COVID-19 pandemic: workplace readiness to control and contain the spread of coronavirus

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. It is a huge concern to both public and occupational health and is the biggest current threat to the global economy and financial markets. The aim of this paper is to highlight the key occupational health challenges based on available literature and to provide some guidance on preventive measures. A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google for studies published from January to March 2020. Google translate was used for articles in foreign languages. The literature showed that healthcare workers are a high-risk group, although any worker is at potential risk. The key challenges identified relate to labour rights and sick leave, compensation, impact of quarantine on business continuity, and whether transmission is purely through droplets or if airborne transmission plays a role. The evidence, although limited, provides guidance for slowing down and reducing the risk of spread of the virus