Greg discusses tips to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus in this episode of Ask The Expert. 800 CHAB radio presents Ask the Expert with Greg Marcyniuk of Heritage Insurance located in Moose Jaw.
Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: COVID-19, the Coronavirus today with Greg Marcyniuk, Heritage Insurance on 800 CHAB Ask The Expert. Greg, let's start with workplace practices as it relates to the Coronavirus. And here at Heritage Insurance, you've got action.
Greg Marcyniuk: That's correct, Rob. We're really encouraging our business clients to take action in the workplace and to actively encouraging any sick employees to stay at home. And if they show any symptoms of respiratory illness, they're recommended to stay home and make sure that they are taken care of. The other thing is to separate the sick employees as soon as they show up, and really send them home and give them time to heal and get better.
The biggest thing is to emphasize hand hygiene, and instruct your employees to clean their hands regularly — either with an alcohol-based sanitizer of at least 60 to 95 percent alcohol. And if you are washing your hands with soap and water, which is recommended if they are dirty, to wash them for a minimum of 20 seconds. And also, encourage your people to perform routine environmental cleaning and cleaning on your workplace and touch surfaces in the workplace. That's very important.
As well, additional best practices is educate your employees on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and take precautions that can really minimize the risk of contracting the disease, or the virus. And appoint single individuals within your organization, so that they're able to answer questions if any employees do have questions on COVID-19. Review your safety programs and emergency action plans to ensure that you have included infection disease protocols. And, as well, you should implement travel guide procedures as far as to different countries that are actually having a serious outbreak.
The other thing that I just want to touch on is, again, when something negative happens such as COVID-19, we get scammers out there. So, these are five scams that you really want to avoid.
First of all, don't respond to any claims about cures, safety vaccines, other precautions without checking with officials first. And then also watch out for emails, texts, and online links with news or products relating to the diseases unless you really research them.
Be wary about donating to charity or people soliciting funds with for research and treatment. And again, anytime something like this comes up, you're going to have the relative in distress, friend in distress, so you've got to be very aware of that. And again, watch out for fake investment opportunities because yes, there's a lot of scammers out there saying, "Oh, there's an opportunity here to invest."
And I think the biggest thing and most important is just stay informed especially for employers to see the risk. And there's two very reputable websites and that's www.who.int — that's the World Health Organization. Or you can go to canada.ca, Public Health Services, diseases and the 2019 novel Coronavirus infection.
Rob: I've noticed a lot of local businesses all actually have hand sanitizer at their front desk for their customers to use. That's a great idea, too.
Greg: Oh, that's right. And those are things and precautions that you want to take. But again, it's not a big thing in Canada. But I think it's best to take a precaution and be prepared for this.
Rob: Greg Marcyniuk, Heritage Insurance. These friendly tips are online.
Greg: That's correct. Visit us online or come on down to the corner Fairford in first Northwest, and talk to any of our good people here.
Rob: As long as you're healthy.
Greg: As long as we're healthy.
(Video transcription by Speechpad)