How body corporates can protect strata communities from coronavirus

“At Archers, we have implemented a business continuity policy – COVID-19, which includes preventative measures and details what our response in specific circumstances are in order to minimise potential threats of infection,” she said.

“These measures include ensuring all tables are wiped clean with disinfectant before and after body corporate meetings and also care taken with tea and coffee-making facilities. Hand sanitiser is supplied in all boardroom offices and in the event our committees elect to hold their meeting via video and telephone conferencing, rather than in person, Archers [has] facilities to accommodate these virtual meetings.

“We recommend the chairperson inquire, before the meeting, if anyone who will be attending has experienced any flu-like symptoms or travelled to an affected country within the last 14 days. If so, this person will be asked to attend the meeting via video or telephone conference.”

Ms Lonergan said it is crucial Archers, along with its strata committees, is active in the approach to prevention and is responsive to any outbreak that may occur while tending to the responsibility of bodies corporate.

“People are requested to observe strict personal hygiene with frequent hand washing with soap and to seek medical attention promptly if feeling unwell,” she said.

“It’s also recommended to maintain good indoor ventilation, avoid sharing food, cutlery, crockery, utensils and other personal hygiene items; and avoid physical contact such as shaking hands and avoid touching your face or rubbing your eyes.”

Ms Lonergan said some strata communities with facilities such as barbecues and gymnasiums, which pose a higher risk of illness for residents and visitors, are implementing infection control cleaning to combat the threat of coronavirus.

She said the process known as “outbreak cleaning” focuses on preventing the spread of germs, such as common colds and the flu.

“While general cleaning is important for maintaining the basic hygiene and the physical cleanliness of a strata property by removing dirt, grime and dust, outbreak cleaning goes a step further by killing airborne pathogens, rendering mutations and germ spread impossible,” Ms Lonergan said.