Home care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and management of their contacts: interim guidance, 12 August 2020

This document is an update of the guidance published on 17 March 2020 entitled “Home care for patients with COVID-19 presenting with mild symptoms and management of their contacts”. This interim guidance has been updated with advice on safe and appropriate home care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and on the public health measures related to the management of their contacts.

The main differences from the previous version include:

• Considerations for clinicians when identifying and supporting patients who could receive care at home,
• Considerations regarding the IPC requirements for the household to be suitable for caring for COVID19 patients in the home;
• Clinical monitoring and treatment of COVID-19 patients at home;
• Waste management in the home setting in the context of COVID-19 and;
• An appendix on the effective implementation of home-care policies and guidelines for patients with COVID-19