Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they will provide for care workers in self-isolation as part of the test and trace programme; whether, under that programme, all care workers who came into contact with a care home resident with COVID-19 symptoms would be expected to self-isolate; and whether a care worker returning to work using public transport after a period of self-isolation would be expected to isolate again if they received another alert.

On 4 June Public Health England updated guidance on the management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings to reflect NHS Test and Trace.

This guidance outlines that if a health or care worker has had close recent contact with someone who has COVID-19, healthcare workers must self-isolate if the NHS Test and Trace service advises the individual to do so. If contacted after a previous period of isolation, they would be expected to isolate again. Close contact excludes circumstances where personal protective equipment is being worn in accordance with current guidance on infection, prevention and control.

The COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings guidance was first published on 4 April in an online only format on GOV.UK.