Sunday, May 3, 2020

India Ministry of Health issues detailed guidelines on the rational use of PPE at Iocal hospitals

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : A nurse at an intensive care unit of a Chennai hospital. By Arun Sankar / Getty Images.

The India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (IMHFW) on 1 May 2020 issues detailed guidelines on rational use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at India hospitals. 

PPE consists of anti-viral materials such as surgical masks which may be triple layer medical masks, N95 masks, conrall, goggles, nitrile examination gloves, shoe covers, robes and face shields. As these materials can be scarce in a pandemic, rational usage must be exercised.

IMHFW divides hospitals engaging in the covid battle into non covid hospitals and non-covid treatment areas of hospitals which have covid blocks and PPE are deployed differently in various departments. The different departments that are exposed to covid are further categorized in level of risk.

Under the guidelines stated in the press release statement "Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) : Additional guidelines on rational use of Personal Protective Equipment (setting approach for Health functionaries working in non-COVID areas)", for instance, staff at outpatient department helpdesks and patient registration counters, inpatient department wards, individual rooms and staff in charge of corpses must wear triple layer medical masks and latex examination gloves. These staff's exposure to covid are indicated "low risk".

Staff at intensive care units providing critical care to patients and critical care management must wear N-95 masks, gloves, nitrile examination gloves and face shields. Their exposure to covid are indicated "moderate risk".

Staff at dental clinics, Ear-Nose-and-Throat (ENT) and ophthalmology departments, exposed to SARS-CoV02 under "moderate risk", are required to wear N-95 masks, goggles, latex examination gloves and face shield as splashes of body fluid are expected. This shows that India has cases of covid through the route of aerosol transmission. 

At pharmacy counters, triple layer medical masks, latex examination gloves and frequent usage of hand sanitizers are recommended. Their staff exposure to the virus is indicated "low risk".

Other hospital staff that are categorized "low risk" to covid include staff at ICU departments that transport corpse bags to mortuaries and park corpse bags.

Further details  can be referred to at the link here : : https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/AdditionalguidelinesonrationaluseofPersonalProtectiveEquipmentsettingapproachforHealthfunctionariesworkinginnonCOVIDareas.pdf.

As of 4 May 2020, India has 29453 active covid cases, 1373 deaths and 11776 patients have recovered and discharged. It has one exported ("migrated") case. 


Image : Covid patients taken to hospitals in Delhi. By PTI.

India's covid data is categorized according to states and the administrative capital, of which Delhi has 4122 confirmed covid cases, 1256 discharged cases and 64 deaths while the beach city of Goa only has seven covid cases. It is impossible to know the number of covid cases in other major cities of India such as Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, making it harder for contact tracing efforts.

India has extended country lockdown to 17 May 2020 from 4 May 2020. Only offices providing essential services are allowed to operate. Online trademark  and patent filings are permitted during this period according to an email received on 4 May 2020 from an Indian law firm and all remaining offices will reopen on 18 May 2020.

Ref : India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

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