Coronavirus Statement

By Riaz Hassan

As you may be aware, there has been an increase in Coronavirus or COVID-19 infections. Luckily, we have not had any cases in Luton, or indeed Bedfordshire yet. However, it is important that we take all precautions and as a dental practice committed to patient safety, we have been taking extra care to make sure our cross-infection protocol exceeds the requirements.

We already have hand sanitiser gels outside the surgeries and waiting rooms and we encourage all patients to use them liberally. We make sure that in addition to the daily cleaning of the entire practice, we take extra care to wipe all door handles regularly. We already clean all the surfaces between patients and use many disposable materials.

According to Public Health England, the steps that we can all take to prevent the spread of infection include:

• wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• avoid close contact with people who are sick
• if you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school
• cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment
• if you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment