A Practical Decontamination Framework for COVID-19 Front-line Workers Returning Home

Abstract

The question, ‘‘how can I keep the people in my household safe?’’ points to a fundamental fear among health care workers and other essential employees. For those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety regarding virus transmission does not stop at shifts’ end. Instead, providers are grappling with how to ensure they do not bring infectious materials home. Few, if any, guidelines exist to advise personnel on how to best limit viral spread to their families, and most focus on how to limit transmission after individuals become infected. In this context, we have endeavored to synthesize scientific evidence, agency guidelines, and best practices from workers in the field, to create a framework for staff returning from work.