Covid-19

Overview New Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has now been published (17 January 2022 00.16!!) Updated guidance for pregnant employees Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for pregnant employees Friday 14th January, 17.32. Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 consecutive negative LFD tests … Read more

From today new regulations come into effect to re-introduce the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme for employers with fewer than 250 employees (more details below). Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 consecutive negative LFD tests (more details below). New regulations to re-introduce the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme … Read more

From 10 December 2021 temporary changes were introduced to allow employees to self-certify sickness absence for 28 days rather than 7 days. In practice this means that employees cannot be required to provide a fit note until they have been absent for 28 days.  This is due to be reviewed on 26 January 2022 and … Read more

PM news conference today at 5pm. The UK has recorded a further 218,724 coronavirus infections – a new daily record. Two million vaccine appointments available over next week – NHS England The health service says there is “plenty of capacity” for those who have not been able to come forward so far. Anyone who has … Read more

Following the DfE update to the Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak guidance (11:01am, 14 December 2021) we have considered the implications of 7 day testing and put together the following FAQ’s:- Can an employer compel an employee to take daily LFD tests? If an employee has been notified that they are a contact … Read more

The DfE have updated the Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak guidance (11:01am, 14 December 2021) to reflect that daily rapid testing is now recommended for all contacts of COVID-19. The guidance recommends that from today close contacts of any confirmed case that are contacted by NHS Test and Trace are strongly advised to … Read more

In the news conference at 6pm on 8 December 2021, the PM announced that there would be a move to the ‘Plan B restrictions’ in England to slow the spread of the Omicron strain of Covid-19. There are 568 confirmed Omicron cases in the UK but the true number is much higher. The doubling time … Read more

Overview On 1 December 2021, the Gov guidance, NHS Test and Trace in the workplace  was updated in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. Close contacts of confirmed or suspected Omicron cases must stay at home and self-isolate even if they are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months. New … Read more

Overview At 8.59am today the DFE published new Schools COVID-19  operational guidance.  The file title is ‘Schools Guidance update for Omicron 29 Nov’. Updated guidance on contact tracing and isolation, travel and quarantine, face coverings and vaccination of under 18 year olds to reflect new measures announced on 27 November 2021. In the Overview section … Read more

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published its response to the government consultation on making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector. The government has decided that providers of CQC-regulated activities in the health and social care sector must only deploy individuals who have been … Read more