Using Temperature to Fight the Novel Coronavirus
On January 30th, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19, or the Novel Coronavirus, a Public Health Emergency of Internationally. Stopping the spread of any virus is extremely important, and no virus has been more in the news than Coronavirus. At the time this post was written, there have been 90,306 reported cases and 3,087 deaths from the virus.
COVID Body Temperature Monitoring
On January 30th, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19, or the Novel Coronavirus, a Public Health Emergency of Internationally. Stopping the spread of any virus is extremely important, and no virus has been more in the news than Coronavirus. At the time this post was written, there have been 90,306 reported cases and 3,087 deaths from the virus.
Temperature plays an integral part in the fight against Coronavirus, as well as any other virus, in every step of the cycle. Below are some of the many ways temperature helps with fighting the Coronavirus.
Vaccines
Vaccines to stop the spread of this and other viruses have to be active, and temperature has everything to do with that. Refrigerated vaccines should be stored at temperatures between 2° C and 8° C (36° F and 46° F), with the thermostat set to about 5° C (40° F),which decreases the likelihood of temperature excursions. Vaccines that should be refrigerated include, Influenza (LAIV, IIV, RIV), Hep A, meningoccal containing, HepB, Rotavirus (RV1 and RV5), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV4 and HPV2).
Vaccines stored in the freezer should maintain temperatures between -50° C and -15° C (-58° F and +5° F), with the thermostat set at a midpoint between these temperatures, to assure appropriate frozen temperatures. Some vaccines that should be stored in freezer units include MMR, HZC, VAR, MMRV.
With Patients
A challenge in combating contagious diseases is limiting the spread of the virus within a hospital. Cross infection from patient to patient, as well as patient to caregiver, can be a very big problem. While quarantining patients may limit patient to patient contact, technology can help limit interaction between patient and caregiver. Temperature monitors can be used on patients that monitor changes in body temperature continuously and remotely. The data is sent from the patient to a monitor at the nursing station. Instead of physically checking the patient temperature every few hours with a thermometer, temperatures can be monitored remotely and automatically, thereby limiting patient to caregiver contact.
Cleaning Temps
Washing hands and clothes thoroughly is essential to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and other contagious diseases, and temperature can help as well. When washing your hands us water as hot as you can handle (Without scalding yourself of course!), as hot water kills more virus bacteria than lukewarm or cold water. The same goes for washing clothes. If there is a virus outbreak, all clothes should be washed in hot water.
