Updated COVID-19 IPC guidance: Added COVID-19 risk pathways to support returning services. Main changes in thread below. (1/7) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control

Main changes
1. Local and national prevalence and incidence data will be used to guide returning services as advised by country specific/public health organisations – we are currently working though with NHSE what this will look like. (2/7)

2. Patients/individuals to be managed in 3 COVID-19 pathways, high, medium and low risk.

High risk: There is no change in recommendations for IPC or for the use of PPE by staff when managing patients/individuals who have, or are likely to have, COVID-19. (3/7)

Medium risk: Includes patients/individuals who have no symptoms of COVID-19 but do not have a COVID-19 SARS- CoV-2 PCR test result.

Low risk: Patients/individuals with no symptoms and a negative COVID-19 SARS- CoV-2 PCR test who have self-isolated prior to admission. (4/7)

3. Sessional use of single use PPE items has been minimised and only applies to extended use of facemasks for healthcare workers. (5/7)

4. Use of facemasks (for staff) & face coverings (if tolerated) recommended in England & Scotland, in addition to social distancing & hand hygiene for staff, patients/individuals & visitors in both clinical & non-clinical areas to further reduce transmission risk. (6/7)

5. Physical distancing of 2 metres is considered standard practice in all health and care settings.

6. Patients/individuals on a low risk pathway require Standard Infection Prevention & Control Precautions for surgery or procedures. (7/7)