PPE recommendations and tools

• Patients with suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 disease require Contact and Droplet precautions to be used
  

• Use a medical mask along with eye protection (face shield, safety glasses or goggles), gloves and gown when taking nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. 
  
  
• Use a N95 respirator or equivalent with gown, gloves and eye protection (face shield or goggles) when performing aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMP) on patients suspected (patients with COVID-19 risk) or confirmed to have COVID-19.  
  
  
• Download Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMP) sign
  

• The Personal Protective Equipment: Additional Precautions Infection Prevention and Control Audit Tool is intended for health authorities’ trained auditors and site administrators, with experience using personal protective equipment (PPE), to help them assess health care worker competency and compliance with PPE donning and doffing procedures when providing care to patients on additional precautions. 

• Appropriate Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for VRI in Health-care Settings poster
  

• Provincial Support for Using Reusable Gowns for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) This information is provided by the COVID-19 Provincial IPAC and Workplace Health and Safety Working Group, a collaborative with the Provincial Infection Control Network (PICNet), the Ministry of Health, health authorities and other healthcare representatives brought together to coordinate a provincial response to COVID-19.

Masks, respirators and eye and facial protection

• How to Wear a Medical Mask poster for instructions on how to put on and remove a surgical mask.
  
  
• The Eye Protection Selection Fit Tool is a resource for health care workers to assess, select and properly fit eye protection PPE options including face shield, safety goggles, visor attached to mask and safety glasses -
  
  
• Prescription Eye Protection Selection Requirements - This tool can be used to ensure that your prescription eye protection meets health and safety standards with respect to fit and required protection
  
  
• Cleaning and disinfection instructions for eye and facial protection provides information for reusable goggles, safety glasses and face shields without foam. 
  
  
• Elastomeric half-face respirators (EHFR):
• Instructions for Donning for elastomeric half facepiece respirator (EHFR) that does not have an exhalation valve filter: Poster with instructions on how to wear and apply a medical mask over the EHFR unfiltered valve.
  
• Learn how to safely reprocess reusable elastomeric respirators.   

• The continuous, extended and repetitive use of PPE, including masks, gloves and safety glasses/goggles may cause adverse skin reactions. 
• Poster: Skin protection for PPE use for health care workers (PDF)
  
  
• Position Statement: Double Masking and Mask Modifications for Medical Masks in Health Care Settings - Updated March 26, 2024