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Maintaining Church Facilities In Light Of COVID-19

By July 15, 2020Cleaning

The church is a communal space, and due to the pandemic, most traditional activities that take place during services have to be rethought – from sharing meals to shaking hands, and even collecting offerings. Places of worship have been closed since COVID-19 shook the world earlier this year, and when services resume, disinfecting will be a new priority. In the meantime, managers of these facilities can take steps to maintain their properties while they sit unused, to prevent damage or theft. 

 

As facilities sit vacant, those in charge should still regularly visit the building to keep it maintained. If not, they risk losing on insurance claims in the event of a break-in or fire, as the church could be deemed vacant. Thieves can target these facilities because they know that they are not being used, so make sure that security alarms are operational and protective fire equipment is in working condition. It’s encouraged to leave the lights on at a regular time to ward away potential break-ins. Continue to maintain the greenery of the property and remove all accumulated garbage and debris. Finally, don’t forget about the fridges – remove any remaining food so that it doesn’t spoil. 

 

When services resume, certain precautions will have to be taken. For example, the size of the gatherings will be restricted. Church facilities should encourage attendees to wear masks to services. They should also discourage anyone who is exhibiting symptoms from attending. High-contact areas (like door knobs, hand railings, and light switches) are where germs are spread easily; these surfaces need extra attention, so clean them often, especially during services. For places of worship to be safe, people who attend need to follow all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

Soap and water won’t kill germs – for that, you’ll need to use a disinfectant that is proven to kill viruses that cause diseases like COVID-19. It is essential to select a disinfectant that has been approved by Health Canada. There are products with specific Drug Identification Numbers (DIN) that are certified to kill live organisms. The Government of Canada has posted a comprehensive list of approved disinfectants. These products can also be substituted by an alcohol solution of at least 70% or a diluted bleach solution. 

 

Follow the instructions on the product label to completely disinfect a surface. The cleaning solution should fully saturate the material that’s used to wipe it, such as a rag; a spray may not wet the surface long enough to fully kill germs. You want the area to remain saturated for some time so that it can eliminate all viruses. Take precautions for your health when cleaning, like wearing eye protection, gloves, and a mask. 

 

To ensure that your church facility is ready for reopening, you can hire a professional cleaning service to properly disinfect your space. Our cleaners are trained to sanitize and eliminate virus causing bacteria in high-contact facilities. This will make certain that your place of worship will also be a place of safety for all attendees. Anago Cleaning Systems offers commercial cleaning services in Winnipeg – attention to detail and proper disinfecting is our priority. Make your church facility a safe space for all by hiring a professional team to clean it regularly.