Guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre


Source: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/guidancefornon-clinicalsettings/


 

Guidance for non-clinical settings

Last updated: 17 March 2020

See Coronavirus (COVID-19) - information for the public (updated regularly).

Advice and guidance for healthcare workers (updated regularly).


People who may have been in contact with coronavirus

Up-to-date advice for anyone who may have been in contact with coronavirus is being provided on HSE.ie.

This includes advice for:

  • students

  • workers

  • children


Workers dealing with the general public

Up-to-date advice for all members of the public is being provided on HSE.ie.

The best thing you can do to protect against coronavirus (COVID-19) is:

  • wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub

  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze

  • put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands

  • do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean


Advice for employers

In this phase of the outbreak response, employers are being asked to consider whether remote working is a viable option for their employees. If this is not an option, measures should be taken to limit face to face contact between employees in the work environment. This may include measures such as staggered working hours and holding meetings via teleconference/videoconference rather than face to face.


Advice for employers with employees who may have been exposed to coronavirus

Follow the advice for anyone who may have been in contact with coronavirus


Children and coronavirus

Schools and childcare facilities are to close from 13/3/2020 until 29/3/2020.

If your child may have been exposed to coronavirus, follow the advice for anyone who may have been in contact with coronavirus.

Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly.

Read more advice on how to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections.


Pharmacists

Guidance for management of people with suspected COVID-19 infection who present to pharmacies.


Funeral Directors

Guidelines for Funeral Directors on managing infection risks when handling deceased individuals with confirmed COVID-19.


Religious settings

This guidance document gives general advice about preventing the spread of COVID-19 during religious services.

Read Coronavirus(COVID-19) guidance for religious services


Vulnerable groups

The guidance document gives general advice about preventing the spread of COVID-19 in settings for vulnerable groups, such as Homeless, Travellers, refugees/asylum seekers and others. The measures outlined are mainly focused on congregate settings or facilities managed by staff and can be applied in direct provision centres, hostels, hubs or residential settings including those without clinic or in-house nursing, medical or healthcare support.


Drinking water & swimming pools

Advice on drinking water supplies or swimming pools being chlorinated in accordance with current recommendations / best practice is sufficient to inactivate COVID-19 virus.