CS 315106-A 02/16/2020

For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

Healthcare personnel (HCP) are on the front lines of caring for patients with confirmed or possible 

infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have an increased risk of exposure to the virus 

that causes it, now identified as SARS-CoV-2. HCPs can minimize their risk of exposure when caring for 

confirmed or possible COVID-19 patients by following CDC infection prevention and control guidelines, 

including use of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE).

What healthcare personnel should know about

caring for patients with confirmed or possible

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

How COVID-19 Spreads 

There is much to learn about the COVID-19, including how and 

how easily it spreads. Based on what is currently known about 

COVID-19 and what is known about other coronaviruses, spread 

is thought to occur mostly from person to person via respiratory 

droplets among close contacts. 

Close contact can occur while caring for a patient, including: 

• being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a patient with 

COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time.

• having direct contact with infectious secretions from a patient 

with COVID-19. Infectious secretions may include sputum, 

serum, blood, and respiratory droplets. 

If close contact occurs while not wearing all recommended PPE, 

healthcare personnel may be at risk of infection.

How You Can Protect Yourself 

Healthcare personnel caring for patients with confirmed or 

possible COVID-19 should adhere to CDC recommendations for 

infection prevention and control (IPC):

• Assess and triage these patients with acute respiratory symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19 to minimize chances of 

exposure, including placing a facemask on the patient and 

isolating them in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR), 

if available.

• Use Standard Precautions, Contact Precautions, and Airborne 

Precautions and eye protection when caring for patients with 

confirmed or possible COVID-19.

• Perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub before and 

after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious 

material, and before putting on and upon removal of PPE, including gloves. Use soap and water if hands are visibly soiled.

• Practice how to properly don, use, and doff PPE in a manner to 

prevent self-contamination.

• Perform aerosol-generating procedures, including collection of 

diagnostic respiratory specimens, in an AIIR, while following

appropriate IPC practices, including use of appropriate PPE.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection 

Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures are appropriate for 

COVID-19 in healthcare settings, including those patient-care 

areas in which aerosol-generating procedures are performed. 

Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims 

are recommended for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus 

that causes COVID-19. Management of laundry, food service 

utensils, and medical waste should also be performed in 

accordance with routine procedures. 

When to Contact Occupational Health Services

If you have an unprotected exposure (i.e., not wearing 

recommended PPE) to a confirmed or possible COVID-19 

patient, contact your supervisor or occupational health 

immediately.

If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, 

cough, or difficulty breathing), do not report to work. Contact 

your occupational health services.

For more information for healthcare personnel, visit: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html.

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