An effective sanitization plan reduces risk and addresses operational efficiencies, ensuring that processes are consistent without overly burdening staff or hampering the customer experience. 

In a device-intensive environment, such plans should include a systematic way to manage the disinfection of shared computers, headsets and other objects. For example, K–12 districts using cart-based one-to-one Chromebook programs should establish processes for collecting and disinfecting these devices before distributing them to new users. 

Ultraviolet C sanitizing devices and hand-sanitizing stations help achieve these aims. UVC radiation, delivered by a lamp or laser, is the highest-energy area of the UV spectrum. As a disinfection agent, UVC light kills viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. 

UVC sanitizing is available in three delivery modes:

• Drones: Indoor, industrial drones have small, powerful UVC lights to quickly disinfect large surface areas. (Because they are used inside, they do not require the FAA licensing that outdoor drones do.) These have wide applications in healthcare, retail, warehouses, transportation, common areas of schools and businesses, government facilities and athletic facilities. 
• Wands: Handheld wands are designed for portability, with a rechargeable battery. They are well suited to classrooms, daycare facilities, small offices and shared tools such as keyboards and instrument panels.
• Platforms and cart cabinets: These disinfect multiple, high-touch devices at once.

Hand-sanitizing stations, which dispense gel or liquid sanitizer, are equally versatile, including wall-mounted, tabletop and freestanding models. Stations equipped with digital signage can serve a communication function as well, from sharing practical messages (such as handwashing reminders) to business information (brand messaging or sales promotion).

Air purifiers remove air contaminants and increase air flow, which is recommended by the CDC for creating a healthier environment. In senior-care facilities, air purifiers can minimize risk for vulnerable populations, particularly given seniors’ susceptibility to respiratory issues. Every facility manager, however, should be mindful that the majority of coronavirus transmission occurs indoors and, accordingly, air purifiers are integral to a robust ventilation strategy.

Social distancing has two key components: occupancy counting, to maintain a safe number of individuals indoors; and contact tracing, to track interactions so that, if needed, organizational leaders or public health officials can manage and mitigate the potential risk of contacts with an infected individual.

Some organizations take a manual approach to occupancy control, posting an employee at entry and exit points and tasking them with coordinating a full occupancy count. This strategy consumes personnel resources, can quickly overwhelm staff and is prone to error. Manual monitoring is also impractical in a large environment, where occupancy counting is most critical.

IP-enabled video surveillance cameras, supported by analytics software that detects and counts people as they enter and exit, automate this function and increase accuracy without additional labor costs. 

The same cameras and video analytics tools that organizations already use to plan staffing, analyze movement patterns and manage security can be deployed to track occupancy. This makes it easy to layer in edge analytics and occupancy management software that integrates into an existing video management system, or to install new cameras to address coverage gaps. Organizations that lack a video management system may incorporate a cloud-based system for centralized management of multiple locations in a single dashboard.

Specialized occupancy counting software adds deeper functionality, correlating data from multiple sources and providing clear signals, such as red and green lights, to indicate when it is safe to enter. It can also improve the customer experience by giving visitors an accurate assessment of wait times.

From a management perspective, these solutions facilitate compliance with internal policies and external regulations by: 

• Centralizing monitoring for multiple sites 
• Monitoring multiple entry and exit points, and aggregating data 
• Tracking occupancy by rooms, floors or departments 
• Alerting staff when occupancy limits have been reached
• Using dashboards to present timely, actionable data

For visitors, crowd interaction alerts also serve an important purpose. Signage and floor markers are helpful, but often overlooked. Automated alerts can be a better way to enforce social distancing; for instance, when two people come within six feet of each other or when a group of people gather.

If a virus transmission occurs or is suspected, organizations must be prepared to quickly contain the risks. For this purpose, contact tracing — facilitated by body-worn sensors, smartphones or other devices — helps identify people who may have come in contact with an infected individual. These tools have widespread application, but are especially valuable in hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, public safety and field service environments.

Contact tracing dashboards display proximity events and produce a variety of reports, including historical data that show who each person encountered and the length of each exposure. They can also identify hot zones, or areas where people tend to congregate. In schools, for example, administrators can identify areas where students gather, so they can respond appropriately. 

Privacy concerns related to contact tracing may arise. However, many of these solutions rely on anonymization. For example, Bluetooth technology lets smartphones exchange randomly generated numbers that support cross-checking but do not require the exposure of individual identities. Efforts are underway by technology providers in the United States and other countries to build a larger arsenal of privacy- and security-focused contact tracing solutions.

Protective shields allow face-to-face interaction while enforcing separation of personal space. Diverse options let organizations deploy the best solution for a specific purpose, including freestanding, countertop, adjustable, custom-sized, and window or nonwindow features.

In classrooms, shields prevent students from getting too close, while providing a degree of social interaction. In gyms, personal care businesses and professional services firms, shields make it possible to provide service to multiple customers at once. And in offices, particularly those that availed themselves of the open-office trend, desk partitions make it easier to bring teams back together.