Personal Protective Equipment For COVID-19

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Go back to priority medical devices for COVID Personal protective equipment for COVID-19

This page includes the latest guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) for the COVID-19 response (including technical specifications) and other related publication. The page is structured as follows:

• Technical specifications of personal protective equipment for COVID-19
• Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• Other PPE publications
• Medical masks do's and don'ts
• Other resources

WHO / Blink Media - Nana Kofi Acquah A patient receives prenatal care at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in Accra. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO is supporting the Ghana Health Service in their efforts to continue providing essential medical services to the population. © Credits

Publications on personal protective equipment in the context of COVID-19

13 November 2020

Technical specifications of personal protective equipment for COVID-19

This document provides interim guidance on the quality, performance characteristics and related standards of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be...

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Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

This document summarizes WHO’s recommendations for the rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care and home care settings, as well as during the handling of cargo; it also assesses the current disruption of the global supply chain and considerations for decision making during severe shortages of PPE. This updated version includes a section on considerations for decision making processes and a summary of temporary measures in the context of severe PPE shortage.

23 December 2020

Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19)...

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Other publications

1 June 2021

Use of medical and non-medical/fabric masks for community outreach activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

This aide-mémoire presents information on use and procurement of masks for community outreach interventions, with a focus on those for malaria,...

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1 December 2020

Mask use in the context of COVID-19

This document provides updated guidance on mask use in health care and community settings, and during home care for COVID-19 cases. It is intended for...

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21 August 2020

Advice on the use of masks for children in the community in the context of COVID-19

This guidance provides specific considerations for the use of non-medical masks, also known as fabric masks, by children as a means for source control...

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Medical masks - do's and don'ts

Infographic

Medical masks -Do's

Infographic

Medical masks - Don'ts

Other resources

• COVID-19 advice for the public: when and how to use a mask
• Technical and Regulatory aspects of extended use, reuse, and reprocessing of respirators during shortage (PAHO)
• Commission Recommendation on conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures within the context of the COVID-19 threat (2020/403 of 13 March 2020)
• AAMI Offers Free Standards and Resources to Help Fight Coronavirus
• Covid-19 response: freely available ISO standards
• ASTM Standards & COVID-19
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators (CDC)

Related Health Topics

Communicable diseases

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Health interventions

In vitro diagnostics

Health interventions

Medical devices