Sep 11, 2020

Healthcare workers need fitted masks to protect them from airborne COVID-19 droplets

 

The president of the Australian Medical Association, Omar Khorshid, has called for healthcare workers to wear high-grade respirator masks, not just surgical masks, when they are caring for people with COVID-19.

Dr Khorshid said higher-grade masks are recommended for healthcare workers treating patients with cognitive or behavioural issues or workers exposed to “high numbers of suspected, probable or confirmed COVID-19 patients or residents”, among other workers.

The types of masks he is recommending are P2 or N95 respirator masks, not standard surgical masks.

Dr Khorshid told Sky News it wasn’t simply a public health issue, but an occupational health and safety matter for healthcare workers.  

“There is an increasing view that micro-droplets can stay in the air for much longer [than first thought] and can be inhaled in the sides of the masks,” he said.

“The AMA’s view is that for people who are working with people with covid, that they should really have the high level masks that stop the droplets to protect those workers.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt has launched an investigation of COVID-19 outbreaks among healthcare workers across Australia, and will look at masks as part of that investigation.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s latest guidelines are under review but state that surgical masks are sufficient protection for healthcare workers in aged care settings.

More than 3,300 healthcare workers have contracted OCVID-19 in Victoria and eight healthcare workers are among clusters traced to Sydney’s Liverpool and Concord Hospitals.

Dr Khorshid said it is “crystal clear” that national guidelines for use of personal protective equipment “have not adequately protected healthcare workers”.

Do you wear fitted masks when caring for residents with COVID-19?

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Why face shields are useless if worn without a mask

You may well have seen people wearing clear plastic face shields instead of surgical or cloth face masks. While these are definitely more comfortable to wear, the question is: are they actually effective in slowing the spread of the virus? Read More

Distressed Residents Relocated After Aged Care Facility Shuts Down Without Warning

Queensland’s Earle Haven Retirement Village, became a scene of distress and confusion for over 70 elderly people yesterday as a convoy of ambulances and authorities were forced to relocate residents due to the sudden and immediate shutdown of their home. Staff walked out of the Nerang nursing home yesterday after a long and drawn-out pay... Read More

Verbal Aggression: The Patient And The Nurse

Aggression of any kind will undoubtedly have a negative effect on the person who is receiving it. And though nurses are in a position of care, they too often are the victims of their patients’ aggressive behaviours. Almost every nurse has experienced it at some point in their career – they try to do their... Read More
Advertisement