mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
How should I clean if someone at my workplace is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?
If a person who has been at your workplace is suspected or confirmed to have
COVID-19, you must thoroughly clean and disinfect all areas of suspected
contamination.
Clean and disinfect all areas (for example, offices, bathrooms and common
areas) that were used by the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Close
off the affected area before cleaning and disinfection. Open outside doors and
windows if possible to increase air circulation and then commence cleaning and
disinfection.

clean and disinfect hard surfaces using either: a physical clean using detergent and water followed by a clean with 1,000 ppm bleach solution (2-step clean), for example, household bleach or hospital-grade bleach solutions that are readily available from retail stores. Bleach solutions should be made fresh daily.
a physical clean using a combined detergent and 1,000 ppm bleach solution (2-in-1 clean) made up daily from a concentrated solution (refer to the Department of Health website for more information on achieving the correct bleach solution).

Once cleaning and disinfection is complete, place disposable cloths, PPE and
covers in a plastic rubbish bag, place it inside another rubbish bag (double-
bagging) and dispose of the bag in the general waste.
There is no need to close down an entire workplace, while cleaning and
disinfection takes place, particularly if the person infected, or suspected to
be infected, has only visited parts of the workplace. However the cleaning and
disinfection must occur before any workers return to affected areas.
Whether you need to suspend operations in your workplace will depend on
factors such as the size of the workplace, nature of work, number of people,
and suspected areas of contamination in your workplace.
Those cleaning an area of suspected contamination need to be equipped with
appropriate Personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes disposable
gloves and safety eyewear to protect against chemical splashes. If there is
visible contamination with respiratory secretions or other body fluids in the
area, the cleaning staff should also wear a disposable apron. If the person
with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 is in the area to be cleaned (e.g. a
hotel room), put on a surgical mask and ask the person to step outside if
possible.
Clean your hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or where this
is not possible, hand sanitiser of with at least 60% ethanol or 70%
isopropanol as the active ingredient] before putting on and after removing
PPE.
Cleaning equipment including mop heads and cloths should be laundered using
hot water and completely dried before re-use. Cleaning equipment such as
buckets should be emptied and cleaned with a new batch of disinfectant and
allowed to dry completely before re-use.
If your workplace handles food, you should follow the additional advice of
Food Standards Australia New
Zealand.
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Cleaning and disinfection
Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes:
Cleaning means physically removing germs, dirt and organic matter from
surfaces.
Disinfecting means using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. It’s
important to clean before disinfecting because organic matter and dirt can
reduce the ability of disinfectants to kill germs.
A combination of cleaning and disinfection will be most effective in removing
the COVID-19 virus. Cleaning reduces the soil load on the surface, allowing
the disinfectant to work and kill the COVID-19 virus. Disinfectant may not
kill the virus if the surface has not been cleaned with a detergent first.
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
How do I clean?
Use the following steps to clean an environment:

