Table 1.

Hierarchy of Controls Implemented in COVID-19 Assessment Centers where 21,951 Patients Tested Positive for SARS-CoV-2 between March 15, 2020, and March 14, 2021

Engineering controls  – Assessment and optimization of HVAC system (see specific air exchanges)

Administrative controls  – Distancing of 2 m between patients upon entry to clinic and waiting room  – Partition at registration desk  – All nasopharyngeal testing in private room or behind partition  – Alcohol-based hand rub available at point of care  – Training of patient-facing staff in personal protective equipment donning and doffing and nasopharyngeal swab collection  – Environmental cleaning between patients  – Daily active screening of HCWs for symptoms, unprotected exposures and travel history with exclusion from work and testing when symptom positive and/or high risk exposurea  – Contact tracing of positive HCWs  – Distancing in break rooms

Personal protective equipment  Patient   – Masking at all times except during nasopharyngeal testing  Healthcare worker without patient contact   – Surgical mask  Healthcare worker performing nasopharyngeal testing   – Surgical mask   – Eye protection (face shield or goggles)   – Gown   – Gloves

Note. HVAC, heating, ventilation and air conditioning; HCW, healthcare worker.

^a High-risk exposure defined as any close contact (within 2 m) with unmasked individual for 10-minutes or longer where HCW was either not wearing a mask, or eye protection, or both.