MRS to end Covid-19 guidance for data collection

The MRS had said earlier this year that it intended to remove all of the Covid-19 guidance, which has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, if the conditions were right.

After an assessment of the current conditions, MRS decided it was appropriate to withdraw the guidance.

However, MRS recommends that practitioners remember their overarching responsibilities to protect participants, interviewers and colleagues when undertaking data collection activities.

This includes recommendations that practitioners consider whether they need to retain any processes and protocols they introduced during the pandemic to manage the risks from Covid-19.

MRS also said that it could revisit the decision to withdraw the guidance should the situation with Covid-19 worsen in the future.