WHO policy brief: Infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19 in health care settings

Overview

• The WHO Director-General’s standing recommendations for COVID-19 advise countries to ensure that infection prevention and control measures are in place for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases in clinical settings and that health care providers receive training accordingly and access to personal protective equipment. 
• Countries are encouraged to continue delivering optimal clinical care for patients with COVID-19, including maintaining measures to protect patients and health workers. 
• Health care settings can amplify infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19. Maintaining effective infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes is, therefore, paramount.  
• National and sub-national level authorities should maintain readiness to respond to the possibility of future surges of COVID-19 that could overwhelm health systems.