Covid-19: What has changed

Routine asymptomatic testing will be paused across Adult social care settings from 31 August as COVID-19 cases continue to fall. This means staff who have no symptoms of a respiratory infection are no longer required to test for COVID-19 on a regular basis.

As asymptomatic testing has been paused it is important that staff are aware of symptoms of Covid -19 and follow the guidance on Symptomatic testing. 

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:

• continuous cough
• high temperature, fever or chills
• loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
• shortness of breath
• unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
• muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
• not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
• headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
• sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
• diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick

Staff members with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

Anyone who has symptoms of a respiratory infection and has a high temperature or does not feel well enough to go to work, is advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

They should follow the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19.

Patient-facing healthcare staff who have symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to attend work, should take an LFD test as soon as they feel unwell.

If the result of this LFD test is positive, staff should follow the advice in the section for staff members who receive a positive LFD test result for COVID-19.

If the LFD test result is negative, they can attend work if they are clinically well enough to do so and they do not have a high temperature.

If the staff member works with patients whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness despite vaccination, they should discuss this with their line manager who should undertake a risk assessment.

If they are still displaying respiratory symptoms when they return to work, they should also speak to their line manager who should undertake a risk assessment.

On returning to work, the staff member must continue to comply rigorously with all relevant infection control precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn properly throughout the day.

Staff members who receive a positive LFD test result for COVID-19

All healthcare staff who have received a positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of whether they have symptoms, are advised not to attend work for 5 days. They should follow guidance for people with a positive COVID-19 test result.

Patient-facing healthcare staff can return to work when they have had 2 consecutive negative LFD test results (taken at least 24 hours apart).

The first LFD test should only be taken 5 days after the day their symptoms started (or the day their first positive test was taken if they did not have symptoms); this is described as day 0.

Reminder

If you have 2 or more residents or staff who have tested positive, please report to the LCRC ( [email protected]) and capacity tracker.  Please see the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Care homes should also report on the LBS google form. 

Outbreak testing has not changed. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-managing-healthcare-staff-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection/managing-healthcare-staff-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-or-a-positive-covid-19-test-result#StaffPositiveLFD

Key contact details

• UKHSA LCRC Tel: 0300 303 0450 Email: [email protected]
• LBS Public Health Team: [email protected]
• Care Home Support Team: [email protected]