Guidance and Webinars

Changes to testing – updated 11.01.2022

» Click here for the latest government guidance on testing

The UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA) have confirmed to Hertfordshire County Council that the recent change in national guidance relating to no longer needing a confirmatory PCR test following a positive LFT, will also apply to people working in social care. The guidance can be found here.

However, if any social care staff or care home residents have COVID symptoms it is important that they do undertake a PCR and where possible a LFT. The updated guidance on testing can be found here. If any of these tests come back positive then you must isolate immediately and undertake your usual IPC measures (including deep cleaning, contact tracing and if required cohorting of staff and residents).

• Residents who test positive need to isolate for 14 days. During this time, they can see their essential care giver and go outside as long as they can be done safely without contact with other residents.
• Staff who test positive need to isolate for 10 days, unless they are symptom free in which case they can undertake a LFT at day 6 and day 7 and as long as this is negative and they remain symptom free they can return to work based on a risk assessment. However, they should not work with clinically vulnerable people or
• If the member of staff is still testing positive on day 10 then they may not return to work.
• Between day 10 and 13 if the staff member is testing positive, then they should not return to work until they have received one negative test or they reach day 14.
• If the member of staff is still testing positive on day 14, as long as they are well and with no fever, then testing can stop and they may return to work on day 15.  If the staff member works with people who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 , a risk assessment should be undertaken, and consideration given to redeployment. The updated guidance can be found here.

Please remember day 1 is the day after the positive result, the day of the positive result is defined day 0 by UKHSA.

Staff Contacts of COVID 19 cases – Updated 15/12/2021

We just wanted to remind providers, that there continues to be additional requirements for health and social care staff, as outlined in the COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Staff who are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and are not legally required to self-isolate are required to inform their line manager or employer immediately so a risk assessment can be undertaken to determine if they can return to work. This risk assessment should include the following;

• The staff member should be symptom free
• The staff member has not had contact with a person who has been identified to have the Omicron variant of COVID19
• The staff are fully vaccinated
• The Staff has had a negative PCR test since contact with the positive individual and prior to returning to work. Note: if a staff member has had a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past 90 days, they should not have a PCR test and should only undertake daily LFD antigen tests.
• Following the negative PCR result, the staff member should undertake an LFD test every day for the 10 days following their last contact with the case (even on days they are not at work).
• On days the staff are working the LFD test should be taken BEFORE the start of the shift
• IPC practice should be followed at all times

ROUTINE Testing update

On routine asymptomatic testing, care home staff will continue to have one weekly PCR test. In addition, staff will be required to have three lateral flow tests a week, rather than the two tests previously required. Outbreak testing and testing after a single confirmed case remains unchanged.

Please note guidance is being updated regularly due to the new Omicron Variant and as our understanding of this new variant improves.

Staff Exemptions to self-isolating (updated 30.09.21)

From Thursday 30^th September 2021, Hertfordshire County Council have agreed that all care homes will be able to undertake their own risk assessment for whether staff who are identified as close contacts can come out of isolation early to work in the setting, based on individual case circumstances. It will no longer need to come via the County Council for a decision first.

Hertfordshire County Council and the Public Health team will continue to be available to answer any queries you may have and to offer any assistance required. They can be contacted via the HCPA provider hub – assistance@hcpa.co.uk

» National guidance is available here

It is important to remember these key points when applying the guidance:

• The process only applies to staff who have received both vaccinations at least 14 days before exposure
• If identified as a contact, they must arrange a PCR test straight away and it must be negative before they return to work
• They must complete lateral flow tests every day for the 10 days following their last contact with the case
• If tested positive for COVID, in the last 90 days, they should only undertake daily lateral flow tests
• Residents of care homes who have been identified as close contacts should still isolate for 14 days

Please find below Local and National COVID-19 Guidance for Hertfordshire Care Providers

Please find below recent COVID-19 webinars delivered for Hertfordshire Care Providers