COVID-19 advice hub

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 11 March 2020, the rapid circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

This page is collates relevant guidance from NHS England, Public Health England, the UK Government, and professional bodies across the UK and beyond to support services with both the design and delivery of their pandemic response.

For core official UK guidance, review the summary list of COVID-19 guidance for secondary care from NHS England
Advice specific to the nursing profession is also available from the Royal College of Nursing
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) central alerting system (CAS) also issues alert broadcasts regarding COVID-19. CAS Liaison Officers should continue to monitor and disseminate alerts as needed. The MHRA has also compiled a list of related alerts to date
To report suspected side effects and adverse incidents related to medicines, medical devices, or diagnostics for COVID-19 to the MHRA coronavirus Yellow Card reporting site

Jump to the following areas based on your needs:

Preventing infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including:
- infection prevention in healthcare settings
- stay at home and self-isolation guidance
- action when a case of COVID-19 was not diagnosed on admission
Investigation, including:
- initial examination
- sampling, testing, pathology
- imaging
Service design and resourcing, including:
- minimum operating standards for a COVID-19 patient pathway
- standard operating procedures for a priority assessment service
- relevant professional body advice and statements
Guidance on the clinical management of COVID-19-related disease, including:
- acute care
- airway management
- critical care
- patients with specific conditions or treatment needs
Pharmacy
Other areas, including:
- autopsy/mortuary
- clinical trials
- dental and oral medicine
Advising the public, including links for general advice to share
The latest COVID-19 news from Specialised Medicine.

Prevention

Joint guidance on infection prevention and control in healthcare settings
Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Health Protection Scotland, and Public Health England
- transmission characteristics of COVID-19
- principles of infection prevention and control
- organisational preparedness for preventing and controlling COVID-19
- infection prevention and control precautions
- standard infection control precautions
- transmission based precautions for COVID-19
- occupational health and staff deployment
- specific settings
- best practice regarding:
  - hand washing and rubbing
  - donning and doffing personal protective equipment
  - routine decontamination
  - management of blood and body fluid spillages
  - facial hair and FFP3 respirators.
New government recommendations for England NHS hospital trusts and private hospital providers
Public Health England
Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Public Health England
Guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging COVID-19 patients
Public Health England
Statement on dry skin and frequent handwashing to reduce Covid-19 risk
British Association of Dermatologists
Staying alert and safe (social distancing)
Cabinet Office
‘Stay at home’ guidance for people with confirmed or possible COVID-19 infection
Public Health England
Self-isolation guidance, including precautionary advice regarding ibuprofen for symptom management
NHS.uk

Investigation

Initial investigation

Investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases, including case definitions
Public Health England

Sampling and testing

General collection of guidance for diagnostic sampling

Public Health England

How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Advice on histopathology frozen sections and cytology fine needle aspiration during infectious disease outbreaks
Royal College of Pathologists
Endoscopy activity and COVID-19
British Society of Gastroenterology and the Joint Advisory Group

Pathology

Guidance for remote reporting of digital pathology slides during periods of exceptional service pressure
Royal College of Pathologists

Imaging

Position statement on the role of CT in patients suspected with COVID-19 infection
Royal College of Radiologists

Service organisation and resourcing

Next steps on NHS response to COVID-19 (17 March 2020), including:

1. freeing up maximum possible inpatient and critical care capacity
2. preparing, and responding to, large numbers of inpatients requiring respiratory support
3. supporting staff, and maximising staff availability
4. supporting newly announced wider population measures
5. stress-testing operational readiness
6. removing routine burdens

Minimum operating standards: novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patient pathway, including:

1. Phase 1: COVID-19 case identification and immediate response
2. Phase 2: COVID-19 coordination services
3. Minimum pathway accessories required, including for diagnostics, case transport, and infection prevention and control
4. Managing illness during self-isolation based on symptom severity (‘disposition’).

Standard operating procedure for coronavirus (2019-nCoV) priority assessment service (version 3)

NHS England

Drug demand–supply guidance, including:
- anaesthetic use and administration
- medicine prescribing and administration

Royal College of Anaesthetists, Association of Anaesthetists, Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Society, and UK Clinical Pharmacy Association