Policy Updates 4th April 2022
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 4th April 2022.
Updated Policy
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
4 April 2022
Added Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.
Found at: GOV.UK
PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)
4 April 2022
Updated call out to reflect that customer migration to the new portal is now complete and that the old portal will close on 26 April 2022. Also updated the customer service timings.
Found at: GOV.UK
COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
1 April 2022
Added notice regarding upcoming withdrawal of guidance.
Found at: GOV.UK
Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund: round 3
1 April 2022
Added note outlining that the fund is now closed and that the guidance is being left as reference.
Found at: GOV.UK
Care England Updates
Care home visitors no longer need to test for Covid, but staff and residents will still get free tests
Free testing for the public ends on 1 April but all those living and working in ‘high risk settings’ such as care home, hospices and home care organisations will still receive free asymptomatic lateral flow testing.
Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said the government has "forgotten" that visitors to care homes need testing so they can "safely visit their relatives".
He said: "This must be funded by the government."
Carehome.co.uk
National Papers
Why is the UK seeing near-record Covid cases? We still believe the three big myths about Omicron
We’re living in two realities: one in which people have returned to living life as if Covid is over, and the other in which we are approaching record levels of infections, with an estimated 4.26m cases last week. Most of us know people who have Covid, work and education are being disrupted, and the NHS is under severe pressure again due to new patients and sick staff. Admissions with Covid are only 2% below the first Omicron peak two months ago and still rising. While about half are currently admitted primarily for other reasons, numbers are rising in primary Covid admissions too and admissions in over-65s are now 15% higher than their January 2022 peak.
The Guardian
New review launched into vitamin D intake to help tackle health disparities
Review will look into potential options of dietary supplements and fortified food and drinks.
Around 1 in 6 adults in the UK have low levels of vitamin D, which can lead to rickets, bone pain and disabilities
Call for evidence issued to the public, experts, industry and patient groups on innovative ways to boost vitamin D levels
A new review has been launched to promote the importance of vitamin D and identify ways to improve intake across the population, including through dietary supplements and fortified food and drink.
Found at: GOV.UK
Trade Papers
Take part in #CelebratingSocialCare
During April, we’re celebrating the importance of social care. It’s been two years since COVID-19 first spread in the UK and the country went into lockdown. Throughout these two years our social care sector has faced challenges never seen before, and the people working in social care have continued to adapt and show up to keep our communities safe and supported.
Found at: Skills for Care
Lords to investigate ‘invisibility’ of adult social care
A House of Lords inquiry is to investigate the “invisibility” of adult social care and its consequences. As part of its ‘Lifting the veil: Removing the invisibility of adult social care’ inquiry, the Committee is inviting all adult social care stakeholders, particularly service users, to submit written evidence by 27 May 2022.
Care Home Professional
New guidance sets out how to live safely with COVID-19
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today published updated guidance to support the next stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. As set out in the government’s Living with COVID-19 plan, the focus of this new phase is on protecting those who are most at risk from the virus.
A new set of guidance from UKHSA provides important public health advice for people with symptoms of respiratory infections, such as COVID-19; people with a positive COVID-19 test and their contacts; and advice on safer behaviours for everyone. UKHSA has also published a set of public health principles for businesses, organisations and employers to consider in managing the risk to their workforce from respiratory infections, such as COVID-19.
Found at: GOV.UK