State outlines cleaning guidelines for Pa.'s life-sustaining businesses open during coronavirus

The state is operating under a set of strict guidelines these days. Non life-sustaining businesses have been closed for weeks, and now those essential businesses allowed to stay open are being given strict guidelines for maintaining and cleaning their buildings.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order Sunday noting that "cleaning, disinfecting, and other maintenance and security services performed by building service employees are critical to protecting the public health by reducing COVID-19 infections in the commonwealth."

"Based upon the manner of COVID-19′s spread in the commonwealth and in the world, and its danger to Pennsylvanians, I have determined that the appropriate disease control measure is the direction of building safety measures as outlined in this order to prevent and control the spread of disease," Levine said.

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The measures outlined in the order are for owners of buildings of at least 50,000 square feet used for commercial, industrial or other enterprises, like warehousing, manufacturing, commercial offices, airports, grocery stores, universities, colleges, government, hotels, and residential buildings with at least 50 units.

The new cleaning protocols include:

• Clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines, in spaces that are accessible to customers, tenants, or other individuals.
• Maintain pre-existing cleaning protocols established in the facility for all other areas of the building.
• Ensure the facility has a sufficient number of employees to perform the cleaning protocols effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of occupants and employees.
• Ensure the facility has a sufficient number of security employees to control access, maintain order, and enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet, provided the security employees are otherwise responsible for such enforcement.

The order goes into effect at Monday