CHARLOTTTE N.C. -- Cleaning staff at area hospitals are working hard to ensure patients and medical workers remain safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cleaning crews at Atrium Health are part the Environmental Services Department, which has nearly 900 employees.

Environmental Services Tech K’Dzsa Sibby said she has always been a thorough cleaner. Therefore, the pandemic has not changed the method she uses to clean patients’ rooms.

“I look at any situation as if it was my child,  or a family member, so that’s my main intention when I enter a room,” Sibby said.

Assistant Vice President of Environmental Services and Operations for Atrium Health Esezele Payne is grateful for the service her team is providing.

“I’m extremely proud of the work we see our teammates performing,” Payne said. “They have showed up despite childcare issues, bus route changes. Our team is very dedicated and they feel like they are part of the care team.”

For her team, many of their cleaning practices remain the same, such as continuing to clean with Oxycide Daily Disinfectant Cleaner.

However, crews are cleaning public areas, such as waiting rooms, more often than before.

“We are paying attention to those areas with a great critical eye,” Payne said.

She also said her team continues to provide a clean environment for patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

“Our staff is scared like everybody else. However, they are properly trained and they have the proper equipment to clean where we have COVID-19 cases,” Payne said.

Environmental Services staff are using surgical masks, scrubs, gowns, gloves, and goggles while they perform their job duties. In some situations, they also use N95 masks.

Payne said 19 employees tested positive for COVID-19. However, she added most of the cases have not been severe.

Those employees were on leave while they recovered.

Despite the risk of exposure, Sibby doesn’t have concerns about doing her job.

For her, the most gratifying part of her work is being able to please her patients.

Sibby and Payne are both grateful for the appreciation the community has shown toward their team. They have brought them gift cards and baked goods.