In-Person ServSafe Class Offered in Douglas County

An in-person ServSafe Food Safety Managers Course will be hosted by Cobb & Douglas Public Health at the Douglas County Courthouse (8700 Hospital Drive, Douglasville, GA 30134) on August 25-26, 2020.  Attendees will be able to socially distance while receiving instruction to prepare for the ServSafe Food Safety Managers exam which will be administered at the end of the 2^nd day of class.  If you need to re-certify, retest or take the course for the first time, please see the ServSafe Registration Form for more information.

Feel free to share this information with anyone that may be interested in taking the course.

CDC Releases Updated Return to Work Guidance for COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 Isolation/Quarantine Guidance which covers when to isolate or quarantine and when it is okay to return to work and be around others.  This update is timely because public health is responding to a number of reports of diagnosed workers in all kinds of businesses, including several food service facilities.  As a reminder, the CDC still states that the best protection against coronavirus, at this time, is the proper wearing of face coverings as shown above by one of our local restaurants.

The modified return to work guidance is a result of the analysis of the many cases of COVID-19 that have occurred, and it provides clear direction when deciding when to return to work based on whether you were diagnosed with symptoms or without symptoms.  The site also contains access to short videos (available in English, Spanish, and ASL) that help to explain or emphasize common terms–such as the difference between isolation and quarantine— along with procedures related to COVID-19—such as how to properly wear a mask, when to clean and disinfect high contact surfaces, and specific guidance for restaurants and bars.  

Thanks for staying alert and preventing the spread of COVID-19!

COVID-19 Disinfectants for Contact Surfaces

By Andrea Moore, EHS 2

As food service establishments are reopening their dining areas to patrons, there have been questions as to what kind of disinfectants can be used for tables, countertops, and other commonly touched areas in a restaurant. Many restaurant owners and managers have expressed concerns about mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 by ensuring the cleaning products that are used in their facility to clean and disinfect common contact surfaces are effective against the virus.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the List N:  Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19 that includes EPA registered surface disinfectants including wipes for contact surfaces only. Disinfectants kill germs on surfaces which can further lower the risk of spreading infections. The EPA expects products on this list to kill the virus because they demonstrate effectiveness against a harder to kill virus or another similar human coronavirus.   Hand sanitizers, antiseptic washes and antibacterial soaps are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, won’t be listed on the EPA list. However, if EPA-approved List N disinfectants are not accessible, unscented bleach can be used as an alternative disinfectant. Please keep in mind that you want to always read and follow the directions on the label to ensure safe and effective use.  If wiping food contact surfaces, such as dining room tables, be sure to follow label instructions for use on food contact surfaces. 

The following are instructions for using bleach as an alternative disinfectant:

• 1/3 cup of unscented bleach added to 1 gallon of water. Do not mix bleach with other cleaning and disinfecting products because this can cause fumes that are very dangerous to breathe in.

Additionally, the links below have been provided for EPA- approved disinfectants and tips for using disinfectants safely and effectively:

EPA-approved disinfectants

Six Steps for Safe & Effective Disinfectant Use (PDF)

As we continue the fight against COVID-19, enhancing sanitation by disinfecting common surfaces regularly will help to prevent the spread of the virus. For example: Disinfect tables between diners, clean and sanitize table condiments, digital ordering devices, check presenters, self-service areas, tabletops and commonly touched areas, and discard single-use items.

We appreciate your cooperation and diligence to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patrons during these uncertain times. We will get through this! Thank you for all that you do !

You can find additional resources anytime on the CDPH website or foodsafety.gov. As always, don’t hesitate to contact your inspector with any questions or concerns.

FREE COVID-19 testing is available – registration is required www.cdphcovid19testing.org