Update on mask wearing and IPC guidance for care home settings in England

You can now make risk-based decisions on when face masks are used, and care homes can initiate their own outbreak risk assessments to make decisions about which outbreak measures make sense for their individual settings. This now means that the College guidance relating to face coverings is the same in primary care and care home settings in England. Universal masking remains in place in all settings in Scotland. 

Latest surveillance from UKHSA suggests that levels of flu and COVID-19 are increasing, so it is vital you continue to maintain high standards of infection prevention controls to keep settings safe and reduce the risk of transmission. 

• COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care - GOV.UK
• DHSC Press release: Mask and outbreak guidance updated in care settings - GOV.UK
• Weekly flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)