Infection Control & First Aid Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us several painful lessons. As of December 2020, the United States is experiencing more than 200,000 cases per day and a new high of 3,000 deaths per day. Initial vaccine deployments are underway, but this is a pivotal time as we move through the current surge. There is still a critical need for infection prevention methods against COVID-19.

It's been over 100 years since the last major pandemic swept the world, forcing protective measures and human behavior changes to curb the spread. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring tragedy and changes to our everyday lives. 

FDA approved! EPA registered!

You've probably come across these declarations within the last few months as the COVID-19 guidelines called for increased hand hygiene and disinfection. Sure, throwing around the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) or EPA's (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) weight makes products seem safe and effective, but what is each agency responsible for, and what do their regulations and approvals mean? 

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most severe in recent history, it isn't the first pandemic, and it will not likely be the last. All pandemics and epidemics leave some imprint on human behavior; COVID-19 is no exception. While we take lessons from past pandemics, the one lesson to carry into the future will be preparing for future outbreaks.

Be honest, how often do you clean your phone screen and case?

With COVID-19 still surging worldwide, increased attention has been placed on preventative actions, such as handwashing, cleaning commonly touched surfaces, wearing a facemask, and staying home when sick.

There is a ton of information swirling around about cleaning and disinfection best practices amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It's enough to make you dizzy! Furthermore, it's likely the surfaces in your home or facility are not as clean as you think they are.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright light on the importance of handwashing often and adequately. With the pandemic still in full swing and rolling into cold and flu season, washing your hands frequently is still the most effective way to prevent the transmission of infections.

The flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory virus caused by one of three different virus types: influenza A, B, or C. The primary way illnesses like colds and the flu spread from person to person is through the droplets that sick people expel when they cough and sneeze. You can also get the flu by exposure to saliva passed by contact, such as kissing or sharing eating utensils. Sometimes people get the flu because they touch an object or surface with flu virus on it, and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised its guidance on how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads to include airborne transmission. This means that people with COVID-19 can infect others even if they are more than six feet apart via aerosols, which can linger in the air for "minutes to hours" and travel father than six feet. Why is this significant, and what does it mean for you? Let's dive in.