Six months from when the first case of the novel coronavirus was reported, the world is still struggling through and trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, 7 million people are reported to have been infected, registering over 400,000 casualties to date. Cases in the U.S. have surpassed 2 million. And as the country moves toward reopening all 50 states, medical professionals are concerned that the situation might get worse. Especially for those at the front line, i.e., nurses, doctors, and essential workers, many worry that this surge will most likely cause them to get caught in the crossfire, mentally and physically.
That’s why many medical facilities have deployed safety and hygiene protocols, to minimize the risk, and to allow medical professionals to work as efficiently as they can. Let’s have a look at what the safety protocol entails.
Staying Clean in a Medical Facility
Disinfecting Public Areas
The irony of an infectious outbreak in a hospital is that it turns what should be a refuge for those in need of a potential hot zone- and this is what all medical facilities want to avoid at present. Having to deal with an invisible, silent culprit is difficult, but there are some ways facilities are utilizing all their resources to maintain and operate their work.
For example, any areas which are to be used by the public, like waiting rooms, lobbies, corridors, and public restrooms, have been thoroughly disinfected. Sanitize 360 has worked with multiple medical facilities in New Jersey and New York and has disinfected various public areas as well as private rooms to ensure that no germs or bacteria can be transmitted in or out.
With the COVID-19 virus, the greatest challenge is making sure that the virus does not transmit via aerosolized respiratory droplets. So, for isolation wards, disinfecting the area is crucial. But public restrooms have come under fire as well, especially those near the public area.
Researchers found the virus in stool samples as well as toilet bowls, meaning that even an asymptomatic patient or someone unaware that they’re carrying the virus may end up spreading the virus by merely using the bathroom.
Overall Hygiene Practices
In addition to disinfecting all potentially vulnerable areas, hospitals and medical facilities have also increased frequent cleanings. Using an EPA-approved and hospital-approved disinfectant, medical facilities have increased cleaning rounds to eliminate pathogens from getting transmitted.
Housekeeping has also been instructed to clean patients’ rooms twice each day, separating their cleaning responsibilities so they can disinfect and sanitize the room later. Besides, medical facilities are following more considerable measures in emergency rooms as well to separate all patients, in case someone does come in with the COVID-19 strain.
Keeping Yourself Safe
Alongside following all CDC guidelines on personal hygiene and safety, medical professionals are doing all they can to keep themselves separate from their family members and members of the public, practices that have helped them much in curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
However, as time goes on, many worry that this won’t be enough.
One can only hope that by taking all steps, people will be able to prevent the virus from spreading. But for now, medical facilities in hot zones like New Jersey and New York are working with disinfecting companies like Sanitize 360 to not only keep conditions sanitary but to educate people on the importance of following safety and hygiene guidelines for the sake of their health.