AS you sleep, a team of four women are dedicating themselves to keeping Albury and Wodonga hospitals clean in the age of coronavirus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The quartet are on-call at night to ensure rooms at the public hospitals are rapidly disinfected.
Wodonga company Border Cleaning has been engaged by Albury Wodonga Health to provide the extra level of cleaning.
Business owner Paul Henry said those undertaking tidying were the type of cleaners who "go the extra mile".
"We've been very selective in terms of who we put there," Mr Henry said.
"There's no-way I would make anyone do it, it was just 'there's an opportunity here' and put to them.
"I think they're relishing the opportunity to help, more than anything else.
"I think they feel kind of special and privileged to help out.
"They're basically isolated from everyone else and taking precautions."
Mr Henry admitted the women may be missing out on income because their hours could be shorter through not working every day, but he said he would reimburse them for losses over the period.
The arrangement sees the cleaners head straight from their homes to the hospitals where equipment and safety attire is stored for work stints that can range from three to five hours.
"They get kitted out, they won't go into a room until it's been empty for a particular time, and then go in with hospital-grade disinfectant and wipe things down," Mr Henry said.
A flat head broom, with detachable pads on it, is used to purify surfaces.
Mr Henry expects the cleaners will be switched out if the coronavirus need remains and he plans to be one of those who will go on-call.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Albury Wodonga Health pandemic chief Sally Squire said Border Cleaning was complementing the service's in-house cleaners.
"With the increased availability of highly skilled AWH cleaning staff and now, partnered with Border Cleaning, we ensure that our health service always has patient beds, rooms and bathrooms ready for any patient," Mrs Squire said.
"Border Cleaning is supporting increased frequency of cleaning 'touch points' in common areas such as light switches, horizontal surfaces and door handles.
"Border Cleaning is also supporting increased frequency of cleaning of public areas and main entrances."