Since we were kids, we’ve been taught to wash our hands regularly, cover our mouths while coughing and keep our hands away from our faces if we’ve touched public surfaces. However, since Covid-19 arrived, we’ve had a serious refresher on these basic hygiene tips. The pandemic has certainly made people think twice about communal health, and this is particularly important for strata properties.
Whether your strata property is a multi-level apartment building or a small community of individual units, you need to be aware of how easily germs can spread. So, while we might think we’re coming to the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, flu season is still very much alive and requires some communal health measures. Here are some tips for ensuring everybody stays healthy in a strata environment.
Regularly clean communal facilities
Many strata properties include communal gym facilities, pools or other common areas that everybody can use. Unfortunately, that means more opportunities for germs to spread. To ensure these areas are properly maintained, all equipment and surfaces should be wiped regularly. You can also strategically place signs reminding people of their communal health responsibilities, such as wiping down gym equipment after use.
It’s important to provide residents with the means to manage those responsibilities, including antiseptic wipes in the gym and hand sanitiser in common areas. The costs are relatively low, but this makes it a healthier place for everyone.
Provide masks
We’ve certainly had a crash course in mask use over the last couple of years. While there may be no legal requirement to wear them from a pandemic point of view, strata residents should still be encouraged to use them if they’re unwell. As a society, we’re getting better at wearing masks if we’re not well, so make it easy for your residents to wear them.
It’s as easy as providing disposable masks in common areas and building entry points. That way, if someone feels unwell and wants to wear a mask, they can. While you can’t force this on people, you might be surprised at how many people are keen to stop the spread of germs now.
Foster a sense of community
Some people in a strata environment are happy keeping to themselves, which is completely fine. But many people enjoy the sense of community, so why not use that to your advantage? People should be staying home if they’re not well, but often they feel a need to go out, especially for food.
Consider creating an online community, such as a Facebook group, where residents can post requests for supplies or offer assistance to others. It’s completely optional for residents to participate, but it’s a nice way to build a community where people can help each other stay home while sick.
Take care with communal gardens
Many strata properties have a communal garden where residents grow and share fruits, vegetables and more. This is usually great, but if you have sick people in the garden around the fresh produce, germs can spread quickly. Ensure your communal garden is set up in such a way that people aren’t involved while they’re unwell.
For more tips and guidance on creating a safe, healthy environment for all residents, contact More Than Strata today.
