As part of the report published on Monday 6 February by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Centre published recommendations on the same day for health facilities to maintain and strengthen infection prevention and control measures during peak transmission periods. This is to avoid epidemics in health care facilities.
ECDC recommends that facilities maintain and reinforce a series of best practices: infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, ventilation of enclosed spaces, early detection testing for Covid-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, appropriate room and bed allocation, hand hygiene and wearing of medical masks in common areas. Proper cleaning of surfaces is recommended in hotels.
The ECDC also indicates that other infection control measures can be implemented, such as physical distancing measures, especially in common areas of health facilities and home visiting services for vulnerable patients. ECDC advises that, where possible, such patients should avoid busy outpatient and emergency departments.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/594
Link to recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/593 (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)