With the rapid spread of the covid19 coronavirus throughout the U.S. and social distancing in effect, the role of security guards has taken on new meanings and responsibilities. The coronavirus is also forcing the temporary closing of a range of businesses, changing of hours open, requesting workers to work from home, curtailing of all manner of travel, and other measures.
Security guards may be among those laid off as a result of large sporting events or all large-gathering type events being canceled for the duration of the outbreak. Yet, large establishments still need top level security teams in place to keep their property secure from those taking advantage of shutdown times. So, it’s prudent to talk to companies like WWPro to see if your security needs during the coronavirus outbreak are where they need to be. This can apply to hospitals, industrial or warehouse storage facilities, campuses, business complexes.
As security officers, we’re looked at as the frontline of defense in proscribed environments like malls. In the case of the covid19 outbreak, the frontline is really emergency responders, nurses, doctors and other medical personnel. However, security guards on duty are expected to be thoughtful in helping people act responsibly and wisely while in the environment the officers are guarding. This would include advising people who are coughing or otherwise sickly to return to their homes and not expose other people, or that they should be going to a doctor to see if they should be tested for coronavirus. Large congregations of people over 30 in number should be broken up.
Security officers should be wearing gloves for their own protection, as they will be touching many surfaces on their duties, avoiding face touching, and perhaps wearing an n-95 mask.
There are already reports of a security officer in Manhattan testing positive for coronavirus. Our WWPro policy is to have our security officers stay at home when sick with any cold or flu, and, of course, if any symptoms of coronavirus are presenting. Our guards report to us daily as to health conditions and we reach out to our teams to monitor health status for both their personal well being and for our on-duty performance.