Coronavirus Pademic으로 일상생활과 모든산업활동에 지장을 받지 않는곳이 없다. 시민들은 급한 경우를 제하고, 집밖의 출입도 자세해 달라는 정부 당국자의 호소를 들으면서, 이번 전염병의 무서움을 더 피부로 느낀다.
오늘은 장례식장에서 근무하는 직원들의 하소연이, 정말로 전염병의 무차별적 공격성을 또 다시 확인하는 계기가 됐다. 사망한 시체가 장례식장에 들어왔을때, 이를 먼저 처리하는 과정에서 수고하시는 분들, 시체에 방부처리를 하는분들, 장례절차를 맡하서 수고하시는 분들, 그리고 묘지에서 수고하시는 분들에게 꼭 필요한 장갑도 지금 이런 분야에서 수고하시는 직원들에게 제대로 수급이 안돼, 딱한 사정을 호소하는 뉴스가 의미하는 바가 너무크다.
장례식장을 운영하는 단체를 대표하는 사람들의 호소에 의하면, 장례식장에서 근무하는 직원들까지도 계속 퍼져가는 Covid-19 Pandemic으로, 요즘 Face Mask와 관련보호장비 구입이 원활치 못해 고생을 하고 있다고 하소연이다. 특히 시체를 방부처리하는 요원들에게 Face Mask부족을 전염병 확산방지를 위해서, 필수적으로 필요한 것인데...
장례식장의 전문가, Smith씨의 설명에 의하면, 우리가 걱정하는것은 꼭 허파에 관한것만은 아니다. 공중에 떠다니는 Virus 병원균이, 일반 사람들에게 빠른 속도로 전파 시킨다는점을 걱정 하는 것이다.
"공중에 떠다니는 병원균은 한참동안을 살아서 떠다닌다는 점이다."라고.
BAO(사망 처리 온타리오주 담당기관, (Bereavement Authority of Ontario)에서는 장례식장 관계자들에게 특별한 협조를 요청하고 있다.
"BAO 는 장례식장 운영자들에게 꼭 직업상 필요한 요원들만이 실질적으로 사용하도록 부탁한다. 우리는 시체를 방부처리하는 요원들이 마스크를 꼭필요로 하는것을 잘알고있다. 그러나 시체를 운반하거나, 화장터에서 근무하는분들, 또는 묘지에서 근무하는 분들, 그분들에게 요즘같이 장비가 부족할때는 실질적으로 꼭 필요하다고는 생각지 않는다."
"또한 장례식장에서 같이 모여 슬퍼하는 조문객들에게 바이러스가 전파될 위험이 있음을 강조하고 싶다.BAO와 FSAC에서는, 장례식장에 50명이하로 조문객들이 방문하도록 조치 해주시고, 이어려운때가 지난 다음에 다시 모여서 망자에 대한 조의나 축하를 할수 있다는점을 강조하고 있다. 아니면 Livestreaming도 하나의 선택사항으로 가능하다는점 참조하시기 바란다"라고 조언하고있다.
이번 전염병의 발원지 중국의 Wuhan시에서는 요즘 자체지역에서 발생하는 확진자는 없고,여행을 마치고 되돌아온 사람들에게서 확진자가 발견되고 있다는점은 그나마 조금은 희망을 주는 소식으로 이해하고싶다.
Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
Published Friday, March 20, 2020 3:24PM EDT
A group that represents the funeral industry is calling for greater
access to masks and other protective gear as the COVID-19 pandemic
marches onward, saying embalmers in particular put themselves at risk in
the course of their work.
Bereavement workers aren't given priority in accessing surgical masks, gloves or other personal protective equipment in short supply due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, said Allan Cole, vice-president of the Funeral Service Association of Canada.
"We are in need of personal protective equipment every bit as much as some front-line health-care professionals," Cole said. "Our membership is challenged with the reality of this tragedy that results in remains that have died of COVID-19."
He said this is particularly dangerous for embalmers, who worry they're at risk of catching the virus from the remains of the infected.
Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced Friday that the government had purchased 11 million N95 respirator masks, in addition to more gloves, wipes and other supplies.
