Page 121 - July-August 2020

HOME RULES movable furniture. Lesser disinfectant before the store opens
the touchpoints, the easier to for business. Periodic mopping
The staff members should be maintain (once in 3‑4hours) should be done
[2]
advised to stay at home if they are during operational hours.
not well. They should avoid guests b. Suitable posters communicating
and unnecessary visits out of the preventive guidelines and SUGGESTED DISINFECTANT
house. All of them must practice other related matter should be METHOD:
frequent hand hygiene, bathe on displayed prominently at the
return from the clinic, and disinfect store entry point, main areas i. 1% sodium hypochlorite with
the mask on a regular basis. of store, and in the clinic area nylon scrubber (for heavy
Temperature of all customers, volume of movement) [3]
HYGIENE AND SANITATION visitors, and staff should be ii. Use good quality floor
checked when they enter using
Members of the staff should sign disinfectant (e.g., Lysol).
in their attendance after sanitizing an infrared thermometer. Dilute as per manufacturers
their hands. They are required Ensure only people with normal recommendation (for low
to wear their masks throughout temperature enter the store. to moderate volume of
the day in the clinic. They must c. Ensure social distancing at all movement).
[2]
maintain social distancing and avoid times. Overcrowding to be b. Frequent touch points like door
greeting others with handshakes. avoided inside the store handles/knobs, metal surfaces
Doorknobs handles and chin d. Preference to be given to senior to be wiped with 70% isopropyl
[3]
rests of the equipment should be citizens and the disabled alcohol after every usage
disinfected using hand sanitizer, e. Wherever possible doors to be c. Telephone instrument, card
surgical spirit, or alcohol wipes. kept open to reduce touchpoints machines, mouse, and keypad
Depending on the number of f. Identify an area or room where have to be rubbed down with
people walking into the clinic, someone who is unwell or has 70% isopropyl alcohol using
all the rooms (waiting lounges, symptom can be safely isolated swabs/cotton balls at regular
examination rooms, therapy and referred to appropriate intervals. It is recommended not
rooms, pantry, bathroom, etc.) COVID‑19 center to spray the alcohol
should be disinfected three or d. Wooden furniture and plastic
more times a day. g. Appropriately discard outer fixtures can be cleaned by
packaging of all couriers, posts,
If a customer or a patient has and other packaging material. rubbing them down with a damp
been found to test positive after Sanitize hands on completion cloth soaked in soapy liquid at
visiting the store: h. Temporarily suspend any regular intervals. However, if
someone has coughed around a
As per AIOS directive, the refreshment services for particular area, that area may be
store/clinic must remain closed customers and patients, wiped down with 70% isopropyl
for 48 hours and can be opened except drinking water. Staffs alcohol
after thorough sanitizing. From to use disposable cups for any e. Toilet floors: Clean with 1%
the staff perspective, it is advised refreshments sodium hypochlorite or good
to constitute two teams of staff, i. Label all the various quality floor disinfectant (e.g.,
which must work in shifts. Even if disinfectants, sanitizers, and Harpic)
one team is quarantined, the other other solutions suitably. Make a
can function. ready reckoner stating the usage f. Mops can be rinsed in 0.5%
and related instructions. sodium hypochlorite for 30 min
GENERAL GUIDELINES: and then with plain water
[3]
OPTICAL STORE AND GUIDELINES TO SANITIZE AND g. Bucket to be rinsed with 0.5%
OPTOMETRY CLINIC DISINFECT THE WORKPLACE sodium hypochlorite for 1 min

a. It is advisable to declutter all a. The entire store and the and then with water
areas of the store and clinic if optometry clinic should be cleaned h. Hand sanitizers and face masks
possible, and reduce excess thoroughly every morning with should be used by anyone

JULY-AUG 2020 | 117 COVID 19