To Keep COVID-19 Out of Hospitals in India - Are We Prepared?

ABSTRACT

The current viral outbreak of the Novel Corona virus, or COVID-19 has turned into a global health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. Hospitals are known to have played a very important role in giving necessary medical treatment to the society, particularly at the time of a disaster. Preventive measures such as masks, hand hygiene practices, avoidance of public contact, case detection, contact tracing, and quarantines have been discussed as ways to reduce transmission. During the current outbreak of COVID-19, a break in these vital modalities and goods would lead to a break in the provision of acute health care by a not fully prepared health-care facility. Adding to it an elevated rate of personnel absence is predictable. A scarcity of important equipment and goods could prevent access to desired care and have a direct impact on health care delivery. Health workers and carers are at high risk of infection, and healthcare associated amplification of transmission is of concern as is always the case for emerging infections. Non-pharmaceutical interventions remain central for management of COVID-19 because there are no licensed vaccines or coronavirus antivirals. To date, effective treatment is lacking; however, clinical trials investigating the efficacy of several agents, including remdesivir and chloroquine, are underway in China. Currently, effective infection control intervention is the only way to prevent the spread of the infection. Considering this, India has issued several notifications on how one can be affected by this deadly disease, what the symptoms are, and what preventive measures could be adopted. In addition, the Government of India has issued guidelines for prevention and preparedness of hospitals. This review is to better understand the epidemiology, causes, clinical diagnosis, prevention and control of this virus and steps which are to be followed to prevent spread of disease in hospitals.