Hospitals worldwide are ramping up their response to deal with the rapid spread of COVID-19. This virus doesn’t discriminate and can infect anybody, which makes it especially risky in hospital settings. Given the threat it poses, hospitals have introduced new tactics to help protect patients and staff alike.
Everyone is at risk – the virus does not discriminate between status, health, gender, or age. It’s especially virulent in hospitals, quickly infecting patients who often have weakened immune systems due to surgery or other treatments. COVID-19 is not common but when it does occur, it poses a real threat to human life – it can take patients down in less than a week and also poses huge risks to the healthcare workers striving to help them.
So, what are hospitals doing to combat this illness?
1. Regular check-ups: With many people coming in and out of hospitals, it’s crucial to ensure clean buildings and proper staff health. This helps prevent the virus from spreading among patients and staff.
2. Strict procedures: Hospitals maintain rigid rules to ensure everyone follows the right practices. This not only protects patients, but also maintains everyone’s comfort in these stressful times.
3. Using protective gear: Given the easy spread of viruses through air and liquids, hospitals require people to wear protective clothing, like masks and gloves, especially when dealing with COVID-19.
4. Hand hygiene: All staff must wash their hands regularly to reduce the chance of transmitting the virus to patients and themselves.
5. Daily cleaning: Keen emphasis is laid on maintaining a clean environment in all spaces, from patient rooms to storage areas.
6. Hospital sanitation: Keeping a functional and sanitary hospital is critical. It’s not just where treatment happens but also a support system for doctors, nurses, and other staff members.
In addition, measures have been enhanced to ensure potentially infectious materials are handled safely and patients are held accountable for their actions in the hospital. Special areas are designated to safely treat infectious patients. Also, ‘no-touch’ check-ins are now employed to reduce the chances of contamination.
Even after the peak of the pandemic, hospitals continue to evolve their practices. These changes include quarantines for known virus carriers, extra staffing for high-risk patient care, and infrastructure updates.
In essence, hospitals have made significant changes to prevent further spread of the virus. It’s imperative that all healthcare workers are well-trained and updated on these procedures, so we can best manage the dangers of diseases like COVID-19.
