Keeping Essential Workers Protected from Coronavirus
Anika H. Ahmed, MD
I am a physician with more than 25 years’ experience in preventive medicine and have throughout my career focused on the primary prevention of infectious communicable diseases, primarily Influenza, HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis C. I have conducted multiple clinical trials to study the behavior pattern of patients on long term multi drug regimes and the various risk factors leading to infectious communicable diseases. With the current Covid-19 pandemic in full swing across the globe, I want to share some useful tips that can keep everyone protected, especially the essential workers who admirably report to duty and provide for the people who can stay safe at home in a much more controlled, healthy environment.
All essential workers need to understand the most important fact about Covid-19: one cannot get infected if one does not breathe the air containing the virus. The question is, how does the virus get in the air? It is a very infectious virus that suspends in the air each time an infectious person or a carrier coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs. Saliva and mucous sprays out and any other person within six feet of the infectious person can get the virus through droplet infection by just breathing in the air. This is why it is crucial nowadays to have six feet of social distancing from EVERYONE, assuming that every person is either a carrier or susceptible to the virus. Think of every person’s mouth and nose as a virus spraying agent and stepping outside of the radius will help keep you safe.
The second foremost fact that all essential workers need to understand is that one cannot get infected through physical contact if one’s hands are CLEAN. Anytime the face, especially eyes, nose, or mouth is touched with hands that have come into contact with dirty surfaces – particularly doorknobs, elevator buttons, escalator railings, shared keypads, computers, desks, and telephones – you can fall victim to Coronavirus. But here is the good news. You can shoo away the virus if you wash your hands regularly for at least 20-30 seconds, especially before touching your face. Make a habit of washing your hands immediately after you reach home after exiting public transport, stores, or offices. Having disinfectant wipes these days is a luxury. Save them to wipe down surfaces, especially shared ones like telephones, desks, computers, keypads, mousses, trollies, doorknobs, light switches, and ID/security badges after you swipe or punch them in and out at work.
At work, the two major NESTS of Coronavirus are two places: restrooms and breakrooms/shared pantries. In both these places, the golden rule to follow is MINIMAL TOUCH. Put visual reminders in shared office spaces that say, “minimal touch!” It will be hard initially but knowing that humans are creatures of habit, things will get easier as they will become habits and conditioned behavior. Avoid touching doors by using elbows or feet to open and close. Grab a tissue and use it to close water faucets (after thoroughly washing hands for 20-30 seconds) and doors. Avoid touching shared gadgets like fridges, freezers, microwaves, toasters, and phones as much as you can and wipe down surfaces before using, especially before eating and drinking. Refuse to share your eating table with a colleague and avoid sitting in groups. Most of the elevators at work are small (less than 6 by 6) so try to take either the stairs or ride the elevator alone. Try to maintain a six-foot distance from EVERYONE!
Those who work long shifts end up having at least one or two meals at work, sometimes more. Eat balanced meals and do not skip your fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads thinking that they may have Coronavirus. Unlike E.Coli and Salmonella, Covid-19 is not a food-borne illness. Everyone should thoroughly wash all open, fresh produce in running water. Bagged fresh produce, such as bagged salad kits, are already up to food hygiene standards and do not have to be washed again before consumption. Fresh produce should be had regularly as it contains phytonutrients that promote health, boost the immune system, and keep one healthy. The only note of caution regarding food is to avoid restaurants, cafeterias, and buffets with open food trays. If anyone has coughed on, sneezed on, or touched the food with dirty hands, they can contaminate the food as well as the serving containers. Try to buy food that is sealed to avoid the risk of contamination. Best scenario: pack your office meals at home, keep them sealed, and eat fresh and balanced!
Protective personal equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, scrubs, and protective suits, is essential for all healthcare workers. For other essential workers, cloth masks that can cover the mouth and nose may be worn in public, especially if six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. A word of caution for smokers and those fond of vaping: now would be a good time to quit, as smoking can weaken your lungs and make them prone to pneumonia- the worst complication of Covid-19 – pushing the patient into intensive care and dependency on a ventilator for life support. All essential workers with underlying chronic diseases like Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema) must wash their hands thoroughly, regularly, and frequently, and maintain minimal touching of surfaces with hands. That is their key to avoid becoming victims of Covid-19.