COVID-19 precautions for CBT in primary care
Question
- What is the current best practice when working as a CBT therapist in primary care?
- In light of the new strains of Covid 19 and the most recent information, is it still recommended to wear a face shield and maintain 2 metres distance from the patient?
- What is a safe session duration?
Answer
Recent updates of Irish guidance have reiterated that masks must be worn in healthcare facilities when a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. However, the guidance does not specifically address if masks need to be worn if persons are greater than 2 metres apart. Surgical masks are recommended for health workers within primary care practices while face coverings are recommended for patients entering a primary care practice. An updated rapid evidence summary by the HSPC indicates that face coverings are preferable to visors/shields to reduce transmission of COVID-19, though the evidence is of low quality. However, there are circumstances where a face covering may not be appropriate and may affect quality of care. In these circumstances a visor/shield may be used provided that it extends from above the eyes to below the chin and from ear-to-ear. The role of room ventilation is increasingly acknowledged and some guidance exists on increasing ventilation though this is dependent on context. Recommendations are not made about safe session duration.
The content of this document is correct as of 02/02/2021.
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