Yes. VUMC employees who enter a patient’s room with someone who is not wearing a mask are protected if they are following VUMC guidance: wearing a surgical mask, wearing eye protection, and practicing hand hygiene. Surgical masks protect against droplets being shed by the person wearing the mask AND against breathing in droplets shed by someone else. As a reminder, for other serious infections spread by droplets, such as contagious meningitis, health care personnel have depended on surgical masks for personal protection for years, even when the contagious patient is not wearing a mask.

You will need to be at home for at least 10 days from when you tested positive.

Last week in MyVUMC we published a “You Asked and We Answered” about patients wearing face shields. Based on further inquiries regarding an allowance of face shields in certain circumstances, we wish to provide further detail and clarifications:

An update to this guidance has been published.   While masking is the preferred intervention to prevent transmission, some people may ask to utilize face shields to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not endorse the use of face shields. However, recent data suggest some benefit, as long as the shield covers the full face down to below the chin area.

Question: What if I experience a burning sensation or skin irritation while wearing an N95 mask? Answer: If you notice this type of discomfort from any PPE use:

Question: Can I use my own N95 respirator while I’m here at work? Answer: No. The Medical Center’s Supply Chain experts have worked very hard to ensure that VUMC always has an available supply of PPE on hand. This includes readily available N95 respirator masks for individuals who need these to perform their work. To ensure the continued safety of employees and our patients please use an authorized N95 respirator provided by the Medical Center. 

Question: Can masks or N95 respirators that have an external valve or vent be used as part of universal masking at VUMC?

Question:  I have heard about concerns that wearing a mask for a prolonged period of time can cause you to retain or breathe in more carbon dioxide (CO2) or get less oxygen and this can make you sick.  I even heard about people who had car accidents they felt were due to this issue.  Does mask wearing for a prolonged time cause this?

Yes, as long as staff can maintain 6-foot distancing while eating. There may be need to be fewer people at the table. For everyone's safety it is important to keep distance while eating with coworkers, since masks cannot be worn.

Yes. Certainly, people at greatest risk for spreading COVID-19 are symptomatic people. We need to remember that before symptoms begin, during a period when infected people are “presymptomatic,” they can shed significant amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus and infect others.