As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves into a global pandemic, Hongkongers are not without worry if we need to return to office. What are the high-risk aspects in office life? What needs to be done to prevent COVID-19 contraction? Follow the tips from Dr Alex Chiu - Medical Director, Health and Employee Benefits of AXA Hong Kong and Macau on the dos and don’ts to stay physically and mentally healthy.

1.    N95 is not for daily use

If my colleague next to me keeps coughing, should I change for a N95 mask?

In fact, you shouldn’t use N95 mask even if you want; you need to take a “fitting test” to decide which model to wear. In office scenarios, a qualified surgical mask will be good enough. After all, don’t be paranoid about somebody coughing.

2.    Stay Positive

With the epidemic overhanging, any slight discomfort may result in worries of getting infected.

Excessive negative feelings however are not conducive to mental wellness. Everyone needs to find ways to relax, for example, take a break from the news about the epidemic, or share your worries with colleagues will help us stay calm.

3. How to protect yourself in an elevator?

Taking the elevator, despite the possibility of close human contact in the enclosed space, is relatively safe as long as you have your mask worn. If you touch the button, however, you must clean your hands right after with alcohol hand rub or water and soap.

4.  Avoid eating in Group

Lunch hour is always the most important time to interact with colleagues, but with your mask off, it could attract cross-infections. It’s better to eat alone or sit with distance during this period.

5. Be careful while using shared phone

It may be unavoidable to use shared phone in hot desk office. However, using shared landline telephones in workplaces is may lead to cross contamination and raise infection risk. Remember to clean the receiver with alcohol swabs before and after using the phone.

6. Avoid Handshaking

It is basic business etiquette to shake hands with acquaintances and exchange name cards, but our prevailing reminder is that you should skip skin contact whenever possible.

Although the virus doesn’t attack us through the skin, it stays on. Contagion could occur when it finds its way into the eye, mouth or nose. So, you should avoid hand shaking and greet each other by putting palms together or cupping hands. If you need to exchange cards, perform hand hygiene afterwards.

7. Dispose masks properly

Do you think it’s all safe after throwing away the mask?

Think again. There’s good chance a used mask already gets contaminated. To dispose a mask, clean your hands first, then fold the surface twice to the inward direction and tie it properly with the ear loops before placing it into a covered bin. Remember to clean your hands again. It takes the right steps to protect yourself as well as the cleaning workers.

8. Don’t Touch your face in public place

It is easy to stay vigilant with the hygiene of touchable objects in public places, but not so easy to hold your habitual behaviour such as tossing your hair, rubbing or eyes or touching your nose. Your own hands could become virus spreaders! Try doubly hard not to touch your mouth and nose while maintaining hand hygiene.

Sanity is the top priority during an epidemic. One should be quite safe if he or she is vigilant with personal hygiene and maintain a positive attitude.