WMTC & COVID-19
Introduction
We are still in the midst of the COVID pandemic and things remain fluid and public tolerance for masking and vaccination requirements has dropped significantly. As a result, individual health admission criteria and PPE requirements vary with the sponsor and the location of the course.
We are still in the midst of the COVID pandemic and things remain fluid and public tolerance for masking and vaccination requirements has dropped significantly. As a result, individual health admission criteria and PPE requirements vary with the sponsor and the location of the course.
Discussion
Data clearly shows that COVID is transmitted by respiratory droplets and that fomite transmission—by touch—is possible, but very rare. N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators offer the best protection against COVID. Surgical and cloth masks do not provide adequate protection against the recent variants of COVID. Buffs and bandanas are essentially useless against all but the largest respiratory droplets. N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others. Students are asked to wash their hands on a regular basis throughout the course and sanitize their hands before touching a patient's face during skill labs and simulations; hand washing also helps prevent the transmission of other infectious diseases like common cold and flu.
Omicron and its variants are highly contagious; it's likely that any successful new variants will be more so. While break-through cases in vaccinated people are becoming increasingly common, most infected persons are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms; very few cases result in hospitalization, and even fewer in death. PCR tests remain the gold standard for testing; however, they are not a reliable screening tool as many people who have had COVID and no longer shed the virus will test positive months after fully recovering. Rapid antibody tests are a better screening tool than molecular (PCR) tests because they tend to be positive when people have a high enough viral load to be contagious; that's also why they are reasonably reliable in detecting COVID in symptomatic infections. For effective screening, students should take a rapid antibody test an hour before class starts each morning.
At present, we recommend:
So what does this mean?
The bottom line is that the Health Admission Criteria and PPE Requirements vary considerably from course to course. Look closely at the course admission criteria and PPE requirements during registration to ensure they align with your beliefs and personal risk tolerance. In courses with no or limited admission criteria, consider wearing an N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 respirator at all times to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.
Data clearly shows that COVID is transmitted by respiratory droplets and that fomite transmission—by touch—is possible, but very rare. N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators offer the best protection against COVID. Surgical and cloth masks do not provide adequate protection against the recent variants of COVID. Buffs and bandanas are essentially useless against all but the largest respiratory droplets. N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others. Students are asked to wash their hands on a regular basis throughout the course and sanitize their hands before touching a patient's face during skill labs and simulations; hand washing also helps prevent the transmission of other infectious diseases like common cold and flu.
Omicron and its variants are highly contagious; it's likely that any successful new variants will be more so. While break-through cases in vaccinated people are becoming increasingly common, most infected persons are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms; very few cases result in hospitalization, and even fewer in death. PCR tests remain the gold standard for testing; however, they are not a reliable screening tool as many people who have had COVID and no longer shed the virus will test positive months after fully recovering. Rapid antibody tests are a better screening tool than molecular (PCR) tests because they tend to be positive when people have a high enough viral load to be contagious; that's also why they are reasonably reliable in detecting COVID in symptomatic infections. For effective screening, students should take a rapid antibody test an hour before class starts each morning.
At present, we recommend:
- All students and instructors stay up-to-date with their COVID vaccines according to CDC guidelines.
- All students and instructors be vaccinated against the current strain of influenza during the fall, winter, and spring
- Rescuers wear a N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 during simulations. This will protect both the rescuer(s) and the patient.
- Teaching as much of the class outside as possible.
- That if students wish to wear a mask or respirator for additional protection, they provide their own.
- Sponsors consider requiring students and staff to take an rapid antigen test each day before class starts; this adds an additional layer of protection against COVID transmission during class, as many people with COVID who are actively shedding the virus are asymptomatic or presymptomatic.
- Those at high risk of severe disease should discuss the decision to attend a course with their physician before registering for the course.
- That anyone registering for an in-person course consider purchasing trip insurance in the event that COVID-19 or other covered circumstances impact your participation in the course. There are no refunds once you register and pay for a course.
- That anyone's decision to wear a mask for additional protection during a course is respected.
- Students who are sick or ill (symptomatic) and test positive for COVID to be dismissed from the course.
- Students suffering from seasonal allergies who are actively sneezing and coughing (symptomatic) to take a daily rapid COVID test and wear a N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirator during the course.
- Students who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic to follow the sponsor’s established COVID protocols.
- That if someone in the course tests positive, all remaining students in the course will be notified that they have been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and directed to follow current CDC guidelines.
- That if a course continues after someone in the class tests positive, students and instructors will wear a new N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 respirator each day the course (as specified by current CDC guidelines).
- That students wear gloves (provided) during necessary skill labs and simulations and properly dispose of and wash or sanitize hands immediately afterward.
So what does this mean?
The bottom line is that the Health Admission Criteria and PPE Requirements vary considerably from course to course. Look closely at the course admission criteria and PPE requirements during registration to ensure they align with your beliefs and personal risk tolerance. In courses with no or limited admission criteria, consider wearing an N-95, KN-95, or NF-95 respirator at all times to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.