What should small businesses be doing about Coronavirus?

Review your small business continuity plans for coronavirus and brief your staff!

This post hopes to prompt and help you to think about small business continuity with coronavirus as the current context. Over reaction to the risk could have equally serious consequences in a stretched NHS or business environment and so it is important to keep up to date with trusted sources like Public Health UK – Details of the virus in UK are updated frequently.

As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Small Business Continuity – Coronavirus

Small businesses know that their most important asset is their staff. In business continuity planning it is easier to identify the critical functions in the business and the staff responsible for them.

However, the loss of a single member of staff to illness can have a significant impact on your earnings and efficiency – for example when the weather or travel disruption strains your business. The impact of a flu or cold pandemic on your business can be very serious and you may want to consider some relatively simple actions to reduce your risk.

Working from home.

While it might not be possible in many roles, see if your staff can work from home or another location and complete their tasks. Remote working can have two direct benefits:

1. It may keep potentially infected people working, albeit away from the workplace, and;
2. It keeps their fellow workers safer from infection.

Identify staff redeployment options

Once you have identified the critical roles in the business, you can identify the possibility and training burden of redeploying staff into the area. Have briefing sheets or workflow descriptions to allow someone to step in and ‘hold the fort’ if someone doesn’t come in unexpectedly.

Supply and Distribution

Remember that while your business might be ok and you may have business continuity plans in place, your distributors or suppliers may not! It is worth asking them what their plans are in order to assess your risk. If they don’t have reassuring plans, then you might want to identify and approach alternative suppliers if your business depends upon it.

Financial protection

Look at your insurance policy to check if it has business continuity risks and loss of earning covered. Many policies are available to protect your earnings, but it is still worth checking the ‘small print’ to ensure you’re covered. These policies often require a Local or higher Government ‘order’ which isolates your premises, staff or supply chain and is not self-declared. For more general stuff, check out our blog on business insurance.

Actions to take in the workplace:

1. Hand washing and sanitisation – often and thoroughly.
2. People – Avoid physical contact with people generally and consider taking care or avoid handling cash, handrails in public transport and public places and use an alcohol hand-sanitiser.
3. Surfaces – Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and encourage staff to do the same at home. If a person becomes ill in a shared space, these should be cleaned using disposable cloths and household detergents. Wash your hands after cleaning.

Finally, explain to your staff what they should do and why. People ‘battling on’ if they feel unwell may be doing a real disservice to their workmates. Self-isolation of people at home is good for the company so make sure your staff are aware of their responsibility in terms of potential transmission. Brief them on the need to call NHS 111 if they have symptoms of fever and believe that they have had contact with someone from a risk area. NB common cold and flu are still the most likely causes.

Remember, you should review your small business continuity plan annually.

Government advice

To help you brief your staff, we’ve copied the current government advice to assist professionals in advising the public.

Feeling unwell while away from home

Do not go to your GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital if you become unwell. Instead call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.
Whilst you wait for advice from NHS 111 or an ambulance to arrive, try to find somewhere safe to sit where you are away from other people, and avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze and put the tissue in your bag or pocket. then throw the tissue in the bin. If you don’t have any tissues available, cough and sneeze in to the crook of your elbow.

On public transport

If you become ill whilst on public transport, stop your journey when you are able to do so and stay where you are. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days. If you become unwell whilst at an airport, bus station or train station before a long journey, seek medical help as above and do not start or continue your journey.

In outdoor public spaces

If you are outside in an open space when you become unwell, stay where you are and call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk). Tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

Leisure activities

For example at shops, restaurants, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and sporting events. Speak to a member of staff, keeping at least 2 metres distance from them to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Ask them to find a room or area where you can isolate yourself behind a shut door, such as a changing room or staff office. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

Places of worship

Isolate yourself behind a shut door if there is a room or area available. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. If there is nowhere you can isolate yourself, return to your place of residence by the most direct route. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

Educational settings

Keep 2 metres away from others and if possible find a room or area where you can isolate yourself behind a shut door, such as a staff office or unused classroom. Make sure that children know to tell a teacher if they feel unwell. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical assistance, use a separate bathroom if available. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

People who have returned from Hubei Province, including Wuhan, in the last 14 days should avoid attending school, work or university. People who have returned from China in the last 14 days are advised to stay at home if they develop symptoms. All other students should continue to attend school or university.

At work (non-clinical settings)

People who have returned from Hubei province, including Wuhan, should not attend work for 14 days after their arrival.
Find a room where you can isolate yourself away from others and shut the door. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical assistance, use a separate bathroom if available. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

With friends and family

Find a room where you can isolate yourself away from others and shut the door. If it’s possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. If you need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical assistance, use a separate bathroom if available. Call NHS 111, or 999 if an emergency (if you are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and tell them that you have returned from China in the last 14 days.

It is important not to get too close to other people if you become ill – try to maintain 2 metres distance between yourself and others in order to reduce the risk of transmitting infection. There are no restrictions for contacts of people who have recently been to China and are well. If someone is unwell in the household and has recently returned from China, please phone NHS 111 for further advice.

Mass gatherings

If you have returned from Hubei Province, including Wuhan, in the last 14 days you should avoid mass gatherings. The risk to the general public attending mass gatherings is very low.

Post, packages, take-away food

The virus does not survive well for long periods outside the body and so it is highly unlikely that the virus can be spread through post or packages. It is highly unlikely that this virus can be spread through food.