Local spikes in COVID-19 cases: Recommendations for maintaining otolaryngology clinic operations

Benito, Daniel A.; Pasick, Luke; Mulcahy, Collin F.; Rajasekaran, Karthik; Todd-Hesham, Hosai; Joshi, Arjun S.; Goodman, Joseph F.; Thakkar, Punam

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an unprecedented economic and public health crisis in the United States. Following efforts to mitigate disease spread, with a significant decline in some regions, many states began reopening their economies. As social distancing guidelines were relaxed and businesses opened, local outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to place person on healthcare systems. Among medical specialties, otolaryngologists and their staff are among the highest at risk for becoming exposed to COVID-19. As otolaryngologists prepare to weather the storm of impending local surges in COVID-19 infections there are several practical measures that can be taken to mitigate the risk to ourselves and our staff.