Online micro learning: What are the non-pharmaceutical countermeasures to minimise transmission of COVID-19?

E-learning course
16 Feb 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
ECDC Virtual Academy
ECDC

ECDC is offering micro learnings related to COVID-19 through the ECDC Virtual Academy (EVA). EVA provides access to training in the domain of Disease Prevention & Control, in order to strengthen capacity of European Union and its Member States.

This micro learning is designed to take 40 minutes and you will learn about:

  • Personal protective measures: hand hygiene and cough etiquette;
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE): respirators, facemasks, goggles, downs and gloves;
  • Donning (wear) and doffing (remove) PPE.
  • Estimate the necessary amount of PPE.

Non-pharmaceutical countermeasures

The primary objective of non-pharmaceutical countermeasures is to reduce the impact of an outbreak by reducing the number of contacts that result in disease transmission. This may be achieved through four main countermeasures:

  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Environmental Countermeasures
  • Physical Distancing Countermeasures
  • Travel Related Countermeasures

     

The micro learning activities provided on the ECDC Virtual Academy are based on two ECDC reports "Guidelines for the use of non-pharmaceutical measures to delay and mitigate the impact of 2019-nCoV" and "Personal protective equipment (PPE) needs in healthcare settings for the care of patients with suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)". 

Moreover, these materials are build upon the current knowledge on the SARS-CoV-2 and evidence available on other viral respiratory pathogens, mainly the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and seasonal or pandemic influenza viruses.

Since there are uncertainties concerning the infectious period of the SARS-CoV-2 and its basic reproductive number (R0), these materials should be interpreted with caution.

Page last updated: 29 Sep 2020