Wear gloves when cleaning. Gloves should be discarded after each clean. If it is necessary to use reusable gloves, gloves should only be used for COVID-19 related cleaning and should not be used for other purposes or shared between workers. Wash reusable gloves with detergent and water after use and leave to dry. Clean hands immediately after removing gloves using soap and water or hand sanitiser.
Thoroughly clean surfaces using detergent and water. Always clean from the cleanest surfaces to the dirtiest surfaces. This stops the transfer of germs to cleaner surfaces and allows you to physically remove and dispose of the largest possible amount of germs.
If you need to use a disinfectant, clean the surface first using detergent then apply a disinfectant or use a combined detergent and disinfectant (see next section). A disinfectant will not kill germs if the surface has not been cleaned first. Apply disinfectant to surfaces using disposable paper towel or a disposable cloth. If non-disposable cloths are used, ensure they are laundered and dried before reusing.
Allow the disinfectant to remain on the surface for the period of time required to kill the virus (contact time) as specified by the manufacturer. If no time is specified, leave for 10 minutes.
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
What should I use to disinfect?
Hard surfaces
Disinfectants that are suitable for use on hard surfaces (that is, surfaces
where any spilt liquid pools, and does not soak in) include: alcohol in a
concentration of at least 70%, chlorine bleach in a concentration of 1000
parts per million, oxygen bleach, or wipes and sprays that contain quaternary
ammonium compounds. These chemicals will be labelled as ‘disinfectant’ on the
packaging and must be diluted or used following the instructions on the
packaging to be effective.
Soft or porous surfaces
Disinfectant is not suitable on fabric surfaces as it only works with extended
contact time with the surface.
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Disposal or cleaning of materials and PPE
Reusable, washable cloths, PPE and covers should be washed in a regular cycle
wash using the warmest possible setting with normal washing detergent. Avoid
shaking out the items before placing in the washing machine.
Wear disposable gloves to handle used cloths, PPE and covers. Wash your hands
thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after removing the
gloves.
Regularly wash the hamper in which used PPE is stored while it is waiting to
be laundered. If the hamper is not washable, use a disposable lining, and
replace regularly.
Reusable, non-washable PPE such as eye protection, should be wiped clean with
a detergent solution first, then wiped over with a disinfectant, and left to
air dry. Smearing or residues might result, and this can be cleaned off by
using more detergent solution and rinsing clean only after the disinfectant
has dried.
Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Cleaning and disinfection
Routine cleaning
Workplaces should clean surfaces at least daily. Special attention should be
given to frequently touched surfaces (e.g. tabletops, door handles, light
switches, desks, toilets, taps, TV remotes, kitchen surfaces and cupboard
handles). Ideally, once clean, surfaces should also be disinfected regularly.
Alternatively, you may be able to do a 2-in-1 clean and disinfection by using
a combined detergent and disinfectant.
Surfaces and fittings should be cleaned more frequently when:

visibly soiled
used repeatedly by a number of people (e.g. trolleys, checkouts, EFTPOS machines), and
after any spillage.

For routine cleaning, disinfectants are usually only necessary if a surface
has been contaminated with potentially infectious material. For this reason,
when and how often a workplace should undertake disinfection as part of
routine cleaning will depend on the likelihood of contaminated material being
present at the workplace. For example, in a busy retail environment with many
customers and others entering a workplace each day, more frequent disinfection
is recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. By contrast, for a small
work crew operating the same item of plant each day with little interaction
with other people, routine disinfection in addition to daily cleaning may not
be reasonably practicable.
Coming to Australia
All others
Additional exemptions as determined by the Commissioner
The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) may consider an
additional exemption in relation to the travel restrictions currently in place
for:

foreign nationals travelling at the invitation of the Australian Commonwealth Government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response or whose entry would be in the national interest
critical medical services, including air ambulance and delivery of supplies, that regularly arrive into Australia from international ports
people with critical skills (for example, medical specialists, engineers, marine pilots and crews) by exception
diplomats accredited to Australia and currently resident in Australia, and their immediate family
​case-by-case exceptions for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.

Exemptions must be granted prior to travelling to Australia. The request for
an exemption through Commissioner’s Discretion must be accompanied by:

passenger details : name, DOB, visa type and number, passport number, Australian residential address, Australian telephone number)
case information : why this case should be considered for Commissioner discretion/exemption
supporting statement : the request should be accompanied by a statement and evidence of how the individual meets one of the grounds for an exemption or excise of the Commissioner’s discretion listed above.

It is important that all travellers provide evidence that they meet one of the
exemptions above before travelling.
Depending on your reason for requesting exemption, evidence must be provided
and could include:

proof of ID
marriage certificates
birth certificates
death certificates
proof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)
visa status
letter from a doctor or hospital indicating why the travel is necessary
letter from an employer indicating why the travel is necessary or the work undertaken is critical
letter from a related business or company
any other proof you may have to support your claims.

