“As it is not something we can control, we have seen companies take prudent actions,” Hobbs added.
COVID-19, or coronavirus, is a respiratory condition marked by fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Symptoms can appear within two weeks of exposure, according to health officials.
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The Clark County Combined Health District is urging local businesses to advise sick employees to stay home until their symptoms, especially if they have a fever, has subsided for at least 24 hours. However, that organization added, in a recent news release, that it is still flu season and flu-like symptoms does not necessarily mean a possible case of coronavirus.
Businesses have also been urged not to direct sick employees to urgent cares or other healthcare facilities to be tested for coronavirus. Clark County health officials say there are state guidelines that must be followed and not everyone who is sick will qualify for testing.
“This is not unique to just one industry. We have to use an abundance of caution,” Hobbs said.
Companies such as Topre, an autoparts maker that has a facility in Springfield, have barred nonessential business related travel within the country and has completely stopped overseas travel as well.
Instead there is a focus on video conferences as well as a policy of not introducing new people into facilities at this time, said Brad Pepper, the senior vice president of Topre America. That pertains to non employees, those from different areas as well as representatives from companies that have orders with Topre.
Pepper said on Friday that preventive measures taken by his company may differ, in some cases, depending on the facility and where it is located.
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Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday ordered all public and private K-12 schools to close for three weeks, beginning at the end of the school day Monday, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Jamie McGregor, the CEO of McGregor Metalworking Companies, said that they are trying to maintain flexible hours for workers who may have children that will now be on break.
Alex Dietz, the economic development coordinator for the county, said on Friday that in some cases, businesses are modifying their daily schedules and routines. He said that could include sanitizing surfaces more frequently. Especially those that are often in contact with employees as well as the general public.
“They are taking a more personal approach on how they clean and are being very meticulous about it,” Dietz said.
“At this stage, nothing is really out of the norm. There is an emphasis on prevention. However, this is a rapidly changing situation,” Dietz said of overall business operations in the county.
McGregor said on that his company is also implementing a comprehensive plan in regards to the virus. That includes a stoppage on corporate travel as well as an emphasis on increasing the number of times a machine, or other surfaces, are wiped down, especially during each shift.
Speedway spokesperson Christian Holfinger said that the convenience store chain is providing handsanitizer stations at its stores and offices. The company has also implemented business-continuity plans to accommodate staffing needs in the event of illness-related absenteeism as well as working with critical suppliers to ensure ongoing support in the event of illness-related disruptions.
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“We have also established an internal website with a variety of resources for employees to use. We closely monitor the latest developments regarding (the coronavirus) and adjust our response to the situation on a daily basis as events warrant,” Holfinger said in an email to the News-Sun.
Navistar, which builds medium-duty commercial trucks and cutaway vans in Springfield, has implemented additional cleaning measures at its facilities as well as made available additional personal hygiene and cleaning products, according to a recent news release.
Company representatives added that they do not expect vendors as well as suppliers to travel to or visit Navistar offices in the meantime.
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