Current evidence suggests that the virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted between people through close contact and droplets. People most at risk of acquiring the disease are those who are in contact with or care for patients with COVID-19. This inevitably places health care workers (HCWs) at high risk of infection. Protecting HCWs is of paramount importance to WHO. Understanding how HCW exposure to COVID 19 virus translates into risk of infection is critical for informing infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations. This data collection form and risk assessment tool can be used to identify IPC breaches and define policies that will mitigate HCW exposure and nosocomial infection.
This tool is for health care facilities with COVID 19 patients. The form should be completed for all HCWs who have been exposed to a patient with confirmed COVID-19. This tool aids in the risk assessment for HCWs after exposure and provides recommendations for their management.
The objectives are:
- To determine the risk categorization of each HCW after exposure to a COVID-19 patient (see below Part 1: COVID-19 virus exposure risk assessment form for HCWs);
- To inform the management of the exposed HCWs based on risk (see below Part 2: Management of health worker exposed to COVID-19 virus).
Facilities using these forms are encouraged to share deidentified data with WHO to guidance related to IPC. Data shared with WHO should not include any personably identifiable information (Questions 2A, 2B and 2G).
Risk assessment and management of exposure of health care workers in the context of COVID-19 (PDF, 966.4 KB)
