CORONAVIRUS COVID-19

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Hydrite Chemical Co. continues to closely monitor developments with respect to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). With this situation continuously evolving, our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, and stakeholders. Throughout our planning and preparedness activities, our actions are aligned with and informed by guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As details of the COVID-19 outbreak continue to break we would like to communicate what we know and how we are working to minimize the effects internally at Hydrite as well as externally to our customers and suppliers.

Preparedness Statement and Contingency Statement

Products and Services

At Hydrite, we offer a full range of products for cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection applications used in a variety of industries. See our list of products including many that are on the EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 for use in your facility. We also provide other disinfectants that have shown effectiveness against viruses similar to the SARS-CoV-2 that is causing COVID-19. We have a team of knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated professionals to helping our customers select the right products and services, and offer guidance and training on proper cleaning procedures.

Resources

There are many specific resources addressing our questions and concerns regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 disease. These sites are updated frequently. Find them here.

Presentation

Learn the background on COVID-19 as well as the difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant. This presentation will provide you with an understanding of the EPA List N and how to find disinfectants approved for use by EPA to be used against SARS-CoV-19. You will learn about sanitation efforts in common areas and high-touch surfaces and guidance for cleaning and disinfecting workplaces. Download a copy of the presentation.

Questions and Answers

Q: Is the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) considered a food borne illness?

A: As of right now the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is not considered a food borne illness but is transmitted through direct contact with infected humans. While it is not a food borne illness, we at Hydrite, are committed to working with our customers and suppliers to limit potential exposure, ensure continuity of supply as much as possible, and assist with programs that help to reduce potential contamination.

Q: Does Hydrite have products for use against coronavirus?

A: Yes; Hydrite offers products that are on the EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 for use in your facility. We also provide other disinfectants that have shown effectiveness against viruses similar to the SARS-CoV-2 that is causing COVID-19. Explore some of our quality products

Q: How do I find a list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19?

A: The most current and updated version of the “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2” can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/about-list-n-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19-0.

Q: Can Hydrite help in selecting the appropriate products for my application?

A: Yes; we have a team of knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated professionals helping our customers select the right products and services. We offer guidance and training on proper cleaning procedures to help reduce COVID-19 risk.

Q: How do I contact a Hydrite representive?

A: Feel free to submit an online request, call toll free 855-365-7500, or email info@hydrite.com.

Q: What are the conditions and security of your supply chain?

A: The vast majority of our raw materials are sourced domestically. We are not experiencing any supply chain delays due to the virus. We have gone through great efforts to expand our supply chain to ensure contingencies are in place for events such as this.

While the situation is fluid and ever-changing , we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure security of supply to our customer base and will update on a regular basis any changes to this. We have also taken additional steps to ensure that we have increased inventory of sanitizers and disinfectants for our customers as they also continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines for this pandemic.

Q: What steps can we take to reduce potential contamination?

A: The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of disease.

Visitor Restrictions

Limiting access to facilities to only essential personnel that are not experiencing any flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, or chest pain.

Traffic Patterns

Attention to cleaning and intervention techniques at shared walkways in which people travel to get to their jobs.

Increased Attention to Cleaning and Sanitizing of Common Areas

Ensure common areas are cleaned and sanitized on a consistent basis.

Environmental Cleaning

Focus attention on keeping and maintaining a clean and sanitary processing environment and following proper Good Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR 117)

Hand and Personal Hygiene

Frequently washing of hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use of an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with those that are sick.

Q: What is Hydrite doing to help prevent potential contamination?

A: Hydrite has outlines several policies for its facilities and personnel are to strictly adhere to the following:

Sick employees should stay home. Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of signs of fever and other symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom alternating medicines.
Employees should continue to practice illness prevention techniques include staying home if sick, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, washing hands frequently, especially before eating and after using the restroom and avoid touching your eyes, face and mouth.
Emphasis is on hand hygiene. Employees should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is also an option.
Routine environmental cleaning is also essential. Increase the frequency of routine cleaning of commonly accessed areas and surfaces. These commonly accessed areas can include the reception area, lunch and break rooms and any area that employees pass through to get to their work areas.
All non-essential travel has been halted until which time the pandemic has been deemed to be controlled. We will be working to ensure that we are meeting our customer obligations to service and prompt response times and balancing that with facilities pandemic response protocol.
Hydrite is also placing a ban on international travel for work within the Food Group as well as monitoring, reviewing and limiting the travel from hotspots as outlined on the CDC website.