The most up-to-date information from these bulletins can be found on our website.

For general advice about COVID-19 please go to: nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

This bulletin covers:

COVID-19 guidance and updates: self-isolation rule change; supported living services; managing exposed workers and residents; NHS Test and Trace; care home outbreak support; care home visiting; ventilation; pregnant employees

Vaccination: getting the jab

Cold weather: Level 2 alert issued

Workforce: overseas recruitment webinars

COVID-19 guidance and updates

Self isolation rule change

People self-isolating with COVID-19 now have the option to end self-isolation after five full days if they test negative on a lateral flow test on day five and day six and do not have a temperature.

Individuals who are still positive on their lateral flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had two consecutive negative tests taken on separate days.

Stay at home guidance for people with possible COVID-19 infection was updated on 17 January to reflect the changes to the self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test result.

Supported living services

Guidance for supported living services was updated on 13 January to reflect:

• the changes to self-isolation advice
• that a confirmatory PCR test following a positive lateral flow result is not required
• advice for staff and residents who are identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19
• international travel guidance

Managing workers and residents exposed to COVID-19

The guidance on managing workers and residents exposed to COVID-19 was updated on 17 January to reflect the change in the isolation period in hospitals from 14 to 10 days for cases and contacts of cases of COVID-19 and to include changes to self-isolation periods for staff in health and care settings.

NHS Test and Trace

What to do if you're contacted by NHS Test and Trace guidance was updated on 17 January with the changes to self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test results and information for contacts who are not required to self-isolate.

Support for care homes during outbreaks

As COVID-19 case rates are currently high in our region and across the nation, we need to prioritise support for care homes that require it most.

Previously, in addition to the support provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly Public Health England), an infection control advisor from the local public health team would also call each care home that had an outbreak of COVID-19 to offer support.

However, as a temporary measure, we have had to prioritise calls to homes that have high numbers of cases or those which indicate they need additional support during an outbreak.

If there is an outbreak of COVID-19 at your care home, please follow these steps:

• inform the UKHSA Health Protection Team: ICC.KSS@phe.gov.uk
• read their email response, and any attachments, which should cover all outbreak guidance, and include what further support they can give you if have difficulty controlling the outbreak or case numbers escalate

If you have any concerns or need further clarification on the guidance that falls outside of the help offered by the UKHSA, please contact our local public health team:

PublicHealthEnquiries@eastsussex.gov.uk  - which aims to respond within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.

Care home visiting

Care home visiting guidance was updated on 13 January to reflect new national guidance on removal of confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow test. The 'care home outbreaks' section was also updated: the Omicron variant will be treated the same as the Alpha and Delta variants for the purposes of managing outbreaks.

Essential caregivers

The Relatives and Residents Association has produced a poster and a factsheet that providers can display or send to families to promote the essential caregiver role.

Ventilation advice

Good ventilation is vital to keep colleagues and those they care for safe: COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses spread more easily in unventilated areas. The Health and Safety Executive has advice on how to improve ventilation.

Advice for pregnant employees

The advice for pregnant employees on risk assessments in the workplace and occupational health during COVID-19 was updated on 14 January. This provided additional guidance to pregnant employees and employers of women who are 26 weeks pregnant and beyond, plus details on Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice that pregnant women are more at risk of severe COVID-19 disease.

Vaccination

Getting the jab

Getting your COVID-19 booster vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you from infection.

If you haven't had yours but would like more reassurance, you can watch social care workers on YouTube explaining why they chose to get the booster.

UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) has produced resources for employers to help encourage staff to get boosted: COVID-19 employer toolkit resources

Sussex Health and Care Partnership has all the latest information on the vaccination programme in Sussex: eligibility, timing of doses, and where to get the jab.

Vaccination appointments are available via the national booking service or you can visit a walk-in session. If you go to a walk-in and already had an appointment booked, please cancel your appointment.

Cold weather

Level 2 alert issued

A Level 2 Cold Weather Alert has been issued for 6:00pm on Wednesday 19 January and 09:00am on Sunday 23 January for the South East.

There is a 70 per cent probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow over this period. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable people and disrupt the delivery of services.

Cold weather plan for England

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has produced useful resources and advice on the concurrent risks of cold weather and COVID-19 and Keep Warm Keep Well guidance.

A reminder that coldAlert is a free service for residents of Sussex, providing cold weather alerts to vulnerable individuals. You can register online for coldAlert.

Workforce

Overseas recruitment webinar

On 1 January 2021 free movement ended and the UK introduced a new points-based immigration system. Anyone coming to the UK to work or study, excluding Irish citizens, will need to apply for permission in advance.

If you would like to know more, you can join officials from the Home Office's Engagement and Policy teams for a short webinar.

This will include an overview of the points-based immigration system for the social care sector; new information about the Migration Advisory Committee’s recent recommendation to add care workers and home carers to the ‘shortage occupation list’ and the health and care visa.

The webinar is on 21 January from 11:00am to 12 midday:

Recruiting an overseas care worker: book your place on Eventbrite

and repeated on 25 January from 3.30pm to 4.30pm:

Recruiting an overseas care worker: book your place on Eventbrite

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