Title: Module 1 Infection Prevention & Control
Course: COVID CURRICULUM (Export) > Section: Module1: Infection Prevention & Control

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

- Explain transmission of COVID-19
- Describe the signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Identify the 4 moments of hand hygiene
- Demonstrate proper hand cleaning techniques
- Describe the importance of hand hygiene
- Select appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Demonstrate proper donning and doffing of PPE
- Discuss considerations for extended use and reuse of PPE
- Explain cleaning and disinfecting
- Demonstrate proper cleaning technique, including for reusable face shields and masks
- Describe additional steps that you can take to reduce risk

Image source: Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by NIAID, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (also known as SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV).   COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China and reported to the WHO on December 31, 2019. It was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and then formally declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

COVID-19 spreads primarily through large aerosol droplets of saliva or nasal discharge which are unlikely to travel more than 2 meters. Virus transmission usually occurs during close, unprotected contact with infected individuals, it can also occur through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. Recent evidence suggests that transmission may also occur through airborne aerosols in certain circumstances.

The virus has been detected in other bodily fluids such as blood and stool, although the ability to transmit through these routes remains unknown.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear. Most people infected with COVID-19 will experience mild respiratory symptoms.   Individuals who are immunocompromised or have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are at higher risk of developing severe illness. This may include viral pneumonia which can result in acute respiratory distress syndrome that can be fatal.

Additional complications of COVID-19 include, but are not limited to, lung damage, multi-organ failure, septic shock and blood clots. COVID-19 patients may require extensive rehabilitation including physical, respiratory, cognitive and psychological.

There are currently no known treatments or vaccines for COVID-19, however, there is a significant amount of research underway across the globe.

Alberta Health Services (2020); Ontario Health (2020b); Public Health Ontario (2020);  World Health Organization (2020a,b)