Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): first responder guidance for Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and the National Asylum Intake Unit

Published 24 July 2020

This guidance was withdrawn on 9 October 2024

This guidance has been withdrawn as it is out-of-date.

1. Who this guidance is for

This guidance is for Border Force (BF), Immigration Enforcement (IE) and National Asylum Intake Unit (NAIU) officers, and others who may have close contact with individuals with potential coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

In the current situation of sustained community transmission of COVID-19 in the UK, social distancing, the strict application of safe working practices and, where social distancing cannot be maintained, the use of PPE, are recommended to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus.

2. Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus. Typical symptoms of COVID-19 infection include fever and a continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia); in some people, the illness may progress to severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus, first identified in China at the end of 2019. Transmission of COVID-19 is widespread globally, including in the UK.

Generally, this coronavirus (COVID-19) infection can cause more severe symptoms in older people, those with weakened immune systems, obese people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

3. How COVID-19 is spread

COVID-19 is spread principally by respiratory droplets. From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres or less) with a recently infected person who may or may not have symptoms. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close face to face contact with someone who is symptomatic.

There are 2 common routes through which people could become infected:

1. Droplets can be transmitted directly into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or inhaled into the lungs.

2. It is possible that someone may become infected by touching a person, a surface or object that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as shaking hands, using shared equipment or touching door knobs then touching own face).

4. Who may have COVID-19

While community transmission has reduced from the peak observed in the UK to date, there is still a level of sustained community transmission of COVID-19 in the UK, and so the possibility of coming into contact with an individual having the infection still exists within the community. This guidance is for all situations where close contact (defined as being within 2 metres of an individual) is required within an indoor environment. Outdoor environments are generally safer, for example because of better ventilation amongst other factors, and reduce the need to be quite so stringent in terms of controls.

5. Safe working systems

Where possible, all contact with members of the public should be carried out while maintaining social distancing measures – a distance of at least 2 metres (6 feet) and where it is not possible to keep a 2 metre distance, reduce the risk to yourself and others at 1m by taking suitable precautions. Where this is not possible, the principles for the Hierarchy of Risk (PDF 113KB) should be applied, using measures such as physical barriers and alternative working practices and, as a final measure, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) based on risk assessment (section 7.1), where other safe working systems alone may not be feasible or may be insufficient to mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

6. Hygiene measures

The best way to protect yourself and others is through regular thorough hand hygiene and rigorous cleaning of surfaces. An increased frequency of the cleaning of all surfaces and equipment, using standard household cleaning products, is recommended.

After any physical contact with a member of the public, clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser at the earliest opportunity. Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.

There are no additional precautions to be taken in relation to cleaning your clothing or uniform other than what is usual practice.

7. What to do if you are required to come into close contact with someone

7.1 Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Where it is not possible to maintain a minimum of 2 metres, and where there is no physical separation then disposable gloves and a fluid repellent surgical face mask is recommended. The use of a physical barrier such as a Perspex screen, even with document holes, removes the need for facemasks unless your role requires you to move from the physical barrier and social distancing cannot be maintained.

Disposable gloves should be worn if physical contact is likely to be made with potentially contaminated areas or items. When using a fluid repellent surgical face mask, you should mould the metal strap of the mask over the bridge of the nose and make sure the mask fits snugly under the chin, around or across any facial hair if present.

The benefit of additional protection when there is an anticipated risk of contamination with splashes, droplets of blood or body fluids or when dealing with a symptomatic individual should be considered. This might include the use of disposable or re-usable eye protection (such as face visor or goggles) and a disposable plastic apron (or coverall) to be used as defined by Safe Systems of Work.

Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol sanitiser before putting on and after taking off PPE. In all circumstances where some form of PPE is used, the safe removal of the PPE is a critical consideration to avoid self-contamination.

