COVID-19: Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control

COVID-19: Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control

Jul 01, 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disruptions. As many of you can feel, business activity in Singapore has slowed down significantly and will continue to remain at this level for at least a few months. With our business taking a severe hit from the Covid-19 outbreak and no one can be sure how long the situation will last, we are preparing for a long and difficult path ahead

In Aver Asia, the first goal, we need to think about how best to protect workers, control, and prevent the spread of the virus as there is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Please do look after yourselves and your families. We will be going to get through this, together. Please Stay Safe & Healthy.

How does the virus spread?

  1. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, he/she emits droplets containing the virus, which are carried 1-2m.
  2. When these droplets come into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth of another person, the other person may become infected.
  3. This can happen directly or indirectly through hands which have come into contact with these droplets (e.g. by touching contaminated surfaces).

How can I protect myself at work?

  1. As you are working in an area which has higher risk of exposure, extra precautions will need to be taken.
  2. You should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work.
  3. Social distancing from the dorm residents is also important to protect yourself.
  4. Practice hand hygiene regularly, especially before you enter clean areas from dirty areas, and before meal times.
  5. You must follow the correct steps to remove your PPE to prevent accidental exposure

How can I use the PPE?

  1. Wear PPE appropriate to the nature of tasks to be carried out and take them off once tasks are complete.
  2. Put on and take off your PPE in the correct way, sanitizing/washing hands after each piece of PPE is put on/taken off.
  3. Dispose of dirty PPE in the correct bins and don’t wear them into clean areas.

      What are the key things I can do to minimize spread?

      You can play your part by doing the following:

          1. Maintain personal hygiene (i.e. clean Self)
          2. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette
          3. Practice hand hygiene (i.e. clean Hands)
          4. Maintain a clean Environment
          5. Observe social Distancing

      Remember:

      Clean Self

      1. Practice respiratory and cough hygiene by using tissues when coughing or sneezing.
      2. Sanitise or wash your hands after contact with mucous or phlegm.
          1.  

      Clean Self

        1. Practice respiratory and cough hygiene by using tissues when coughing or sneezing.
        2. Sanitise or wash your hands after contact with mucous or phlegm.

      Clean Environment

        1. Ensure that common facilities are not shared by both staff and residents
        2. Ensure common staff facilities, areas and high touch surfaces are clean by stepping up on cleaning and disinfecting regimen and/or frequency.

      Social Distancing

          1. Maintain at least 1 meter distance from each other at all times in the workplace, especially during meal times when masks are off.
          2. Adjust the setup of the workplace to observe safe distancing – e.g. spacing out work desks and blocking out certain seats in eating areas.

      What else can I do to ensure the safety of myself and my colleagues?

      1. Work in teams and don’t meet members from other teams, including outside work.
      2. Wear a mask at all times when at work, including downtime (e.g. when off-duty on rest break).
      3. Monitor your temperature regularly and see a doctor if unwell.
      4. If you have a temperature that is persistently more than 37.5 degrees and a cough and/or sore throat, see a doctor.

      What should I do when I am feeling unwell?

      1. Inform your team lead and do not come to work; stay home and avoid contact with elderly family members
      2. See a doctor immediately. Stick to the same doctor if there is a need to visit the doctor more than once.
      3. Visit https://www.flugowhere.gov.sg/ to identify the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) nearest to you.

      This article is prepared in consultation with Prof Dale Fisher (Chair, National Infection Prevention and Control Committee (NIPC)) and Ms Foo Meow Ling (Member, NIPC), June 2020

      Presentation Slides

      Please view these videos on YouTube: 

      What is COVID-19 and how does it spread

              1. What is PPE for? What PPE should I wear?
              2. Appropriate donning, doffing & disposal of PPE
              3. Minimising COVID-19 spread at the workplace
              4. Dos & Don’ts for Safety in Dormitories
              5. Putting on and taking off full personal protective equipment