Issa Kawalit*, Muhand Eltwal, Wiam Hussein, Eyadeh Mdanat and Laith Al-Rabadi
Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a recently discovered infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV)-2 viruses. The disease was identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The infection spreads via droplets produced during coughing and sneezing. While social distancing will help minimize the spread of COVID-19 infection, this practice is difficult for patients seeking medical treatment. Unfortunately, there is no easy alternative. While many people may be able to postpone daily routine appointments to avoid contacting infection, sick patient with urgent medical appointments cannot. Strategies to prepare the medical practice offices for this pandemic to optimize patient care and to lower the risk of viral transmission to healthcare workers and other patients in the clinical office should be prioritized. Herein, we present the perspective of a group of physicians who felt the need for urgent response measures to develop infection control guidance for the medical practice office.
