Corona Virus update 3/27 (morning report)

There has been much discussion about whether N95 respirators (or better) are needed in the care of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 patients. This was caused uncertainty and anxiety among Healthcare Workers. 

This morning I reviewed the “Interim CDC guidelines and I wanted to share with you.  

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html

I pulled out 2 items but you should look at the guidelines in full because truth is empowering. 

Item 1:

“Mode of transmission: Early reports suggest person-to-person transmission most commonly happens during close exposure to a person infected with COVID-19, primarily via respiratory droplets produced when the infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets can land in the mouths, noses, or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close proximity. The contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely.”

Also, here is the results of an National Institute of Health study from March 17. 

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces

“The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours”

Item 2:

• Based on local and regional situational analysis of PPE supplies, facemasks are an acceptable alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand.  During this time, available respirators should be prioritized for procedures that are likely to generate respiratory aerosols, which would pose the highest exposure risk to HCP.
• Facemasks protect the wearer from splashes and sprays.
• Respirators, which filter inspired air, offer respiratory protection.
• When the supply chain is restored, facilities with a respiratory protection program should return to use of respirators for patients with known or suspected COVID-19. 

Item 3:

From a recent WNPR article 

https://www.wnpr.org/post/covid-19-forcing-connecticut-health-care-providers-ration-protective-masks

“Dr. Jim Cardon, Hartford HealthCare’s chief clinical integration officer, told reporters at a Monday news conference that the hospital network’s supply of this type of mask is  currently in “good shape,” and that there wasn’t yet a need to ration the N95s by way of re-use.

“We don't do that unless we are convinced it's safe to do so,” Cardon said. “If we have confidence that we can reuse these things with the same effectiveness as the approved use of these things, we will need to consider that, but at this time, we have not put that in our execution plan at the moment."

But John Brady, the executive vice president of AFT Connecticut, said he’s hearing different reports from hospital workers in his union.

He said some Hartford HealthCare providers are using masks according to “crisis-level” guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control -- which include wearing them for more than one visit. Others are forced to see patients who might have COVID-19 wearing surgical masks that are less protective.”