Agency continues to recommend use of equipment for contaminated patients, carers and also professionals working in triage and recovery spaces
The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has made the universal use of masks in health units more flexible. Face protection is no longer recommended across the board for all employees and visitors to hospitals, health centres, clinics and laboratories, except, for example, professionals working in the treatment and care of covid-19 cases and patients who may be infected. The change is an update of a technical note published at the beginning of the pandemic, in 2020, when the mask was deemed necessary in these environments.
The flexibility of the use of equipment in the units, according to the agency, was possible due to the decline in the number of cases and deaths from covid-19 in Brazil, and also due to the high availability of immunizers for prevention and protection against Brazilian disease.
Even if it is no longer universal, Anvisa continues to recommend the use of the mask for some specific profiles (see detailed list at the end).
Patients with respiratory or covid-19 positive symptoms and their companions, and patients who have had close contact with a confirmed case during the period of transmissibility of the disease (last 10 days), are invited to wear a mask.
It is also recommended that professionals who monitor patients and circulate in the areas where patients are hospitalized (wards, intensive care units, rooms, corridors, urgency and emergency units) continue to use face shields in these situations. Visitors and patient escorts who frequent these spaces are invited to remain in the use of the equipment.
“Anvisa stresses that it is important to strengthen the recommendation to continue wearing a mask in the health services for carers and visitors of patients admitted to the ward where the patient is located,” the agency said in a statement. “The purpose of this measure”, he continues, “is to prevent the contamination and transmission of covid-19 in the hospital environment and to protect patients, other carers, visitors and professionals”.
The agency also informed that the update of the technical note took into account the scientifically based opinions of various specialists in the sector and that the recommendations are updated based on the occurrence of outbreaks and cases of intra-hospital transmission of the disease.
Last week, Brazil passed the 700,000 covid-19 death mark in the country. In the world, only the United States has more victims of the disease, with more than 1.1 million deaths recorded.
Masks will continue to be recommended for:
- Patients with respiratory symptoms or positive for covid-19 and their companions.
- Patients who have had close contact with a confirmed case during the transmissibility period of the disease (last 10 days).
- As far as professionals are concerned, the recommendation remains to continue to use face protection for those who screen patients and for those who circulate in areas where people infected with the disease are hospitalized (wards, intensive care units, rooms, corridors , urgency and emergency).
- Visitors and patient companions who attend these hospitalization spaces are also invited to wear a mask.
- Situations where there is an indication for the use of a face mask as personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals, in any area of the healthcare service.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
