Risk assessment and management of exposure of health care workers in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 19 March 2020

Current evidence suggests that the virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted between people through close contact and droplets. People most at risk of acquiring the disease are those who are in contact with or care for patients with COVID-19. This inevitably places health care workers (HCWs) at high risk of infection. Protecting HCWs is of paramount importance to WHO. Understanding how HCW exposure to COVID 19 virus translates into risk of infection is critical for informing infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations. This data collection form and risk assessment tool can be used to identify IPC breaches and define policies that will mitigate HCW exposure and nosocomial infection.

This tool is for health care facilities with COVID 19 patients. The form should be completed for all HCWs who have been exposed to a patient with confirmed COVID-19. This tool aids in the risk assessment for HCWs after exposure and provides recommendations for their management.