CMAAO
CORONA FACTS and MYTH BUSTER 53
Dr K K Aggarwal
President Confederation of Medical
Associations of Asia and Oceania, HCFI and Past National President IMA
559: Should clinic be closed if a COVID positive
patient comes
CMAAO
Advisory: If you are taking all standard precautions, continue the clinic.
If you are
not sure about the 100% safety standard precautions: fumigate the clinic for 24
hours with standard gas fumigation process
Continue next
day with full standard precautions
560: Can a COVID positive asymptomatic healthcare worker work in COVID
positive non critical ward (549)
CMAAO: Yes, the new US CDC guidelines state that essential
workers who may have been exposed to the virus may continue to work
provided they are asymptomatic, wear a N 95 mask at all times for 14 days after
their last exposure and have their temperature taken before entering the
workplace.
561: Can a COVID positive asymptomatic healthcare worker work
CMAAO: Yes, provide they
wear N 95 mask all the time, follow social distancing, remaining 6 feet from
co-workers and potential new patients. If they show symptoms, they should be
sent home immediately and all surfaces at the workplace should be cleaned and
disinfected.
562: What are the current CDC guidelines
for healthcare workers to return to work
|
Hospital
|
Covid Positive Cases
|
|
Wockhardt
|
52
|
|
Bhatia
|
25
|
|
Noor
|
1
|
|
Sabu Siddiqui
|
1
|
|
Nair
|
1
|
|
Saifi
|
1
|
|
Seven Hills
|
2
|
|
Sion
|
1
|
100
healthcare workers positive in Mumbai alone. They can not be left alone and not
included in the healthcare working.
Current US CDC policy
Return to work for healthcare personnel (HCP) with confirmed COVID-19, or
who have suspected COVID-19 (developed symptoms of a respiratory infection [cough,
sore throat, shortness of breath, fever] but did not get tested for COVID-19).
Test-based strategy. Exclude from work until
Resolution of fever without the use of
fever-reducing medications and
Improvement in respiratory symptoms (cough,
shortness of breath), and
Negative results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized
molecular assay for COVID-19 from at least two consecutive nasopharyngeal swab
specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens). See Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing
Clinical Specimens for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Non-test-based
strategy. Exclude from work until
At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since
recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of
fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory
symptoms (cough, shortness of breath); and At least 7 days have
passed since symptoms first appeared
If HCP were never tested for COVID-19 but have an alternate diagnosis
(e.g., tested positive for influenza), criteria for return to work should be
based on that diagnosis.
Return to Work Practices and Work Restrictions
After returning to work, HCP should:
Wear a facemask at all times while in the
healthcare facility until all symptoms are completely resolved or until 14 days
after illness onset, whichever is longer
Be restricted from contact with severely
immunocompromised patients (transplant, hematology-oncology) until 14 days
after illness onset
Adhere to hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, and
cough etiquette in CDC’s interim infection control guidance (e.g.,
cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, dispose of tissues in waste
receptacles)
Self-monitor for symptoms, and seek re-evaluation
from occupational health if respiratory symptoms recur or worsen
Crisis Strategies to Mitigate Staffing Shortages
Healthcare systems, healthcare facilities, and the appropriate state,
local, In such scenarios:
1. HCP should be
evaluated by occupational health to determine appropriateness of earlier return
to work than recommended above
2. If HCP return to
work earlier than recommended above, they should still adhere to
the Return to Work Practices and Work Restrictions recommendations above.
563: Should healthcare establishments be
the first to open
CMAAO: yes. For them every patient
entering the hospital for the next six months is COVID positive unless proved
otherwise and every surface touched is virus positive and standard precautions
taken.
564: What are these standard precautions
1.
Tele-appointments
2.
Teleconsultations
3.
Visitors
restriction
4.
Physical
distancing 3-6 feet
5.
Wearing masks
6.
Wearing gloves
and shoe covers
7.
Wearing PPE as
per the risk
8.
Hand hygiene
9.
Respiratory
hygiene and cough etiquettes
10. Surface disinfection
11. Overnight fumigation
12. Biomedical waste disposal
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