The total number of cases in mainland China is 44,653, although many experts say a large number of others infected have gone uncounted. The stats are alarming. They call for some serious infection control measures. Here are a few.
Infection control practices to Follow:
Keep disinfecting your hands
During any viral outbreak, the best thing you can do is keep disinfecting your hands after regular intervals of time, in this case, for 20 seconds. Doctors and experts recommend that during the outbreak, you must wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (to keep track of the duration, you can sing the “happy birthday song” twice). This must be followed by using alcohol-based hand rub or sanitiser. The thumb rule is to avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands.
Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Unlike bacteria, viruses can fly. So it is imperative that facility owners, staff and end customers - all use appropriate PPE. Face masks, respirators and gloves are some of the popular and common PPE available in the market, and they should be used in every process being undertaken in the facility.
Dispose off the PPE properly
After you have used the PPE, it is important to dispose it off properly. Make sure it does not come in contact with your skin or clothes. And follow the hand sanitization regime after you’ve removed the PPE.
Disinfect rooms, floors and surfaces frequently
Cleaning cleans. Disinfection kills the germs. So rooms, floors and surfaces must be frequently DISINFECTED rather than merely cleaned. For this, you will need to choose a quality chemical that gets to the root of infection control. In addition to this, make sure you are disinfecting all surfaces more frequently (especially if you are a facility open to the public).
Identify potentially infectious people
No matter which facility you are, if you suspect someone carrying Coronavirus, provide immediate medical screening for them. Patients carrying this virus are immediately quarantined and taken under medical supervision.
Install alcohol-based sanitisers at rush areas
Identify the rush areas of your facility and have alcohol based sanitisers installed at each of these hotspots. Promoting hand hygiene must top the priority list while combating Coronavirus.
Use proper hygiene solutions for kitchens
With the rise and spread of N-Coronavirus, food hygiene has become even more sensitive. Extra care must be taken to disinfect kitchen equipment, cutting boards, kitchen floors, etc.
Each facility is different and practicing infection control can be a mammoth task. Following these general tips can certainly help in efficient combatting of the Coronavirus.