COVID-19 Information
For pharmacy teams and the public
Pharmacy teams
COVID-19 information for pharmacists is always been updated, always check your local guidelines for the most up to date information. The CPA have curated guidance on key information across
- Infection prevention control
- Hand was and hand rubs
- Local production of hand rub
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Infection Prevention Control (IPC)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a number of resources on infection prevention control to help healthcare providers to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The full repository of resources are on the WHO website, some of the resources listed below you may find particularly useful are:
- Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected or confirmed
- Infection prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19
- Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19 update
- Consideration for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease COVID-19
Hand wash and hand rub
Like other viruses, COVID-19 spreads through droplets released from an infected person containing the virus which gets into your body through your eyes, nose, or throat. Most often, this happens through your hands. The single most important measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection is hand washing.
The diagrams below demonstrate the proper way of performing hand washing and hand rubbing.
Local production of hand rub
The World Health Organization has published a guide to local production of WHO-recommended Handrub Formulations. This guide is separated into two discrete but interrelated sections:
- Part A provides a practical guide for use at the pharmacy bench during the actual preparation of the formulation. Users may want to display the material on the wall of the production unit.
- Part B summarises some essential background technical information and is taken from WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (2009). Within Part B the user has access to important safety and cost information and supplementary material relating to dispensers and distribution.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The video below prepared by Public Health England demonstrates how to safely don (put on) and doff (take off) PPE for healthcare providers.
COVID-19 information for the public
Information for the public
COVID-19 has touched the lives of everybody directly or indirectly and there is a lot of information for members of the public to access. The information continues to change and develop as more and new information comes to light.
The CPA encourage the public to follow local guidelines and seek the advice of pharmacists who have provided and continue to provide vital healthcare services across the Commonwealth and beyond.
COVID-19 When and how to use masks
Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19.
More information about masks on WHO website.
COVID-19 Mythbusters
There is a lot of misinformation about COVID-19, the WHO have compiled a comprehensive list of busters on their website on topics around reducing the risk of infection, supplements, and viruses, bacteria and antibiotics and many more.
COVID-19 Videos
The WHO have developed a video gallery with information all about COVID-19 and general issues relating to COVID-19. The video gallery is a useful resource to scan and find answers on topics like how to wear masks, or how to make indoor spaces safer during COVID-19, lots of practical advice and guidance
International guidance and resources
Quick access to international guidance and data from The Commonwealth, World Health Organization and International Pharmaceutical Federation.
The Commonwealth
World Health Organization
Resources