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Coronavirus 101 – What it is and How to Prevent it

Now that Orange County has declared a local state of emergency, the coronavirus is on everyone’s mind. What is the coronavirus? Are there tips to help prevent contraction?

What is the Coronavirus?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (often referred to as COVID-19) is a respiratory illness. It’s highly contagious and spreads from person to person. It’s caused by a virus that was first identified in Wuhan, China where the outbreak began. 

As of today, there are over 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and over 3,400 deaths. That said, over 55,000 people have recovered from the virus, proving that it can be beaten. 

How does the Coronavirus spread?

According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the main way this virus spreads is from close contact with an infected person. If someone who is infected coughs or sneezes, they produce respiratory droplets that contain the virus. 

The virus also spreads through physical contact. If the virus gets onto a surface that is then touched, it can spread. For example, if someone with the coronavirus sneezes into their hands and then touches a door handle to open it, the virus is now likely on that door handle. Anyone who touches that door handle has a risk of contracting the virus. 

What are the Coronavirus Symptoms?

There are three main symptoms of someone with the coronavirus:

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough

How do You Prevent Getting the Coronavirus?

There are a few things you can do to help keep yourself healthy:

  1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. This can be difficult because you don’t always know if someone has the virus. However, if they are showing symptoms, it’s best to keep your distance. 
  2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Even if you get the virus on your hands, it may not make you sick. It’s when you touch your face or eat with hands that have the virus on them that makes you more likely to get sick. 
  3. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Keep soap on your hands for at least 20 seconds, though longer is better. You need to give the soap time to kill the virus, which is why you can’t wash it off too quickly. 

What Else Should I Know About the Coronavirus?

There is currently no vaccine for the virus, even though companies are working around the clock to develop one. Many areas of the world have declared a state of emergency, and some companies are even having people work from home to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Even if your area doesn’t have any confirmed cases, start taking action now. Considering how fast the virus is spreading, there is a good chance it will be in your area soon. Start washing your hands often and avoid people who are sick if possible. If you or your loved ones start showing symptoms of the virus, seek medical attention quickly. 

This is also an ideal time to review your health insurance. If you think a new policy is in order, give us a call at (877) 600-7347. We look forward to helping you keep your family healthy and safe.

Courtesy of Cuselleration

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Why You Should Offer Employee Benefits

Photo credits: Shutterstock/RawPixel.com

Giving employee benefits is a great way to promote productivity and a good workplace culture for everyone on staff. Some people choose to just offer the bare minimum in order to stay in line with the law, but those who go above and beyond with benefits can help their company in a big way.

One of the best reasons to offer employee benefits is to attract more and better talent to your company. The best employees are juggling multiple offers for jobs, and enticing benefits can help your company stand out when it comes time to make a decision. Good employee benefits will also make your company known in its industry and help you retain talent for the long term.

Benefits like comprehensive health plans, retirement plans, and generous paid vacations and holidays shows employees you believe in the company enough to invest into employees, and also engenders a sense of stability that will boost office culture.

Another good reason to offer benefits is to end the revolving door of employees coming in and out. Good benefits will entice people to stay on staff and become company veterans, which will help newer employees get properly trained and mentored. Offering generous employee benefits shows employees you are looking out for their best interest and motivates people to stay on top of their jobs for the long term.

Employee benefits go a long way towards boosting general morale and workplace culture. If employees have the chance to save for their future  with healthcare plans or take some time off with paid vacations, they will come to work more energized and ready to be productive, which contributes to a good office culture. Bad attitudes or a distrust in company culture will quickly put a damper on overall morale.

Click here to learn the 5 things to know about car insurance!

Employee benefits like good healthcare coverage and paid sick days will encourage workers to put their health first, so they can come to work in good condition. People with good health insurance are more apt to practice good preventative healthcare measures like getting checkups and eating right, which means they will be better off for the long term.

Paid sick days ensures sick workers will stay at home and not come to the office ill, which could lead to a spread of germs that makes others sick. An empty office due to sickness is a scenario that a boss does not want to come face-to-face with.

Finally, employee benefits encourage people to take pride in their work and remain loyal to the company. Harder and smarter workers usually result in better productivity, which will help foster higher quality work.

It might seem tough to go the extra mile to offer good employee benefits, especially since the short-term costs can be high. Offering good health insurance or paid time off can lead to bigger expenses for the company, especially if you have a lot of employees.

But keep in mind the long-term effects will pay off in a big way and set your company up for further success down the road. You will be seen as an industry leader thanks to a steady and happy workforce.

Good benefits will also help rope in top talent that can offer dynamic and innovative perspectives to your company, especially if other competitors do not have as good of a package.

Would you like to provide benefits for your employees? Click here to contact Partners Direct Insurance Services today!

Courtesy of Cuselleration

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