what should you donate to a priest who gives last rites

I received an email this week from a Catholic nurse whose family I've known for over twenty years. She works in an ICU at a big hospital in Michigan, and she's on the front lines dealing with incoming cases.

She offers some information about the situation. This email is a few days old, and the number of cases in Michigan are ramping up, so it may exist quite different past now. I've edited the email and removed identifying information, but this is mostly unabridged:

There are and then many more cases of COVID-19 that we know of and it'due south not just considering there aren't enough tests. If your symptoms aren't severe enough to need hospitalization, then we don't want you in the hospital exposing others. We would rather you stay at home and quarantine there, considering information technology's better for you lot and everyone else.

The biggest problem with this virus is how contagious it is. AND that nurses and doctors are not being provided with the proper protective equipment (PPE), I'm sure y'all've seen articles that mention this.

My hospital two-3 weeks ago went through our stock rooms and removed all N95 masks, which we use for sure types of respiratory infectious patients, like those with TB. Retrieve, two weeks ago, we didn't know how hard it was going to hit in the U.S. So hospitals were already preparing and hording our PPE for what was to come. In that location are hospitals in Detroit that are severely overwhelmed and take run out of protective gear. Many nurses and docs have been unintentionally exposed to the virus past caring for patients that they didn't know had it. They are so told to self-quarantine at domicile for 2 weeks and study to our occupational health if they accept any symptoms.

As of yesterday that was the protocol, however, that inverse…no demand to quarantine for 2 weeks, if you're asymptomatic, come on dorsum to piece of work. Despite the fact that we know, y'all can still spread the virus being asymptomatic, although you are less likely to. The hospital is trying to preserve their work force instead of following the recommended protocol for quarantining exposed individuals (only modify the protocol and everything is fine).

They also finally initiated the protocol for all people inbound our hospital to wear a surgical mask at all times.

To give you lot an case, one patient unknowingly had the virus, and then tested positive, afflicted almost 30 nurses/docs that came into contact with him. You can encounter by just 1 patient how it can affect a hospital's workforce.

People in their 20s, 30s, 40s, relatively healthy, are dying. Most people recover, aye. But for those that are ill, it tin can escalate quickly; two liters of oxygen via a nasal cannula at 0800 to intubation by 1700.

It is chaotic. My infirmary this calendar week is rearranging ICUs and step-downwards units in guild to accomplice patients (clean patients and covid patients), considering in the next 2-4 weeks it volition go worse.

She likewise saw that I had been discussing, on our nearly recent podcast, the trouble some priests are having with administering concluding rites as hospitals are locking down to avoid the spread of infection from coronavirus.

While she wasn't able to specifically address the issue of hospitals not assuasive priests in to give final rites to the dying — I'grand still unclear of how widespread of a problem this might be at the moment — she did have some communication on what priests can practice to minimize their chance of infection in general, and in particular when entering these hospital environments:

Every bit of Sunday, I had already contacted my canons to take extra precautions: wiping downwards pews and confessionals, among other things. Also, fabricated sure my priests know if they need anything to contact me.

What to wear for a priest to stay protected to administer last rights: well, information technology will depend on the facility and the corporeality of patients they are overwhelmed with to even know if they are allowed entry. Upon entry to the infirmary, you will need at least a surgical mask.

However, here'south what they would need upon entering the patient's room: N100 masks (N95 masks at blank minimum, I'm assuming hospitals would only sacrifice a surgical mask for them), bones disposable gowns (typically get at the unit), heart protection (glasses or goggles), surgical caps (not vital, simply recommended) and finally gloves, but they should article of clothing 2 sets of gloves. Gloves should be worn, only if they're blessing someone, they demand to just make sure they wash their hands thoroughly earlier exiting a patient's room.

As for any instruments they bring into the room, i.e., a crucifix, place information technology in a paper bag after cleaning information technology off with some sort of sanitized wipe and and then leave everything in that bag for at to the lowest degree three days before using information technology again.  All protective gear should be thrown out when exiting a patient's room. Goggles and or glasses should be wiped clean with sanitary wipe. Identify a make clean surgical mask on when exiting the infirmary.

When a priest gets home subsequently visiting with these patients, he shouldn't enter the rectory fully. Make sure yous accept left an extra set of clerics just inside forth with a pair of shoes. Change once yous're just inside your dwelling house. Put disposable gloves on and take contaminated clerics and wash immediately, then clean shoes with germ-free wipes.

Studies say that the virus doesn't stay on dress for likewise long, maybe simply a few hours, so information technology'll be upwardly to the priest how cautious he should be.

Finally, she offers a message of hope:

I do call back everything will be okay. I have this odd problem, or peradventure it's a blessing, that when it comes to large things like this I'm quite calm, considering besides the precautions I take and everyone else, you've merely got to give up and know you're not in control, so just give information technology over to God.

I hope this helps!

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Source: https://onepeterfive.com/a-nurse-offers-some-advice-to-priests-giving-last-rites-to-covid-patients/