Agar Update 31.03.2020 | 5-min read

During this COVID-19 crisis, Agar has made an active effort to continue the regular supply of goods to our clients to reduce the negative impact we all face, but as the situation progresses with panic buying, extraordinary demand, and low stocks, we have had to adapt.

Unfortunately in these unpredictable times, the fall of the Australian dollar coupled with the rising scarcity of the raw materials needed to produce our cleaning products has caused production delays, increased expenses, and various limitations.

We have increased our production and will continue to ensure we play our part in helping Australia work through this by prioritising supply to essential services on the frontlines of the pandemic like our Victorian hospitals and other healthcare facilities. We are working as best we can to ensure we clear our remaining backlog of orders as quickly as possible to get you the products you need.

We are very grateful to our loyal clients for their understanding and support during these challenging times. We wish all Australians, and the rest of the world, safety and good health.

Stay safe, be informed.

“Together we can will get through this.”

– Agar Team

What is the coronavirus (COVID-19)?

COVID-19 is the latest discovery in the coronavirus family. Coronaviruses are part of a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

COVID-19 was discovered after an outbreak began in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.

How does it spread?

On February 7 2020, Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal to humans through illegally trafficked pangolins, sought after in Asia as food and medicine. Scientists have pointed to either bats or snakes as the possible source.

COVID-19 is contagious and can be caught by others who have the virus. The disease can spread by breathing in the contaminated small droplets expelled through coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface where they have landed and then rubbing your face – your nose, eyes, or mouth. This emphasises the importance of washing your hands regularly with soap (for 20 seconds minimum!) and keeping a distance from others to avoid inhalation of contaminated droplets.

How can I stop the spread?

Precautionary & Prevention Measures:

• • Regularly wash your hands with soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds
    or, if you can’t:
  • Regularly disinfect your hands with an alcohol-based sanitiser such as Agar’s Cool Tide or AS-60 – look for at least 60% ethanol
  • Clean and disinfect highly used surfaces – keyboard, mouse, light switches, telephones, mobiles, steering wheels, etc.
  • Maintain at least 1.5-metre distance between yourself and others
  • Do not shake hands, hug, or kiss as greetings
  • Practice social distancing – avoid crowds and gatherings of people when possible (follow government directives)
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
  • Sneeze and cough in a tissue or the bend of your elbow to minimise the spread
  • Stay how if you feel unwell. If you have any of the symptoms outlined below, then seek medical attention – call in advance
  • Limit travel as much as you can except to places deemed essential – supermarkets, work, emergency facilities
  • Limit contact with elderly persons or persons with underlying health issues
  • Keep up to date with Health Alerts from the AUS Government HERE
  • Don’t share drink bottles, crockery and cutlery
  • Get a flu shot as soon as possible (could help reduce the risk of further problems)

What symptoms should I look out for?

• • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath

If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.

What is the difference between COVID-19 and the flu?

The first symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza (flu) infections are often very similar. They both cause fever and similar respiratory symptoms, which can then range from mild through to severe disease, and sometimes can be fatal.

Both viruses are also transmitted in the same way, by coughing or sneezing, or by contact with hands, surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus. As a result, the same public health measures, such as hand hygiene (handwashing), good respiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow or a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue) and good household cleaning are important actions to prevent both infections.

The speed of transmission is an important difference between the two viruses. Influenza typically has a shorter incubation period (the time from infection to appearance of symptoms) than COVID-19. This means that influenza can spread faster than COVID-19.

While the range of symptoms for the two viruses is similar, the fraction with severe disease appears to be higher for COVID-19. While most people have mild symptoms, approximately 15% of people have severe infections and 5% require intensive care in a hospital ICU. The proportions of severe and critical COVID-19 infections are higher than for influenza infections.

Agar’s Commitment

To Staff:

Hand sanitisers and facemasks are readily available. Meetings have been limited. Physical cash transactions discontinued. Distancing 1.5m between staff members. Opportunities to work remotely where possible. No face-to-face transactions with customers.

To Public:

Regular updates regarding stock availability and demand. Situation updates in conjunction with legislative lockdown adjustments. Priority service to Healthcare and Hospitals at the forefront of the pandemic. Continuing to supply and develop virus combative products.

To our Clients:

We are working to our maximum capacity to clear the backlog of orders we have received and will keep you informed throughout this process. We want to thank all our clients for their patience and understanding and apologise for the inconvenience.

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For sales, please contact sales@agar.com.au.

Important links:

• AUS GOV HEALTH UPDATES
• VIC GOV HEALTH UPDATES
• NSW GOV HEALTH UPDATES
• QLD GOV HEALTH UPDATES
• SA GOV HEALTH UPDATES
• THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION (TGA)
• WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
• CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Check your symptoms:

Health Direct

*Note all above information/sources are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Please reference the above information at your own discretion.