For most patient encounters where COVID-19 disease is possible but aerosol generating procedures are not anticipated, must involve:
Hand Hygiene
This should involve hand washing prior to and after patient contact with soap and warm water ideally and needs to be facilitated by:
- Bare to the elbows
- Removal of all hand and wrist jewellery (Single metal ring bands are acceptable)
- Clean short fingernails and no artificial nails or nail products
- All cuts or abrasions covered with waterproof dressings
Basic Protection
- Disposable aprons
- Disposable gloves
- Fluid resistant face mask
- Eye protection should be worn when there is a risk of contamination to the eyes from splashing of secretions (including respiratory secretions), blood body fluids or excretions. An individual risk assessment should be carried out prior to/at the time of providing care
Eye/face protection can be achieved by the use of any one of the following:
- surgical mask
- full face shield/visor
- polycarbonate safety spectacles or equivalent
Face masks for general patient assessment only need to be Fluid resistant Surgical mask types. Higher levels of protection FFP-3 masks are used for aerosol generating procedures and need to be fit tested ideally. It is not anticipated that these will be needed in most General practice situations.