key: cord-0700061-5oextxkm
authors: Feng Tan, L. I.
title: Preventing the Transmission of COVID-19 Amongst Healthcare Workers
date: 2020-04-09
journal: J Hosp Infect
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.04.008
sha: af0eecbbcfba8bd64c6ff2a086d1aeed161e4ee1
doc_id: 700061
cord_uid: 5oextxkm

nan

To date, no healthcare worker has contracted COVID-19 in a Singapore healthcare institution.

However, healthcare workers including non-clinical staff have contracted COVID-19 in the community and from overseas travel 6 . Whilst some had continued working for a short period prior to diagnosis, thus far there have been no cases of healthcare worker-to-patient COVID-SARS which was predominantly transmitted nosocomially in Singapore 5 , COVID-19 is predominantly acquired in the community. This presents a different challenge to preventing COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers. In Singapore, we have put in place strict staff management policies that have progressed as the infection continues its spread worldwide.

All staff with travel to affected regions are placed on a 14-day compulsory leave of absence with overseas travel strongly discouraged as the infection has now spread across the globe.

Twice daily temperature screening and reporting are carried out on all clinical and nonclinical staff. All staff with respiratory symptoms are not allowed to come to work and placed on mandatory 5-day medical leave or longer till symptoms completely resolve 7 . Separation of teams into those who care for COVID-19 patients and those who do not as well as designated clean and COVID-19 contact areas are carried out in order to minimise exposure risk to staff and patients.

Whilst some countries have achieved some initial control of the spread of COVID-19 through various measures, a second wave of infections is already being seen from imported cases as COVID-19 spreads throughout the world 8 . It appears COVID-19 may be here for the long haul and countries need to continue to exercise heightened vigilance and adapt strategies to continue to contain the virus and especially to prevent its spread within the hospital and amongst healthcare staff.

None.

Funding Sources

Reasons for healthcare workers becoming infected with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China

Beyond the assistance: additional exposure situations to COVID-19 for healthcare workers

Report on current pneumonia epidemic situation in the city (in Chinese)

SARS in Singapore--key lessons from an epidemic