The COVID situation in the UK brought about many changes that people had to adapt to, turning it into the new normal. While businesses and companies were struggling to meet targets and requirements, and there was an increase in the number of people sick with COVID, people were not following the basic rules to protect themselves. With the casual attitude of many, the Government decided to implement some rules and regulations. Post implementing these standard operating procedures (SOPs), the Government began allowing the authorities to take action if there were people who were not following the rules. Furthermore, the UK is in talks of going into another country-wide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the virus, after trying to implement stricter restrictions in the past, after the previous lockdown.
The Government implemented rules on individual’s travelling and their reasons for making the trip. If people had to travel, they could only make the trip for legal reasons permitted according to the rules.
Here were a few suggestions they could follow:
- People had to maintain social contact rules like keeping a distance when travelling
- People had to wash and sanitise their hands as often as possible.
- People had to make sure they put their clothes for a wash when they returned home
- People had to avoid the busiest routes and times, especially during rush hour, and they could do this through the NHS COVID-19 app.
Additionally, they were not allowed to travel at all if:
- They are instructed by the NHS Test and Trace service to self-isolate
- They are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms
- They are self-isolating as a result of coronavirus symptoms
- They share a household or support bubble with somebody with symptoms
- They are clinically extremely vulnerable, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend essential health appointments
However, not everyone in the UK was allowed to work or had the opportunity to remote work, and some rules were implemented for people forced to travel. The exceptions to staying indoors were working, education or other reasons permitted by law. These were:
- travelling to work in a situation where an individual could not complete the work at home
- travelling to educational institutions and caring responsibilities involving looking after someone else
- travelling to hospitals, GPs and other doctors visits, medical appointments or visits where you had an accident or are checking up on your health
- visiting open venues like essential retail stores, grocery stores and for essential purchases
Everyone wants to be safe, but some rules cannot be escaped when it comes to various jobs and tasks that people have to get done. Even during the national lockdowns throughout the country, certain people did not have a choice but had to get into work. Hospital staff, banks and people working in essential services were forced to come into work.
The Government introduced a series of standard operating procedures to assist people forced to travel for the sake of their jobs. They were usually making the trip with members of their staff, patients or service users. Additionally, these people included Health and Social Care staff, who included a bank, agency workers, and those working for private-run companies. The vehicles that they use to assist with the back and forth travel should follow these rules:
- Vehicles used for work should be repaired and roadworthy.
- All the rules relating to driving into office should be followed.
- The individual health and social care worker had to review the insurance provider and make sure that their guidance will not clash and have implications on the insurance cover.
- It was suggested that possible car sharing should only be between the same people on each occasion.
- All staff and students have to be informed about the COVID-19 guidelines as outlined by Public Health England (PHE). These rules include social distancing, use of PPE, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning.
- Students should be kept in the loop of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and the actions and steps that they should follow if a member of their household were unwell.
- All staff and students should handle the care and management of their uniform as per the local guidelines.
- The car driver should check with the service user before the journey if they are unwell with symptoms of COVID -19 or were in contact with a known positive case of COVID-19.
- If there was a case of COVID-19, there was a person with symptoms of catching it or met someone who had the virus, they have to follow the local guide for the management of the virus.
- Getting on the next journey seems very unlikely unless there has been a thorough risk assessment with a proper understanding that there could not be a spread of the virus.
- Every person should make sure they carry out basic hand hygiene before entering a car on every occasion.
- They should use wipeable seat covers and risk assessment when sharing the car with a patient service user.
- All people driving the vehicle should make sure they follow the rules relating to the capacity of the vehicle and do not transport more people than they should.
If people across the UK feel like they have the symptoms of the virus, they should get tested at the earliest. There are multiple ways that they can get that done, and here are their details: People can go to the website, or call 119. They can then do to a drive-through, walk-through testing site, or mobile testing unit.
People who are not open to stepping out of their houses can order a home testing kit, but they can only get one in the first four days of having symptoms and would have to move to a hospital if they waited longer.
During the test, the medical professionals have to gather matter from the inside of the nose and test it to find results. The lab results need 24-48 hours to be processed, while the newer tests provide their answers in 90 mins but they have to be completed at the centre. Applicants are usually informed about the results over their phone.
For Government approved organizations see crbdirect.org.uk
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