All evidence supporting a travel exemption claim needs to be officially
translated into English. ****
Coming to Australia
I am an Australian citizen or permanent resident
All travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day
quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of
arrival.
You can travel to Australia if you are an Australian citizen, a permanent
resident, an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent
resident or are a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia. If you
are an immediate family member holding a temporary visa you will need to
provide us with evidence of your relationship.
Australian citizen
Australian citizens can enter Australia and, in exceptional circumstances,
will be permitted to enter without a valid Australian passport. If you don’t
have a valid passport, please advise airline staff that you are an Australian
citizen and do not require a visa to enter Australia (even if you are a dual
national). The airline will contact the Australian Border Force to verify your
citizenship. It is important you get to the airport early in case of any
delays. Departure from the country you are in is subject to the rules and
decisions of authorities in that country.​
Permanent resident
A permanent resident is someone who holds a permanent visa in Australia,
including a Resident Return visa. Permanent residents must also undertake a
mandatory 14-day quarantine in designated facilities (for example, a hotel) in
their port of arrival once they enter Australia.
New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia
New Zealand citizens who normally reside in Australia (with a subclass 444
visa or other permanent or provisional visa) can come to Australia. You must
carry proof of residency (driver's licence or documents that show your
residency). Present it at check-in. You must undertake a mandatory 14-day
quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of
arrival.​
Important: New Zealand citizens and permanent residents not living in
Australia can only transit through Australia to return to New Zealand. Refer
to Transiting Australia.
Coming to Australia
I want to apply for a visa
You should reconsider your need to apply for an Australian visa at this time
and check this page regularly for updates on travel restrictions and visa
processing.
Visa processing arrangements
The Department is prioritising processing visa applications for those
travellers in the exempt categories to support urgent travel.
We encourage applicants to apply online wherever possible, as these
applications will be processed faster than those lodged on paper.
You will not be able to apply for an ETA
online while the travel
restrictions are in place.
Disruption of services
Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by
COVID-19 and a range of services we rely on are increasingly unavailable.
This includes overseas panel doctors (see below), English language testing
facilities, biometric collection and paper application lodgement centres.
While these services are unavailable, many applicants cannot meet visa
requirements. Applicants will be given additional time to complete checks and
provide the requested information.
Visa medical appointments
Clients should be aware of disruptions to visa medical services, due to
COVID-19.
My Health Declarations is temporarily suspended. The Health Requirement
including the health examinations for your intended visa will be determined
once your visa application has been lodged.
Our visa processing officers are aware of the disruptions. We will take the
extended timeframes into account when considering your visa application.
You do not need to contact us if your visa medical appointment has been
rescheduled.
If you have not yet lodged a visa application or have not been requested to
undertake an immigration medical examination, there is no need to contact a
visa medical services clinic in Australia or an overseas panel clinic at this
time.
Student visas
You do not need a visa if you are overseas and studying online with an
Australian education provider.
Education providers can issue a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol
students to study online.
Coming to Australia
I am immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident
You are only considered to be an immediate family member if you are:

a spouse
a de facto partner
a dependent child/ren
a legal guardian.

All travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day
quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of
arrival.
You may need to provide information to the Department before travelling to
Australia.
Guardians
A guardian, in relation to a child, is a person who has responsibility for the
long-term welfare of the child and has all the powers, rights and duties that
are vested by law or custom in the guardian of the child, other than:

the right to have the daily care and control of the child; and
the right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child.

If you don’t have a visa
You can't come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and
include proof (such as your marriage certificate, your birth certificate or
birth certificate for your children).
If you have a temporary visa (except for Partner and Child visa holders)
Use the enquiry form below to provide further information to the Department.
You should attach proof (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your
de-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth
certificate or birth certificate for your children). Do not travel until we
advise that you can.
Partner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) and Child (subclasses 101, 102, 445)
visa holders can come to Australia. You do not need to request an exemption.
Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can’t come to Australia at
the moment.
Apply online for an exemption or provide further information
Apply online
Travellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to
Australia can also use this form to apply for an exemption.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Getting home
Planning your trip home
If you wish to return to Australia, and there are still commercial flights
available, take them as soon as possible. While we know it can be frustrating
or expensive, the window of opportunity is closing.
Travel regulations are changing at short notice. If you’ve decided to return
to Australia:

check your route carefully and stay in touch with your airline or travel agent
follow official announcements from your transit airports and governing authorities
contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries you’re transiting through if you have any queries about their entry or exit requirements

