The Government has increased it's COVID-19 PCR Antigen testing for all key workers. This tests for whether the worker currently has COVID-19 (they may be asymptomatic) and are undertaken on anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 to confirm whether this is the case or not.
A test known as an ANTIBODY test confirms if a person has or hasn’t suffered with COVID-19 at any time in the past. These are not available now but may be available in the near future. However there is still a great deal we need to learn about COVID-19 infection and whether people can develop short-term or long-term immunity and whether they may be infected again after having COVID-19. It is therefore critical that all protective measures are continued until official government advice changes.
Tests can be ordered online by an individual or by an organisation who has registered to refer employees. In reference to guidelines from the Society of Occupational Medicine and Association of Local Authority Medical Advisers (ALAMA) we are advising employers who require key workers to continue at or return to work to book tests for their employees if they report symptoms of COVID-19 and refer them to Occupational Health after that booking for a medical assessment of the results of the test and the employee's health in order to advise on a safe return to work.
It is advised that employees should not return without knowing their test results. This is based on several considerations:
One way of doing this could be to create an online questionnaire/algorithm that the employee fills in to ensure that the employee is fit to return. A persistent but not continuous cough (i.e. sporadic in nature only) may continue after acquisition and clearance of infection.
Managers should inform employees of plans to test them for COVID-19. Your communication should inform them of the value of testing.
Occupational Health will work with you using an efficient system for referral to Occupational Health following testing, assessing the results and advising on a return to work for the individual. We will be happy to develop the referral process further to include obtaining consent to a test from the individual if required by the client, currently it will up to the client to obtain consent for the test from the individual and then book it on the Government website or instruct the employee to do so.
The type of tests currently available for the public are ANTIGEN tests. These can confirm if a person is currently suffering with COVID-19.
A test known as an ANTIBODY test confirms if a person has or hasn’t suffered with COVID-19 at any time in the past. These are not available now but may be available in the future. However there is still a great deal we need to learn about COVID-19 infection and whether people can develop short-term or long-term immunity or immunity at all, and whether they may be infected again after having COVID-19. Therefore anti-body testing is not advised until we have further information from the Goverment testing being conducted. It is therefore critical that all protective measures are continued until official Government advice changes.
It is advised that as an employer you currently arrange for employee testing through the Government website, however employees must consent to taking a test. They may also obtain a test themselves. In either case you may refer the case to Occupational Health via a Health Surveillance online referral stating the reason as COVID-19 and Occupational Health will instigate the assessment process to obtain the results from the individual, assess the referral and information provided by the referring manager and advise on return to work and any adjustments (if needed). Employers may obtain the results from the employee themselves however we would advise against employers basing a return to work on the basis of the test alone without taking account of the health issues of the individual and other relevant factors.
a) If the employee no longer has the main symptoms - high temperature or a continuous cough (feeling hot to touch on your chest or back and a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours) for 24 hours* then they can return to work.
b) If the employee has ongoing symptoms then they should continue to self-isolate. A repeat test may be needed, and medical advice should be sought if the employee’s health worsens or is still symptomatic after five days.
*24 hours has been suggested as the timeframe for those with a negative result to maintain a consistent approach for employees and for reassurance of the employee and others.
The following would be needed to determine that an employee is fit to return:
If the employee continues to remain unwell then they should remain in isolation until the above symptoms have been absent for 48 hours.
N.B. Some people may have ongoing symptoms such as fatigue and feel unfit for work that may need further consideration. An occupational health referral would be advised on a case by case basis if there are ongoing symptoms that affect the employee’s ability to work.
This advice would be anticipated to be adapted during test, track and trace as individuals may be asked to undertake self-isolation and testing whilst asymptomatic based on the potential of having acquired COVID-19 through community transmission.
In the above scenario individuals may be required to self-isolate for seven or 14 days depending on the contact scenario. The template could be changed to reflect these timeframes.
Please also see COVID-19 Return to Work Risk Assessment
This section will help management consider the risk related to work for different types of employees. Different groups of employees pose different levels of risk if they contract COVID-19.
Employees should seek immediate medical attention if they have serious symptoms. They should always call before visiting their doctor or a health facility.
Employees with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.
On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days to recover or longer depending on the level of infection and whether the employee has had to seek hospital treatment.
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Risk Assessment: Staff with Underlying Health Conditions |
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Risk Identified (Confirmed by viewing GP Letter if required) |
Control Measures |
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Employee identified as personally within Low Risk |
Social Distancing (SD) practice Continue working within the SD guidelines |
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Employee identified as personally within ‘increased risk’ |
Increased need for social distancing away from activities that require mixing with the public at less than 2m. Risk Assessment Colleagues Living with someone with Underlying Health Conditions [Moderate and Significant Risk – Category A &B] Adjustments may include working remotely or moving to a lower risk area. Actions to be taken will depend upon their condition and how stable it is. Where a condition is unstable and there may be an increased risk to a colleague, these conversations should be undertaken with those colleagues and their manager, and their manager may need to seek support from the Occupational Health & Wellbeing Team and/or HR. Where colleagues have to be redeployed or work from home, consideration should be given to what duties they can continue to carry out in a role, and what support they will need to do this.EU - https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/COVID-19:_Back_to_the_workplace_-_Adapting_workplaces_and_protecting_workers |
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Employee identified as person within ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ |
This group will be advised to follow the guidance on shielding for an initial period of 12 weeks [subject to further national direction] Colleagues will have received a text and email or letter from their GP in this regard, advising them to isolate themselves. Colleagues will be asked to provide confirmation of the letter. |
| Employee pregant < 28 weeks |
Adhere to SD rules Consider redeployment to a non-key role if required. |
| Employee pregnant >28 weeks |
A more precautionary approach is advised in these women who should be supported to work from home. Where the individual chooses to attend the workplace they must not be deployed in roles where they are working within 2m of others. Advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) |
| Employee living with someone identified with ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ |
Colleagues DO NOT have to adopt protective shielding for themselves and can continue in work Consideration to work from home ONLY if the role is able to be fulfilled in this way. |
| Employee living with someone who is identified with ‘increased risk’ |
DO NOT need to self-isolate. Such colleagues can therefore come into work as normal but continue to practise COVID-19 hygiene measures |
Government Return to Work Guidance
Government Return to Work Flowchart
Government guidance on coronavirus (main page)
Government guidance on protecting the most vulnerable and shielding
Supporting those who have had cancer at work
Guidance on social distancing and protecting the more vulnerable
Government guidance for employers and businesses
Employers guide to assessing fitness to work, including asking for medical evidence