- Wherever feasible, use telemedicine and telephone hotlines to initially evaluate suspected cases of COVID-195
-  Use physical barriers to reduce exposure to the COVID-19 virus, especially in areas of the health care setting where patients will first present.
- Postpone elective, non-urgent procedure, and hospitalizations, reduce frequency of visits for chronic patients, apply telemedicine and telephone solutions where possible 
- Cohort confirmed COVID-19 patients without coinfection with other transmissible microorganisms in the same room in order to streamline the workflow and facilitate extended use of PPE.
- Designate dedicated health care workers/teams only for COVID-19 patient care so that they can use PPE for longer periods of time , if necessary.
- Restrict the number of health care workers from entering the rooms of COVID-19 patients if they are not involved in providing direct care and streamline the workflow.To do so, consider bundling activities to minimize the number of times a room is
entered and plan which activities will be performed at the bedside.
- Consider using specific PPE only if in direct close contact with the patient or when touching the environment.
- Visitors should not be allowed to visit confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients


Minimize the need for PPE in health care settings

- Minimize the need for PPE in health care settings
- Ensure rational and appropriate use of PPE
- Coordinate PPE supply chain management mechanisms.


Smith College

According to the CDC, personal protective equipment (PPE) is used every day by healthcare personnel (HCP) to protect themselves, patients, and others when providing care. PPE helps protect HCP from many hazards encountered in healthcare facilities. However, the sudden surge in cases has lead to a spike in the demand for PPEs, leading to shortages all around the world.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19

World Health Organization. 2020. Rational Use Of Personal Protective Equipment For Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) And Considerations During Severe Shortages.  https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/rational-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-for-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-and-considerations-during-severe-shortages     Accessed 5 August 2020.

Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages

Nanomaterials can be used to increase the performance and safety of PPE, such as air filters and masks. They may be used to not only capture aerosol droplets but also inactivate the virus upon contact with the surfaces of PPE. 

Opportunities for nanotechnology-based solutions to increase the efficiency and safety of air filter and mask devices include (i) improving particle capture and retention characteristics, particularly, in the 300 nm diameter size range; (ii) reducing the effects of exhaled humid air on particle redistribution; (iii) rapid inactivation of membrane-bound microbes including enveloped viruses upon capture; and (iv) thin, high-efficiency filtration media for personal masks that are able to be reused repeatedly without loss of efficiency (e.g., novel electrospun nanofibers). 


Nanomaterials for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Management by Country

The normal PPE supply chain process is usually the sourcing teams choosing 2-3 large-scale distributors. The supplies from the distributors are delivered weekly. The distributors usually purchase directly from the manufacturer or third parties. In the U.S., PPE production is limited with more than 70% of PPE produced in China. Due to the spike of demand, distributors cannot acquire PPE to meet the demands. 
- Why aren't distributors purchasing more PPE?
- The Department of Health and Human Services' Strategic National Stockplie
- Negative consequences of PPE shortage
- What should be done?

PPE Supply Chains 

- Face Masks
- Face Shields
-Environmental Precautions
- Gloves

Types of PPE

In the absence of certain effective controls, PPE has limited benefit. Such controls include:
- Administrative controls
- Environmental and engineering controls

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