Headed back to work? Here are tips on avoiding coronavirus exposure in your workplace

Multiple states across the country are looking to return to some sense of normalcy as governors forge ahead with plans to reopen their economies.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is looking to reopen Texas as soon as May 1, lifting the stay-at-home order despite Dallas County reporting 112 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths on Wednesday, making it the fourth-highest day in the county for confirmed coronavirus cases, according to Judge Clay Jenkins, WFAA reported.

Despite the troubling numbers, Texas and more states are still a go for opening up, so people will be headed back to the office after spending weeks following “stay-at-home” orders.

Here are some tips on staying safe when returning to the office to avoid COVID-19 exposure:

Try not to touch surfaces that employees tend to touch commonly with their hands

Even though living through this coronavirus pandemic has taught people the proper way to wash their hands thoroughly, you can still limit yourself from touching common surfaces where people can transmit germs such as door handles, Forbes reported. If you’re able to open a door with your shoulder or foot, try to do so. Avoid touching handles in common kitchen or break areas – like refrigerator and microwave handles – if you can.

Keep personal items away from common work areas

Try to keep your personal items, like a cellphone, locked away in your desk, in your purse or on your person to avoid other people possibly contaminating the item, OSF HealthCare reported. Always wash your hands before touching your phone and disinfect it daily.

Wash your hands immediately after visiting the bathroom or the breakroom

Dr. Greg Poland, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, spoke to Forbes about both, which he called ‘horror shows’ for germs.

“We know from observational studies that people’s bathroom hygiene is horrific,” he said. “We swabbed the water faucet handles and the door handles, put them in the incubator in my lab. The culture dishes leaked out and contaminated the whole incubator... The handles and door knobs from the bathroom are grossly infected with fecal bacteria and viruses.”

Do not share food or drinks

Even if you know and WATCHED Amanda from accounting wash her hands for 20-30 seconds, it’s best not to offer her a bite of your sandwich.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there is no evidence that supports the transmission of the coronavirus with food, but it’s always best to just play it safe. While sharing usually is caring, during this pandemic, it’s wise to not offer to share food or accept when others in the workplace offer to share.

Keep disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer at your desk at all times

Frequently clean your desk and disinfect the objects around you that you commonly touch, the CDC says. It’s best to keep these items right on your desk so you have them on hand when needed.

Have an open dialogue with employers

Ask your employers about ways they can assist in keeping the workplace environment safe from the spread of COVID-19, according to Vicus Partners. Are they embracing technology that embraces remote work? Is the company able to invest in bluetooth technology in conference rooms to cut down contamination through touching?

Remember, everyone is in this together so employers should be looking for ways to keep everyone safe when returning to the office.