Body corporates have changed and reinforced the definition of communities and all expectations of how a living environment is maintained. The establishment of bodies corporate has always had the primary goal of streamlining community living and seeing to it that what is best for the residents within the living community is implemented.
The spread of coronavirus took everyone by surprise, and its management and containment have proven to be a challenging task. While there have been breakthroughs in vaccine development and the study of the virus, its impact is still largely felt worldwide. The rules and guidelines presented to the public from varying authorities were not immediately cohesive, therefore planning out individual courses of action was equally difficult to execute. Now that health and public officials have clear mandates that have been agreed upon, working to protect ourselves and others have become a little easier. In addition to individual abilities, larger bodies are better equipped to set out clearer paths for more effective care and fortification.
As residents of strata communities look to their respective bodies corporate to certify their safety in the places they call home, many bodies corporate have taken up various courses of action.
Common areas are notorious accumulation and incubation hotspots. Surfaces that everyone interacts with like door handles and elevator buttons could facilitate the spread of the virus from person to person. Body corporates have taken on the charge of certifying that these surfaces and areas are regularly cleaned and disinfected to minimise the risk of spread. This is an added responsibility on top of regular requirements to keep the strata community’s common areas in a proper state.
Knowledge is key. Bodies corporate must make sure that residents are aware of what is required of them. Giving clear and concise instructions on how to reduce and even stop the spread of the virus means that residents become aware of what they must do and can better implement these measures. Admonishments like mask requirements in public and the need to observe the highest personal hygiene standards must be presented everywhere and reinforced.
Bodies corporate must enforce the observance of guidelines presented to their respective strata communities. In the case of meetings held to deal with body corporate business, safety guidelines must be followed and maintained. Meeting room surfaces must be cleaned and sanitised without fail. This should also be carried out after every meeting if multiple meetings will be taking place in the area.
The body corporate should also ensure that meeting rooms are well ventilated with enough room to enforce distancing between meeting attendees. If the room does not seem big enough and no alternatives are available, then attendance caps should be enforced. Nonetheless, the most effective method of hosting a meeting in these times is through video conferencing and virtual meetings.
As for cleanliness and hygiene, meeting rooms and common spaces like lobbies should be furnished with hand sanitisers, preferably those that are operated without the need for touch.
The bodies corporate, and their associated strata communities must take an active approach to preventative action against the corona virus’s spread. This is the first, and most often, the most effective weapon available in this fight. It gives the best chance at staving off an outbreak that would have dire consequences for all.
