This Protocol is used for the prevention and control of the new coronavirus pneumonia among professionals who carry out epidemiological investigations, work in isolation wards and medical observation sites, are involve in transporting of cases, infected persons and dead bodies, as well as environmental cleaning and disinfection, specimen collection and laboratory work etc.

I.              Personal protection equipment and its usage

All persons who come into contact with, or may come into contact with new coronavirus pneumonia patients and asymptomatic infected persons, their pollutants (blood, body fluids, secretions, vomitus and excreta, etc.) and contaminated items or object surfaces, should use personal protective equipment, including:

1)     Gloves

When entering a contaminated area or performing diagnosis and treatment, one should wear disposable rubber or nitrile gloves according to the work content; disinfect, replace gloves and perform hand hygiene in time when contacting different patients or when the gloves are broken.

2)     Medical protective masks

When entering a contaminated area or performing diagnosis and treatment, one should wear a medical protective mask or a powered air filter respirator. Before each wear, an air tightness check should be performed. When wearing multiple protective equipment, one should ensure that the medical protective mask is removed as the final step.

3)     Protective face shields or goggles

When one is entering a contaminated area or performing diagnosis and treatment, and when one’s eyes, eye conjunctiva, and face are at risk of being contaminated by blood, body fluids, secretions, excreta, and aerosols, one should wear a protective face shield or goggles. After taking off reusable goggles, one should sterilize and dry it in time for the next use.

4)     Protective suit

When entering a contaminated area or performing diagnostic and treatment, one should change his or her personal clothing and wear work clothes (surgical scrubs or disposable clothing, etc.), plus protective clothing.

I.              Hand hygiene

All personnel participating in the field work should strengthen their hand hygiene measures. An effective alcohol-based hand-drying disinfectant can be selected, or directly wipe with 75% ethanol disinfection; Those who are allergic to alcohol, can choose the effective non-alcohol hand disinfectant such as quaternary ammonium disinfectant; Under special conditions, you can also use 3% hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, 0.5% IodoPhor or 0.05% chlorine-containing disinfectant to wipe or soak your hands, and appropriately prolong the disinfection time. Hands should be washed with liquid soap and running water before disinfection when there are visible pollutants. Hand hygiene measures should be strictly taken in daily work, especially before wearing gloves and personal protective equipment, before performing aseptic operations on patients, after possibly touching the patient's blood, body fluids and contaminated items or surrounding surface, and when removing personal protective equipment.

III. Personal protection for special groups

1)     Epidemiological investigators

When investigating close contacts, the investigators should wear disposable work caps, medical surgical masks, work clothes, and disposable gloves, keeping a distance of more than 1 meter from the target of investigation. When investigating suspect cases, confirmed cases and asymptomatic infected persons, it is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, disposable gloves, protective clothing, KN95 / N95 or above particulate protective masks or medical protective masks, protective face shields or goggles, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers, etc.

2)     Staff in isolation wards and medical observation sites

It is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, disposable gloves, protective clothing, medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, protective face shields or goggles, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers, etc.

3)     Personnel transporting cases and asymptomatic infected persons

It is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, disposable gloves, protective clothing, medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, protective face shields or goggles, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers, etc.

4)     Corpse handling personnel

It is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, disposable gloves and long-sleeved thick rubber gloves, protective clothing, KN95 / N95 or above particulate protective masks or medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, Protective face shields, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers, waterproof aprons or waterproof isolation gowns, etc.

5)     Cleaning and disinfection personnel

It is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, disposable gloves and long-sleeved thick rubber gloves, protective clothing, KN95 / N95 or above particulate protective masks or medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, Protective face shields, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers, waterproof aprons, or waterproof isolation gowns. When using powered airsupply filter respirators, one should select a dust-and-toxicant filter box or canister according to the type of disinfectants, and properly protect themselves from disinfectants and other chemicals.

6)     Specimen collection staff

It is recommended to wear work clothes, disposable work caps, double gloves, protective clothing, KN95/N95 or above particulate protective masks or medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, protective face shields, work shoes or rubber boots, and waterproof boot covers. If necessary, one should wear a waterproof apron or waterproof isolation gown.

7)     Laboratory staff

It is recommended to wear at least work clothes, disposable work caps, double gloves, protective clothing, KN95 / N95 or above particulate protective masks or medical protective masks or powered air filter respirators, protective face shields or goggles, work shoes or rubber boots, waterproof boot covers. If necessary, one should wear a waterproof apron or waterproof isolation gown.

IV. Precautions for removal of personal protective equipment

1) Minimize contact with the contaminated surface when removing.

2) Non-disposable items such as protective goggles and rubber boots that have been removed should be directly dipped in a container with a disinfectant solution; the remaining disposable items should be placed in a yellow medical waste collection bag as medical waste for centralized disposal.

3) Hand disinfection should be performed at each step of removing protective equipment. After all protective equipment is removed, one should wash hands and disinfect hands again.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China