Application of PPE

1. Perform hand hygiene before putting on PPE.

2. Put on apron and tie at waist.

3. Put on facemask – position upper straps on the crown of your head, lower strap at nape of neck.

4. With both hands, mould the metal strip over the bridge of your nose.

5. Don eye protection if required

6. Put on gloves.

Removal of PPE:

1. Remove gloves. Grasp the outside of glove with the opposite gloved hand; peel off. Hold the removed glove in the remaining gloved hand. Slide the fingers of the un-gloved hand under the remaining glove at the wrist. Peel the remaining glove off over the first glove and discard.

2. Clean hands.

3. Apron. Unfasten or break apron ties at the neck and let the apron fold down on itself. Break ties at waist and fold apron in on itself – do not touch the outside – this will be contaminated. Discard.

4. Remove eye protection if worn. Use both hands to handle the straps by pulling away from face and discard.

5. Clean hands.

6. Remove facemask once your clinical work is completed. Untie or break bottom ties, followed by top ties or elastic, and remove by handling the ties only. Lean forward slightly. Discard. Do not reuse once removed.

7. Clean hands with soap and water.

Guidance on putting on and taking off PPE is available on GOV.UK. Use and dispose of all PPE according to the instructions and training provided by your employer or organisation.

7.2 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

If you are required to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you should rapidly conduct a risk assessment and adopt appropriate precautions for infection control.

In adults, it is recommended that you do not perform rescue breaths or mouth-to-mouth ventilation; perform chest compressions only. Compression-only CPR may be as effective as combined ventilation and compression in the first few minutes after non-asphyxial arrest (cardiac arrest not due to lack of oxygen).

Cardiac arrest in children is more likely to be caused by a respiratory problem (asphyxial arrest), therefore chest compressions alone are unlikely to be effective.

If a decision is made to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation in asphyxial arrest, use a resuscitation face shield where available.

Should you have given mouth-to-mouth ventilation there are no additional actions to be taken other than to monitor yourself for symptoms of possible COVID-19 over the following 14 days. Should you develop such symptoms you should follow the advice on what to do on the NHS website.

7.3 Cleaning the area where assistance to an individual suspected or proven to be infected with COVID-19 was provided

Cleaning will depend on where assistance was provided. It should follow the advice for cleaning in non-healthcare settings. Public areas where a symptomatic individual has passed through and spent minimal time in (such as corridors) but which are not visibly contaminated with body fluids can be cleaned in the usual way in terms of the process and frequency of how cleaning usually takes place. However, all surfaces that a symptomatic individual might have contaminated with must be cleaned and disinfected.

7.4 If there has been a blood or body-fluid spill

Keep people away from the area. Use a spill-kit if available, using the PPE in the kit or PPE provided by your employer/organisation and following the instructions provided with the spill-kit. If no spill-kit is available, place paper towels/roll onto the spill, and seek further advice from emergency services when they arrive.

7.5 Contacts of the person you have assisted

Advise anyone who had close contact with the individual that if they go on to develop symptoms of COVID-19 (continuous cough, fever or change in or loss of sense of smell or taste (anosmia), they should follow the advice on what to do on the NHS website.

8. What to do if you become unwell

If you have already been given specific advice from your employer about who to call if you become unwell, follow that advice.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, you will need to stay at home for 7 days and get a test. Refer to the advice on the NHS website and the Stay at home guidance.

9. Additional advice

BF, IE and NAIU officers should not be performing clinical assessments of any individual who may be showing symptoms of COVID-19. If you are concerned that someone you are managing needs medical assistance, call NHS 111 (or 999 if it is a medical emergency).

Where appropriate, in an operational setting, you should follow your operational Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work (SSOW).

In the majority of activities, it is unlikely that officers will require any additional PPE for normal activities. For situations where close contact (a distance of less than 2 metres) with a person is unavoidable to fulfil the required duty – for example when entering a household, carrying out an essential interview or arrest and restraint – the use of PPE is recommended. The appropriate PPE for a specific situation will need to be assessed on a case by case basis.

10. Associated legislation

Please note that this guidance is of a general nature. Employers should consider the specific conditions of each individual place of work and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.