Diver Fitness Assessment Guideline after COVID-19 Infection
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Abstract
Infection with COVID-19 can have both short and long-term effects on a diver's performance. A diver's fitness assessment before returning to dive is therefore important and there should be a thorough health screening prior to diving to provide divers with information to allow them to make decisions about returning to dive and be able to dive safely, especially patients with a history of severe infections, have symptoms of the respiratory system, symptoms of the heart, a blockage in blood vessels or long COVID syndrome. Divers should be symptom-free and have normal physical ability or at least feel normal before undergoing a medical examination before returning to diving. The decision to return to diving after infection should be based on your primary diving goals. For professional divers, they should have a level of fitness that is required by their parent organization. For recreational divers, most of them do not have clear rules like those for commercial divers. If an abnormality is detected, information and advice should be provided about potential risks so that divers can understand and make decisions before returning to diving.
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References
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