Ease of transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory droplets.

Team segregation, social distancing, for example, staggered meal timings and deferment of large group gatherings.

Reinforcement of business continuity and contingency plans with other departments.

Quarantine measures for staff who are unwell.

Use of web-based remote learning platforms for training or conferencing.

Potential occupational hazards handling COVID-19 patient samples.

Leakage of samples in containers or during transit.

Full personal protective equipment used while processing such samples.

Samples preferably processed in a class 2 biological safety cabinet.

Transport of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient samples to be within a leak-proof cryobox.

No pneumatic tubes to be used.

Prioritise urgent samples, that is, lactate or arterial blood gas, within the cryobox.

Manual processes may result in contamination of surfaces, that is, centrifugation of samples with aerosol generation and manual pipetting resulting in fomites.

Samples not identified as COVID-19 may arrive in the laboratory incognito.

Conduct a full risk assessment of all analytical processes in the laboratory.

Full decontamination must be performed using an Environmental protection agency-approved solution against the SARS-CoV-2, for example, 70% alcohol or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution.

Transmission and reporting of results securely and in a timely fashion.

Positive cases must be communicated expediently to clinical team via hospital alert system and Electronic Medical Records to facilitate timely treatment and contact tracing.

Within laboratory department, a secure means of communication is suggested, that is, TigerConnect.

Artificial intelligence to be considered in stratifying patients with COVID-19.