Coronavirus Precautions for Residential Apartment Buildings

Coronavirus COVID-19:
Precautions for Residential Apartment Buildings, Developments and Resorts in Cyprus.

The following is suggested precautions for any shared property in Cyprus. This includes Apartment Buildings, Resorts, Complexes, Developments and any other property with shared facilities.


This article includes information on this outbreak along with specific suggested actions you can take to reduce the risk of transmission in communal areas of a property.


If you are an owner or resident in a property with communal shared areas (such as lifts, corridors, car parks etc), please forward this document to your management committee and other unit owners.


This general information is based on World Health Organisation suggested best practices; however, things are developing extremely rapidly, and government advice is frequently changing.


It’s essential to keep checking government advice and in the event, there is a contradiction between the below and government advice, follow the official government directives.

How is the Coronavirus spread?

Person-to-person contact is thought to be the main method of transmission for the Coronavirus.


When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales they release droplets of infected fluid. Most of these droplets fall on nearby surfaces and objects. 


If they are standing within one meter of a person with COVID-19 they can catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by them.

Can you get Coronavirus from infected surfaces?

​​The coronavirus can spread through frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, corridor light switches etc.


People could catch COVID-19 by touching these contaminated surfaces or objects – and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.


There is no definitive information on how long the novel coronavirus can survive on surfaces, but if the virus is like similar viruses, the survival time could range from several hours to several days.


The type of surface, the temperature of the area, and the humidity in the environment may play a role in how long the virus can survive on a surface.


As we do not know for sure, it's important to act if you think a surface may be contaminated. If you think a surface may be contaminated, clean it thoroughly with a disinfectant. A diluted bleach solution or approved disinfectant is likely the most effective.

IMPORTANT Specific Advice to Apartment Building/Resort and management committees of communal property.

General Staff/Contractor Precautions.

​​​​Any workers on site should follow good hygiene measures including regular hand washing with soap or alcohol handwash.

It's important to ensure all workers have access to a clean bathroom to wash hands regularly wherever possible

No more than 5 individuals should be working in one area and not to exceed 1 person per 8 square meters of area.

All personnel should work separately and maintain a distance of 2 meters from any other member of staff.

There should be no close contact between workers and residents.

Any worker who has symptoms, or been in contact with someone with the corona virus should not be permitted to work.

Specific Communal Cleaning Precautions.

If you employ staff directly then you can request to make the following changes.

If you use the services of a communal management specialist, you should consult with them regarding their measures and request changes if needed.

  • Instruct cleaning staff to focus primarily on disinfecting any frequently touched surfaces
    • Lift buttons
    • Communal Door Handles and Pushes
    • Light Switches
    • Handrails
  • If possible increase the frequency of cleaning
  • Ensure the proper disinfectants are used such as a chlorine-based product, or other approved disinfectant.

    • Other Communal Services

    Close and secure (where possible) non-essential communal facilities such as the swimming pool, gyms and other common use/multi-function rooms.

    As it currently stands there is no need to suspend other communal services such as communal gardening, pool maintenance, general maintenance etc.

    These services are considered of high importance to keep properties clean and safe, however, government guidance may change.

    Communal Swimming Pools

    Research regarding the transmission of the Coronavirus through swimming pool water is ongoing, however, it is believed based on similar viruses that transmission through properly sanitized pool water is unlikely.


    However, there is a risk of transmission through other bathers and potentially contaminated connected areas such as pool decks, changing facilities, pool furniture etc.


    In general, non-essential facilities such as a Communal Swimming Pool’s should be closed as part of the isolation measured announced by the Cyprus government.
    Where possible these areas should be secured to avoid any unauthorised use.


    Even after closing the facilities, it’s important to ensure the pool water is continually treated with normal sanitiser levels maintaining a disinfectant residual of 1ppm free chlorine and all circulation equipment is in normal working operation. 


    Please note also that the minimum recommended free chlorine residual depends on the type of pool or chlorination chemical used – for example, spa pools (‘jacuzzis’) need a higher residual.

    Summary

    In general its important to recognise the serious situation, and take all REASONABLE measures to reduce the risk of transmission within the communal areas.


    This is an unprecedented situation in modern times, however it will pass.

    Common sense should be used when making any decisions, and it’s important to make calm calculated & rational actions in line with the developing situation. 

    --------

    Russell Flick
    Communal Property Specialist
    Founder of the Cyprus Communal Guide & Author of the Ultimate Committee Handbook

    Sources:
    https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=359a81e7_6
    https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf
    https://www.who.int/publications-detail/responding-to-community-spread-of-covid-19
    https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/rapid-risk-assessment-novel-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic-increased
    https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html

    There are three common ways a committee will calculate each unit’s Communal Fees: But only one way is the legally accepted way.

    ​Looking for ​more?

    ​If you are a member of your management committee, (or are looking to set one up) you will know that while the communal property regulations are comprehensive, they are sometimes a little difficult to understand and even once understood its not always easy to apply these generic regulations to your individual building with its specific challenges.  

    To help with this problem​ my most recent book the Ultimate Committee handbook ​gives you detailed and step by step instructions on every aspect of being on your committee and running your building.  It explains the communal property ​law in simple terms including real world examples and instructions ​on how to best apply these regulations.

    To get more information on this book, and view a book preview you can click the below link.

    Unlock the true potential of your apartment building or resort with The Ultimate Committee Handbook.

    Russell Flick

    The Cyprus Communal Guide
    Helping you unlock your buildings true potential.

    Russell Flick

    Experienced Property Professional, Public Speaker & Author of 'The Ultimate Committee Handbook'. In addition to his published books, Russell is a public speaker, columnist and founder of www.CyprusCommunalGuide.com, the online information portal for property owners to get support and advice on all aspects of communal property ownership and management.