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Archives: Guidelines

Dental Safety

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Going to the dentist is one of the high risk things to do during a pandemic unless adequate precautions are being taken. While dentists engage in high risk activities for their patients and staff, and while we know that airborne transmission is prevalent during this pandemic, many dentists are still using droplet precautions—with a focus on deep cleaning, 6 ft distance, and surgical masks—instead of implementing airborne transmission precautions—with focus on cleaning air by HEPA filters and using high quality masks.

Travel

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Flying in a pandemic is high-risk, avoid it unless necessary. The risk lies in the sharing space, bathrooms, the many transitions along the way, and unpredictability due to last minute changes.

This guideline is for those who HAVE TO fly and aims to minimize the risk of being infected during the flight. The goal is to help identify the transmission risks of in-flight air travel, to provide recommendations about the risks of flying during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to propose strategies that mitigate the transmission.

Everyday Life

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In many parts of the world COVID-19 is causing severe disease, death and long term disability. Individuals can protect themselves by taking precautions against exposure to those who are infected and may be asymptomatic at the time they are infectious. Prevention requires care in daily activities. While some public narratives dismiss precautions suggesting the risks are low, even in areas where transmission is not widespread there continue to be many preventable cases and deaths.

Guidelines for Health Care Settings

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SECTION A: Introduction Health care settings are among the highest risk locations for transmission of infectious disease. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, infection control in health care settings has been a challenge. The high contact nature of medical care, the large number of and types of roles of individuals who are present and travel from … Continued

High Risk Institutions

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Introduction Long-term care institutions, nursing homes, care homes, assisted living and retirement homes are high-risk institutions for disease transmission because residents are vulnerable due to their health status and their close proximity to one another. COVID-19 is a rapidly transmitting disease requiring hospitalization in about 6% of cases and resulting in death in 2-10% of … Continued

Sick with COVID? What To Do

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You’re not alone. Most people recover from their initial infection. These recommendations will give you the best chance to recover and prevent others from being infected. Testing Isolate Inform Get Help Monitor Test to Exit Be Attentive Note: Where it is possible to keep windows open, consider maximizing outside air intake into green zone and … Continued

Testing

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COVID TESTS: Kinds, Accuracy, Application, Interpretation General guidelines All available Covid tests have significant false negative rates. False negatives arise because the sample doesn’t have virus in it even though it is in your body. This means that a negative test result doesn’t guarantee you are not infected. If you have symptoms of Covid or … Continued

Respiratory Health for Better Outcomes

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What can an individual do to reduce their risk of a severe case of COVID-19? In the absence of a cure, improving the health of an individual, especially pulmonary health, is important. Hydration, balanced nutrition, appropriate exercise and regular rest and sleep may help. Once an individual is infected, fresh air and cleaning the environment are recommended.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

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COVID-19 is mainly transmitted via aerosols which are exhaled by infected people, and can float and linger in the air for hours. Cleaning indoor air with proper Ventilation and filtration to remove airborne particles and wearing well-fitted, high-quality Masks is essential to prevent transmission through this mechanism[1]. There is also evidence of transmission through contact of particles with the eyes, and eye protection is recommended.

Guidelines for Schools

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School guidelines must explicitly recognize that Covid-19 is an AIRBORNE virus and communicate proper precautions to the different stakeholders (including teachers, staff, parents and children). It is spread by inhaling AEROSOLS containing viral particles, which are exhaled by others. Keeping hands and high-touch surfaces clean is basic hygiene for all situations, but excessive use of disinfectants may be harmful, and do little to contain the spread of COVID-19 without airborne precautions in place as well.