Information for healthcare professionals
1. Introduction
The following advice is provided as a resource for UK Healthcare Professionals based on a combination of available evidence, good practice and expert advice. The priorities are the provision of safe care to women with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 and the reduction of onward transmission. Please be aware that this is very much an evolving situation and this guidance is a living document that may be updated if or when new information becomes available. We therefore suggest that you visit this page regularly for updates.
This guidance will be kept under regular review as new evidence emerges. If you would like to suggestadditional areas for this guidance to cover, any clarifications required or to submit new evidence for consideration, please email COVID-19@rcog.org.uk. Please note, we will not be able to give individual clinical advice or information for specific organisational requirements via this email address.
1.1 The virus
Novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) is a new strain of coronavirus causing COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan City, China. Other coronavirus infections include the common cold (HCoV 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
1.2 Epidemiology
The virus appears to have originated in Hubei Province in China towards the end of 2019. Since then China has remained the country with the highest number of infected individuals. Within Europe, Italy is the country currently most affected.
This situation is naturally changing rapidly and for the most up to date advice please consult local Health Protection advice. Health Protection is a devolved matter and links to local guidance are available for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Public Health England (PHE) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have been cited throughout this document; specific guidance from the other areas of the United Kingdom will be updated as they become available.
Pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to the consequences of infection with COVID-19 than the general population. Data are limited but special consideration should be given to pregnant women with concomitant medical illnesses who could be infected with COVID-19 until the evidence base provides clearer information. There are no reported deaths in pregnant women at the moment.
