Pay Special Attention to the Sanitary Conditions of Hotels: Call from the Health Inspectorate

With the significant influx of visitors to hospitality facilities ahead of the New Year, the Health and Labor Inspectorate of Armenia urges operators to strictly adhere to the requirements and norms of sanitary and epidemiological safety legislation to protect the health of staff and visitors. Compliance will help prevent the spread of infections and ensure a smooth vacation experience.

At the same time, citizens are reminded to pay attention to a number of norms related to the proper sanitary and hygienic conditions in hotels. According to Armenian legislation, hospitality facilities must have first aid kits available:

• In non-smoking rooms, the ventilation system must operate continuously;
• Rooms must be cleaned at least once a day;
• Bedding should be changed at least twice a week, or more frequently if necessary;
• Household waste must be collected in polyethylene bags placed in bins with foot pedals;
• Towels in hotel rooms must be changed daily;
• A cleaning brush with a disinfectant solution must be installed next to each toilet.

Swimming pools and baths are among the most likely areas for the spread of various infections. In this regard, the Health Inspectorate advises operators to maintain sanitary and epidemiological norms, particularly concerning the allowable single-use loading of swimming pools:

• The water in the pool must be disinfected;
• The temperature of the water in adult pools should be between 24-26°C, and for children's pools, it should be around 30°C;
• The normative area of water per person in adult pools is 5.0-8.0 m², and for children, it is 4.0-5.0 m²;
• Drainage channels must be installed on the walls of the pool to remove the upper contaminated layer of water;
• Entering the shower and bath areas in clothing and shoes is prohibited, as is entering the pool without taking a shower;
• Clients must be provided with single-use slippers and individual, packaged hygiene items such as soap, sponges, and linens;
• The pool health worker is required to conduct an external examination daily to prevent individuals with symptoms of fungal and other contagious skin diseases from using the pool;
• Preschool and lower school-aged children who attend the pool must be regularly tested for enterobiasis;
• The microclimate of pools and baths should be checked once every four hours.

For any identified issues or concerning questions, it is necessary to contact the hotel management. Operators are reminded that they must ensure compliance with lighting, ventilation, heating, microclimate, noise, asset maintenance, and the sanitary regime requirements for their facilities.

Preventing possible violations of sanitary and epidemiological norms and regulations in hospitality facilities will allow operators to avoid sanctions under the Armenian Code of Administrative Offenses.