It is unfortunate that all effort to contain our country’s situation in March has come to naught. It truly saddened most of us the MCO which managed to curb the spread has come to nothing. Let’s not go into what may have been what may be and move on from this point of time and see what is best for all of us.
The disease is now in the community. Chances are spread of this disease may become exponential. The designated government hospital burden will increase and eventually the number of beds and ventilators may not be sufficient. Chances are private hospitals may have to admit patients with covid19 soon.
What facilities in the private hospitals can ensure safety for both covid infected and non covid patients?
- Covid is an airborne disease, therefore special rooms for isolation are essential for disease control. These rooms are called negative pressure rooms because the air inside the room is of lower pressure than the air outside. This means that when the door is opened, potentially contaminated air or other dangerous particles from inside the room will not flow outside into non-contaminated areas. They create a crucial barrier between extremely infectious people and everyone else. Check if the hospital you are going to has negative pressure rooms or ICU and how many are available.
- Some hospitals have installed UV lights at critical and high risk areas. Ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of radiation. It has more energy than radio waves or visible light but less energy than X-rays or gamma rays. A recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) investigated using UVC light to kill large amounts of the new coronavirus in liquid cultures. The study found that UVC light exposure completely inactivated the virus in 9 minutes. Another study, also published in the AJIC, looked at using a specific type of UVC light to kill SARS-CoV-2 on laboratory surfaces. The study found that the UVC light reduced the live coronavirus by 99.7 percent in 30 seconds. Reference: http://covid-19.moh.gov.my/kajian-dan-penyelidikan/mahtas-covid-19-rapid-evidence-updates/08a_Hyper_Light_Disinfection_Robot_03072020.pd
- It is now beyond doubt that poor ventilation in confined indoor spaces is associated with the increased transmission. Covid19 transmission is particularly effective in crowded, confined indoor spaces such as workplaces (offices, factories) and other indoor settings. An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to regulate and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in indoor spaces by increasing the rate of air change, reducing recirculation of air and increasing the use of outdoor air. It is of utmost importance that hospitals invest in this for a safer environment in this pandemic.
- HEPA filters have proven to be efficient in capturing particles smaller than viruses, therefore has a capacity for sifting coronavirus better than any conventional filters. American disease prevention agency CDC advises to add portable filter systems to augment air quality in areas where permanent air-handling systems are not a feasible option.
In times like this, it is important for private hospitals to think how to save covid infected patients and yet keep the surrounding safe from spread of the disease. It is important they invest in the necessary measures and help curb the disease. It is unfortunate we have come to this but together we can fight this. Stay safe and take extra careful measures.
Have a good day. Please leave a comment and feel free to share.
Dr. Betty Teh
Founder and Editor in chief
Beating Hearts
