Table 1.

Specific considerations of community-based malaria care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Access to and use of one of the core vector control tools should be maintained (ITNs or indoor residual spraying), including through adapted campaigns that are delivered using best practices to protect health workers and communities from COVID-19. Modifications might include canceling some data and accountability procedures that increase person-to-person contact and the potential risk for COVID-19 transmission (for example, not requiring a signature for ITNs received by a household)

Campaigns for seasonal malaria chemoprevention should proceed

Countries where malaria has been eliminated and those working to prevent re-establishment should maintain intensive malaria community-based surveillance activities in addition to core vector control activities, using best practices to safeguard health workers and communities

In exceptional situations, such as when there is a significant deterioration or inability of the health system to deliver services, mass administration of anti-malarial treatment could be used to rapidly reduce mortality and morbidity

Countries should consider increasing efforts to inspect and treat malaria, including at the community level, such as through community integrated management of childhood illness, especially during the country-based malaria seasons

Countries should continuously monitor and re-evaluate at regular intervals the necessity for delaying community-based surveys, mass treatment and active case finding based on the data provided

Community-based vector control and public health interventions should continue with strict precautions (hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing) observed by all participants in areas where there is no community transmission of COVID-19

In areas with community transmission, only essential activities should be continued. For vector control, essential activities should be interpreted as source reduction of vector breeding sites in and around houses

In areas that are affected by malaria and under stay-at-home measures due to COVID-19, families could work together for 30 min every week to get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites, clean roof gutters and ensure that all water storage containers are covered

Community-based WASH activities should continue, with amendments to include key information about preventing COVID-19 in settings where there are no cases of COVID-19. In settings where COVID-19 transmission is occurring, WASH messages should be repurposed to focus on preventing COVID-19 transmission