Justifying quarantine in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare.
Occup Med (Lond)
; 71(6-7): 250-254, 2021 10 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1376325
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The first COVID-19-positive patient was identified in Ireland on 29 February 2020 (Department of Health, Government of Ireland; https//www.gov.ie/en/pressrelease/2f75fd-statement-from-the-national-public-healthemergency-team-sat-29-feb/). Healthcare worker (HCW) quarantining became a core intervention for those identified as 'close contacts' to reduce onward transmission within the workplace to patients and colleagues. Whether a quarantining strategy could be justified at a time when there was an increased demand for the services of HCWs remained unknown.AIMS:
To establish whether quarantining staff away from a healthcare setting during a pandemic is justified.METHODS:
This retrospective study examined close contacts of COVID-19-positive index cases (both residents and HCWs) in a community hospital over a 4-week period from 1 to 28 April 2020. Close contacts were identified in accordance with national guidelines. Zones of the hospital were examined to determine the number of COVID-positive index cases and their close contacts. A cumulative result for the hospital was recorded.RESULTS:
While outcomes varied over time, per zone and per HCW category, the overall conversion rate from close contact to an index case was 30%.CONCLUSIONS:
This study vindicates the policy of quarantining close contact HCWs from their workplaces as they pose a significant threat to both their patients and fellow workers.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quarantine
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Occup Med (Lond)
Journal subject:
Occupational Medicine
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Occmed
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