ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Higher probability of developing severe COVID-19 has been associated with health risk factors and medical conditions which are common among workers globally. For at risk workers, return to work may require additional protective policies and procedures. METHODS: A review of the medical literature was conducted on health risk factors and medical conditions associated with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, standardized measures for community COVID transmission, and occupation-specific risk. RESULTS: The relative risk of acquiring and the severity of COVID-19 for workers is associated with three pillars: individual risk, workplace risk, and community risk. Matrices were developed to determine a worker's individual risk based on these three pillars. CONCLUSIONS: A practical decision tool is proposed for physicians evaluating and managing individual worker COVID-19 risk in the context of returning to work.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control/standards , Physicians/standards , Return to Work , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/transmission , Communicable Disease Control/methods , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Occupational Health , Review Literature as Topic , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2 , Workplace/standardsABSTRACT
A significant amount of illness has origins in oral microorganisms. The current SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic has reduced the general population's access to and use of routine and nonemergency dental care. This creates a dangerous situation in which oral bacteria, fungi, and viruses may remain unchecked and allowed to flourish, which in turn increases risks for several systemic diseases as well as negative outcomes for pregnancies and surgical patients. This situation presents opportunities for health maintenance and disease prevention by individuals as well as for dental health professionals to use anti-infective treatments and procedures. Lifestyle medicine professionals have a chance to encourage behaviors that individuals can undertake to promote good oral health outside of the dentist's office as well as shaping public perceptions about and reinforcing the importance of resuming dental visits as governmental restrictions allow.