Over the last 12 months, the world as we know it has changed due to the coronavirus outbreak. To date, there have been more than 92.3 million cases worldwide, resulting in close to 2 million deaths. If you work in the healthcare field, you must play your part and adhere to government guidelines to keep you and others protected from the virus. Here are five of the best strategies for infection prevention and control.
Wash Your Hands
If you’re a healthcare worker in a hospital, you will already understand the importance of washing your hands regularly. Wetting your hands with warm water and using soap is key for getting rid of any germs and bacteria you may have picked up during your shift. You must also wash your hands after touching your face and before and after you eat and drink. Maintaining excellent hand hygiene is critical for keeping the coronavirus at bay.
Wear a Face Covering
Doing your bit to prevent and control infections like COVID-19 can be achieved by wearing a face covering. Whether you’re at the grocery store, at work, or in a public setting, having a face mask on will protect those around you from catching the coronavirus. Unless you have a medical condition that makes you exempt, you must wear a face-covering at all times when around others that cover your nose and mouth.
Keep Your Distance
Although it can be hard to do so, one of the best ways to prevent and control infections is by keeping your distance from others. If you are in close contact with people from outside your household, you can never be too sure whether they have contracted COVID-19, which is why you should keep a distance of at least two meters.
Know the Signs
Once you know the common signs of COVID-19, you will be better equipped with what to look out for and whether you need to isolate or not. If you have a persistent, lingering cough and high temperature, it’s best not to take your chances and get tested for the virus immediately. If you work in the healthcare field, you could be putting colleagues’ and patients’ lives at risk. Even if you feel well enough to work, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t hesitate to get tested.
Stay Alert
If your healthcare facility needs renovations, you must stay alert and up to date with the news regarding COVID-19. That way, you will know what preventive measures to take to ensure everyone stays safe when work is carried out. Infection preventionists can be hired to help ensure disease spread is kept to a minimum.
While vaccinations are now in full swing for COVID-19, we still have a long way to go until we can reach any sense of normality. This means that if you work in healthcare or not, understanding the importance of social distancing, wearing a face mask, and washing your hands will drastically minimize the risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus.
