COVID-19 Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information

COVID Evaluation of Risk for Emergency Departments (COVERED) – The COVID Evaluation of Risk for Emergency Departments (COVERED) Project is a CDC-funded study to better understand the risk of healthcare personnel (HCP) in emergency departments (ED) of acquiring COVID-19 in order to identify ways to reduce that risk. Over a 12-week period, a cohort of enrolled HCP that have varying interactions, and varying risk of exposure, with patients that are COVID-19 positive will complete serial questionnaires to provide more detail on patient interactions and the use of personal protective equipment.

The HCP enrolled in the study include non-clinical ED staff, ED nurses, physicians that perform endotracheal intubations and those who do not. COVERED is a collaboration between EMERGEncy IDNet, a CDC-collaborative emergency department-based emerging infectious disease sentinel network, and the National Emergency Airway Registry (NEAR), the largest prospective emergency department-based airway network.

To learn more about the COVERED project, please visit: University of Iowa Health Care.

Considerations for Release of Stockpiled N95s Beyond the Manufacturer-Designated Shelf Life – Some U.S. stockpiles include N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95s) that have exceeded their manufacturer-designated shelf life. U.S. Government decision makers are considering whether these products should be released for use during the COVID-19 response. As such, a study to evaluate stockpiled N95s from 10 geographically dispersed facilities with a range of storage conditions is underway by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This study includes data from 11 different N95 models. Based on preliminary information gained in this study, many models have continued to perform in accordance with NIOSH performance standards.

To learn more, please visit: N95 Respirators.

Preparing Your Dialysis Facility for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Factsheet) – Dialysis is a lifesaving therapy, and patients cannot postpone treatments. Facilities can protect patients and staff from respiratory infections, including COVID-19, by following CDC recommendations.

Resuming Business Toolkit – The Resuming Business Toolkit is designed to assist employers in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and lowering the impact in their workplace when reintegrating employees into non-healthcare business settings. Not sure whether you’re ready to resume business, visit CDC’s decision tool as a start.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings – Workers in office buildings may be at risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 illness. Before resuming business operations, check the building to see if it’s ready for occupancy. This guidance provides steps to create a safe and healthy workplace and protect workers and clients.