I was wondering what everyone was doing as far as precautions.
So far, in a state where this is around 100 cases, we have probably seen three patients with a slight possibility of Coronavirus. Otherwise, even though you can't be sure, no one has had symptoms. I always wear an N95 mask when I am with a patient; goggles and gloves when I will be examining them.
Gloves are always questionable. Before and now, I would go through a bottle of hand sanitizer a day. I wash/clean my hands five to ten times per patient. Now the same. With the gloves, while I read you can use sanitizer on the gloves, I don't. So, technically, I am probably more at risk with the gloves. Then, if I remember right away, I remove them, but that just gets my hands on the gloves temporarily. So, I have to wash my hands with soap and water rather quickly. I have always thought of gloves of being a barrier when there could be body fluids like blood or something, not so much viruses.
I only take off my mask in my office. I certainly can't change to a new mask.
My biggest question is my staff. While they are slightly concerned about the virus, they don't seem to worry otherwise. They will put on a mask when triaging a patient, but the rest of the time they don't even in the front area. I am talking about the blue surgical masks. I believe those work better at stopping transmission from the person wearing them than from their getting it, although I don't know.
I think if they wore them, it would also send a message to patients about the need for precaution.
Any ideas?
