The UK government potentially violating the right to life of care home residents and staff by not conforming with international human rights and public health guidance (thread)

The @WHO published “Infection Prevention and Control guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities in the context of COVID-19” on 21 March 2020
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331508/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC_long_term_care-2020.1-eng.pdf

The @DHSCgovuk published "Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home” 2 April 2020
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878099/Admission_and_Care_of_Residents_during_COVID-19_Incident_in_a_Care_Home.pdf

Clearly the authors of the UK publication had read the WHO guidance because some paragraphs are lifted word-by-word (which is good if one is trying to follow international guidance on keeping people alive). However, there are some key differences.

The WHO says ”For residents with no symptoms, stagger meals or provide meals in bedroom”. There is no such requirement in the UK guidance: care homes may gather their residents in the dining room (which would be a really bad idea).

The WHO says that even for residents with no symptoms, there should be a 1-meter distance between residents. There is no such specificity in the UK guidance, just a vague "follow social distancing measures", which leads to a hyperlink advising people to work from home etc.

It also tells you to “avoid large and small gatherings ... as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together”. It also says “You can also go for a walk or exercise outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others.” This is advice for care homes!

That's hopeless enough, but there's more. What about PPE?

The WHO says if a resident is suspected to have, or is diagnosed with, COVID-19, a medical mask should be put on the resident (and on others staying in the room). The UK only requires a mask "when transferring symptomatic residents between rooms". That's a staggering difference.

Last example: the WHO says “When providing routine care for a resident with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, contact precaution and droplet precautions should be practiced” which include ”eye protection (goggles or face shield)”. What does the UK guidance say?

There's nothing in the UK care home guidance, which is weird, right? The document contains a hyperlink which takes you to this table: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878750/T2_poster_Recommended_PPE_for_primary__outpatient__community_and_social_care_by_setting.pdf

My red arrow is pointing in the “Eye/face protection” column and the care homes row. There is no green tick. Why not? I don't know. A green tick could save lives.

Instead of a green tick it says “risk assess sessional use” and takes you to 2 footnotes. Yes, core PPE guidance is buried in footnotes in a different document than the care homes guidance document.

The risk assess footnote says “Risk assessed use refers to utilising PPE when there is an anticipated/likely risk of contamination with splashes, droplets or blood or body fluids.” Most personal care surely involves this risk, doesn't it?

Does no green tick mean @DHSCgovuk thinks it's off the hook for not providing eye / face protection to care homes? By not meeting basic WHO standards, is the UK government may be violating the right to life of the entire care home population and workforce.

The @CoE_CPT has said " @WHO guidelines on fighting the pandemic as well as national health and clinical guidelines consistent with international standards must be respected and implemented fully in all places of deprivation of liberty” https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/-/covid-19-council-of-europe-anti-torture-committee-issues-statement-of-principles-relating-to-the-treatment-of-persons-deprived-of-their-liberty-

I am not an expert in infection prevention and control, but the UK guidelines appear to be inconsistent with @WHO standards. The CPT makes clear that this may be a breach of the UK's human rights commitments in international law.

Perhaps journalists could report this human rights angle? @ianbirrell @maitlis @jonsnowC4 @vsmacdonald @richardhorton1 @bbclaurak @bbcnickrobinson @johnpringdns @OwenJones84 @Saba_Salman @Lucy_Webster_ @Tanni_GT @BnsJaneCampbell @leicesterliz @KarenPBuckMP