OVERVIEW
It is evident from various news articles that controlling the pandemic COVID 19 has been tricky,and no single approach plan is available to the world. But there are many procedures adopted by countries that can be a benchmark to approach this.
Keeping health workers from getting infected and reducing unwanted transmission is one such key to this problem. It has been observed that during community transmission, hospitals and testing centres also become the hotspots for transmission of the disease.
South Korea has been able to locate and isolate COVID 19 patients by adopting widespread
testing. Also, it has been able to operate without a nationwide lockdown, which is essential as economic activities are not halted. Widespread testing requires facilities or procedures for
collecting samples and one of South Korea’s idea of using a phone booth with a glove box
compartment for collecting samples has achieved a higher number of samples collected, reduced transmission in these areas and reduced PPE kits required.
This idea generated by doctors needs to be detailed further architecturally to create a document for a functional space that can provide India with the resource required to collect large amounts of samples.
This document envisions to formalize a temporary sample collection booth and proposes a
typical layout to be followed.
This is one of the physical infrastructure required in the system, the overall scheme may require,a testing facility, an isolation/ quarantine facility, a treatment area, so on and so forth.
GOALS
1. To create fast and effective temporary collection centres for throat and nose swabs.
2. To avoid collections centre from becoming transmission hotspots
3. To be able to increase the number of persons getting tested
4. Reduce the time required to sanitize sample collection areas
5. Reduce the number of PPE kits required for health workers.
PROPOSAL
The proposal is created using:
1. A washable and waterproof tarpaulin tent. Utilizing available tent truss structures widely
used by local tent fabricators all over India. For the purpose, a tent of 40’x16’ footprint has
been used.
2. A 20’x 10’x 10’ MS container box, repurposed as an air-conditioned storage facility, and
change room. This type of repurposing is done by many manufactures in tier I and tier II
cities across India commonly called as ‘Porta-Cabins’.
3. Aluminium partitions, which can be rapidly fabricated into partitions or booths required for
this purpose, using readily available sections of Jindal, Hindalco make.
4. Non-porous materials like compact laminate for opaque partitions and acrylic for
transparent partitions are utilized. Flooring is made of vinyl sheets and booth flooring is
made of vitrified tiles.
5. A base of asphalt can provide for even surface required for mounting the flooring and
structure. If available Concrete/ Stone flooring can also be utilized. (approximately 1600
sqft )
Following sheets illustrate a Typical Sample Collection Centre.
A. Perspective View
B. Plan
C. Sections
PROCEDURAL ASSUMPTIONS
1. Health Worker 1 wearing full-body Personal Protective Equipment, shall use the
disinfectant nozzle reel and sanitize the booth and wipe all surfaces clean.
2. Health Worker 2 wearing full body Personal Protective Equipment, shall collect the swab
collection kit and place it inside the booth.
3. Person to be tested - ‘A ’wears shoe cover provided at the entrance and will sanitize
hands and wear mask and gloves. He shall then proceed to wait in the waiting hall.
4. ‘A’ once called for will register himself at the registration counter with health worker
3. All conversation will happen via intercom, mic and speakers attached to the wall of the
registration counter.
5. ‘A’ then shall be ushered in by health worker 2 to the booth.
6. Health worker 4 will then via the intercom, will converse with ‘A’ to tell him about the
procedure and required steps.
7. Health worker 4 will proceed via the glove box compartment to collect and store the swab
sample in the tray attached to the side of the booth.
8. ‘A’ will then proceed to exit the facility as per instructions provided by the health worker 4
9. Health worker 2 shall collect the sample and store in the storage area.
10. Health worker one shall disinfect the booth and the process shall repeat.
The typical layout is proposed with 3 booths for uninterrupted flow. For example at any given time booth 1 shall be sanitized, booth 2 shall be refilled with required swab collection unit. And booth 3 shall be utilized for swab collection.
Assuming task time periods are as following:
Disinfecting booth: 10mins
Swab kit placing: 3mins
Swab collection: 5mins
Swab bagging: 3mins
Time taken for the procedure is accounting for simultaneous tasks being performed will be
approximately 50 persons in an 8-hour shift .
