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Compendium of Department of Health Issuances on Infection Prevention and Control in the Health Facilities in the Context of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

July 3, 2020

DOH DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 2020-0298

TO	:	All Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries; Directors of Bureaus and Centers for Health Development (CHD); Minister of Health-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM); Executive Directors of Specialty Hospitals; Chiefs of Medical Centers, Hospitals and Sanitaria; and Others Concerned

SUBJECT	:	Compendium of Department of Health (DOH) Issuances on Infection Prevention and Control in the Health Facilities in the Context of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Since the declaration of COVID-19 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, the Department of Health continuously issued several policies relating to infection prevention and control. The policies were issued to provide guidance to the health facilities and the healthcare frontliners in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to provide guidance to the hospital directors and facility managers in institutionalizing measures to mitigate risks and prevent the spread of COVID-19, a compendium of the said policies is developed. This Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Compendium aims to serve as reference in the implementation of infection prevention and control measures in the context of COVID-19 in health facilities. The IPC Compendium can be accessed through https://bit.ly/IPCPolicies and links to the respective policies are attached in ANNEX A.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested.

By Authority of the Secretary of Health:

(SGD.) LILIBETH C. DAVID, MD, MPH, MPM, CESO IUndersecretary of HealthHealth Facilities and Infrastructure Development Team

ANNEX A

Compendium of DOH Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Policies for Health Facilities

IPC MEASURES

ISSUANCE NUMBER (link)

ISSUANCE TITLE

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

FUNCTIONAL INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE/INFECTION CONTROL TEAM	DM No. 2020-0035 (https://bit.ly/DM0035)	Strengthening of Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Measures to Prevent Spread of Novel Corona Virus	To provide guidance for health facility managers in the activation of prevention and control resources/measures.
DC No. 2020-0181 (https://bit.ly/DM0181)	Reiteration of Functions of the Infection Control Committee (ICC) and Infection Control Team (ICT) in Healthcare Facilities	To provide guidance to the Infection Control Committee and Infection Control Team in the implementation of infection prevention and control measures in health facilities.

B. CENTRAL PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

HAND HYGIENE	DM No. 2020-0056 (https://bit.ly/DM0056)	Interim Guidelines for 2019 Novel Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) Response in the Workplace	The guidelines include provisions on correct technique of hand hygiene.
DM No. 2020-0072 (https://bit.ly/DM0072)	Interim Guidelines for 2019 Novel Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) Response in Hospital and Other Health Facilities	The guidelines include WHO Multimodal Hand Hygiene Strategy: Five (5) Moments of Hand Hygiene that needs to be emphasized to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE	DM No. 2020-0056 (https://bit.ly/DM0056)	Interim Guidelines for 2019 Novel Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) Response in the Workplace	The guidelines include provisions proper respiratory etiquette as a general preventive measure.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT	DM No. 2020-0176 (https://bit.ly/DM0176)	Interim Guidelines on the Rational Use of PPE for COVID-19	To provide information regarding the use of appropriate PPE within different settings, taking into consideration the exposure risk and materials of the PPE.
DM No. 2020-0197 (https://bit.ly/DM0197)	Interim Guidelines on the Optimal Use of PPE During Shortages of Supplies	During severe shortage of supply of PPEs, some component of PPEs can be used for extended or longer periods of time than normal according to currently recognized safety standards.
DM No. 2020-0249 (https://bit.ly/DM0249)	Use of IPC Checklist for Healthcare Workers Readiness	The checklist includes procedures on donning and doffing of PPE.
DM No. 2020-0208 (https://bit.ly/DM0208)	Interim Guidelines on Enhancing the Infection Prevention and Control Measures through Engineering and Environmental Controls in All Health Facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic	The issuance provides guidelines on the areas where donning and doffing of PPE are performed.
STANDARD/	DM No. 2020-0072 (https://bit.ly/DM0072)	Interim Guidelines for 2019 Novel Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) Response in Hospital and Other Health Facilities	The issuance provides for the guidelines on the necessary precautions, preparations of the health facilities, and management of persons under investigations and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
DM No. 2020-0062 (https://bit.ly/DM0062)	Guidelines on the Standards of Airborne Infection Isolation Room and Conversion of Private Rooms and/or Wards into Temporary Isolation Rooms for the Management of Patient Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019 Novel Corona Virus (nCoV)	The issuance provides for guidelines on the proper placement of suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases and the standards of Airborne Infection Isolation Room and Conversion of Private Rooms and/or Wards into Temporary Isolation Rooms for patient management.
DM No. 2020-0062-A (https://bit.ly/DM0062A)	Amendment to DM No. 2020-0062 entitled Guidelines on the Standards of Airborne Infection Isolation Room and Conversion of Private Rooms and/or Wards into Temporary Isolation Rooms for the Management of Patient Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019 Novel Corona Virus (nCoV)
DM No. 2020-0208 (https://bit.ly/DM0208)	Interim Guidelines on Enhancing the Infection Prevention and Control Measures through Engineering and Environmental Controls in All Health Facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic	The issuance provides for the guidelines on zoning of areas within the facility, patient traffic flow and patient placement.
INSTITUTIONALIZING ADMINISTRATIVE AND ENGINEERING CONTROLS	DM No. 2020-0202 (https://bit.ly/DM0202)	Use of the Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Form for Health Facility Managers and Healthcare Professionals in the Context of COVID-19	Serve as guide in the implementation of infection prevention and control measures for facility managers and healthcare professionals
DM No. 2020-0208 (https://bit.ly/DM0208)	Interim Guidelines on Enhancing the Infection Prevention and Control Measures through Engineering and Environmental Controls in All Health Facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic	The issuance provides for the guidelines on zoning of areas within the facility, patient traffic flow and patient placement.

C. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

MISTING	DC No. 2020-0172 (https://bit.ly/DC0172)	Guidance on Misting or Spraying for COVID-19	This issuance provides a directive to the public to avoid spraying and misting for COVID-19. It poses health and safety concerns.
CLEANING AND DISINFECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SURFACES	DM No. 2020-0157 (https://bit.ly/DM0157)	Guidelines on Cleaning and Disinfection in Various Settings as an Infection Prevention and Control Measures against COVID-19	The issuance provides guidelines for the use of chemical disinfectants for the infection prevention and control against COVID-19.
DM No. 2020-0167 (https://bit.ly/DM0167)	Interim Guidelines on the Proper Handling and Disinfection of Non-critical Items Used in the Management of COVID-19 Patients in All Health Facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities	The issuance provides guidelines for the proper handling and disinfection of non-critical medical items, environmental surfaces, linens, health records, and electronic devices used in the management of suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 patients.
DM No. 2020-0208 (https://bit.ly/DM0208)	Interim Guidelines on Enhancing the Infection Prevention and Control Measures through Engineering and Environmental Controls in All Health Facilities and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic	The issuance provides guidelines on the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and areas where suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 patients receive care.
HEALTHCARE WASTE MANAGEMENT	DM No. 2020-0170 (https://bit.ly/DM0170)	Interim Guidelines on the Management of Health Care Waste in Health Facilities, Community Quarantine Units, and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities with Cases of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)	The issuance provides guidelines on waste generation of infectious waste, segregation and collection, storage, and transport and disposal of COVID-19 infectious waste.
DC No. 2020-0191 (https://bit.ly/DC0191)	Circulation of the Health Care Waste Management Manual 4th Edition	The manual serves as guidelines on the safe management of waste generated from health care activities to transport and disposal of infectious waste.

D. HEALTHCARE WORKERS WELFARE

EXPOSURE RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT	DC No. 2020-0106 https://bit.ly/DC0106	Use of WHO Interim Guidelines for Health Workers Exposure Risk Assessment and Management in the Context of COVID-19	Advise to follow the Health Workers Exposure Risk Assessment and Management in the Context of COVID-19 through a tool.
MONITORING OF ADHERENCE TO IPC MEASURES	DM No. 2020-0202 (https://bit.ly/DM0202)	Use of the Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Form for Health Facility Managers and Healthcare Professionals in the Context of COVID-19	Serve as guide in the implementation of infection prevention and control measures for facility managers and healthcare professionals.
DM No. 2020-0249 (https://bit.ly/DM0249)	Use of IPC Checklist for Healthcare Workers Readiness	Serve as guide for newly hired and existing healthcare workers in health facilities for their readiness to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
DC No. 2020-0225 (https://bit.ly/DC0225)	Advisory on the Use of the Infection Prevention and Control Checklist for Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities	Serve as guide for facility manages and IPC Officers in preparing TTMFs for efficient implementation of IPC standards, processes and protocols.
IPC MEASURES FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS' ACCOMMODATIONS	DM No. 2020-0162 (https:bit.ly/DM0162)	Interim Guidelines on the Accommodation Arrangement for Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Period	The issuance provides guidelines on infection prevention and control measures and environmental sanitation in accommodations for healthcare workers.