COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures

Personal Hygiene and Protective Equipment

• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends cleaning hands frequently by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol when hand washing isn't available 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine advises avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends covering your mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing, or doing so into your elbow 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the International Journal of Surgery recommend wearing a face mask to protect others, especially in public settings 1, 3

Physical Distancing and Environmental Controls

• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends maintaining a physical separation zone of at least 2 meters (6 feet) from others whenever possible 5, 6
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine advises avoiding large gatherings or meetings of 10 people or more 2
• The International Journal of Surgery recommends limiting social contacts and staying home when feeling sick 3, 7
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests bringing food and water from home and not sharing with others 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends driving to destinations alone when possible and avoiding carpooling 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine advises wiping down interiors and door handles of vehicles, and handles of shared equipment with disinfectant 1

Screening and Monitoring

• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends implementing verbal screening and temperature checks at workplaces and public facilities 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests key screening questions should include presence of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing in the past 24 hours 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends asking about contact with a known COVID-19 case in the past 14 days 1
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine advises isolating immediately if symptoms develop or after exposure to a confirmed case 2

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

• The International Journal of Surgery recommends that if a household member is infected, the entire household should quarantine for 14 days 7
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that case identification and contact tracing are essential for containing spread 5, 6

Special Considerations for Different Settings

• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends establishing clearly defined safety plans with designated zones to minimize contact in workplace settings 5
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests screening workers before allowing entry to facilities 5
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine advises securing entrance and egress with only essential personnel allowed access 6
• The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recommends implementing proper disinfection protocols for shared surfaces and tools 5
• The International Journal of Surgery recommends that healthcare workers use high-filtration masks (N95), goggles, and gowns when in direct contact with infected patients 3
• The International Journal of Surgery suggests placing suspected patients in isolation rooms when available 3
• The International Journal of Surgery recommends using either disposable or dedicated equipment for suspected cases 3
• The International Journal of Surgery advises avoiding contaminating environmental surfaces such as door handles 3

Evidence-Based Effectiveness

• The International Journal of Surgery found that implementation of control measures such as lockdowns and social distancing has been shown to significantly reduce case numbers 3
• The International Journal of Surgery reported that data from cities with lockdown measures showed approximately 37% fewer cases compared to cities without such measures 3
• The International Journal of Surgery suggests that early implementation of preventive measures is critical, and implementing control measures just one week earlier could have prevented approximately 67% of cases in some regions 3