Homecare Coronavirus (COVID-19) Protocol As Homecare professionals, we played a critical role in protecting our clien= ts from any infectious illness.=20 Coronaviruses a large family of viruses that cause illness, that can include= any illness from the common cold to more serious disease. Coronaviruses can= transmit from animals to humans, and from people to people. The COVID-19 is= the novel coronavirus that is responsible for the pneumonia outbreak that s= tarted in China.=20 Symptoms of the virus are primarily long related, coughing, difficulty breat= hing, shortness of breath, fever, headache, sore throat. Less frequent sympt= oms include coughing up blood and diarrhea. Coronaviruses are transmitted through respiratory droplets, direct person to= person spread, respiratory droplets produced when infected person coughs or= sneezes, these droplets can land in the mouth is or notices of people who a= re nearby and are then inhaled into the lungs. It is also possible that you c= an get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, an= d then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Spread is possible while people a= re symptomatic, but spread is also possible before people show signs. The in= cubation period can be 2 to 14 days, but some people have shown signs of the= coronavirus up until 27 days later.=20 Infection prevention protocol and control measures- -Review home care infectious disease procedures with all caregivers.=20 -frequent hand hygiene, 20 to 30 second hand washing with soap and water upo= n arrival to clients room or house, before starting the shift. -Hand hygiene after client care, before and after toileting, before and afte= r meal preparation, before and after housekeeping tasks. Use disposable pape= r towels to dry hands and dispose.=20 -good cough etiquette, coughing in Kleenex and disposing of it right away. -Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with a Kleenex. Use tissues t= o contain any respiratory or oral secretions. -Advise Home Care assistance if you have traveled. -Advise Home Care assistance if you have come into contact with a person wit= h acute respiratory illness.=20 -avoid close contact with any people suffering from acute respiratory infect= ion. -Wear a mask if you have any respiratory symptoms, even if they are mild and= even if it is post improvement of a cold. -wear disposable gloves especially when working with bodily fluids, oral or r= espiratory secretions, stool, urine. Hand hygiene before and after putting o= n and taking off gloves, every time you use the gloves. -Do not reuse gloves.=20 -do not reuse masks. -Visitors who have travelled should not be allowed to visit if they have any= respiratory symptoms. -Caregivers should wash their hands before and after using the toilet. -If ever soap and water are not available please wash hands with an alcohol-= based hand rub. -Clean and disinfect daily surfaces that are frequently touched, bedside tab= les, bedframe, anything in kit