Friday, May 08, 2009
flawed system
In light of the recent H1N1 virus attack around the world, the DORSCON Alert status have risen to ORANGE. It means that everyone have to take their temperature prior to entrance of some public places like government buildings, hospitals, theatres etc... Students have to take their temperature twice in schools during curriculum time.
However, there are a couple of loopholes with the current system. First, visitors were lining-up in groups without any protective equipment on. This would have resulted in cross-contamination even before you take your temperature if there was a virus-carrier in the line.
Second, students were asked to take their temperature in the classroom before the first lesson. Shouldn't it be taken before they step into the school premise? Another example is during the SYF at SCH on Wednesday. The audiences were crowding around the area to have our temperature taken, and it's inside the building! Is precaution really taken into consideration or protocols were carried out purely based on personnel's convenience?
Also, hospitals were grouping all patients together in one assembly area to have their temperature taken before any consultations or visitings. Shouldn't they separate those with flu and fever from those of other illness other than those of the symptoms of the flu virus?
Apart from the risk of cross-contamination, some places weren't environmentally-friendly. Large plastics were used to cover the thermometer's tip while taking temperature from the ear; and facemasks were thrown away unnecessarily. Isn't it better to use infra-red or use smaller pieces of plastics?
If we are to take these precautions, we might as well go back to the GREEN status.
DSZeng scribbled this at 11:57 AM
