COVID-19


Protect and Test


COVID-19 is proving to be a persistent danger. Protecting clients must go hand in hand with protecting care businesses, says SafeGroup Strategic Business Director Chris MacDonald.


There is a strong case for saying that care professionals face more profound challenges as a result of COVID-19 in the months to come than any other work group.


Residential care homes have been put under enormous stress during the pandemic. Care home managers and their staff were struck by the full force of the pandemic as it swept across the UK.


They must now find a way through a multi-faceted crisis – medical, commercial, reputational – as they continue to strive to deliver the best and safest possible care for residents.


The health and safety of clients – residential or day care, elderly or young, people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities or mental illness – will be paramount.


However, the residential care sector, in particular, is facing a financial cliff edge as providers seek to attract new residents at a time when relatives are concerned about the safety of care environments.


All care organisations will want to retain the trust of clients and relatives as they continue to deliver service in the teeth of a viral threat that looks likely to persist for months to come.


This will need innovative thinking at a time when strong environmental infection control measures will be of paramount importance. Scientific analysis has shown Covid-19 can remain active on surfaces for a long time. For plastic and stainless steel, it is three to seven days. For wood and glass it is two and four days respectively.


THREE-STEP SHIELD AGAINST COVID-19


Our response has been to develop a three-step cleaning and decontamination programme uniquely designed to provide long-term protection against Covid-19. All service elements are delivered by fully trained teams wearing appropriate PPE, including powered respirators.


Step one is to carry out a conventional deep clean. This is required to remove contaminants and prepare surfaces for long- term protection.


Many care providers are well versed in carrying out bio-hazard cleaning but at a time when COVID-19 is stretching resources


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to the limit, we are finding care clients value our professional service and support


Step two is to treat and protect surfaces with an advanced broad-spectrum microbial disinfectant. Tests have proven it to be greater than 99.99% effective against COVID-19, plus bacteria and mould. It also remains active on surfaces for up to 30 days, even with regular cleaning.


The product is applied using electrostatic spray equipment that maximises coverage and surface bonding, making it more effective than fogging.


This long-lasting microbial barrier system, also non-toxic and food safe, is the technical shield that works to prevent surface to person transmission. It allows protection to be maintained through repeated treatment cycles for as long as necessary.


Step three is COVID-19 testing. We have developed a multi- sample testing regime with an international laboratory that allows us to show there is no virus present using a methodology also adopted by Public Health England.


This final step, testing, reflects the fact that any protection service needs to be technically robust and provide the reassurance that care providers want for their residents or clients, relatives and staff.


CERTIFIED PEACE OF MIND


The additional long-term protection provided by our three-step decontamination process dovetails with internal procedures to create a more COVID-19-secure environment.


COVID-19 has not heightened anxieties about hygiene standards, it has reset them at a higher level. That is why we certify all elements of our treatment so businesses can evidence the additional measures taken.


This addresses a key point. Gaining and maintaining trust is going to be extremely important to support commercial viability as the pandemic unfolds and for many months into the future.


https://thesafegroup.co.uk/ www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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