We have learned a lot in two years living with COVID and its variants. While many tried and true infection prevention practices will always be useful, a few things we know now about specifically reducing the spread of COVID and the current variants.
- It takes all of us doing our part to prevent infection.
- Surgical masks are highly recommended for patients and staff. N95 are best. See below for more about masks
- Wearing eye protection/ face shields for all patient encounters helps reduce spread, but is especially helpful for those who are unvaccinated.
- Increase cleaning of high contact surfaces such as door handles and break rooms.
- Break rooms and common areas remember to keep surfaces clean, keep 6+ feet apart, and wear a mask at all times except when eating or drinking.
- Always, always wash your hands!
More About Masks
The Wall Street Journal recently shared research finding from ACGIH Pandemic Response Task Force about what masks offer the most protection. All research shows that cloth masks offer the least protection and N95 masks are the best available for protection, particularly if everyone in a specific area is wearing them.
Read more about these findings in a summary here: How Long Different Face Masks May Protect You From Omicron Variant Symptoms.
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