We are 31 days from our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.
6,906 confirmed cases, up 1231
206 have died, up 17
1221 are currently hospitalized, up 79
26,686 tested, up 3,416
Fred Alletto sent the first article and it shows the confusion over PPE, even amongst experts.
However,
I want to start by being clear of AFT and AFT CT position on PPE and N95 in particular.
It is our position that N95’s, face shields, gowns, gloves, should be used in caring for a PUI and Covid Positive patient. We base this position on what we believe is sufficient evidence and studies that the Corona Virus can be airborne for up to 3 hours and live on surfaces for up to 72 hours (depending on the surfaces)
We have filed a grievance and OSHA complaint against Hartford Healthcare based on their policy (although even they cannot explain it because parts of it contradict other parts) and practice.
I will tell you that the unit in Windham where one of our techs was exposed recently is now wearing N95s.
EVERY PLACE WHERE OUR MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP HAVE PUSHED BACK WE HAVE GAINED GROUND IN PROTECTING OUR MEMBERS.
Here is the article.
Amesh Adalja, MD, of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said he mostly agrees with the CDC's efforts to conserve N95s.
"We should not being using N95 for routine care; we don't have evidence those are necessary outside of aerosolizing events," said Adalja. "We should protect against droplet infections while using surgical masks to take care of patients."
Adalja said aerosolizing events are the most risky to perform on a COVID-19 patient, but routine examinations of an unknown respiratory illness in a patient should only require surgical masks.
But Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), which publishes CIDRAP News, says it should be the other way around—until we have evidence that N95s are unnecessary, healthcare workers should use them. He cited a recent commentary published on the CIDRAP site noting that airborne transmission does very likely occur with COVID-19 and that N95s, as recommended by previous CDC guidance, should be the standard.
"In my discussions with healthcare workers on the frontlines of patient care, it's clear that they understand there is a real shortage of N95 respirators," Osterholm said. "In that regard, they, despite their very real and appropriate anxiety, will provide the best patient care they can even when it may place them at increased risk of an occupationally acquired COVID-19 infection.
"What they resent is being told by their employer that the CDC update last week to the COVID-19 respiratory protection recommendation is a science-based change, when it's all about respirator availability."
Workers Comp
This was the answer to a concern that occupational health had said that unless a member could prove they had become sick from work, they would not qualify for Worker’s comp.
Remember, we have an law form for a reason. They handle things like teacher terminations, worker’s comp cases, and unemployment denial at no charge to members.
The answer from legal:
By now you should have received the AFTCT guide to filing a Workers’ Comp Claim. If not, I have attached it.
You should know that Occ Health is NOT the final arbiter on who is and who isn’t eligible for Workers Compensation benefits. Any member who believes they contracted COVID-19 from work should file a claim.
Finally, I am more than happy to help in this endeavor. Our firm has handled thousands of Workers Comp cases on behalf of AFTCT members. We will take on any contested comp case. And we plan to win each one.
Eric
(Please remember that we have a law firm to handle issues like Workers Comp and Unemployment at no expense to our members.)
I sent this out earlier to some of you, it’s a summary of our call this morning.
We had a call with the Governor’s office and DPH this morning.
There is a working group on Workers Comp to get something similar to what was introduced in Massachusetts. It would presume that any healthcare worker, first responder, etc who became ill with Covid-19 had contracted it at work and would be paid at 100%, instead of the lower amount that it usually is.
Under a recent executive order, Housing is to be provided to healthcare workers who feel uncomfortable going home after working.
1. I ask that you inform your members that the hospital is required to have a plan on this so they should ask if interested.
2. I also ask that you request information from the hospitals on what their plan is. We also asked that DPH have the hospitals inform employees of this possibility.
The state is expecting a large shipment of PPE this week, although they have expected this in the past and had it not happen. They have sent most of what they now have to the hospitals. We raised the issue of reuse of N95s and informed them that Hartford Healthcare and the VNA of SE CT is denying N95s to those caring for suspected and positive Covid-19 patients. We also raised the issue of the Windham Tech who was made to care for a Covid patient without and N95 and how different departments in the same hospital are applying the policy in difference ways. I’m told that this morning they are using N95s on the floor that the tech was working on.
3. Please immediately pass on any time a member is asked to care for a suspected or positive Covid patient without adequate PPE, including N95s. Inform management, myself, your field rep, and DPH. This is the DPH link https://dphflisevents.ct.gov/Complaints
I was also informed that DPH will be at Windham and Backus on Wednesday, although the visit might be limited to the new remote triage. I have requested that the 3 Local presidents or their designee be a part of the visit.
We also asked that the Governor intervene and extend any contracts until after the pandemic is over.
Janice sent this update from a couple of days ago from OSHA. It gives some flexibility as far as extended use but still calls for the use of N95s
Senator Blumenthal
Martha Marx, Ann-Marie Cerra and I will be on a round table with Senator Blumenthal and SEIU tomorrow on issues our members are facing, particularly around PPE. The press will be present.
AFT is having Telephone Town Halls every Tuesday evening.
We are living in a scary, stressful and uncertain time. The coronavirus pandemic is both a health and an economic emergency. Some of our members have died; even more have gotten sick; and everyone’s lives have been upended by school closings, furloughs, layoffs and stay-at-home orders across the country. Our healthcare members and other first responders have been the frontline soldiers in this war, while our educators are engaging families in such an extraordinary manner to keep hope alive.
I am so grateful. We know how important connection is when we are physically distant, so the AFT has decided to hold our big member telephone town halls every Tuesday for the foreseeable future.
These calls give members a chance to hear about the work we’re doing nationally to help fight this pandemic. By having them every week, we will be able to give our members the most recent information we have, including the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People will also get exclusive updates—like the one Sen. Chuck Schumer gave us last week—and hear directly from me about the AFT’s national efforts to protect our members and our communities and to save the economy. We will also provide tips for helping kids with lessons. Every call will include time for questions.
I’m excited to announce that our telephone town hall tomorrow, Tuesday April 7th, will feature Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. surgeon general. All of our members are welcome to join; Dr. Adams will be taking questions from our healthcare members about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The telephone town hall will be on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. EDT. We want to make sure you have a chance to sign up for this call, and for all the other calls. If you would like to register, you can do so by clicking here.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
Backus Nurses will have their weekly telephone town halls tomorrow at 4:00 and 8:00 pm. If you would like to see how this is done, contact myself or Sherri or Jess.
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