THE ALEP & #8211; Local Accommodation Association in Portugal performed a guide to the procedures to consider before COVID-19, in order to adapt existing official recommendations to the reality of local accommodation.
You can consult the Guide that ALEP has made available, here.
They considered a set of guidelines on how to adapt the existing guidelines to the reality of LA, which is very different from other activities.
These guidelines aim to facilitate the prevention-reaction work, and each LA manager must evaluate his case and adapt to his specific reality.
Since there is still a lot of ignorance about COVID-19, these guidelines are not static. This guide will be updated whenever new guidelines or useful information arise, we advise you to revisit this guide regularly.
What are the symptoms or signs of Coronavirus?
Infected people may experience all or some of the typical symptoms of respiratory infection or flu such as:
- Fever
- Cough
- Breathing difficulty
- Body pain
- Fatigue
Attention that it is possible to be infected and have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms.
From the moment of infection until the first symptoms, a up to 2 to 12 days.
For this reason, the safety recommendation for those at risk is to have an isolation period of at least 14 days.
How does Coronavirus spread?
The implications for Local Accommodation:
1) Through Direct contact with infected organisms / persons
For this reason, the importance of the recommendations presented in this guide for the face-to-face check-in or any human contact, as this can be the biggest source of risk.
2) Through indirect contact through infected surfaces
Prevention through this propagation path is reflected above all in the cleaning procedures after check-out.
3) By eating food (not confirmed yet)
Although most of the AL does not offer food, some accommodation establishments such as guest houses, bed & breakfasts and hostel offer breakfast and must be careful in this matter.
Hygiene measures to reduce disease transmission
The World Health Organization (WHO) and DGS recommend hygiene measures, respiratory etiquette and food safety practices to reduce exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 virus:
- Avoid close contact with patients with respiratory infections;
- Adopt respiratory etiquette measures: cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough (with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, or with your arm, never with your hands);
- Wash your hands frequently;
- Wash your hands whenever you blow, sneeze or cough.
Find out more in the complete Guide provided by ALEP, here.