Increase in cases of Covid-19
You may have seen reports of an increase in Covid-19 cases across the country and the emergence of a new group of variants, the latest being codenamed ‘FLiRT’. Read more here.
Today, we’re actively managing two outbreaks in our services, so we’re asking everyone to be extra vigilant for symptoms of respiratory infections such as Covid-19. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection and a high temperature, please remain off work until your high temperature has resolved and you feel well enough to return to work.
There remains no requirement to take a lateral flow Covid-19 test, but the infection prevention and control (IP&C) team may advise testing if there is evidence of transmission, during an outbreak for instance. They will supply testing kits in such circumstances, and if you do test positive for Covid-19 you must remain off work for five full days from either the date of the test or the date of onset of symptoms, whichever took place first. Please seek advice from your manager or the IP&C team on your return to work if you still have symptoms, as you may be asked to wear a mask until they resolve.
We continue to adopt a ‘step up, step down’ approach in terms of mask-wearing. For the time being we are not stepping-up any services into masks unless they experience an outbreak, but we will continue to monitor our local data alongside the regional and national data and may change our approach, if necessary, in order to protect our staff, patients and visitors.
Please contact the IP&C team for any advice or guidance.
Thanks,
Michelle Bateman - Chief Nurse