COVID-19 Policies + FAQs

Our Response During Covid-19

We’re implementing company-wide precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about MECO’s guidelines, strategies and preventative measures in our letter below.

 

 

MECO – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Interim Guidelines

 

We are taking the necessary steps to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and continue to monitor a wide range of issues associated with the spread of COVID-19. MECO’s Management is staying abreast of the situation, communicating daily, and implementing recommendations from the appropriate regulatory agencies as appropriate. We are working with our employees, clients, and suppliers in order to take all necessary precautions to protect our community.

MECO provides a safe place to work and conducts all operations in a manner to protect all affected individuals. To date, we have no reported cases of COVID-19. MECO has restricted access and travel for all visitors and employees to only that which is deemed critical for ongoing operations. MECO’s supply chain remains operational at this point, although this is subject to change.

MECO’s Strategies:

MECO’s guidance is based on what is currently known about the COVID-19 disease. This information and guidance are being obtained by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health (DOH), and World Health Organization (WHO). As this issue progresses or recedes, we will update this guidance. This guidance is being implemented by MECO on a company-wide basis and our expectation is that our corporate partners will implement measures at least as protective as those outlined in this interim guidance. Please follow all direction given by the CDC, DOH, WHO and respective Local, State, and Federal Agencies.

The Principal Elements of MECO’s Strategy Include:

  • Personal Hygiene
  • Facility Cleanliness & Sanitization
  • Social Distancing & Isolation
  • Support & Transparency

Promoting Preventative Hygiene Measures for All Employees:

  • Proper respiratory etiquette – cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; Use the nearest waste receptacle to dispose of the tissue after use.
  • Hand hygiene – employees have been instructed to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and/or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water shall be used if hands are visibly dirty.

Facility Cleanliness and Sanitization:

  • All facilities shall routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, counter-tops, and doorknobs. Use the appropriate cleaning agents and follow the directions on the labels.
  • All common break areas, lunch and break rooms will be cleaned multiple times throughout the workday.
  • All common use tools and equipment are wiped down before and after use.

Social Distancing and Isolation:

  • Administrative and Engineering personnel are principally working from home.
  • MECO employees shall maintain 6 feet of space between themselves and fellow coworkers to reduce the risk of spread.
  • Factory personnel are spread among multiple shifts and shop locations.
  • Machine shop, fabrication and assembly personnel are to work individually on machines and equipment with certain exceptions where physical safety or job requirements prevent us from doing so.

Support & Transparency:

  • MECO has established policy guidelines for COVID-19 Contact and Attendance that are supportive of individuals impacted by COVID-19 either directly or indirectly.
  • MECO is committed to transparency for all of our employees.  As such, A Workplace Notice of Exposure will be distributed as applicable in the event of exposure to a communicable disease.
  • Contact tracing will be employed to the extent practical through completion of Form 271

COVID-19 Symptoms May Appear 2-14 Days After Exposure:

  • Fever (100.4° or higher)
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath

Employees are to call their doctor or seek medical help if they experience these symptoms.

Immediate Notice is Required If Any Individual in Any MECO Facility:

  • Tested positive for COVID-19
  • Has come into close contact with someone known to have tested positive for COVID-19.  Close contact is defined within the MECO Guidelines Regarding COVID-19 Contact and Attendance. These guidelines are consistent with those published by the CDC.
  • Completed a trip to a CDC-categorized Coronavirus “Widespread Ongoing Transmission” location
  • If individuals meet any of the three categories above, MECO will then follow the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), local state and federal health agencies’ recommendations.
  • Sick individuals are not to report to work and report their absence to Human Resources and their supervisor.
  • Individuals who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are required to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or higher, signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 72 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants).
  • A doctor’s note will be required for any individual to return to the work if he/she has been out sick with acute respiratory illness.

We will continue to update our website regularly as the situation changes. Our employees’, communities’, and customers’ health and safety remain our top priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

All FAQ answers are sourced from the World Health Organization’s website.

 

 

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

How does COVID-19 spread?

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.   View more about how it spreads here.

What can I do to protect myself?

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:

  • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
    Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
  • Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
    Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
    Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
  • Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
    Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
  • Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
    Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
  • Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places  – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
    Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.

Who is at high risk?

While we are still learning about how COVID-2019 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes)  appear to develop serious illness more often than others. 

How long is the incubation period?

The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data become available.

How long does the virus survive on surfaces?

It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).

If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Is it safe to receive a package where COVID-19 is reported?

Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For more FAQs and detailed information about COVID-19 please visit the World Health Organization’s website.

Learn More