Requirements and technical specifications of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) in healthcare settings

Abstract

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the causative agent of a severe acute respiratory illness among people exposed in a seafood market in Wuhan, China. Human-to-human transmission has been documented, including in healthcare workers, and aerosol-generating procedures (AGP)† may play a role in the spread of the disease. There are uncertainties in the natural history of the 2019-nCoV, including source(s), transmissibility mechanisms, viral shedding, and persistence of the virus in the environment and on fomites. As of 6 February 2020, the following precautions are recommended for the care of patients with suspected or confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV: For any suspected or confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV: standard + contact + droplet precautions; for any suspected or confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV and AGP: standard + contact + airborne precautions. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers requires an evaluation of the risk related to healthcare-related activities. These recommendations are preliminary and subject to review as new evidence becomes available.