[Judith Anne]

I'm not sure that making such a rule about the nails is going to be helpful--there are other issues, such as rings (I only wear a plain wedding band to work, but others wear more)...for one thing, although there's been a lot of publicity about the artificial nails, gloves are mandated to be worn anytime there is a possibility of touching any body fluid. Gloves are, in my experience, worn in almost every patient's room, with handwashing before and after.

The rule you cite, though, is gathering steam. In my school, it was that nails must not extend beyond the end of the finger, which still leaves room for germs to hide. Gloves are the best bet, in my opinion.

[jacquej]

I agree with you about gloves! I read somewhere that the virus is suspected of surviving on metals for three days. Is that correct?

Does every worker in a hospital wear gloves all the time? I am wondering about all the metal touched... door handles, etc... I am thinking of the husband in the post above who contacted it while visiting his wife. She was in an orthopedic ward, I am guessing. What did he touch with ungloved hands? IIRC, he was masked and gowned.

Here in the states, the last hospital stay for my husband a couple of years ago, not all workers wore gloves all the time and in all areas. It must be impossible to clean all metals over the entire hospital... Could the virus be transferred by hands from one metal surface to another, extending it's "life" with every transfer? Perhaps from hand lotions or normal skin cells? I do not even want to think about the possibility of fecal materials being the means of transfer!!!

Maybe it is silly to wonder about all this. I am sure the researchers are far better than I at figuring it all out, and eventually will discover the various means of transmission.