The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has created challenges for homeowners seeking at-home services. For months, many people have tried to limit house guests. But how do you handle having an in-home service provider without flouting COVID-19 guidelines?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides safety guidelines for working with an at-home service provider. This may be a mobile barber, a mobile hairstylist, or a technician invited to fix a broken heating or plumbing system.
Here are things you need to know to prepare for mobile services in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Before the visit
Confirm with the local health department for a stay-at-home order affecting your community or state. The order could restrict non-essential services. If such an order is in place, you should decide if you can delay the service until it’s safe for everyone.
If anyone close to you has been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, postpone any non-emergency services until it’s safe to mingle with others. Also, if anyone in your home exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should take safety measures as outlined by the CDC.
If there are people around you with underlying medical conditions, ensure you put in place measures to protect them against contact with anyone who visits.
During the visit
Don’t allow an in-home service provider into your home if they show symptoms of COVID-19
The service provider must wear a mask. Also, ensure other household members wear a mask.
Avoid any physical contact with visitors, for example, shaking hands
Keep indoor conversations at a minimum. If possible, only discuss the requirements of the service outdoors while maintaining the recommended physical distance.
Always keep a distance of not less than 6 feet. Also, limit interactions between your pet or household members and the service provider.
Maximize indoor ventilation by opening windows and turning the air conditioner on.
After the visit
After the service, you can take extra protective measures such as using digital payment methods. You could pay over your phone and avoid physical payment methods such as a card, money, or a keypad. However, if you must handle money or a card, clean your hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer afterward.
Additionally, clean and disinfect surfaces that the service provider may have touched.