UPDATE : the general guidance for employers, employees and business includes these additional stipulations –
• businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible
• if someone becomes unwell in the workplace with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they should be sent home and advised to follow the advice to stay at home
• employees should be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues
• frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products
• employees will need your support to adhere to the recommendation to stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to others
Last week saw a raft of measures and the first legislation compelling action. These are compiled online – here.
Of particular note to this Blog are –
(1) the mandated closure of some workplaces and all workplace canteens where food is sold – here plus law on the matter here (England) and here (Wales)
[note the workplace canteen exceptions in the law]
(2) the definition of key worker – found in the guidance for schools closure – here
(3) the definitions of “self-isolating”, “social distancing” and “shielding” and the cohorts these apply to
“Self-isolating” – here
“Social distancing” – here
“Shielding” – here
(4) the relaxation of drivers’ hours (I blog posted about this last week) – here
(5) changes to Planning Inspectorate site visits, appeals, inquiries and events – here
(6) changes to Courts and tribunals planning and preparation – here
[note there are also changes to HSE and Environment Agency, and other regulator, site visits etc which are published in their own online web resources]
(7) general guidance for employers, employees and businesses – here
(8) guidance on the cleaning of workplace surfaces – here
(9) shipping and sea ports guidance – here
(10) restriction of non-essential rail travel – here
[note the London Mayor has announced reductions in TFL transport and transport in London, including by driving, should be for essential travel only]
[transport by driving outside of London should also be essential travel only]
The advice for anyone in any setting is to follow these main guidelines.
1 The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
2 Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
3 To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue in a bin immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
4 Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
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