As COVID-19 continues to have a dramatic impact around the globe, and front-line doctors, nurses, and health care staff are managing a growing number of cases, there is understandable anxiety.
Waleed Javaid, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Mount Sinai Downtown, offers a perspective on how health care providers can help keep their families safe.
“Health care workers, like everyone in the community, should remember hand hygiene, be mindful of social distancing on the home front by avoiding large family gatherings, and in times of a pandemic, they need to have a plan for their families,” Dr. Javaid says.
In this Q&A, he provides additional advice to reassure health care providers how they can help keep their families safe.
What kind of issues do I need to discuss with my family?
Health care workers, like everyone in the community, should discuss all aspects of the pandemic with their families. Everyone should have a plan in place for their home should anyone in the family get ill—and most importantly, planning does not mean panic. It’s a simple thing: should somebody become ill, have you identified a place in the home, an extra bedroom, or separated area, for example, where they can remain separated? The vast majority of people who become ill can get better on their own, and with proper social distancing and precautions, family members can remain protected.
What kind of precautions do I need to take as I leave my shift?
Outside of the hospital environment—where you do not have protective equipment—it is important to reinforce that you should use the same precautions as everyone else: hand hygiene and maintain social distancing.,
First, wash your hands before you leave. Then, take a moment to gather your thoughts. Make sure that if you had any exposure, or any concerns of exposure, that you address it with your supervisor so the issue can be followed up immediately. Check your symptoms—How are you feeling? Also, take an additional moment—because in this crisis you have played a very important role. Wipe your work surface with hospital wipe, and remember to clean the surfaces again when you return.
Should I remove my work clothes before I walk into my house?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was the general recommendation from infection prevention that health care workers in procedural areas like the operating room should change into street clothes before leaving the hospital. The recommendation is still true today. Health care workers who are involved in procedures that may lead to contamination of their scrubs with blood and body fluids should change into street clothes before leaving the hospital. For everyone else who does not work in procedural areas, donning and doffing PPE throughout the day may cause you to sweat more. Respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses, are not transmitted through articles of clothing. But it is not unreasonable to change when you get home if that would make you more comfortable.
Should I avoid my family members when I am at home?
If you are feeling well, there is no reason to avoid your family members. Frequent hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended. Everyone should make sure that they cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze, but otherwise you may act normally with your family members.
Should I avoid interacting with my pets?
If you are feeling well, there is no reason to avoid your pets. Similar to contact with humans, you need to make sure that you cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Are there any additional precautions I can take at home—for example, wash my clothes separately?
There is no recommendation about separate clothing screening. But, washed clothes should be dried in a dryer because that helps reduce any contamination on the clothing. You should think about wiping the phone and other products with a compatible cleaner, preferably one that has antimicrobial rating. Wash your hands afterwards, and you should be good.