Local cleaning services see uptick in business, because of fears of coronavirus.
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania health officials have ordered additional measures for building sanitation amid the spread of coronavirus across the state.
Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine on Sunday signed an order that provides direction for maintaining and cleaning buildings authorized to maintain in-person operations. The order will go into effect on Monday.
"Cleaning, disinfecting, and other maintenance and security services performed by building service employees are critical to protecting the public health by reducing COVID-19 infections in the commonwealth," the Building Safety Measures order reads.
Additional cleaning protocols have been issued to owners of buildings at least 50,000 square feet used industrial and commercial functions.
Other buildings under the order include, but are not limited to warehousing, manufacturing, commercial offices, airports, grocery stores, universities, colleges, government, hotels, and residential buildings with at least 50 units.
In addition to maintaining pre-existing cleaning protocols, the order outlines these new protocols:
- Clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines, in spaces that are accessible to customers, tenants, or other individuals.
- Maintain pre-existing cleaning protocols established in the facility for all other areas of the building.
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of employees to perform the above protocols effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of occupants and employees.
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of security employees to control access, maintain order, and enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet, provided the security employees are otherwise responsible for such enforcement.
“Based upon the manner of COVID-19's spread in the commonwealth and in the world, and its danger to Pennsylvanians, I have determined that the appropriate disease control measure is the direction of building safety measures as outlined in this order to prevent and control the spread of disease,” Dr. Levine wrote.
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