New COVID-19 self-isolation rules: what nurses have to be compelled to know

New COVID-19 self-isolation rules: what nurses have to be compelled to know

The self-isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19 in England is to be reduced to five full days, health and social care secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed.

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr. Javid told MPs that UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data showed ‘around two-thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five’.

Here’s everything nurses need to know.

What are the changes? 

From 17 January, people who are isolated with coronavirus will be able to leave isolation after five days, provided they return two negative lateral flow tests.

It is hoped the changes will allow key workers, such as healthcare staff, to return to work sooner amid workforce challenges. New figures released today show the quantity of NHS staff absent thanks to COVID-19 appears to be falling

NHS England data suggests that, after reaching a peak of 49,941 on 5 January, the numbers of COVID-related NHS staff absences have dropped on a daily basis since then.

What do the changes mean for nurses?

It means nurses who have tested positive for COVID-19 can leave self-isolation at the start of day six if they have returned a negative lateral flow test on days five and six of isolation.

The previous UKHSA guidance was for people to self-isolate until they returned a negative lateral flow test on days six and 7 from after they first developed symptoms or got a positive test.

NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the move was ‘pragmatic’, adding it'd be welcomed by health bosses if ‘more health and care workers who are to an adequate degree can return to the front line’.

But the RCN demanded health and care workers be exempt from the changes, adding workforce pressures must not ‘drive a discount in isolation requirements in an unsafe way’.

Rule change could increase the risk of COVID transmission to other staff and patients, says RCN

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: ‘By the government’s own estimate, almost a 3rd of people are infectious five days after symptoms starting. Health and care workers will fall under that group in large numbers and there is often minimal room for error or complacency.

‘This change could increase the risk of transmission to other staff and patients. When providing close care, including to those with compromised immune systems, nursing staff must be confident that they're not putting patients in danger .’

The UKHSA has previously said NHS staff can return to work after completing a negative lateral flow test but are required to continue testing for the full ten days.

Nurses returning to figure should still follow hygiene guidance and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. In hospitals and other healthcare settings, masks remain mandatory for workers and visitors. Government infection prevention and control guidance for winter suggest mandatory mask-wearing is likely to remain until at least March 2022.

It is unclear if isolation rules also will be changed in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Do nurses need a PCR test?

On Tuesday, new rules were introduced to permit asymptomatic people that test positive from a lateral flow test to start out counting their self-isolation period without the necessity for a PCR test.

It means nurses who test positive on a lateral flow test but have no symptoms, will not be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

The UKHSA said it's a short-lived measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the united kingdom.