Although there are positive indications that the Omicron wave seems to be reducing in terms of reported daily cases, there is no doubt that staff shortages due to the Isolation criteria has created significant challenges to Business owners and Managers through this latest wave of increased cases.
Maintaining resources at the levels required to sustain a recovery within your businesses, as the economy climbs back to pre-pandemic levels, continues to be one of the main issues for Managers to navigate on a daily basis.
The reduction in Isolation periods from ten days to five days is a welcome change, for once, that will reduce the pressure on staff resources at this time.
However, it’s important to be aware of the rule change and comply with the test criteria to release someone from Isolation, READ the summary below and follow the link to the full guidance. Ensure your managers are aware of the new criteria, particularly the testing time scales to release from isolation.
Isolation Guidance Update for Business- A Summary:
- You should self-isolate at home while you get a PCR test and wait for the results.
- You must self-isolate if you test positive. You must self-isolate from the day your symptoms started, or from the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms.
- You can end your self-isolation on the sixth day of self-isolation following 2 negative rapid lateral flow tests taken on consecutive days.
- The first rapid lateral flow test should not be taken before the fifth day.
- The self-isolation period remains 10 full days for those without negative results from two rapid lateral flow tests taken a day apart.
- This is the law, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated.
- Self-isolating is important because you could pass the infection on to others, even if you do not have symptoms. You must isolate for the full amount of time you are told to because this is the period when the virus is most likely to be passed on to others.
Link to the full guidance here.
If you need additional support for any HR and Health and Safety matters as a result of COVID 19, contact our office.
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