Infection prevention and control during transfer and transport of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19

Abstract

Patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (‎COVID-19)‎ can infect others at any time, including during transfer and transport. COVID-19 is a new infectious disease that requires contact and droplet precautions; lapses in infection prevention and control (‎IPC)‎ can easily happen at vulnerable moments such as during transfer. This guide aims to identify key steps to prepare the community and health system response to ensure IPC is maintained during transfer and transport. This guide is intended for personnel involved in coordinating and performing transfer and transport of patients with suspected COVID-19 requiring hospital care.