How to Stay Safe At Work As COVID-19 Cases Rise

The COVID-19 pandemic is out of control. The virus is much more pervasive than it was in the spring when we were all taking more extreme measures. The general public is fatigued, struggling financially, and ready for this pandemic to be over. Sadly, the virus does not consider our feelings, and as the weather worsens, cases continue to rise. 

If you are working outside of the home, it is more important than ever to prioritize your safety. Direct contact is happening everywhere, so remember that the measures you take are your strongest line of defense against this disease. 

Here are several things you can do to keep yourself as safe as possible from COVID-19:

• Wear a mask, no matter what. It can be tempting to remove your mask when you are alone in a workspace or with someone you know well and trust, but the risk is not worth the momentary comfort. When you are outside of your home, keep a tight-fitting mask on at all times. If you can secure a KN95 or an N95, wear that. If you rely on a fabric mask, make sure that it fits your face tightly and wash it after each wear. 
• Do not touch your face. Over the summer, a lot of people got lax about scratching their faces here or there. Now that the cases are on the rise, that behavior has to stop. If you struggle not to touch your own face or adjust your mask, then wear a face shield as a deterrent. 
• Sanitize your phone, keys, or anything else you touch regularly throughout the day. We all touch our phones thousands of times throughout the day, which means it is a highly contaminated surface. Sanitize your phone before entering your home every night to help ensure you are not bringing the virus home with you.
• Remember that even if you are not concerned about your own health, you can pass the disease on to someone at high risk. Take their health and wellness into account. 

These are incredibly challenging times. We wish everyone working outside of the home the absolute best. Please do everything you can to keep yourselves safe, and contact Para Los Trabajadores if you need legal support in any way.