To stay up-to-date with our latest advice,
subscribe to our travel
advisories and news.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Getting home
No flights out?
If you wish to return to Australia, and there are still commercial flights
available, take them as soon as possible. While we know it can be frustrating
or expensive, the window of opportunity is closing.
Many travellers are having difficulty getting home because of flight cancellations or movement restrictions.
If you’re one of them, we know it’s a stressful and difficult time.
Where commercial flights are not available, we’re working with the airline
industry and other governments to help Australians find ways to get home. This
includes a special partnership with Qantas and Virgin Australia and
facilitated flights from several destinations.
See further details on the COVID-19 – Helping Australians to return
home page.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve also worked with cruise operators and other
governments to bring home thousands of Australian passengers from cruise
ships.
Check the website of your nearest Australian embassy or high
commission and follow them closely on social
media for updates
about flights back to Australia. Some embassies and high commissions are
providing the option for Australians to register for direct communication,
including in some places to receive updates on potential unscheduled
commercial flights.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Staying where you are
In some cases, you may need to make arrangements to stay where you are for a
longer period, until your departure can be arranged or border closures are
lifted.
We understand this is a very challenging situation. Our ambassadors, high
commissioners and consular officials are doing all they can to assist those
most in need.
The scale and complexity of this crisis is greater than anything we have faced
before. With the global shutdown of borders and transit hubs, it won’t be
possible for every Australian traveller to get home until the travel
restrictions are lifted.
In some cases, particularly if you’re living and working overseas long-
term, you may have the support, accommodation and income you
need to remain where you are through this period.
If, for whatever reason, you’re staying somewhere longer than you
planned:

follow the advice of local authorities
subscribe to news and the travel advice for your location
follow your local Australian embassy or high commission on social media; and register with them if they have called for it
make arrangements for an extended stay
take care to minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19

Read more:

COVID-19 - what to do when you can't get home
COVID-19 - advice for Australians living, working or studying overseas
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Travelling to Australia by yacht or small craft
If you’re planning to sail your yacht or small craft back to Australia,
carefully consider the risks to your personal health and safety and that of
your crew members from COVID-19 and related restrictions. Due to border
closures and other restrictions, you may not have access to ports and supplies
en route. It’s not the responsibility of the Australian government to
negotiate access or facilitate your journey.
At this time, we recommend you either moor your boat and stay where you are,
or if you wish to come home and flights are available, store your boat and fly
back to Australia.
See our Travelling by boat page for further information.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Consular services
Our ability to provide our usual consular services in many places is limited during this time. In some
countries, our embassy buildings are closed to the public or offering limited
consultations by appointment only. This is due to tight restrictions on local
services and movement, including of our embassy staff.
While we can’t always get out and about in the way we normally would, rest
assured our staff are hard at work behind the scenes. We’re focused on sharing
the most up-to-date local advice and information for Australians, providing
consular and passport services in situations of genuine need and working with
other governments on the international effort to combat COVID-19.
The Foreign Minister decided on 26 March to direct the departure to Australia
of all remaining dependants and non-essential staff from a number of
Australian embassies and high commissions in countries where there is
significant pressure on local health systems and reducing transport links.
This will not affect the provision of services to Australians in these
locations.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Where you can get help
Call your local Health Service, or ask someone you trust in the community to
call, if you feel unwell.
Map of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical
services
Use this interactive map to find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Health Service near you.
National Coronavirus Helpline
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or
help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
1800 020 080
View contact
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is
the national authority on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health
care. See their website for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander–focused
news, information, links and contacts.
https://www.naccho.org.au/
View contact
National Indigenous Australians Agency
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is committed to improving
the lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Visit their
website for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander–focused news, information,
links and contacts.
https://www.niaa.gov.au/
View contact
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Keeping in touch with your community
Staying connected with family, friends and your community is important. Some
ways you can do this are:

calling people for a yarn on the phone
talking about the community and checking if they are OK
talking about the virus and how to stop the spread
connecting to family and friends on social media
sharing your tips on social media #KeepOurMobSafe
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Why remote communities are at risk
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people living in remote
communities are at greater risk from COVID-19. This is because:

there are higher rates of other health issues in these communities
it can be harder to access health care
people in the community are very mobile and travel often
people often rely more on outreach services in remote places

People who live in remote communities are a priority of the Australian
Government and the COVID-19 National Emergency Response
Plan. We all need to work together to keep
people safe and stop the spread of the virus.