The NHS has issued guidance around the expectation of staff isolation, following the changes to self-isolation requirements that came into effect on August 16. This applies to contractor groups such as NHS primary care dental teams.
The update outlines that fully vaccinated staff and students who are identified as a contact of a positive Covid-19 case will no longer be expected to isolate and will be expected to return to work. However, if the safeguards cannot be met, or if the staff member has not had both doses of the vaccine, or they are living directly (same household) with a positive COVID-19 case, they will be asked not to come to work. This will remain under review.
More information on staff and student isolation can be found here.
The update clarifies that this update supersedes previous PHE guidance and applies to all staff including substantive clinical and non-clinical roles, staff bank, contractors and suppliers – and students working in all facilities, settings and organisations delivering NHS care.