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How Sneeze Guards Can COVID-Proof Your Business

This spring, our world changed almost overnight due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of how easily and quickly this illness spread, much of the nation, including North Carolina closed down, and daily activities like going to work, taking the kids to the playground, or going shopping all ground to a halt. In just a few months, 100,000 people lost their battle with this illness, but as the spread has slowed, we’re trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy. 

However, the risk is still there for contracting COVID-19 and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, and people who work in customer-facing jobs, like cashiers, receptionists, and pharmacy technicians, are still susceptible to not only getting sick, but to spreading it. Fortunately, there are simple ways to protect our frontline workers, and our glass installation company in Raleigh is breaking down how sneeze guards can COVID-proof your business.  

How COVID-19 Spreads

COVID-19 primarily spreads through person-to-person contact via respiratory droplets. This could be a cough, sneeze, or even a laugh as these droplets are often microscopic yet still contain the virus. The virus, once airborne, can travel up to six feet from an infected person, which is why the CDC recommended the “six feet apart” guideline.

COVID-19 can also live on surfaces, so if someone who has it touches a surface, like a door handle or ink pen, someone else who touches that surface may then become infected. It’s important to note that transmission is less likely through this method and that the majority of cases are through direct contact with someone who is carrying the virus, whether or not they are symptomatic. 

COVID-19 Incubation

While people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and/or digestive problems, are generally self-isolating, often, these symptoms do not appear for up to 14 days after exposure. This means that someone is contagious and not know it for up to two weeks before they show symptoms, and in some cases, people may not show symptoms at all, or they are so mild they go unnoticed. 

Creating Barriers Through Sneeze Guards to Block COVID-19 Transmission

While maintaining a social distance of six feet can help slow or stop the spread, it’s not always possible to keep that space. For example,  at grocery stores checkouts, salon stations, and library computer areas, people often sit or work in close quarters. 

Fortunately, it’s possible to reduce risk and minimize transmission by creating barriers in which people can still communicate and interact without spreading illness. Glass partitions and glass sneeze guards are highly effective at creating an impenetrable barrier to respiratory droplets – that’s why they are used in buffets and food tables to block contamination. In spaces where it’s not feasible to maintain six feet of distance, these partitions keep people safe because they do not allow germs to pass through while still allowing people to communicate freely. 

Why Choose Glass Partitions?

Businesses and public locations who are re-opening are choosing to install glass partitions because it has several benefits over acrylic, wood, and other materials. 

  • Easy to install – Glass walls and partitions can be hung and installed quickly, making them ideal for creating full, floor-to-ceiling partitions or small windows
  • Easy to clean – Glass is completely non-porous, making it easy to clean and sanitize in between customers, patients, or other people. 
  • Highly durable – Tempered glass used in sneeze guards doesn’t scratch or etch, and are resistant to damage.
  • Customizable – For partitions between work spaces, opaque or tinted glass can be used, while transparent partitions can be installed for client-facing spaces. 

Industries and Locations Relying on Glass Sneeze Guards

You may have already seen that sneeze guards have been installed around customer service areas, but in order to keep people safe in all types of settings, glass partitions, sneeze guards, and “wellness walls” are being installed. This includes:

  • Co-working spaces where people often sit and work at long tables or closely situated desk areas.
  • Reception desks 
  • Cash register areas
  • Library computer areas 
  • Patient waiting rooms – whole “wellness pods” are creating single person waiting areas
  • Locker rooms 

Contact Glass Solutions for Your Custom Sneeze Guard in Raleigh

If you’re a business owner or want to make your public space safer for people to use, we can help. At Glass Solutions, we can work with you to design and install custom glass partitions and sneeze guards to minimize risk and instill confidence in both your employees and customers. While we understand that COVID-19 has made things challenging and stressful, we are dedicated to helping restore normalcy through safety. Call us today at  919-772-1007 or fill out the contact form below.