17/08/2021- Changes to self-isolation requirements & Public Health advice for Sefton businesses

Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, Margaret Jones, has asked that we share important information with Sefton businesses following national changes from Monday 16^th August relating to COVID-19 self-isolation requirements.

The changes are as follows:

• From 16th August, anyone who has been identified as a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate, providing they have been fully vaccinated, they received their second dose at least 14 days ago, and they are not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms. Those under the age of 18 will not need to isolate either.
• All close contacts should get a PCR test, unless they have recently had a positive COVID-19 test (previous 90 days), in which case they should get a rapid Lateral Flow (LFD) test instead.

More information on the changes for household contacts can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

More information on the changes for non-household contacts can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

Sefton’s Public Health team needs you to:
Continue to prioritise the safety of your staff and customers – as an employer, it is important that you follow the general duties outlined in the Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

• Risk assessments must be carried out to maintain the safety and wellbeing of staff and the public.
• Remind employees to continue to get tested regularly – using twice weekly Lateral Flow (LFD) tests. Testing information can be found on the Sefton Council website: https://www.sefton.gov.uk/covid-19-in-sefton/covid-19-testing/coronavirus-testing/
• If any member of staff has symptoms, they should get a PCR test and immediately self-isolate until they get their results.
• If someone in your place of work tests positive, then they must self-isolate no matter their vaccination status or age.

If someone in your workplace is identified as a contact but is not required to self-isolate due to vaccination status or age, they should be advised to take additional precautions including limiting contact with people where possible, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and where you cannot maintain social distancing, limiting contact with people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and accessing PCR and LFD testing.

Useful links for businesses

Further information about staying safe during the pandemic can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do#keeping-yourself-and-others-safe

A wide-range of workplace specific Government guidance is available and is regularly updated to reflect national changes. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19

HSE guidance is also regularly updated and available at:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/index.htm

It is vitally important that we all keep taking measures to protect ourselves, colleagues and the wider community from COVID-19.

Thank you for all that you and your businesses are doing to keep your staff and customers safe.