Healthcare workers want broader protection with N95 masks, but new federal advice stops short
The federal agency that advises Australia's health authorities has updated its guidance on how healthcare workers should be protected against coronavirus, but has stopped short of recommending the use of higher-grade masks.
The Infection Control Expert Group now advises that healthcare professionals should wear N95 masks when treating confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients who display challenging behaviours, such as shouting or exhibiting mental illness.
For all other patients, the group recommends using surgical masks.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has responded to the updated advice, saying surgical masks do not offer sufficient protection.
It has called for all healthcare workers treating known or suspected COVID-19 patients to be given N95 masks.
AMA federal president Dr Omar Khorshid says surgical masks are not designed to shield the clinician from illness and do not keep healthcare workers safe from infection.
"P2 or N95 masks filter and best prevent virus transmission. If a doctor or nurse is caring for a patient with, or likely to have, COVID-19, P2 or N95 masks are essential, regardless of the presence of potential challenging behaviours," he said.
Dr Khorshid also called for greater effort to assure healthcare worker safety.
"Governments must commit to zero healthcare worker deaths. Doing so requires sufficient supply of appropriate personal protective equipment," he said.
On Thursday, the ABC told the story of a Melbourne nurse who had asked her workplace for N95 masks but was told they were unnecessary.
The ABC's national medical reporter Sophie Scott wants to hear from healthcare workers on the frontline of Australia's fight against COVID-19.
If you know more about this story and would like to contact us please send an email to Specialist.Team@abc.net.au.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA4LTA3L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWF1c3RyYWxpYS1saXZlLW5ld3MtdmljdG9yaWEtcXVlZW5zbGFuZC1uc3ctYm9yZGVyLzEyNTMyMDY00gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNTMyMDY0?oc=5
2020-08-07 10:18:00Z
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