CloroxPro Blog – Professional Cleaning and Disinfection Insights
A blog from industry experts devoted to public health awareness, best practices, and the role of environmental cleaning and disinfection, to promote safer, healthier public spaces.
School is in, Canada! https://www.cloroxpro.ca/blog/schools-in-canada/ August 26, 2020 November 6, 2020 https://www.cloroxpro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Capture-1.jpgSchool is in, Canada!
After the summer break, schools across Canada are getting ready to begin a new year. Reopening schools as the COVID-19 pandemic continues requires some new considerations.1
As students, teachers, and staff return to the halls, the potential for infection from high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces also increases.2 There is also the chance of someone forgetting to use proper handwashing technique, or the other rules for reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.2
Surfaces frequently touched with hands are most likely to be contaminated, such as doorknobs, handrails, desks and equipment handles.3
Are you ready for your school’s reopening?
A successful reopening takes some planning. If your school has a cleaning or disinfection protocol in place already, take this opportunity to review it, and if necessary, update or enhance it to reflect the required precautions due to the COVID-19 virus.3
If your school does not have a plan in place, you can look for guidance on this topic from the Public Health Agency of Canada, or the provincial Ministry of Education for recommendations for cleaning and disinfection in schools and student transportation.4,5 You can also consult the tip sheets for Education Providers available from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.6
Always be prepared.
The following steps will help you be ready in case of an outbreak.
- Put outbreak preparedness procedures in place.7
- Create an outbreak checklist, including locations of quarantine rooms, list of contacts, and steps for deep cleaning.7
- Ensure that there is personal protective equipment available. This includes gloves, masks and gowns.8
Assign someone to be in charge of the infection prevention and control procedures.
Choose a product that cleans and disinfects
Canada Public Health recommends that when cleaning public spaces like schools, stores and workplaces, choose products that clean and disinfect all at once.3
- Cleaning products remove germs and dirt.3
- Disinfecting products kill germs on surfaces.3
- Only use approved hard-surface disinfectants that have a Health Canada approved Drug Identification Number (DIN).3
The Clorox Company makes disinfectants that are approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As your partners in disinfection, you can count on us to provide you with appropriate products and equipment, and also assistance with setting up cleaning and disinfection protocols for your school that are in line with public health guidelines.
Get ready for back to school!
Make sure that you have a supply of the appropriate cleaning and disinfecting products in place.
© 2020 The Clorox Company
References:
1. Government of Canada. COVID-19 guidance for schools Kindergarten to Grade 12. August 12, 2020.
2. Government of Canada. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community. August 10, 2020.
3. Public Health Agency of Canada Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces.
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Risk mitigation tool for workplaces/businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. July 20, 2020.
5. Letters to Ontario’s parents from the Minister of Education. July 30, 2020. https://www.ontario.ca/page/letter-ontarios-parents-minister-education. Accessed August 14, 2020.
6. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Pandemic (COVID-19) Tip Sheets. Education Providers: Grades K-12. August 13, 2020.
7. The Hospital for Sick Children. COVID Guidance for school reopening. July 29, 2020.
8. Health Canada. Personal protective equipment (COVID-19): Overview July 21,2020.
