How to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak - Wales (Last update: 04.12.20)

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How to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak – Wales (Last update: 04.12.20)

December 4, 2020

Alternatively, you can see the guidance here:

A) How to Respond to a COVID-19 Outbreak

B) What are COVID-19 Symptoms?

The most common are:

and for frail elderly

Remember: People with Dementia may not be able to tell you their symptoms and will need special observation – Use the RESTORE2 tools.

Record suspected or confirmed cases in staff/individuals daily on the Capacity Tool.

C) What is an outbreak?

2 or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 or suspected cases in people linked with the home, with onset within 14 days of each other.

D) What do we need to do if we suspect an Outbreak?

Home Manager: Contact Public Health Wales – they will advise on next steps and set up testing for all staff and individuals if appropriate.

Have the following information to hand:

Type of home
CIW number for the home
Onset date of first case
Onset date of most recent case
Symptoms of cases
Total number of individuals in the care home
Total number of staff employed by the home
Total number of individuals with symptoms
Total number of staff with symptoms
Location of symptomatic cases with respect to layout of whole home
Numbers of staff in clinical risk groups
Any recent testing and any results
Any deaths or hospitalisations – Which hospital/when?
Which GPs are the individuals (symptomatic and non-symptomatic) registered with?

Isolate individuals with symptoms immediately for 14 days from the onset of symptoms – and – in single rooms with a bathroom where possible. With multiple cases you should try to isolate a wing or part of the building for cases. Try to allocate a group of staff to work solely with individuals who are in isolation and another group of staff to work with those who are negative
Contact the GPs of individual confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases
Immediately start full infection control measures and increase the frequency of monitoring individuals
Check any local policy and outbreak management arrangements
Postpone routine, non-essential medical and other appointments
Do not take any new admissions to the home during the outbreak
Stop visiting except in exceptional circumstances such as end of life. All visitors must wear a protective face covering, perform hand hygiene and keep their distance where possible
Reduce contact between individuals by reducing or stopping the use of communal facilities
Keep monitoring your individuals and ensure that those who need to, are shielding
28 days after the last individual/member of staff tested positive or showed coronavirus-like symptoms, test all individuals and staff again
If no further cases are identified, the outbreak has stopped and Public Health Wales or the local Environmental Health Team will advise it has ended

E) Staff during an outbreak

Staff who have COVID-19 symptoms:

Staff with positive tests should self-isolate for 10 days
They can only return to work when clinical symptoms have improved and they have had no fever for 48 hours following the period of isolation
Staff who become symptomatic at work must immediately put on a surgical mask, notify their manager and go home to get tested by using the online portal or dialling 111. They must avoid using public transport
If staff develop symptoms, they must notify their line manager immediately

F) Key Facts in an outbreak

Remember all national restrictions apply
Two or more confirmed or clinically suspected cases with onset within 14 days and linked is an outbreak
It is the Manager’s duty to alert Public Health Wales – they will advise on next steps
Infection control frequency to be increased
Isolate individuals with positive COVID-19 or suspected cases for 14 days
Restrict visiting to exceptional circumstances
Staff with positive tests or those suspected of having COVID-19 or awaiting tests should isolate at home
Record all cases on the Capacity Tool
Where symptoms worsen for an individual, seek medical help

G) Good to know

You must notify CIW of confirmed cases of coronavirus in people using the service or staff
The infectious disease notification form should be used and sent via the CIW online portal
The death of an individual notification form has been updated to include coronavirus where this is the cause of death

H) PPE in an outbreak

Disposable gloves – Single use to protect you from contact with individuals’ body fluids and secretions
Disposable plastic apron – Single use to protect you from contact with individuals’ body fluids and secretions
Fluid-repellent (Type IIR) surgical mask – To be worn continuously until breaks

I) Support in an outbreak