Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings
[ch 7: page 102]The HSE withdrew its advice on PPE during the Covid pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Health Protection Scotland, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England have issued joint guidance on infection prevention and control advice for health and social care providers involved in receiving, assessing and caring for patients who are a possible or confirmed case of Covid-19. This includes guidance on PPE in these settings. This guidance does not apply to adult social care settings in England, where there is separate advice.
The government PPE guidance hub can be found on the gov.uk website.
Public health advice on face coverings and face masks — which are not PPE — is that they can help reduce the chance of spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect people from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses.