Gloves Might Not Be Protecting You From COVID-19
According to an expert, common use of gloves by the general populace could cause scarcity in the supplies intended for health care workers who need them most.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the European CDC have both came out with guidelines indicating that the use of gloves is not an essential preventive tactic from the infectious disease, COVID-19.
The guidelines state that gloves are not necessarily protecting people from getting the virus, and may still result in the spread of infections.
More so, according to Infection Control Program Pediatric associate medical director, Allison Bartlett from the University of Chicago, gloves can trick the person wearing them into complacency. She added that gloves are not an alternative for proper hand hygiene.
She also thinks that disposable surgical gloves are not considered essential when it comes to protection from COVID-19.
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A Misconception
The medical expert explained that people are getting the false sense of security that they have clean and protected hands with the gloves on when that is not actually the case.
Bartlett elaborated that one might unintentionally contaminate his hands when removing the gloves. Thus, if he does not wash his hands after taking them off, his hands are no longer clean.
However, a lot of people still assume, their hands are clean each time they put a pair of gloves on. Furthermore, the associate medical director also said, an individual might feel protected as his skin is not directly touching a surface.
However, added Bartlett, the moment one moves from touching that surface to touching his face, or face shield or mask, that then is infection or contamination even with the gloves on.
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The CDC Guidelines
The CDC guidelines state that reusable gloves are used for deep-cleaning the home or dishwashing, but this is more about hands' protection than prevention of contagion.
Indeed, the CDC has recommended putting on disposable gloves if one is taking care of a sick person, and there is a higher risk of coming in contact with their discharge, and eventually, the spread of infection or virus.
Experts say gloves are considered most essential in medical and clinical settings where health workers know how to use them.
Bartlett also noted that the everyday use of gloves by the general populace could cause scarcity in the supplies intended for healthcare workers who need them most.
She added that there is a different level of scarcity at present compared to when this global health crisis started. Nevertheless, retaining that supply is becomes more difficult as the pandemic continues.
The Environment, Another Factor to Consider
Experts are also looking at the environment as another aspect of consideration. Gloves, they say, are single-use and there's just one thing, Bartlett noted that its use "irks" her.
She continued to say that more than seeing the general public out and about everywhere with gloves on, it annoys her to see what is now called "COVID garbage" everywhere.
To prevent the COVID-19 from spreading, we need to focus on what's effective and practical.
"It's all that we can do," said Bartlett, to redirect the energy, anxiety, and wanting of people to stay safe in all places and activities known to be impactful such as wearing a face shield when in public, handwashing and staying home, to name a few.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:20 AM EDT
