New Delhi, Apr 4 (IANS): The Indian Chest Society (ICS) has found that the long working bours and continuous exposure to high-risk patients is the cause for the increasing risks of COVID-19 positivity among healthcare workers.

The ICS in its webinar on 'Preparedness and healthcare worker protection' said, "Working continuously for more than 10 hours in high-risk COVID care area, respiratory aerosol generating procedures, inadequate hand hygiene practices and inadequate PPE have been found to increase the chances of infection among Healthcare Workers (HCWs)."

The ICS has also concluded that under the current circumstances, surgical masks are sufficient in all areas except where aerosol generating procedures like taking nasopharyngeal swabs and intubation are being done, and that N95 mask is essential.

"Reuse of N95 mask can be done if it is dried completely for a period of 72 hours or heated to a temperature to above 65 C for 30 minutes," the society said in a statement.

On the use of hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis (malaria drug), the ICS suggested that HCQ prophylaxis may be offered for people taking care of high- risk individuals but with caution.