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Front Med. 2020 Mar 23. doi: 10.1007/s11684-020-0765-x. [Epub ahead of print]
Protecting healthcare personnel from 2019-nCoV infection risks: lessons and suggestions.
Zhang Z1, Liu S2, Xiang M1, Li S3, Zhao D4, Huang C5, Chen S6.
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Abstract
The outbreak of a novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19, caused by the 2019-nCoV infection) in December 2019 is one of the most severe public health emergencies since the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949. Healthcare personnel (HCP) nationwide are facing heavy workloads and high risk of infection, especially those who care for patients at the epicenter of the outbreak, Hubei Province. Sadly, as of February 20, 2020, over two thousand COVID-19 cases are confirmed among HCP from 476 hospitals nationwide, with nearly 90% of them from Hubei Province. Based on literature search and interviews with some HCP working at Wuhan, capital city of Hubei, we have summarized some of the effective measures taken to reduce infection among HCP, and also made suggestions for improving occupational safety during an infectious disease outbreak. The experience and lessons learned should be a valuable asset for international health community to contain the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic around the world.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; healthcare personnel; infectious diseases
PMID:32212058DOI:10.1007/s11684-020-0765-x