Guidelines for the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19

Public health guidance

24 Sep 2020

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Page last updated: 23 November 2021

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) are public health measures that aim to prevent and/or control SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community. After vaccination, NPIs are the most effective public health interventions against COVID-19. These ECDC guidelines detail available options for NPIs in various epidemiologic scenarios, assess the evidence for their effectiveness and address implementation issues, including potential barriers and facilitators. Further ECDC guidance related to the use of NPIs can be found in the below list. These can be of support when looking to tailor NPIs to the epidemiological situation as well as level of vaccination coverage in a population.

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Relevant ECDC guidance documents

General

Please access ECDC’s rapid risk assessment related to COVID-19 for “options for response” related to the most recent epidemiological situation and/or for specific settings (e.g. long-term care facilities).

Latest risk assessments on COVID-19

Individual level

Respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and PPE

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Interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination against COVID-19 for transmission and implications for non-pharmaceutical interventions

21 Apr 2021

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Environmental level

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Disinfection of environments in healthcare and non-healthcare settings potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2

26 Mar 2020

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Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the context of COVID-19: first update

11 Nov 2020

Population level

Limiting physical inter-personal interactions

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Interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination against COVID-19 for transmission and implications for non-pharmaceutical interventions

21 Apr 2021

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Introducing a coherent European framework for tuning COVID-19 response measures

17 Mar 2021

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Contact tracing in the European Union: public health management of persons, including healthcare workers, who have had contact with COVID-19 cases – fourth update

28 Oct 2021

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Guidance on ending the isolation period for people with COVID-19, third update

28 Jan 2022

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Guidance on the provision of support for medically and socially vulnerable populations in EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

3 Jul 2020

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Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

15 Jun 2020

Surveillance and monitoring

Surveillance of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the EU/EEA

29 Nov 2021

Shielding of medically- and sociably-vulnerable populations

Public health guidance

Reducing COVID 19 transmission and strengthening vaccine uptake among migrant populations in the EU/EEA

3 Jun 2021

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Guidance on the provision of support for medically and socially vulnerable populations in EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

3 Jul 2020

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Infection prevention and control and surveillance for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in prisons in EU/EEA countries and the UK

3 Jul 2020

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Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

15 Jun 2020

Public health guidance

Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

15 Jun 2020

Surveillance and monitoring

Surveillance of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the EU/EEA

29 Nov 2021

Travel-related measures

Public health guidance

COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol: Operational guidelines for the management of air passengers and aviation personnel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic

11 May 2022

Public health guidance

Considerations relating to passenger locator data, entry and exit screening and health declarations in the context of COVID-19 in the EU/EEA and the UK

12 Jun 2020

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Guidelines for the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19

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Relevant ECDC guidance documents

General

Latest risk assessments on COVID-19

Individual level

Respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and PPE

Interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination against COVID-19 for transmission and implications for non-pharmaceutical interventions

Introducing a coherent European framework for tuning COVID-19 response measures

Considerations for the use of face masks in the community in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern

Infection prevention and control and preparedness for COVID-19 in healthcare settings - sixth update

Use of gloves in healthcare and non-healthcare settings in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic

Options for the decontamination and reuse of respirators in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Environmental level

Environmental cleaning

Disinfection of environments in healthcare and non-healthcare settings potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2

Ventilation

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the context of COVID-19: first update

Population level

Limiting physical inter-personal interactions

COVID-19 in children and the role of school settings in transmission - second update

Reducing COVID 19 transmission and strengthening vaccine uptake among migrant populations in the EU/EEA

Infection prevention and control and preparedness for COVID-19 in healthcare settings - sixth update

Considerations on the use of rapid antigen detection (including self-) tests for SARS-CoV-2 in occupational settings

Interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination against COVID-19 for transmission and implications for non-pharmaceutical interventions

Introducing a coherent European framework for tuning COVID-19 response measures

Contact tracing in the European Union: public health management of persons, including healthcare workers, who have had contact with COVID-19 cases – fourth update

Guidance on ending the isolation period for people with COVID-19, third update

Guidance on the provision of support for medically and socially vulnerable populations in EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

Surveillance of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the EU/EEA

Shielding of medically- and sociably-vulnerable populations

Reducing COVID 19 transmission and strengthening vaccine uptake among migrant populations in the EU/EEA

Guidance on the provision of support for medically and socially vulnerable populations in EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Infection prevention and control and surveillance for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in prisons in EU/EEA countries and the UK

Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

Guidance on infection prevention and control of COVID-19 in migrant and refugee reception and detention centres in the EU/EEA and the UK

Surveillance of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the EU/EEA

Travel-related measures

COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol: Operational guidelines for the management of air passengers and aviation personnel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19: EU guidance for cruise ship operations

Guidance for COVID-19 quarantine and testing of travellers

COVID-19 Rail Protocol: Recommendations for safe resumption of railway services in Europe

Considerations relating to passenger locator data, entry and exit screening and health declarations in the context of COVID-19 in the EU/EEA and the UK

Considerations for travel-related measures to reduce spread of COVID-19 in the EU/EEA

Considerations for infection prevention and control measures on public transport in the context of COVID-19

Considerations relating to social distancing measures in response to COVID-19 – second update

More resources

Response Measures Database (RMD)

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Videos on COVID-19

Prevention and control of COVID-19

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Surveillance and disease data on COVID-19

Factsheet on COVID-19

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