Delivery is set to begin immediately, but it wasn't immediately clear whether embalmers and other bereavement workers would make the list of recipients.
"Most protective equipment is being diverted to the health-care system, and rightly so -- they're trying to look after people that are alive," said Carey Smith, CEO and registrar of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the regulatory body for the field in that province.
But he said he's already hearing that embalmers don't have access to the equipment they need.
"They don't enjoy any special status right now, and that's part of the challenge," Smith said. "They're in line just like everybody else waiting to get protective equipment."
Thus far, there have been 12 deaths linked to COVID-19 across Canada -- mostly in British Columbia -- and upwards of 920 diagnoses.
"There is no known risk associated with being in the same room as a COVID-19 deceased, but of course, embalmers doing preparation activities have risks associated with that, and they have to take measures to protect themselves," Smith said.
He said there are a few different ways embalmers are at risk. One is with aspirating the lungs of the deceased, which involves puncturing them and potentially exposing oneself to the virus within.
But Smith said the lungs are not the only concern. Equally worrying is the droplets that spread the disease even among the living.
"Those droplets can stay alive on surfaces for some time," Smith said.
He said that for now, the BAO is making some specific recommendations to funeral directors.
"We're telling them to be really sure that the people that are using them are actually the ones that need them," Smith said. "There's no doubt you need them during an embalming procedure, but perhaps transportation or in a crematorium setting or by the graveside, you don't really need them."
And of course, there is also the risk of transmitting the virus at funerals among mourners. Both the FSAC and the BAO are recommending funerals be kept to 50 people or less, perhaps with a larger memorial or celebration of life to be held later.
There are also livestreaming options available.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2020.
Bereavement workers aren't given priority in accessing surgical masks, gloves or other personal protective equipment in short supply due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, said Allan Cole, vice-president of the Funeral Service Association of Canada.
"We are in need of personal protective equipment every bit as much as some front-line health-care professionals," Cole said. "Our membership is challenged with the reality of this tragedy that results in remains that have died of COVID-19."
He said this is particularly dangerous for embalmers, who worry they're at risk of catching the virus from the remains of the infected.
Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced Friday that the government had purchased 11 million N95 respirator masks, in addition to more gloves, wipes and other supplies.
Delivery is set to begin immediately, but it wasn't immediately clear whether embalmers and other bereavement workers would make the list of recipients.
"Most protective equipment is being diverted to the health-care system, and rightly so -- they're trying to look after people that are alive," said Carey Smith, CEO and registrar of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the regulatory body for the field in that province.
But he said he's already hearing that embalmers don't have access to the equipment they need.
"They don't enjoy any special status right now, and that's part of the challenge," Smith said. "They're in line just like everybody else waiting to get protective equipment."
Thus far, there have been 12 deaths linked to COVID-19 across Canada -- mostly in British Columbia -- and upwards of 920 diagnoses.
"There is no known risk associated with being in the same room as a COVID-19 deceased, but of course, embalmers doing preparation activities have risks associated with that, and they have to take measures to protect themselves," Smith said.
He said there are a few different ways embalmers are at risk. One is with aspirating the lungs of the deceased, which involves puncturing them and potentially exposing oneself to the virus within.
But Smith said the lungs are not the only concern. Equally worrying is the droplets that spread the disease even among the living.
"Those droplets can stay alive on surfaces for some time," Smith said.
He said that for now, the BAO is making some specific recommendations to funeral directors.
"We're telling them to be really sure that the people that are using them are actually the ones that need them," Smith said. "There's no doubt you need them during an embalming procedure, but perhaps transportation or in a crematorium setting or by the graveside, you don't really need them."
And of course, there is also the risk of transmitting the virus at funerals among mourners. Both the FSAC and the BAO are recommending funerals be kept to 50 people or less, perhaps with a larger memorial or celebration of life to be held later.
There are also livestreaming options available.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2020.
https://www.cp24.com/news/bereavement-workers-including-embalmers-say-they-don-t-have-access-to-enough-masks-1.4861796
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