Edge Group Scotland COVID-19 Policy

Background

This policy has been updated to reflect the Scottish Government’s guidance around SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19), for face-to-face working health and social care staff.

What you must do

All Covid rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, but the virus has not gone away. To protect yourself and keeps others safe, the Scottish Government recommends:

  • If you have symptoms, try to stay at home and avoid contact with others – if you do need to go out, wear a well-fitting face covering

  • Get your vaccines if offered to ensure you are fully protected

  • Follow the latest NHS Scotland guidance if you are feeling unwell - and know how to get the right care in the right place

  • Wear a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport

  • Socialise in well-ventilated spaces where possible

  • Wash your hands and clean surfaces regularly

If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness

If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and a high temperature, you should stay at home and avoid contact with others. Free COVID-19 testing has now ended for most people in Scotland, but you can still access testing if:

If you aren’t eligible for testing, you should stay at home until you no longer have a high temperature or until you feel better.

If you test positive

  • If you test positive, you should stay at home and avoid contact with others, whether or not you have symptoms

  • You should stay at home for 5 days after the day you took your test or from the day your symptoms started (whichever was earlier)

  • If a child or young person aged 18 or under has a positive test result, they should stay at home for 3 days after the day they took their test or from the day their symptoms started (whichever was earlier)

If you have a high temperature or still feel unwell after 5 days, continue to stay at home until you:

  • Feel well enough to go back to normal activities

  • No longer have a high temperature (if you had one)

You should avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from coronavirus, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness from coronavirus for 10 days after the day you took your test.

If you are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case

People who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 are at a high risk of becoming infected because they are most likely to have prolonged close contact. People who stayed overnight in the household of someone with COVID-19 are also at high risk. It can take up to 10 days for infection to develop after exposure. It is possible to pass on COVID-19 to others, even with no symptoms.

If you have had overnight or household contact with someone who has had a confirmed COVID-19 test, you should continue as normal unless you develop a high temperature or start to feel unwell.

Children and young people aged 18 and under

Respiratory infections are common in children and young people, particularly during the winter months. Symptoms can be caused by several respiratory infections including the common cold, coronavirus and RSV.

For most children and young people, these illnesses will not be serious. They'll soon recover following rest and plenty of fluids.

Very few children and young people with respiratory infections become seriously unwell.

When to stay at home

Children and young people with mild symptoms who are otherwise well can continue to attend their education setting. Mild symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough.

Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they're well enough to attend.

It's not recommended that children and young people are tested for coronavirus unless advised to by a healthcare professional.

Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive coronavirus test result should continue to attend as normal.

Infection Control

In clients’ homes, follow the following infection control measures:

  • Wash hands or use hand sanitiser on entry, exit, and at regular intervals. Follow Healthcare Protection Scotland advice: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/hand-hygiene/

  • Use a face covering should you need to do so in indoor spaces and public transport, or if the client asks you to

  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue (and dispose of this immediately) or the crook of the elbow, to avoid particle dispersal. Clean your hands after this

  • Avoid hand contact with your eyes, nose and mouth wherever possible

  • Physical distancing of 1 metre from other individuals/groups as much as possible, particularly indoors and for outdoor groups

  • Ensure rooms are well-ventilated by opening windows

Edge Group Scotland Ltd has a plentiful supply of Personal Protective Equipment (single-use face coverings, gloves, aprons, and alcohol-based hand sanitiser). Staff must ensure that they maintain a sufficient stock of these items for their professional use. We also hold a supply of lateral flow tests

Some clients may be exempt from wearing face coverings. They can apply to https://exempt.scot/ for an exemption card. Staff must be confident in their ability to advocate for such clients if challenged, without breaching confidentiality.