What do I do as Small Business with Coronavirus?

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

From The World Health Organisation.

Practical Tips for Small Businesses

In order to help small businesses I have produced A guide with Practical Tips and advice to help you navigate through. If anything it might make you think ‘that’s a good idea’ or ‘I never thought of that’ – you don’t all need a contingency policy but the draft one is there just to make you think.

Please click here to download the guide and a poster to help remind staff of what they need to do to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Budget April 2020

In the budget that was announced on the 11th March 2020 there are special provisions for Employers with less than 250 employees in relation to Statutory Sick Pay and some additional benefits to help small businesses through this time. Find out more in my Blog on the April Budget 2020.

How we can help?

If you are worrying as business is slowing down or being cancelled then there are practical steps that you can take. If you would like an chat on how we could help you then click here.