Final answer:
The food handler should stay home if they have persistent sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose with discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth. This helps prevent the spread of contagious illnesses to others in the workplace.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is D) They should stay home. If a food handler has persistent sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose with discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth, it could be a sign of an infectious disease. To prevent the spread of contagious illnesses, it is important for the food handler to stay home and avoid coming to work. This helps protect both the food handler and the customers from potential infection.
As mentioned by the microbiologist reference, microbes can easily spread from person to person through touch. If someone sneezes into their hand and touches surfaces like doorknobs, the microbes can persist on those surfaces. If the food handler with symptoms touches surfaces in the workplace, it increases the risk of transmission to others.
To prevent the spread of diseases, it is important to follow proper hygiene practices such as washing hands frequently, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and avoiding close contact with others when sick.