About Safe Places
Safe Places are the collective group of locations at increased risk of negative COVID impact that include:
- hospitals and HCS
- care homes including hospice
- domiciliary care workers including FNHC
- prisons
- GP practices
- dental practices
- emergency services (Ambulance, FRS, SOJP, Honorary Police)
In these environments, we continue to recommend additional COVID-19 measures such as enhanced testing and wearing a mask.
In line with general guidance, staff should not attend work when they are unwell and maintaining a
well ventilated workplace is strongly recommended.
Enhanced testing
Below are the recommended enhanced testing programmes for Safe Places.
HCS | LFT twice per week; DiaSorin testing every 1-2 weeks* | DiaSorin testing every 3 days* | LFT prior to visit |
|---|
Care Homes | LFT twice per week
| LFT twice per week | LFT prior to visit |
|---|
Prisons | LFT twice per week | LFT twice per week | LFT prior to visit |
|---|
Domiciliary Care workers | LFT twice per week | Not applicable
| Not applicable
|
|---|
GP Practices | LFT twice per week | Not applicable
| Not applicable
|
|---|
Dental Practices | LFT twice per week | Not applicable
| Not applicable
|
|---|
Emergency Services | LFT twice per week | Not applicable
| Not applicable
|
|---|
(Testing regime may vary depending on local circumstance and IPAC advice)
Pre-admission PCR testing is recommended before being admitted to hospital, care homes or prisons.
Within the hospitals, care homes and prisons, additional testing or other measures may be put in place in the event of an outbreak, based on Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Public Health advice.
Positive COVID-19 cases
COVID-19 infection is confirmed by an LFT, PCR or DiaSorin test.
If you have a positive COVID-19 test, you should stay at home, to stop the virus spreading.
If you have a clinical condition that puts your immune system at risk, you should speak to your GP within 5 days of starting to experience symptoms, as you may be eligible for anti-viral treatment.
It's a good idea to tell people you have spent a lot of time with over the last 3 days that you have tested positive. They should watch out for symptoms and avoid contact with vulnerable people for at least 10 days after contact with you.
Returning to work
Due to the increased level of risk in Safe Places, it is important that staff and residents follow the enhanced guidance for when you can safely leave isolation after a positive test.
If you work in a Safe Place, you should stay at home for a minimum of 5 days from the positive test and not return to work until you have:
- completed the minimum 5 days
- been symptom free for 48 hours
- had 2 consecutive negative LFT results 24 hours apart
Residents should follow the same advice and not return to their normal routine with others until they have completed the minimum 5 days, been symptom free for 48 hours and had 2 consecutive negative LFT results 24 hours apart.
Check with your employer for further information.
Support whilst isolating
If you develop severe COVID-19 symptoms or are worried about your condition, contact your GP or call 999 in an emergency.
If you're unable to work because you're unwell and isolating after a positive test, you may be able to claim Short Term Incapacity Allowance.
PPE guidance
Masks are still recommended in all health and care settings.
Guidance on recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID, Flu and RSV in health and care settings can be found below.
The guidance is based on information provided to the NHS, published by Public Health England. It has been developed by the infection control team and the senior clinical lead within Health and Community Services and approved by the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC)
Recommended PPE for healthcare settings
gov.je