Covid Update
Friday 31st March
Dear Family and friends,
As from 3 April 2023 following changes apply:
• COVID-19 testing will be focused on those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments and therefore at the highest risk from COVID-19. This means staff and service users in care homes who are not eligible for COVID-19 treatments should no longer test.
• In a suspected or confirmed outbreak, there is no longer a need to test the whole home to identify COVID-19 cases. Rapid response testing in the event of a single positive case is no longer advised.
• PCR tests will not be processed by labs from 1 April 2023, and care homes should use LFDs instead.
• Hospital admissions to care homes should test with a lateral flow test within 48 hours before hospital discharge. PCR tests should no longer be taken. Positive individuals can continue to be able to be admitted, provided they can be isolated and cared for safely. If residents being admitted present with respiratory symptoms that have onset since their discharge test, the provider can conduct a further lateral flow test at their discretion.
• Community admissions do not need to test as there is a lower risk of exposure compared to a hospital setting. This is in line with no testing requirements for existing residents following visits out.
Outbreak measures should now focus on protecting those who are at the highest-risk from COVID-19. They can be lifted 5 days after the last positive or suspected case of COVID-19. Recovery testing with PCR tests is no longer required. All care homes can continue to make use of flexibility to initiate their own risk assessments if they feel able to do so, with local health protection team (HPT) support available if required.
There should not be any restrictions on visits out for individuals who are not symptomatic or who have not tested positive in any circumstance.
Until Monday, residents tested positive yesterday must remain in isolation and all restrictions remain in place. As from Monday those residents could come out of the isolation if they don’t have any symptoms.
In regards of wearing face masks- from Monday they are not required.
Please contact us any questions or concerns
Kind Regards
Jo Adaway
Family Liaison
07932629580
