{ association insights } COVID-19 “What If” Scenarios by VICKI WILBERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
out Missouri, along with various hot spots for COVID-19 spikes, have prompted many member questions—and rightfully so. When offices contact the MDA, the circumstances of each situation vary, which means the answers do, too. In each case, we work to respond accordingly to each scenario pre- sented. With that said, there have been some consistent questions regarding COVID-19 exposures or positive tests. Following are some basic FAQs I thought would be helpful to share, which have been written in coor- dination with Dr. John Dane, State Dental Director, and reviewed by the State Epidemi- ologist.
W FOR POSITIVE TEST RESULTS
What do I do if I (the dentist) test positive for COVID-19?
• Isolate yourself immediately. • Identify family and close contacts. • Contact the County Health Department and provide information to assess and discuss with the public health authori- ties a testing plan for your office staff.
• Notify patients from 3-6 days prior to developing symptoms.
• Close your office for 14 days. • Have a thorough cleaning of the office done prior to re-entry.
What do I do if a staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
• The staff member should isolate him/ herself and quarantine immediately.
• The staff member should notify the County Health Department to assess and discuss a testing plan for his/her family and/or those living with them. • The dental office should assess which
8 focus | JUL/AUG 2020 | ISSUE 4
eek by week COVID-19 matters drive the daily agenda. The increased number of cases through-
dental team members had exposure to a positive tested staff person. The of- fice should assess and discuss with the County Health Department a testing plan for the dental office.
• Any contact with patients by the staff person, notify patients from 3-6 days prior to the symptoms.
• Thoroughly clean the office. • Possible closure of office for 14 days. You (the dentist) and members of the dental team might be able to work via teledentistry based on when the staff member was exposed in relation to being in the dental office and the work they performed. Closing the office might end up being the best scenario.
I work in a dental office; what do I do if someone living with me tests positive for COVID-19 or if I have close contact with someone who tests positive?
• Isolate yourself and family and/or those living with you.
• Get tested. Normally you can have testing done within 2-5 days of being exposed but symptoms might not ap- pear until 7-8 days, so you may have to be tested again.
• Notify the County Health Department to assist with coordination of a testing strategy for yourself, family, those living with you and possibly those you have had come into close contact with.
• Do not return to the dental office until testing result is known. If you test nega- tive, you can return to the office with highest PPE recommendation of the OSHA and the CDC. The usage of an N95 mask with a face shield is impor- tant for up to 14 days. You should be checking symptoms regularly and if symptoms appear you should isolate yourself and retest. If you have a positive
test refer to the Q & A on what to do if a staff member test positive for CO- VID-19.
FOR EXPOSURES
What do I do if someone within the dental team (including the dentist) has a family member or someone living with them that becomes exposed to a person that tests posi- tive for COVID-19?
• Notify the County Health Department and allow them to determine the risk.
• Testing might be suggested. • Recommendations could be anything from monitoring symptoms to quaran- tining for the whole family.
• The staff member or dentist may be instructed to quarantine.
• If the dentist is quarantined, then he/ she might be able to use teledentistry to continue to have staff work in the office.
The above is the best reference at the time of this printing for how to handle positive tests or exposures to COVID-19. As these things are consistently changing, it is important to keep updated and informed on how to handle the scenarios. Your Local/County Health Department also serves as an excel- lent resource. Find their contact information at health.mo.gov/living/lpha. Additionally, on ADA.org/Virus you can find the ADA Re- turn to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit which includes a COVID-19 Hazard Assessment & Checklist for the dental office, with excellent assessment tools to help you document in- formation. The ADA is continually develop- ing new and updated materials like these and the Patient Return Resources (see page 3) to assist members. f
For questions, contact Vicki at 573- 634-3436 or vicki@modentalmail. org, and Dr. Dane at 573-526-3838 or john.dane@health.mo.gov.
