Today’s update includes:
- Symptom and self-isolation reminder
- Medical Guidelines update
- Wearing PPE in handovers/offices/meetings
The infection rate is rising in our community and we are admitting an increasing number of Covid positive patients so we must be absolutely vigilant about our own safety.
- Clean hands regularly – wash and gel frequently especially before eating and / or drinking
- Wear a surgical face mask in all public areas as well as the correct and relevant PPE in clinical settings
- Socially distance where possible including when travelling to and from work as well as when you are on breaks and in our retail and restaurant outlets.
Also please remember people should not socialise with others from outside their household or support bubble inside a home or private garden. (The only exception to this is for grandparents who are permitted to care for grandchildren under the age of 14)
Symptoms
If you have any of the following symptoms
- Temperature above 37.8C
- New and or persistent cough
- Loss of taste and or smell
You must immediately self-isolate and contact your line manager
If a member of your household is symptomatic you must self-isolate and contact your line manager.
If you have been in contact with a person who has tested positive and you have tested negative you must still self-isolate
In ALL of the above situations your manager must complete the self-isolation form.
Medical Guidelines
The following documents have been updated on the Staff Covid Website
- Dementia wellbeing in the Covid pandemic
- Palliative Care Team Guidance
Wearing PPE in:
Handovers/meetings where staff are unable to socially distance
Wearing a type IIR surgical mask is sufficient where staff are unable to socially distance as long as:
- Staff clean hands before entering the room
- Staff wear type IIR surgical mask whilst in the room and do not remove at any point
- Staff do not eat and drink in the room
- The room is cleaned on a regular basis
If all of these measures cannot be achieved managers must contact the Infection Prevention Control team for further advice.
Offices:
Managers of office areas should perform a Covid Secure Risk Assessment and if the office is ‘Covid Secure’, staff DO NOT have to wear a face mask in this area.