WMTC & COVID-19
Introduction
We are still in the midst of the COVID pandemic and things remain fluid. Partisan politics continue to confuse what should ideally be a coordinated international and national health response. Further confusing the situation, 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. Partisan politics continue to confuse what should ideally be a coordinated international and national health response. Further confusing the situation, 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. 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.
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.
N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others.
All WMTC instructors are fully vaccinated and a copy of their vaccination card on file with the WMTC office.
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. 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.
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.
N-95, KN-95, and NF-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others.
All WMTC instructors are fully vaccinated and a copy of their vaccination card on file with the WMTC office.
At present, we recommend:
- All students and staff be fully vaccinated. This means two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines or one dose of the J&J vaccine and an approved booster (where available) with no medical or religious exemptions. If this condition is met, wearing masks or respirators inside a well-ventilated classroom during the course is optional.
- 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.
- All students and staff be vaccinated against the current strain of influenza during the fall, winter, and spring
- That if students wish to wear a mask or respirator for additional protection, they provide their own.
- Sponsors require 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.
- Students who develop signs and symptoms of COVID must be removed from class and tested. They may return to class with a negative antigen test result and permission from a licensed health care provider (physician, PA, nurse).
- Those persons at high risk of severe disease should discuss the decision to attend a course with their physician before registering for the course.
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.