Please remember new restrictions are being introduced across our community at one minute past midnight that mean it is against the law for different households to meet anywhere indoors or in private gardens.
If you’re at all confused by the new rules (we couldn’t possibly comment!) then we’ve made a short video to explain what you can and can’t do (we hope it helps)
We’ve also received lots of questions about the NHS Covid-19 App and how best to use it if you work in a healthcare setting so here goes ….
STAFF GUIDE TO THE COVID-19 APP
Why is the COVID-19 app important?
Every person who downloads the NHS COVID-19 app will be helping in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).
The app will help the NHS understand where and how quickly the virus is spreading, so we can respond quickly and effectively.
The app helps the NHS track the virus, not individuals.
How can healthcare workers benefit from the NHS COVID-19 app? What are the key app features?
The NHS COVID-19 app has six key features to help protect everyone against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Below you can see six features with an explanation of what they do:
Should healthcare workers use the NHS COVID-19 app? When should healthcare workers pause contact tracing on the app?
Healthcare workers, like everyone else across England and Wales, are encouraged to use the NHS Covid-19 app to help reduce the spread of transmission.
However, healthcare workers should pause contact tracing on the NHS COVID-19 app while they are working in healthcare buildings, including hospitals and GP surgeries.
In most of these situations, you’re already protected, so it is highly unlikely that you would catch the virus.
Healthcare workers can still use some of the apps functionality whilst the app contact tracing feature is paused i.e. checking in to canteens/retail outlets
How do healthcare workers pause contact tracing in the app?
Healthcare workers can pause contact tracing within the app by moving the contact tracing toggle on the home screen. You can see this toggle at the bottom of the app screenshot below:
What should healthcare workers do if the app tells them they have been near someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)?
If a healthcare worker receives an alert through the app stating that they are considered a contact of a case of COVID-19, they should immediately inform their line manager and self-isolate.
As the app is anonymised, it will not be apparent whether their contact occurred within or outside the healthcare setting. Contact tracing should be carried out around any individual in the healthcare setting with test-confirmed COVID-19 as per standard protocols.