LOCKDOWN 2

2nd November 2020

The main changes, in the guidance published on 1^st November 2020, that may impact on staffing or that you need to be aware of when reviewing your Covid-19 risk assessment are:

• Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)
• Clinically Vulnerable
• Pregnancy

From Thursday 5^th November until Wednesday 2^nd  December, the Government is putting in place new measures which will apply nationally for four weeks up until Wednesday 2^nd  December. At the end of the 4-week period, the Government aim to return to a regional approach, based on the data at that time.  Until Thursday 5^th  November, the relevant Local Covid Alert Level measures will continue to apply in the area where you live.

As you will already know, Schools are required to remain open during the lockdown and staff should continue to go into work however, extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.

Childcare may be an issue for some staff, however during the lockdown parents will still be able to access some registered childcare and other childcare activities (including wraparound care) where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work.

Early years settings can remain open. Parents are able to form a childcare bubble with another household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under. As above, some households will also be able to benefit from being in a support bubble, which allows single adult households to join another household.

Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)

The group of people who are defined as clinically extremely vulnerable, people with specific serious health conditions are, over the 4 week period, are being advised to work from home.

The full new guidance will be published on Monday 2 November and the Government will write to everybody who is clinically extremely vulnerable to set out detailed advice while the new restrictions are in place. Current advice is in place at each local COVID alert level.

Local COVID alert: All staff can continue to attend school at all Local COVID Alert levels, however, staff in this category are still advised to work from home where possible.

Action: Please contact us to discuss any staff that fall within this category if you are not able to accommodate them working from home.  Staff should provide the school with a copy of the government letter confirming they are in the CEV category.

Clinically Vulnerable

These are staff that are over 60 or clinically vulnerable and the Government have confirmed that they are at higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19. The new guidance is advising this category to be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise contact with others.

Clinically vulnerable people are those who are:

• aged 60 or over (regardless of medical conditions)
• Pregnant
• under 60 with an underlying health condition listed below (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year on medical grounds):
• chronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
• diabetes
• a weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions or medicines they are taking (such as steroid tablets)
• being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)

Clinically vulnerable staff can attend school. While in school they should follow the education-specific measures to minimise the risks of transmission.  

People who live with those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable can attend the workplace unless advised otherwise by an individual letter from the NHS or a specialist doctor.

Pregnancy

The government guidance is that pregnant women are in the ‘clinically vulnerable’ category and are generally advised to follow the advice for this category.  However, Heads HR update (23/9/20) provided updated guidance from the Royal College of Gynaecologists about pregnant women in the third trimester (28 weeks and over) which we continue to advise you to follow.  It is clear clinical advice from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine that schools need to ensure that pregnant women, who are 28 weeks or beyond, are able to socially distance in accordance with government guidance.

Action: If you have any pregnant employees who are working in school please contact your HR Consultant to discuss this further.

For further support please contact your Heads HR Consultant on 0161 850 4343.