Cell Phones Potential Carrier Of Coronavirus In Hospitals, Warn AIIMS Doctors

Raipur: In its guidelines to safeguard against coronavirus, WHO has failed to factor on mobile phones as being potential carriers of the virus in healthcare facilities, doctors at AIIMS, Raipur have pointed out.

In a commentary published in the journal ‘BMJ Global Health’, the doctors said that mobile phones are a “high-risk surface” which directly comes in contact with the face or mouth even if hands are properly washed.

Therefore, healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable to getting infected as they use mobile phones every 15 minutes to two hours, the doctors added.

“In their tendency to come in direct contact with the face, nose or eyes in healthcare settings, mobile phones are perhaps second only to masks, caps or goggles,” the Financial Express quoted the commentary.

Despite this risk, “there is no mention of or focus on mobile phones in the WHO infection control and prevention guidelines, which recommend the use of hand washing”, it added.