But for these frontliners, doing their work means exposing themselves to the risk of exposure to infected patients, particularly when they do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to shield themselves from the invisible virus.
As a result, many healthcare workers have fallen ill of COVID-19, too. In many instances, they have been infected without them knowing because they do not exhibit any symptom. This increases the chances of them transmitting the virus to the people they interact with, particularly their families at home.
It is therefore important for healthcare workers to take extra precautions in sanitizing after their hospital shifts to make sure they do not unintentionally cause infection elsewhere. This is also critical in ensuring the safety of their families.
The University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) released an infographic outlining the protocols for healthcare workers when entering their homes after their hospital shifts.
The protocols include the following:
We owe a lot to our healthcare workers. When this COVID-19 pandemic is over, we will all look back at this extraordinary period in history as a grim reminder of the need for greater investment on healthcare infrastructure and in making sure that our medical frontliners are adequately protected and well-compensated.
Do you have other tips apart from those listed above? Let us know in the comments section below.