Guidance for building a dedicated health facility to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak

Abstract

Preparedness for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its spread in India calls for setting up of adequately equipped and dedicated health facilities to manage sick patients while protecting healthcare workers and the environment. In the wake of other emerging dangerous pathogens in recent times, such as Ebola, Nipah and Zika, it is important that such facilities are kept ready during the inter-epidemic period for training of health professionals and for managing cases of multi-drug resistant and difficult-to-treat pathogens. While endemic potential of such critically ill patients is not yet known, the health system should have surge capacity for such critical care units and preferably each tertiary government hospital should have at least one such facility. This article describes elements of design of such unit (e.g., space, infection control, waste disposal, safety of healthcare workers, partners to be involved in design and plan) which can be adapted to the context of either a new construction or makeshift construction on top of an existing structure. In view of a potential epidemic of COVID-19, specific requirements to handle it are also given.

Keywords: biosafety; coronavirus; designated health facility; infection prevention and control; Biocontainment.

Fig. 1

Conceptual figure of an isolation unit. WC, water closet; PPE, personal protective equipment; ICU, intensive care unit.

Fig. 2

Conceptual figure of multi-bedded isolation room for suspects.