Public Health England: COVID-19: infection prevention and control (updated 14 April 2022)

Summary

The UK IPC Guidance has been updated. This takes into account the latest assessment of the scientific evidence, and also the feedback from local providers on the ongoing impact on capacity that IPC measures are having.

Content

This revised guidance contains the following important changes in relation to the isolation of COVID19 positive inpatients and their contacts:

• Stepping down inpatient COVID-19 isolation precautions: For inpatients with COVID-19, where available, LFD tests can be used to reduce the isolation period down from 10 days to 7 days. Patients should have two negative LFD tests taken 24 hours apart as well as showing clinical improvement, before being moved out of isolation before day 10. These tests can take place on any two consecutive days from day 6 onwards but if either of the two tests is positive, the patient must not be retested and must complete the full 10 day isolation.
• Stepping down COVID-19 precautions for exposed patient contacts: Inpatients who are considered contacts of SARS-CoV-2 cases are no longer required to isolate if they are asymptomatic.

In-line with the flexibility afforded for local risk-assessment within the UK IPC Guidance, and advice from UKHSA, the following should also be noted:

• Returning to pre-pandemic physical distancing in all areas, including in emergency departments, ambulances and patient transport, as well as all primary care, inpatient and outpatient settings. This should be done in a way that maintains compliance with all relevant Health Technical Memoranda and Health Building Notes.
• Returning to pre-pandemic cleaning protocols outside of COVID-19 areas, with enhanced cleaning only required in areas where patients with suspected or known infection are being managed.