2021 Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 98-104
Because the severity of novel coronavirus infections (COVID-19) is known to be higher among older adults, infection control countermeasures for long-term care welfare facilities for this population are an urgent issue. We conducted a questionnaire survey among 285 facilities in Tochigi to determine the current status of their infection control for COVID-19, including the extent to which countermeasures are implemented and what are lacking, and to consider the necessary support for them. The response rate was 44.9%, and analysis of the results showed that the following problems need to be solved immediately: many facilities do not have external advisors for daily consultation; there is a lack of personal protective equipment, disinfectants, and infection prevention and control manuals for COVID-19 in 42.2% of the facilities; and there is a failure to isolate residents with fever in 30.5% of the facilities. In addition, it was found that many facilities were unsure on how to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in their facilities, and that there was a need for external support, such as human resources, in the event of a COVID-19 spread in their facilities.
