Appropriate approaches to Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) and correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are essential in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Read the Infection Prevention & Control (IP&C) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) frequently asked questions (PDF 164KB) for more information.
If you wish to use the below as part of a training package – refer to the slides for the Infection prevention and control/PPE training slides (PDF 2MB).
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene means thoroughly cleaning your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitiser). Correct hand hygiene reduces the spread of germs and is essential in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
It is important to know when to perform hand hygiene. The 5 moments of hand hygiene poster (external site) provides a useful reminder and can be placed around the workplace.
It’s also important to know how to wash and cleanse your hands properly. The How to wash your hands poster (PDF 348KB), shows how to wash hands with soap and water and with hand sanitiser, and can be placed above hand wash stations and where hand sanitiser is located.
Watch the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network video (external site) to encourage hand hygiene amongst care providers.
How to don (put on) and doff (remove) PPE
All staff members must be trained in the correct use of PPE. This includes identification and correct donning and doffing sequences. The correct sequence for donning and doffing PPE is outlined in the Personal and protective equipment poster (PDF 298KB) which contains both visual and brief written instructions.
For a more detailed written sequence, see Education: Donning and doffing (PDF 2020KB).
You may also wish to view this brief Donning and doffing PPE webinar (external site).
To support training undertaken in your facility, download the Donning and doffing assessment tool (Word 1MB).
Donning and doffing stations
Donning and doffing stations should be easily accessible but located in completely separate, designated and distanced zones.
See Donning and doffing station examples (PDF 411KB) for pictures of donning and doffing stations.
Infection prevention and control for designated zones
In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, your service should be divided into zones to limit the risk of transmission.
Follow the Special precautions for COVID-19 designated zones (external link). for advice on the necessary precautions before entering a COVID-19 designated zone and what PPE changes are necessary between resident rooms. This is dependent on the procedure undertaken, level of contact with the resident and what PPE may be or is contaminated.
It should be noted that in the event of an outbreak, significant efforts and resources will apply to designated zones including the creation of staffing and resident cohorts. Additional IP&C strategies will need to be strictly followed.
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