Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 25 April 2024 at 02:35
As you will be aware, the Government has announced that, subject to confirmation next Monday, most of the remaining legal social distancing rules will be lifted in England on 19 July. This means, for example, there will be no legal requirement to wear masks in public spaces.
This decision has been underpinned by the success of the vaccination programme and is an important step in a return to normal life and the opportunity to mix more freely with family and friends here and abroad.
However, the Government has also been clear that the lifting of restrictions will see a significant increase in cases of Coronavirus driven by the Delta variant. Government estimates of positive cases over the summer are as high as 50-100,000 per day.
At EEAST, protecting you and the patients we serve over the coming weeks and months is as important now as at the start of the pandemic. That’s why there will be no changes to our existing safety measures after 19 July. It is vital that staff speak to their managers before returning to workspaces, as full risk assessments and covid secure measures will still be required and in place before anyone returns.
To keep you and our patients safe, we will continue to follow the same guidelines at work as we do now. Staff should continue to use relevant PPE, including masks, test regularly and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. This is especially important as patients and their families may choose not to wear a mask after 19 July.
As well as keeping you and your family safe, following these measures will also help us provide the care our patients rely on by reducing the number of staff off with a confirmed case or quarantining. This is especially important if we are to safely manage the huge rise in calls in the past few weeks.
We will of course continue to review our guidelines and respond to national guidance. As ever, thank you for your ongoing support and resilience. If you have any further queries, please speak to your manager or read our latest guidance which is available here.
Please try and join me at this week’s WeAreEEAST session to ask questions and share comments or concerns. You can now submit questions ahead by emailing OCE EEAST.
Published 8th July 2021