Updated 23rd December 2020

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) InPlace Care Standard Operating Procedure for ongoing home care services. 


This Standard Operating Procedure is for all InPlace Care Workers to provide guidance on how to safely deliver services to people during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The document will be regularly reviewed and updated in line with ongoing alerts and communication from the Commonwealth Government Department of Health.

Background

Australia is continuing to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19).

People who are more at risk of serious illness if they get the virus are:

  • People with compromised immune systems (such as people who have cancer).
  • Elderly people.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (as they have higher rates of chronic illness).
  • People with chronic medical conditions.
  • People in group residential settings.
  • Very young children and babies (this risk is unclear but noted by the Department of Health).

Scheduled Appointments

For scheduled appointments a risk assessment must be completed to rule out potential COVID-19 cases.

Assessments must be completed by the Worker prior to a scheduled face to face meeting, we recommend you call the Supporter or the Client prior to each scheduled service and confirm the health status of the Client. 

Ongoing Care and Services

Through ongoing communications InPlace Care are urging and encouraging self-reporting by Workers and Clients of any concerns for potential infection or contraction of COVID-19. This is being supported with regular information provided by the Commonwealth Government Department of Health.

At all times all IPC Workers should monitor their health. If they show any signs of COVID-19:

  • fever
  • flu like symptoms - coughing, sore throat and fatigue
  • shortness of breath

they must notify InPlace Care immediately and they need to be seen by a healthcare professional.


General Infection Control Information

Infection control procedures aim to prevent or minimise the spread of infection by limiting the exposure of susceptible people to microorganisms that may cause infection. Because many infectious agents are present in home care and residential settings, Clients may be infected while receiving care, care workers may be infected during the course of their duties, and other people may be infected when working or interacting with Clients. Infectious agents evolve and constantly present new challenges in the care settings.

 

Cough etiquette

Cough etiquette is a series of actions to take if you are coughing or sneezing, which are designed to reduce the spread of virus and other illnesses to others. Coughs have the ability to easily spread the transmission of germs through the air carried on droplets. If the spreading of these droplets can be prevented, then infection transmission can be reduced. Cough etiquette can help contain infectious respiratory droplets at the source.

Hand hygiene

Microorganisms are either present on the hands most of the time (resident flora) or acquired during activities such as healthcare (transient flora). Hands can also become contaminated through contact with respiratory secretions when coughing or sneezing. Contaminated hands can lead to cross-transmission of infectious agents. Effective hand hygiene, using soap and water, antiseptic hand wash or alcohol-based hand rubs or wipes has been proven to reduce the spread of infection. All IPC staff are required to undertake an annual online competency for hand hygiene.

When should hand hygiene be performed?

Hands can become contaminated with infectious agents through contact with a Client, Client surroundings, the environment, or other care workers. Cross-contamination can occur from one site to another in the same Client, between care worker and Client, between Client or care worker and the environment, or between healthcare workers.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.

Cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol based hand sanitiser.

Social distancing

This is a way to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. It means less contact between you and other people. Social distancing is important because COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:

  • direct close contact with a person while they are infectious or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appeared
  • close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or
  • touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.

Importantly if you are sick stay away from others.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to a variety of barriers, used alone or in combination, to protect mucous membranes, airways, skin and clothing from contact with infectious agents. PPE used as part of standard precautions includes aprons, gowns, gloves, surgical masks, and protective eyewear and face shields. Selection of PPE is based on the type of patient interaction, known or possible infectious agents, and/or the likely mode(s) of transmission.

Care workers must change their PPE and perform hand hygiene after every contact with an ill person, when leaving the home, or coming into contact with a new person. You should don (put on) the PPE before entering the consumer’s home. Hand hygiene should always be performed before donning PPE and immediately after removal. You must change PPE and perform hand hygiene after every contact with an ill person, when leaving the home, or coming into contact with a new person.

Gloves

Gloves can protect both Client and workers from exposure to infectious agents that may be carried on hands. As part of standard precautions, they are used to prevent contamination of workers hands when;

  • anticipating direct contact with blood or body substances, mucous membranes, nonintact skin and other potentially infectious material
  • handling or touching visibly or potentially contaminated patient-care equipment and environmental surfaces

Face and eye protection

The mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes are portals of entry for infectious agents, as are other skin surfaces if skin integrity is compromised. Face and eye protection reduce the risk of exposure to splashes or sprays of blood and body substances and is an important part of standard precautions. Procedures that generate splashes or sprays of blood, body substances, secretions or excretions require either a face shield or a mask worn with protective eyewear.

Aprons and gowns

International guidelines recommend that protective clothing (apron or gown) be worn by

all workers when:

  • close contact with the patient, materials or equipment may lead to contamination of skin, uniforms or other clothing with infectious agents.
  • there is a risk of contamination with blood, body substances, secretions or excretions.

Masks

There are several types of masks, the current guidelines suggest using Surgical, P2/N95 masks. Surgical masks in the community are only helpful in preventing people who have coronavirus disease from spreading it to others. If you are well, you do not need to wear a surgical mask as there is little evidence supporting the widespread use of surgical masks in healthy people to prevent transmission in public. See the above scenarios for times when masks should be worn.


Cleaning

To minimise the spread of any germs you should regularly clean surfaces that are frequently touched such as door handles, light switches, kitchen and bathroom areas. Clean with household detergent or disinfectant. Minimise the risk of being infected or transmitting coronavirus by:

  • wearing gloves
  • using alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after wearing gloves.

If cleaning areas that a confirmed case or a person in isolation has visited frequently, wear a surgical mask. If a confirmed case or a person in isolation is in a room you need to clean, ask them to put on a surgical mask.

Waste management.

Gloves, gowns and masks must be disposed of in an infectious (biohazard) waste bag. Alternatively, PPE may be stored in disposable rubbish bags. These bags must be placed in another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. Rubbish should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in the household waste bin for disposal. After 72 hours the material should no longer be infectious.

Resources