Coronavirus (COVID-19): We Want to Hear from You

[tnbutterfly - Mary]

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 has been all over the news since its appearance in Wuhan, China in December. Eleven cities in China have been locked down and travel restrictions imposed on tens of millions of people in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus with reports of more than 900 confirmed cases of infection and more than 2 dozen reported deaths. Infections have been confirmed in South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and now this deadly virus has now made its appearance in the United States. Two confirmed cases have been identified - one in Washington on January 21 and another in Chicago today. Health officials have reported 63 people from 22 states are under observation for the virus.

We want to keep you up-to-date on the latest news. We need your help. Are you in an area where the Coronavirus/COVID-19 has been identified or where people are under observation for possible infection? We want to hear your story.

What precautions/screening/guidelines have been implemented in your place of work, airports, schools, etc?

Please complete the form below and let us know if you are willing to share your story.

Would you like to write an article to help us keep up with the unfolding Coronavirus / COVID-19 story - historical evolution, what is it, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, precautions, screening, diagnosis, etc. If so, send me a Private/Personal Message

Wuhan Coronavirus Form

[MunoRN, RN]

6 hours ago, Gampopa said:

Isn't a pt who is actively coughing producing aerosolized droplets? I would want to be wearing an N95 into a COVID 19 room regardless of what procedure I'm performing.

I agree that the CDC's rationale behind identifying an increased risk of transmission specific to Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) but not spontaneous coughing makes no sense.

The rationale for using a higher level of respiratory protection during AGPs is that it's likely to make the patient cough, yet they don't appear to consider a spontaneous cough to carry the risks, which is dumb.

[S84, ASN]

I have a question...based on what I heard in his speech " activation on hospitals emergency management plan and limiting visitations in nsg homes via Medicare putting out new rules" .... can anyone interpret the where ambulatory surgical care centers fall?.. I have concerns about ASC staying open. We can screen the patients pre calling but we have no information on who brings them to the facility. Most ASC centers are elective surgeries think a closure would be smart but I don't see any thing happening in my area presently. Patients may decide to cancell out cases but don't see any elective closures

What do you think?..

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

11 hours ago, MunoRN said:

To clarify, that study doesn't show COVID-19 to be an airborne pathogen, droplet transmission occurs in the air and the droplet particles are airborne, but that is different from airborne transmission.

The CDC recommends using respirators / PAPRs when available because standard masks are not as effective in preventing droplet transmission, not because the virus is an airborne pathogen. This is why the CDC prioritizes the use of airborne precautions (respirators and negative airflow rooms) to those circumstances most likely to involve the generation of droplets (aerosol generating procedures).

The study indicates aerosol and fomite viability of the virus after hours.

THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AIRBORNE

[MunoRN, RN]

17 minutes ago, SummitRN said:

The study indicates aerosol and fomite viability of the virus after hours.

THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AIRBORNE

Airborne transmission refers to particles that are able to remain suspended in air for long periods of time, and remain viable. This study utilized a Goldberg drum which is a contraption that keeps droplet nuclei airborne that would otherwise not remain airborne for an extended period of time. So what the study found was that when COVID-19 is artificially maintained in an airborne state it remains viable for about 3 hours, but it didn't find that COVID-19 droplet nuclei can remain airborne for 3 hours.

I would agree though that this difference is somewhat just semantics, aerosolized droplets can certainly remain in the air long enough for others to inhale them, and given the right conditions can travel some distance, no doubt farther than the commonly referenced 6 feet.

[MunoRN, RN]

31 minutes ago, SummitRN said:

The study indicates aerosol and fomite viability of the virus after hours.

THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AIRBORNE

On a related note, we've been trying to figure out increased respiratory protection is recommended as a priority when doing Aerosol Generating Procedures, supposedly because it may cause the patient to cough, but not when the patient is spontaneously coughing. It would seem to me that the physiology of the cough itself is the same, regardless of the trigger.

[Gampopa]

At our facility, to ration masks, we are going by WHO recommendations for using N95 only when aerosolization is likely. However, staff is using N95s with any suspected COVID19 pt even for routine care. My managers are adamant that N95s get passed out only to staff that need them d/t the very limited supply which I understand. But I also understand staff wanting to protect themselves and their families so as the House sup I look the other way.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

5 minutes ago, Gampopa said:

At our facility, to ration masks, we are going by WHO recommendations for using N95 only when aerosolization is likely. However, staff is using N95s with any suspected COVID19 pt even for routine care. My managers are adamant that N95s get passed out only to staff that need them d/t the very limited supply which I understand. But I also understand staff wanting to protect themselves and their families so as the House sup I look the other way.

Your position is sympathetic, but eventually without rationing there will be no masks available for the high-risk procedures. This is only going to get worse. Look at Italy, but not late in the day otherwise you won't sleep.

[otgd8]

Hey everyone. I hope someone can respond to this. I am a UAP at a major hospital but am per diem and I have no health insurance. I am applying for Obamacare soon but between now and when I get coverage I am concerned for my health. I have a propensity for having bronchitis multiple times per year for the past couple of years. So I am concerned I might get sick but have no coverage. I don't want to not go to work because I am needed at a time like this even though I am just a UAP. I feel like if I bring this concern up to my bosses they will not care and I also do not want to seem dramatic. Please advise!

[otgd8]

@NurseSpeedy My university ended up having all employees transition to telecommuting. This whole COVID-19 scenario is wild. I did not expect it to get this out of control.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

No SNF I’ve ever worked in had had N95 masks. We have stopped allowing visitors, check residents’ temps twice a day and employee temps when they arrive at work. Only one confirmed case in my county as of yesterday.

[NormaSaline]

1 hour ago, CapeCodMermaid said:

No SNF I’ve ever worked in had had N95 masks. We have stopped allowing visitors, check residents’ temps twice a day and employee temps when they arrive at work. Only one confirmed case in my county as of yesterday.

"But many nursing homes across the country can’t purchase N95 protective masks for their health workers because they have not bought them in the past, according to Premier. A system of `“allocation” in place among major distributors limits people to a historic purchase volume."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/14/hospital-doctors-patients-coronavirus/

[jeanbeth, MSN, DNP, RN]

I teach at a private (for-profit) practical nursing program. The Governor's state of emergency declaration prohibits social groups above 250, the DPH prohibits LTC visitors (our clinical sites), and our accrediting body is requesting a plan if we have to close or go to on-line learning. None of these actions REQUIRE us to close our school. And so as of right now students and staff are required to be on campus Monday morning and we must dock our students their minutes if they are absent. Health and safety concerns? Leadership?