For all the latest guidance on IPC and PPE click here
PPE Best Practice
FAQs:
• Face masks should be worn by all care workers and encouraged for visitors in care settings and when providing care in peoples own homes, irrespective of whether the person being cared for is known or suspected to have COVID-19.
• The type of mask recommended depends on the type of activity being undertaken and whether the person is known or suspected to have COVID-19 or not.
• For staff sharing offices (no client contact) masks should still be worn.
• For Day Opportunity services -While indoors please wear a Type I,II or IIR mask. While outdoors no mask is required when supporting someone (who is not suspected , symptomatic or confirmed COVID-19 ).
| Activity | Face Mask? | Eye Protection? | Gloves? | Apron? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social contact with clients, staff, visitors not known or suspected to have COVID-19 | Yes – Type I, II or IIR Sessional use- mask can be worn maximum of 4 hours | No | No | No |
| Care or domestic task involving likely contact with blood or body fluids ( personal care, handling soiled laundry emptying a catheter or commode) For a person not known or suspected to have COVID-19 | Yes – Type I, II or IIR *Type IIR if splashing likely Sessional use – can be worn maximum 4 hours Face mask should be changed if become contaminated or soiled | Risk assess if splashing likely | Yes | Yes |
| Other tasks not involving contact with blood or body fluids such as handling clean linen, tidying, giving medication, writing in care notes For a person not known or suspected to have COVID-19 | Yes – Type I, II or Type IIR Sessional use – can be worn maximum 4 hours | No | No | No |
| General cleaning with hazardous products (disinfectants or detergents) | Yes – Type I, II or IIR *Type IIR if splashing likely Sessional use worn maximum 4 hours | Risk assess if splashing likely | Risk assess | Risk assess |
| Undertaking an AGP on a person who is not suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 or another infection spread by the airborne or droplet route | Yes – Type IIR | Yes | Yes | Yes (consider a gown if risk of extensive splashing) |
| Supporting a person outdoors Who is not symptomatic, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 | No | No | No | No |
| Providing personal care to a person who is symptomatic, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 Personal care includes but not limited to assistance with washing and dressing, toileting, eating and drinking shaving, oral hygiene , catheter care , positioning in bed, applying topical creams/medications | Yes – Type IIR Remove after leaving the area and replace with a new Type I, II or type IIR mask | Yes Single use or reusable If reusable clean and disinfect as per manufacturer instructions between use | Yes | Yes |
| General cleaning duties in the room where a person with suspected / confirmed COVID-19 is being isolated or cohorted (even if more than 2 metres away) | Yes – Type IIR (Remove on leaving the area and replace with a new Type I, II or Type IIR mask | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Undertaking an AGP on a person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 or another infection spread by the airborne or droplet route | Yes – FFP3 (Remove mask outside the room and replace with a Type I, II or Type IIR depending on what is appropriate for the next task) | Yes – goggles or a visor to be worn (If FFP3 mask is not fluid repellent a full face visor to be worn) | Yes | Yes (consider a gown if risk of extensive splashing)
|
| For tasks other than those above when within 2 metres of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 | Yes – Type IIR (Remove on leaving the area and replace with a new Type I, II or type IIR mask) | Yes | Risk assess (if contact with blood or body fluids likely) | Risk assess (if contact with blood or body fluids likely) |
Click here for the letter from HCC regarding IPC including PPE
References
COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Infection prevention and control in adult social care settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)