ICO annual conference May 15-17Important Coronavirus Updates for Ophthalmologists
COVID-19 update and resources for Ophthalmologists
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists continues to monitor closely the advice and information from the Government, the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to COVID-19 management in Ireland.
All medical and health care professionals should be working with their clinical management in developing protocols, in guidance from the appropriate organisations, to ensure that measures are put in place to identify and contain patients with symptoms of COVID-19.
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists joins the global medical community in educating our members on the latest clinical guidance and response to the pandemic.
American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines for ophthalmologists:
American Academy of Ophthalmology Important Advice for Ophthalmologists
The latest clinical guidance and updates from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists is posted at the following link:
https://rcophth.ac.uk/2020/03/covid-19-update-and-resources-for-ophthalmologists/
ICO members can access further clinical guidance and support resources on the members portal. Please log in via this link
Where to find the latest information for Ireland:
For updates on the situation in Ireland, we recommend checking the following websites:
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The Department of Health provides information on the national approach to prevention and control of Covid-19 as the situation evolves: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/
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The latest information from the Irish Government on public health measures can be viewed here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea1c30-updated-measures-in-response-to-covid-19-coronavirus
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Detailed information for health professionals in different care settings is available from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Check it also for regular updates and links to the latest from WHO and the European Centre for Disease Control: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/
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The Health Service Executive provides information and advice for the general public at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html
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A dedicated page for doctors relating to COVID-19 updates and information is published on the Medical Council website. On this page you will find information for doctors, information for patients, information relating to registration, re-joining the register, ethical guidance: Medical Council COVID-19 Updates for Doctors
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Created by the Department of Health, the COVID-19 Data Hub features national statistics, information and data from the HSPC on Coronavirus in Ireland https://www.gov.ie/en/service/0039bc-view-the-covid-19-coronavirus-dashboard-showing-the-latest-stats-and/?referrer=/covid19dashboard/
- The Department of Foreign Affairs has travel advice on a country by country basis: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/
These websites will continue to be updated, as will the advice from health authorities around the world
Recommendations to prevent spread of infection
Standard recommendations to prevent spread of infection include:
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regular hand washing
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covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
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avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as cough or sneezing
See the latest updates and guidance of the World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
8th April 2020