Offices Urged To Go Paperless Amid Virus Outbreak

Offices across Hong Kong should be encouraged to go paperless amid the Covid-19 outbreak to help prevent the transmission of coronavirus, a public health doctor said on Wednesday.

Dr Jacqueline Choi made the appeal during an online seminar with the chief operating officer of the new Chinese University Medical Centre, Professor Justin Wu, where they discussed “traps” people might fall into at the workplace and become infected with coronavirus.

Papers, keyboards, water dispensers and washrooms, where a lot of staff come into contact with each other, can all spread the virus, Choi warned.

She said some studies show coronavirus can survive on papers for three hours.

“It’s difficult to disinfect papers, so I suggest offices use as few papers as possible,” she said.

“If it’s unavoidable that a lot of documents must be exchanged among staff, office messengers must wear face masks. People must not touch their eyes, mouths and noses after handling the documents and they should wash their hands frequently,” Choi said.

She noted that some workers have to share computers at their offices.

“People should have a habit of disinfecting their keyboard, mouse and telephones every time before they use them,” she said.

The doctor added that washrooms are considered high-risk in terms of cross-infection and people must stay alert as soon as they enter them.

“Handles, water taps, door locks… these are areas that everyone would touch. People can use a tissue paper as a barrier when they touch them,” she said.

She said poor ventilation in offices, many of which use a centralised air-conditioning system, could be a problem and even opening just a couple of windows would help.

Wu, meanwhile, suggested office workers bring in a big bottle for water, so as to reduce the number of times they have to use the water dispenser.

He also advised people to wear face masks in crowded offices.

“A face mask not only protects yourself but also others. I wear a face mask even when I’m sitting in my own room because if I’m infected, a mask would stop me from contaminating the environment,” he said.

Gatherings at workplaces are exempted under new social distancing laws introduced by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus.