Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted more than 1.8 million individuals in over 183 countries and territories, prompting widespread debate about the mechanisms of disease transmission, personal protection against spread, and treatment methods. 1 Healthcare workers represent a uniquely vulnerable population, given their close proximity to infected patients in settings with abundant fomites, with further increased risk in the setting of aerosol-generating procedures (AGP). Scope of practice in otolaryngology necessitates instrumentation of the upper aerodigestive tract, wherein significant viral loads are found in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. As such, in the absence of widespread screening, otolaryngologists are at heightened risk of SARS-CoV2 contraction in common practice. For healthcare workers, the use of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial for the protection of both patients and providers. In fact, during the SARS-CoV1 epidemic, healthcare workers who used PPE inconsistently were more likely to develop SARS-CoV1.2 In light of the widespread shortage of PPE and the high, relative risk of transmission during head and neck procedures (via mucus, blood, or aerosolized virions), we present situation-specific guidelines for PPE use by otolaryngologists during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on our compilation and collective interpretation of existing recommendations and data.3