What is Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) belongs to a family of viruses known as the Coronoviruses, which can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections started in China but confirmed infections have also been reported in other parts of the world.

How it is Transmitted?

Transmission of the COVID-19 is through touch; that is when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and their droplets of saliva, mucus, or other bodily fluids fall on you - or if you touch them and then you touch your face - you can become infected as well.

Precautionary Measures to be Taken

The health and well-being of our staff, customers and vendors are of importance to TTS Group. This outbreak not only impact each of our well-being but our business as well.

In the light of the COVID-19 outbreak and uncertainties regarding its viral spread. we have taken the following precautionary measures:

	All staff are to declare their health condition and their travel history in the last 14 day and people they come into contact who had travel to Hubei, China.
	Staff to report to their Superior if they are unwell and or develop symptom like fever, runny nose or cough. Practice good personal hygiene to frequently wash hands with soap and water.
	Daily temperature check of staff at the entry point as they come in. Those with high temperature, to see doctor straight away. Temperature check of vendors and visitors at the entry point and vendors with temperature of 38°C will be refused entry.
	Business Continuity Plan Made contact with alternative sites to meet our obligations and deliver acceptable levels of services. Arrange for staff to work form home if necessary.

These measures taken will change accordingly depending on the situation.

Each of us will have to take responsibility so that we can collectively overcome this health threat.

Always practice good hygiene to stay healthy!

General Health Advisory

Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands.

Practice respiratory hygiene

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever.

Why? When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease, like Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Tell your health care provider if you have traveled in an area in China where COVID-19 has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with someone with who has traveled from China and has respiratory symptoms.

Why? Whenever you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing it’s important to seek medical attention promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Respiratory symptoms with fever can have a range of causes, and depending on your personal travel history and circumstances, COVID-19 could be one of them.

If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China

Why? If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand hygiene and stay home until you are recovered, if possible.

As a general precaution, practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets or animal product markets

Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products; avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands; and avoid contact with sick animals or spoiled animal products. Strictly avoid any contact with other animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, bats). Avoid contact with potentially contaminated animal waste or fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.

Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products

Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

Protect yourself and others from getting sick

Infected people are likely to show symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. For now, preventive measures are the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.

Following is the advisory published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Practice food safety

Being knowledgeable about safe food preparation lowers your risk of food poisoning and can help keep you healthy.

Here are three things you can do to make sure your food is safe.

Shopping/Working in wet markets in China and Southeast Asia

Chinese scientists have identified a “wet market”—where live and dead animals, including many wildlife species, are sold for consumption—as the chief suspect for the origin of the Coronavirus disease 2019.

Here are three things you can do to make sure you stay healthy.