Question

Write a paragraph that includes a strong statement about the overall impact of COVID-19 on Post-Acute Long Term Care and how as a nation we can possibly stem the increasing tide of this pandemic in America

Answer 1

Coronavirus or Covid-19 is the modern-day equivalent of the Spanish Flu. Approximately 1.4 million deaths worldwide and 250k in the United States alone, Covid is a pandemic that has brought the whole world to a halt. Millions of dead and even more people losing their jobs due to the pandemic. Recording the first case of Covid in the US in early January, The United States has recorded approx 13 Million cases to date, with the State of Texas recording the most cases and the most deaths. Second, on the list is California.

The Covid Virus is a rapidly mutating virus. 23 types of the mutation have been recorded till now. This has made it very difficult to contain the virus and lower the rate of increasing cases. The virus is rapidly adapting to its new host. Some of these frequent mutations appeared in regions of the genome that encode the spike protein that coronaviruses use to infect cells. It is a type of RNA virus, which is more prone to changes and mutations compared to DNA viruses. So, when it passes from person to person, It has been and continues to be, mutating. Although that happens at a very low pace.

Post Acute long term care facilities currently manage the Individuals with suspected COVID-19 by referring them to their local and/or state public health department for guidance on management. Also, some guidelines that have been issued which should be followed by edeveryone are:

• Wearing a gown, gloves, facemask, and goggles or a face shield for standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and eye protection.
• Recommending frequent hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, washing for at least 20 seconds.

Reducing the Risk of introducing Covid in a PALTC facility or anywhere in general:

• Surveillance: Surveillance and Video Monitoring are important in the detection and recognition of outbreaks of infectious illnesses in long-term care settings. Care facilities are requested to assess their surveillance program and optimize its performance.
• Employees: As PALTC workers and healthcare professionals reside in the community and work with the patients, Any employee not feeling well or are sick should stay at home for precautionary measures.
• Visitors: Like healthcare personnel, visitors can also be potential carriers of the Covid virus. Wearing protection gear, mask and other equipment are mandatory while visiting a patient so as to not carry the virus outside the containment zone. Any person with a travel history especially to places with active transmission of covid cases should not be allowed to visit the patients without proper testing and confirmation of a negative test.
• Planning: As part of risk assessment, PALTC facilities should prepare and plan to respond against any potential outbreaks and/or pandemics. Plans developed for pandemic influenza are reasonable models to use in addressing the prevention and management of COVID-19.

For any Community, City, State, or Country to control the spread of Covid, The People should follow all the protective measures with all seriousness like wearing a mask in public, washing hands after touching anything in public, and not touching the face with dirty hands. These are some of the basic steps every individual can follow to keep themselves safe from the Covid virus and stop the potential spread. Covid symptoms are visible from Day 2 to as long as Day 14. If anyone experiences symptoms, They should immediately get themselves checked for Covid and isolate themselves so as to not spread it any further.