Coronavirus advice issued for hospitality industry

Specialist advice to help hospitality businesses reduce the risks presented by coronavirus has been issued by UKHospitality's health advisor.

The advice includes ways to mitigate the risk of coronavirus spreading by increasing hygiene measures as well as outlining preparations that could be made for disruptions to staffing.

Dr Lisa Ackerley, chartered environmental health practitioner and adviser to UKHospitality, said: "Simple hygiene measures can go a long way to help reduce risks of coronavirus, and it pays to be prepared. We have put together some guidance for the hospitality industry to help."

Simple actions businesses can take are similar to those for any other respiratory disease, relying on basic general and personal hygiene, including avoiding shaking hands with people and improving hand washing, with businesses advised to make hand sanitiser available to guests and staff.

Hotels should also ensure that surfaces and items coming into regular contact with guests, such as television controllers, are cleaned regularly with chemicals effective against respiratory diseases.

It also advised that linen and bedding should be bagged before it is removed from rooms and that laundry should be washed at 60°.

As of today (27 February), a total of 7,690 people have been tested in the UK, of which 7,675 were confirmed negative and 15 positive.

Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough, which can progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

The full advice from UKHospitality can be viewed here.

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