https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings-on-covid-19/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings-on-covid-19 WHAT’S NEW?
PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES GOVERNMENT “BATTLE PLAN”
ON CORONAVIRUS In response to the continued spread of COVID-19, and the rise of reported cases in the UK, the Prime Minister revealed the Government’s official coronavirus action plan- a public guide to the Government’s enhanced plans to tackle the spread of the virus.
The plans were unveiled at Downing Street on Tuesday 3rd March, where the PM was joined by the Health Secretary, Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser.
The document provides people living in the UK with clear official information about the Government’s plans to contain the virus now, how action will develop as the virus accelerates, and what people can do to protect themselves and their families.
This includes a step-by-step guide setting out the Government’s four-stage strategy: Contain, Delay, Research and Mitigate, with specific advice for how the public should respond in each phase – including what to expect if the outbreak evolves into a pandemic.
Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, said: “We are taking all possible steps to contain this virus and they will remain driven and grounded by science.
“We have always said this outbreak could worsen before it gets better. Today’s battle plans, backed by our world-leading infectious disease experts, set out what actions the public can expect from Government now and if the virus does progress. Protecting the most vulnerable is our absolute priority.
“We all have a role to play in combatting this threat and I urge everyone to take stock of the simple methods that offer the best protection. “
The next stage of the plan involves delaying the outbreak until warmer months to avoid overlapping with seasonal flu and other winter pressures on the NHS. A revised public information campaign will be introduced to support this - with advice for the public on preventing the spread through proper handwashing.
If UK scientific experts advise that the virus has begun to circulate more widely in this country and can no longer be
- 8 -
delayed, the Government will ramp up plans to mitigate the threat to people – with an emphasis on the most vulnerable.
For health and social care professionals, Government advice is mostly to follow the same general principles for prevention. If an employee feels unwell, they should not attend work. If staff are worried about their symptoms or those of a family member or colleague, they should call NHS 111 and refrain from attending their GP or other healthcare environment.
Current advice from Public Health England (PHE) states that, during normal day-to-day activities, facemasks do not need to be worn by staff in care settings. Facemasks are only recommended to be worn by infected individuals when advised by a healthcare worker, to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to other people. PHE has also said it remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected.
No restrictions or special control measures are required in care settings while a member of staff or resident is waiting for laboratory test results for COVID19. In particular, there is no need to close or send staff home at this point.
If someone with confirmed COVID-19 has recently visited your care facility, closure of the office, workplace or residential setting is not recommended. Your management team will be contacted by the PHE local Health Protection Team to discuss the case, identify people who have been in contact with them and advise on actions that should be taken.
If someone has had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the local Health Protection Team will provide the relevant people with advice. Contacts are not considered cases and, if they are well, they are very unlikely to spread the infection to others. Those who have had close contact will be asked to self-isolate at home or in their own room in a care or residential home for 14 days from the last time they had contact with the confirmed case and follow the home isolation advice sheet. They will be actively followed up by the Health Protection Team. People who have not had close contact with the confirmed case do not need to take any precautions and can continue their routines as usual.
You can find more information here.
The full Government Action Plan is outlined here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus- action-plan
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
