In May 2023, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) highlighted the end of the federal declaration of a public health emergency for COVID. As we approach another cold and flu season, many are concerned that we will see a re-emergence of COVID and the public health emergency will return. One of the common beliefs among health experts is that COVID will always be around. A quick reminder that COVID and Influenza (flu) are two different types of coronaviruses that affect individuals’ lungs and breathing. Both viruses are spread between people through respiratory droplets transmitted through the air or surface contamination.
I think the concern regarding COVID shouldn’t be how bad it will be this year, but what prevention efforts we should have in place. The first line of defense is washing your hands, coughing, sneezing into your elbow, not touching your face, eyes, or mouth. Sadly, it seems that the public has forgotten, returned to pre-pandemic behaviors, and forgone the precautions we adhered to during the pandemic. The Institute for Health reminds us that particles from a sneeze or cough can travel six feet and can land on others or surfaces. Today, as you go through your day, think about all the surfaces you touch. There is no way to determine if the surface is clean and could be contaminated by someone coughing or sneezing. Most people realize that public restrooms are not very clean and take extra precautions, but according to the CDC, only 31% of men and 65% of women wash their hands after using the restroom. If we know these are dirty locations, think about how many fewer people wash their hands or don’t cover their cough, based on those statistics. WebMD shares that some of the dirtiest things are not always what we expect. Things like public touch screens, gas station pump handles, restaurant menus, shopping carts, and elevator buttons are noted as large culprits of virus transmission. Even soap or hand sanitizer dispensers are breeding grounds for germs. It is important to remember when using soap, to scrub our hands for 20 seconds and rub in the full dose of hand sanitizer when using public dispensers.
Moving into this season’s virus season, don’t focus on the numbers, but focus on decreasing the spread and washing your hands, staying home when you are sick, and cleaning public items before and after use. As always, at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, we know that illness can always occur with the most diligent hand washers. We want you to know when you need to seek medical attention, we will be here.
DREW SEELMAN, DNP, RN, CEN, is the Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa.
