to check the link above to Ministry of Health website section on COVID-19 on a daily basis to obtain the most up to date information to convey to your staff members and the public.  
 
If you would like further information 0800 358 5453 is the telephone number for the Ministry of Health Healthline.