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COVID-19: Guidance for Businesses in Mexico
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Co-Production International has received guidance for businesses from the Business Coordinating Council (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial) in Mexico so that you can plan for the impacts and minimize spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Regardless of the protocols that each company has, we have compiled some of the best prevention practices as a suggestion.
1. Suspension of Events, Conferences, Forums and Training
In follow-up to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, it is recommended that you suspend, reschedule or remotely carry out any non-essential activity that involves contact with groups of people, including mass events, conferences, forums, trainings, courses, etc.
2. Recommendations for Daily Meetings
- Re-schedule non-priority meetings.
- Make them via conference call or virtually when possible.Avoid attending meetings, forums, external trainings of more than 20 people.
- Do not shake hands or kiss.
- Do not share food or utensils.
3. Prevention Recommendations for Collaborators and Visitors
- Prevention is our best tool to avoid getting sick and infecting other people. Invite your collaborators and visitors to comply with the following recommendations.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use 70% alcohol-based gel solutions.
- Place alcohol cans in easily accessible places in the building.
- When coughing or sneezing, cover the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or with the inside of your elbow. Do not spit.
- In case of using a disposable Kleenex or napkin, put it in a plastic bag, tie it and throw it away; then wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your face with your hands, especially your nose, mouth and eyes.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects in common use at each desk or workplace (telephone, keyboard, mouse, desk, door handles). In addition to daily cleaning by maintenance staff.
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet with anyone who coughs or sneezes.
- Do not share phones or work tools; avoid using other colleagues' desks or offices.
- Wash glasses, plates and utensils that are used; do not let them accumulate. Properly throw away napkins and disposables.
- Stay home for at least 14 days if any symptoms occur (fever higher than 100° F; dry cough; general tiredness). Immediately notify your supervisor and Human Resources. See a doctor if symptoms worsen.
4. Strengthening of Hygiene and Prevention Tasks in Facilities
- In order to strengthen hygiene in buildings, have frequent cleaning measures for the most touched surfaces, such as desks, tables, chairs, door handles and bathrooms.
- Place gel alcohol in the reception area, on each floor and in meeting rooms.
- Place disposable tissues and disinfecting wipes in accessible areas of each floor, so that employees can have immediate access at their workspaces and to clean them before using them.
- Post prevention signs in common areas and restrooms.
5. Cancel or Postpone Travel Abroad
- It is recommended that you cancel all institutional trips abroad.
- In case you have traveled in the last 15 days to one of the affected countries, please take into account the following recommendations:
- If you traveled to a country with local transmission of COVID-19 (China, Korea, Japan, Europe, the United States) and upon your return to Mexico, you present signs and symptoms of respiratory disease (fever, cough, sneeze, general malaise, headache, difficulty breathing), request immediate medical attention and indicate your travel background. Immediately notify your superiors and HR and do not go to work. Start isolation in your home.
- Monitor your health up to two weeks after being in a country with local transmission of COVID-19
6. What to Do if you Have Symptoms
- Advise employees that have symptoms of acute respiratory illness to stay home and not come to work for at least 14 days.
- Make sure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health recommendations and that employees are aware of these policies.
- Talk to companies that provide temporary or subcontracted employees to your business about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
- Do not request official proof of illness from employees who present acute respiratory illnesses to validate their condition or to return to work, as health institutions may be saturated and not be able to issue the supporting documents in an expedited manner.
- Employers must maintain flexible policies that allow employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees than usual may need to stay home to care for sick children or other sick family members.
- The main symptoms are:
- Fever
- Cough, sneezes
- General discomfort
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
In case of symptoms, stay at home for at least 14 days and follow these recommendations:
- Do not self-medicate
- Follow the doctor's instructions
- Bed rest at home; see a doctor if symptoms worsen or if you belong to one of the risk groups.
- Do not shake hands, kiss or hug
- Wash your hands frequently or disinfect them with 70% alcohol-based gel
- Consume vegetables and fruits daily, and at least eight glasses of plain water
- Wash the dishes, glasses and cutlery you use with soap, water and bleach.
- Isolate yourself as much as possible from other family members; try to avoid sharing bathrooms and kitchen.
7. Separate Sick Employees
It is recommended that employees who appear to have acute symptoms of respiratory illness (i.e. cough, shortness of breath, fever) upon arrival at work or become ill during the day, be separated from other employees and sent home immediately. Sick coworkers should cover their nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing (or with the inside of the elbow if a tissue is not available).
8. Flexible and Remote Work
In all cases where possible, it is recommended to establish flexible work schemes (for example, telecommuting) and flexible working hours (for example, staggered shifts), to increase the physical distance between employees and between employees and third parties. Ensure that they have the necessary technology and infrastructure so that multiple employees can work from home.
Planning Considerations for Businesses
All employers should consider how best to decrease the spread of acute respiratory illness and lessen the impact of COVID-19 in their workplace.
They must identify and communicate their objectives, which may include one or more of the following: (a) reduce transmission among staff, (b) protect people at increased risk of adverse health complications, (c) maintain business operations and (d) minimize the adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains.
Some of the key considerations when making decisions about the appropriate responses are:
Disease intensity (i.e., number of sick people, hospitalization, and mortality rates) in the community where the business is located;
Impact of the disease on employees who are vulnerable and may be at increased risk of adverse health complications from COVID-19. Inform employees that some people may be at increased risk for serious illnesses, such as older adults and people with chronic medical conditions.
Prepare for a possible increase in the number of employee absences due to illness of employees and their families, suspension of early childhood programs and schools.
- Implement plans to continue your essential business functions in the event you experience more than usual absenteeism.
- Train staff to perform essential functions so that the workplace can operate even if key staff members are absent.
- Prepare for the need for social distancing, staggered work shifts, reduced operations, remote service provision, and other measures to reduce exposure.
- Evaluate essential functions and the level of dependence that third parties and the community have on your products or services. Prepare to change business practices, if necessary, to maintain critical operations (identify potential suppliers, prioritize customers, or temporarily suspend operations if necessary).
- Consider interrupted supply chains or delayed deliveries.