Pandemic Resources for Grace: Resources

Before ending school closures, schools should prepare for the possible occurrence of COVID-19 on campus. The level of action and quarantine in the case of a school-outbreak will be significant and will require the closure of the affected school. Standardized measures that can be applied to affected schools should be in place, such as detailed guidance for school closure, disinfection, and contact management.

Should policy makers apply the precautionary principle now and encourage people to wear face masks on the grounds that we have little to lose and potentially something to gain from this measure? We believe they should.

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis support physical distancing of 1 m or more and provide quantitative estimates for models and contact tracing to inform policy. Optimum use of face masks, respirators, and eye protection in public and health-care settings should be informed by these findings and contextual factors.

Masks and testing are necessary to combat asymptomatic spread in aerosols and droplets

This exercise will focus on existing plans and authority among [institution] to respond to the introduction of an outbreak of COVID-19. This exercise focuses on the introduction and sustained transmission of COVID-19 in [location], with an emphasis on [institution], and the threat it poses to the public's health and safety. The time frame for this exercise scenario is March–May 2020.

Chu and colleagues also report that respirators and multilayer masks are more protective than are single layer masks. This finding is vital to inform the proliferation of home-made cloth mask designs, many of which are single-layered. A well designed cloth mask should have water-resistant fabric, multiple layers, and good facial fit.12 This study supports universal face mask use, because masks were equally effective in both health-care and community settings when adjusted for type of mask use.