Search

The high COVID-19 morbidity and mortality observed among residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in EU/EEA countries poses a major challenge for disease prevention and control in such settings. Furthermore, the lack of special surveillance systems and the differences in testing strategies and capacities among countries may have led to a significant under-ascertainment and under-reporting of cases, contributing to a general underestimation of the disease burden and mortality in LTCFs.

This document aims to provide guidance to EU/EEA healthcare facilities and healthcare providers on infection prevention and control (IPC) measures for the management of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities. It also offers guidance on the management of specimens at laboratories in the EU/EEA.

This first update of the original document is prompted by the recent scientific developments and evolution of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the need to include types of substances of human origin (SoHO) that were not addressed in the first version (e.g. reproductive and some non-reproductive tissues and cells).

Since 31 December 2019 and as of 22 April 2020, approximately 2.5 million (2 524 812) cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide and 177 780 deaths. Of these, 988 241 cases were reported by EU/EEA countries and the UK, including 105 064 deaths.

This document provides guidance for planning discharge and ending isolation for COVID-19 patients in the context of the phase of ongoing widespread community transmission.

Since 31 December 2019 and as of 7 April 2020, over 1.3 million (1 316 988) cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, and more than 70 000 (74 066) deaths. Half of these cases (608 500) have been reported from the EU/EEA countries and the UK, and over 50 000 (51 059) of them have died.

This document provides the ECDC opinion on the suitability of face masks and other face covers in the community by individuals who are not ill in order to reduce potential pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 from the mask wearer to others. Available in 26 languages.

This document summarises evidence from studies included in the licensing file of HPV vaccines together with postlicensure, peer-reviewed data and analysis where available. This guidance does not address the safety of HPV vaccines observed during the pre- and post-licensing period.

On 31 December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On 9 January 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus as the causative agent of this outbreak, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This document aims to support public health preparedness planning and response activities on the safe handling of bodies of deceased persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19: at the site of death, during transport, storage and preparation before burial/cremation, and during burial/cremation. Available in 26 languages.