We’re answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours to COVID@cbc.ca, and we’ll answer as many as we can. We’ll publish a selection of answers every weekday online, and also put some questions to the experts during The National and on CBC News Network.
We’re breaking down what you need to know about the pandemic by answering your questions. You can send us your questions via email at COVID@cbc.ca, and we’ll answer as many as we can. We’ll publish a selection of answers every weekday on our website, and we’re also putting some of your questions to the experts on the air during The National and on News Network. So far we’ve received more than 40,000 emails from all corners of the country.
Is it safe for cleaners to come into my home?
With many provinces entering reopening phases, Canadians like Jeremy S. are wondering if they can invite their cleaning service back into their homes.
If you live in Ontario, for example, the province entered its first phase of reopening this week, allowing domestic workers such as housekeepers, nannies and cooks to resume work — even though Ontarians are technically still required to limit contact to those inside their own households.
So while cleaning people may be allowed in your home, there are some precautions that clients and cleaning staff can take to make sure everyone stays safe, including maintaining physical distance.
“If you can avoid sharing airspace while someone is in your house, and everyone avoids going out when they’re ill, it should be reasonable,” said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alberta.
“Especially if you can be out of the house when [they] come in and you don’t spend time in the same area, it seems reasonable to me to have that happen.”
Jeff Pedlow, a workplace safety consultant in Ontario, agrees and says if leaving the house is not an option, a client could self-isolate i