4. What if employees test positive for COVID?
EmEngland, NHS, co-ed and private practice staff who test positive for COVID, whether or not they have symptoms, are advised not to work for at least 5 days.You must follow the instructions for people who test positive for COVID-19.
Employees may return to work after two consecutive negative LFD test results (at least 24 hours apart), with the first LFD taken five days after symptom onset or on the day of the first positive test.
If both LFD test results are negative, they can return to work immediately after the second negative test given:
- They feel well enough to work and don't have a high temperature.
- You will continue to strictly adhere to all relevant infection control precautions and properly use personal protective equipment (PPE).
However, if the LFD test is positive on day 5, they should continue testing daily until they have two negative LFD test results 24 hours apart.
In some cases, your LFD will be positive on the 10th; If this is the case, they should discuss what to do with the practice manager, who may be conducting a risk assessment.
5. What if an employee comes into contact with a case of COVID-19?
People who live in the same household as someone with COVID are at the highest risk of infection due to prolonged close contact. The same applies to people who stayed in such an environment.
It can take up to 10 days for an infection to develop, and it is possible to spread COVID to others even if that person has no symptoms. Routine asymptomatic testing has been suspended from 31 August but will continue for symptomatic NHS staff and symptomatic NHS prescribed independent healthcare provider staff (including return-to-work tests) where an at-home LFT is administered. The change occurred because prevalence in the community has fallen and remains at a comparatively low level.
The practice should have a conversation about “household or overnight contacts” to discuss ways to minimize the risk of onward transmission and this may include considering relocating to areas of lower risk for medical staff dealing with the patient and/or limiting close contact with others, especially in crowded, confined, or poorly ventilated spaces.
In addition, employees must continue to strictly observe all relevant infection control precautions while on the job.
Not Wales, if an employee has come into contact with a confirmed case of COVID, they must undergo a testing procedure to continue working in a patient-oriented environment. If employees do not agree, they must be rehired or off work for 7 days. Before going into practice, the team must:
- be asymptomatic
- Perform lateral flow tests every day for 7 days before coming to work
- Get a PCR test as soon as possible if the confirmed case of COVID is in your home. It is recommended that employers require employees to obtain a negative PCR result before commencing work.
EmNorthern Ireland,if someone on the dental team comes into contact with a confirmed case of COVID andis fully vaccinatedthey are advised to self isolate and get an LFD as soon as possible.
If the LFD is negative, they must interrupt the isolation and perform daily lateral flow tests before leaving home until the 10th day after the last date of contact with the positive case. If the LFD is positive, they should immediately isolate. If the LFD results are negative but they develop symptoms, they should schedule a PCR test and isolate immediately.
employees who arenot fully vaccinatedmust remain in self-isolation for 10 days and must not end self-isolation early.
in scotland, anyfully vaccinatedClose contacts of a case must undergo LFD, if this test is negative, they are asymptomatic and have the risk assessed by their hierarchical superior, they can return to work. To protect patients and other staff, they must complete an LFD for each of the 10 days following a positive case and report the results to their line manager.
unvaccinatedStaff should immediately self-isolate for 10 days and perform a PCR test as soon as possible. You should not leave self-isolation prematurely.
6. Should I get a booster shot against COVID-19?
Yes. Health workers are being urged to get a booster shot if they haven't already. You can book an appointment online or visit an outpatient vaccination center.
The announcement was made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).COVID reinforcements will be providedfor frontline healthcare workers as well as more vulnerable groups this fall. The objective of the update program is to increase the population's immunity and protection against COVID-19 during the winter period.
Booster shots will be offered to nursing home residents, frontline health and social workers, all over age 65 and those aged 16 to 64 who are in a clinical risk group. The JCVI is reviewing the scientific data and further updates on delivery dates will be made.
7. What about pregnant employees?
When practice obligesrisk assessments and acting on the results, we understand that the dental environment is safe and the pregnant women who are part of the dental team can continue to work safely.
a reasonable approach
As you might expect, managers and other team members need to be wary of pregnant colleagues. If you're pregnant and you work in a dental office, it feels right to wear a mask and follow infection control procedures at all times, regardless of your pregnancy.
Getting COVID-19 shortly before or at the time of birth would obviously pose significant challenges for all involved and is best avoided. As the pregnancy approaches its due date, the practice must be prepared to show flexibility regarding parental leave requests. To seegovernanceFor more informations.
There should also be careful risk assessments for pregnant staff members in a patient contact role with appropriate precautions to sufficiently minimize their exposure to the virus, taking into account individual risk factors.
Practice risk assessment (updated June 2022)
Pregnant - in clinical function with contact with the patient
Pregnant - in a patient-centric management role
Pregnant - in an administrative role with no patient contact
Pregnant - due to non-patient decontamination/cleaning
self employed
Self-employed pregnant women who are part of the dental team are free to choose to work or not; However, we ask members to work together constructively to ensure that risks are kept to a minimum.
vaccination and pregnancy
Pregnant women from the dental team are advised to consult their doctor before vaccination. You may want to read advice from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).pregnancy and vaccination.You can also consult thisExplainer about COVID-19 and fertility, compiled by Victoria Male, Professor of Reproductive Immunology at Imperial College London. It provides evidence-based answers to questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccine, pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility.
8. How can I support employees from ethnic minorities?
New evidence shows thatEthnic minority communities may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Organizations must ensure that managers are supported in sensitive and comprehensive discussions with their ethnic minority employees. They must identify any underlying health conditions that may increase their risk in performing their duties. These discussions should also continually consider the feelings of affected colleagues, particularly regarding their physical safety and mental health.
We recently conducted a large study of dentists' experiences of racism as a joint project with the Faculty of General Dentistry. This research, informed by the Racism Focus Group led by BDA President Russ Ladwa, has provided us with a wealth of data on the reality of racism in dentistry.
Of course, in dentistry we still face a significant problem with racism. BDA President Eddie Crouch encouraged all of us to do this.recognize the realitybefore denying its existence. This would be the important step for the progress of our profession. For our part, we are continuing our work and research in this area and will update you as soon as we have more information.