Covid 19 precautions or SARS-CoV-2 precautions?

[guest1143647]

Which one is accurate? One of my jobs said it is Covid 19 precautions,but another one of my jobs said SARS-Cov-2  precautions is correct.

One of my managers said we are protecting ourselves from the virus and the cause of Covid 19,not the infection,so SARS-Cov-2 precautions is correct. I admit I do not understand what the heck she meant.

[macawake, MSN]

1 hour ago, Runsoncoffee99 said:

Which one is accurate? One of my jobs said it is Covid 19 precautions,but another one of my jobs said SARS-Cov-2  precautions is correct.

One of my managers said we are protecting ourselves from the virus and the cause of Covid 19,not the infection,so SARS-Cov-2 precautions is correct. I admit I do not understand what the heck she meant.

Well, technically speaking we implement precautions to prevent transmission of the pathogen SARS-CoV-2. 

In my opinion it’s more important that a facility is consistent when choosing how to label the precautions in the various documents and guidelines they issue in order to avoid confusion, rather than which of the two terms they choose to use. Perhaps official guidelines from for example the WHO and the CDC can be used for guidance in regards to terminology? One thing that might be worth considering is that the general public is probably more familiar with the disease’s name than they are with the name of the virus causing it. 

[guest1143647]

Now that I think about it,SARS-CoV-2 precautions sounds more appropriate.

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

My hospital labels precautions by the method of pathogen transmission, which is the part that staff really need to know. I'm not going to expect a housekeeper or dietary aide to know about different pathogens, but I do expect them to read the sign on the door and follow "droplet precautions" (ie: you need a surgical mask) versus "contact precautions" (you need a gown and gloves). 

So, yes, we are protecting against the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen so we don't get the disease of COVID-19 but what I need everyone to *do* is put on their N95, gown, face shield, and gloves.