COVID-19: Contingency actions for the provision of meals to employees of a university hospital in southern Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The global pandemic for the new coronavirus has had repercussions in all areas of human activities. Health services are essential for serving the population. However, workers in this sector also deserve attention, the provision of meals being one of those precautions. Aims: This study aims to publicize the actions related to the development of a contingency plan and the provision of meals to workers at a public university hospital in southern Brazil during the coronavirus pandemic. Methods: Study design: descriptive observational. This case study evaluates for the period from March to June 2020 on the evolution of contingency plans in order to guarantee the provision of adequate food and preserve the health of workers in the cafeteria space. Results: The hospital cafeteria served, on average, more than 2,500 lunches before the COVID-19 pandemic began in Brazil. Actions developed by the hospital administration allowed remote work by workers. However, an average of 1,500 lunches is still served daily. In this study, the actions are presented in order to guarantee an adequate environment that does not transmit outbreaks to workers in the hospital environment. Among some actions are issues of menu pattern, guidance, and mandatory handwashing by all users, visual signage on-site, and the internal website, among others. Conclusions: The actions have been effective since there are no records of a COVID-19 outbreak among hospital workers.