Care workers supporting people with suspected or confirmed coronavirus are being told to wear protective equipment including gloves and a surgical mask.

New guidance from Health Protection Scotland covering care homes and support in the community sets out the processes workers should follow when dealing with potential cases.

It comes as care homes in Scotland are being advised to make the difficult decision to stop family and all non-essential visits to protect their residents from coronavirus.

Scottish Care, which issued the advice to care homes, said it was a “proportionate response” given the risks to vulnerable older people.

The advice was issued as the first minister announced efforts to tackle the virus would escalate. Nicola Sturgeon said the public would be asked to make changes to their lives for a “significant” number of weeks.

Meanwhile the health and social care boss for Scotland’s councils has told healthandcare.scot he is confident the care system will be able to weather the storm.

Health Protection Scotland says the use of temporary agency or bank staff should be avoided where possible and non-essential visits should be deferred where possible.

But for personal and nursing care it says workers should wear personal protective gear for suspected cases and dispose of it after use, although stocks will be prioritised for the NHS.

Care residents who are thought to have the virus should be isolated in a single room and only essential staff should enter.

Meanwhile Scottish Care says managers should use video calls and social media to ensure family members can stay in contact with relatives in care homes.

Chief executive Dr Donald Macaskill said in a guidance letter: ‘Scottish Care as the representative body of the majority of care homes in Scotland has learnt that a growing number of care homes have decided to suspend non-essential visits to their homes as a response to the growing threat of Covid-19.

‘We appreciate that these are not easy decisions to make and that they will require to be taken after considerable thought and planning. We recognise that it is the responsibility of each care home to make a decision which they consider best protects residents, their families and staff.’