UPDATED POLICY FOR MANAGEMENT OF SELF-ISOLATION OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF COVID-19 CASES – ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE STAFF -HSS(MD)91/2021

The purpose of this letter is to:

1. Provide updated guidance on the management of health and social care workers identified as close contacts of COVID-19.

2. Provide updated guidance on isolation requirements for health and social care workers who are confirmed cases of COVID-19.

This CMO letter circular replaces HSS (MD) 85/2021 with immediate effect (from Thursday 30 December). The guidance in this letter is applicable to all health and social care settings including all Trust services, domiciliary care, general practice,
dentistry and community services. Separate guidance for care homes will be issued, by the PHA on 31 December 2021.

The main change to this guidance is that it allows staff identified as close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case, to return to work without taking and waiting for a PCR result providing they do not work closely with the most clinically vulnerable patient and clients. As with previous guidance a risk assessment of the service
area should be undertaken and documented along with a record that all mitigations as set out below are in place.

PLEASE READ THE GUIDANCE FOR FULL DETAILS