COVID-19: Considerations and Guidance

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic based on the epidemiological situation. Labelling the spread a pandemic is an acknowledgement of its world-wide spread and the expectation that the number of cases, deaths and affected countries will likely continue to increase in the future. This reinforces the seriousness of the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19 and urges for co-ordinated, country specific, intensive and evidence-based action to contain the spread of the virus.

This is the first known pandemic of a coronavirus and given the evolving nature of the outbreak in the different countries, concerns among IPPF and Member Association (MA) staff and contractors are relevant and understandable. IPPF recognizes these concerns and attempts to provide accurate and relevant information for our Member Associations from the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify and undertake steps to protect themselves and other vulnerable individuals.

As of 12^th March 2020, WHO has recorded cases of COVID-19 from 114 countries, of which

• More than 90% of the cases are reported from four countries (China, Iran, Italy and South Korea) with new infections declining significantly in China and South Korea in the recent days.
• 57 of the 114 countries report less than 10 cases, and
• 81 countries have not yet reported a case of COVID-19

WHO recommendations for critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for countries are based on four transmission scenarios for COVID-19:

1. Countries with no cases (No cases);
2. Countries with 1 or more cases, imported or locally detected (Sporadic cases)
3. Countries experiencing cases clusters in time, geographic location and/or common exposure (Clusters of cases);
4. Countries experiencing larger outbreaks of local transmission (Community transmission).

Specific interim measures applicable for health facilities and the public at the country level for each of the scenarios are outlined here.

Member Associations are encouraged, based on their national health authority’s assessment and guidance, to be aware of the current transmission scenario category for their country and review the range of measures that may be applicable to them.

Health workers, including IPPF MA service providers operating in a clinical or community setting in countries with a reported case maybe at a higher risk of encountering a suspected case of COVID -19. Therefore, in such situations (scenarios of sporadic cases, cluster of cases or community transmission from the above list) the following selected measures recommended by WHO for the transmission scenarios may be applicable (the complete list of interventions are listed here for each country scenario).

1. Encourage and support staff to stay up to date with information from reliable sources such as the WHO website on Coronavirus and the relevant national health authorities.
2. Educate and actively communicate with staff and public through WHO guidance on risk communication for healthcare facilities  and community engagement (resources on multiple topics) .
3. Educate, implement and support the practice of public health measures of hand washing, respiratory etiquette and practice social distancing.
4. Train staff in Infection prevention and control measures (this link provides specific guidance on hand washing, use of face masks, rational use of personal protective equipment, health worker exposure risk assessment and Q&A on IPC for health workers in the context of COVID-19) and ensure it is implemented at all times consistently.
5. Promote self-initiated isolation of people and staff with mild respiratory symptoms to reduce the burden on health systems
6. Orient staff on the clinical symptoms and country specific surveillance measures required of health workers for COVID-19.
7. Develop, repurpose or adapt and implement resilience, business continuity, and community services plans as appropriate and feasible.

We continue to closely monitor the global situation and calibrate efforts as a SRH mandated public health organisation. Current guidance to staff includes evidence based measures such as reviewing travel for staff and consultants, signposting staff to credible, accurate resources, utilizing measures that facilitate social distancing and reinforcing hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette measures in workplaces.

We sincerely hope that this information and links to resources are helpful in assessing, planning and implementing appropriate measures during this outbreak of COVID-19. IPPF will continue to provide additional updates based on significant shifts in ongoing situation.