Four-phase safety checklist for health care providers in COVID-19 hospitals: a practical tool for survival!

ABSTRACT

Pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has generated immense viral exposure risk among frontline health care providers (HCPs), especially due to aerosol-generating events and procedures. This further increased the risk of serious mental health disorders amongst them. Hitherto, there is lack of any specific safety protocol specially during the pre- and post-exposure period for HCPs, who provide direct clinical care to patients suffering from COVID-19. We propose a four-phase checklist approach, which may help them in mental preparedness as well as organizing themselves prior and following virus exposure in clinical postings and may enhance the safety standards. The checklist comprises simple steps and may work as a documented track record of precautionary and preventive measures which must be followed by HCWs working in dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.