COVID-19 is impacting the supply chain and U.S. economy. Given how critical your work in the final mile is, and with with the numerous inquiries from shippers, carriers and their updates on travel and meetings, we wanted to share some advice as well as current information with you.
The following practices are prudent in the face of the spreading of the virus and we urge you to share them with your staff, employees, logistics partners and customers. In addition, please share your advice on precautions you are putting in place for your staff and customers through the CLDA app and check our website and our social media for additional information. You can download the app through iPhone’s App store or Google Play by searching for CLDA.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends these preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Some companies have created a visitor health screening form to document those entering their gates and property that includes health status and symptoms.
In addition, we urge you to use caution in the words you use with customers and staff to avoid spreading undue concern about this virus. Here is a blog post from the CLDA Director of Public Relations, Andrea Obston, with some advice on how to phrase any messages you put out.
Your work is especially critical at this time and many people, especially though at high risk, have decided to stay home and get their goods delivered. This will put an additional burden on your companies to respond, but flexibility and responsiveness are what every one of our members delivers on a daily basis, so we’re confident you can meet the challenge.
We encourage CLDA Members to offer their services to local EMS officials and local Departments of Public Health to assist them in their response. CLDA Government Affairs Director Michael Taylor is working with Prime Policy Group to send a letter of assistance to the state EMS officials that we will also share with membership. Further, the President signed an $8 billion emergency spending package to combat the spread of the virus.
Thank you for your continuing role as a critical part of the supply chain, especially at this challenging time. If anyone has questions please email them to info@clda.org and look for further updates on the app, our website and our social media.
