Report calls for urgent action to drive down surgical site infections
The ‘Time to Act’ report has highlighted that one in 20 patients who undergo a surgical procedure in the NHS contract a surgical site...
Hope for UK to return to “normal” with new NHS Test and Trace strategy
In a bid to protect people’s health and continue to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, a new strategy for the NHS test...
Assessing impact of international travel restrictions on COVID-19 spread
The first study to assess the global impact of international travel restrictions on the COVID-19 pandemic has suggested that they may only be effective...
“Staying safe from COVID-19 during winter”: the European Commission adopts new strategy
The European Commission has adopted a “staying safe from COVID-19 during winter” strategy for managing the pandemic over the coming winter months.
Disinfecting CT scanners with Ultraviolet Light
A team of scientists are looking at utilising ultraviolet light (UV light) in order to disinfect the inner bore of CT scanning machines.
Due to...
Families to be reunited with care home residents by Christmas
A million new COVID-19 tests are to be sent out to care providers over the next month, which will allow for families to be...
New COVID-19 infection control approach is needed to keep schools open
Governments are being urged rethink policies on COVID-19 infection control if primary schools are to be kept open this winter.
Schools across the country have...
COVID-19: understanding the aerodynamics of infectious disease
Countries across the globe have implemented measures such as social distancing and mask wearing in order to reduce COVID-19 transmission, but as the weather...
European Commission steps up rapid COVID-19 testing
The European Commission will be stepping up rapid COVID-19 antigen testing and support to increase testing capacity.
The move follows the European Commission's recommendation to...
Mental health, COVID-19 and the workplace
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive speaks to HEQ about COVID-19 and mental health at work.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still nowhere close to a...
COVID-19 and infection control in Europe
ECDC experts Dr Agoritsa Baka and Dr Diamantis Plachouras tell HEQ about public health planning infection control policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The European Centre...
Families to visit loved ones in care homes with regular COVID-19 testing
The UK Government is launching a new pilot to enable family members to see their loved ones in care homes with regular COVID-19 testing.
The...
Routine testing patients for COVID-19 before major surgery could save lives
A new study, led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, revealed that routine testing patients for COVID-19 before major surgery could reduce the risk of respiratory complications and save lives.
Could COVID-19 mink spread lessen the effectiveness of a vaccine?
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), an agency of the European Union, has warned that the spread of COVID-19 from minks...
COVID-19 and infection control in Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada President Barbara Catt speaks with HEQ about Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC Canada)...
Major interventions needed to meet global PPE demand
The healthcare supply industry must increase production by at least 40% to meet growing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), a new review has...
Disinfecting face masks with the light of the sun
Researchers have developed a special type of cotton face mask that kills up to 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses within 60 minutes of being...
International Ultraviolet Association: UVC disinfection and COVID-19
Dr Jim Malley of the International Ultraviolet Association tells HEQ about the potential of UV technology in infection control.
In 2020, the issue of infection...
Parents advised to keep childhood vaccination appointments
Public Health England (PHE) is urging parents to keep vaccination appointments for their children during national COVID-19 restrictions.
WHO Director-General calls for new era of cooperation at World Health Assembly
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered a powerful speech at the 73rd World Health Assembly on 9 November.
