Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 7, subheading 5. Advice for staff, of the Government's guidance published on 2 April 2020 entitled Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home, what the evidential basis is for the statement that Care home staff who come into contact with a COVID-19 patient while not wearing PPE can remain at work ... because in most instances this will be a short-lived exposure.

The advice provided to care home staff reflected guidance to healthcare workers also at this time which sought to balance the risk of potential exposure with impacts on levels of staff. Further, the advice clearly stated that there should be an individual risk assessment taking account of the staff needs, their role and the needs of residents in their care. Since this time, there has been greater understanding on the role asymptomatic transmission of infection in healthcare and social care settings as well as changes to advice on use of PPE.

Therefore, test and trace guidance is clear that if a care worker is in close contact while not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to isolate. Further information is available in the COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings guidance which can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings#test-and-trace

All guidance on the use of PPE has been written and reviewed by all four United Kingdom public health bodies and informed by National Health Service infection prevention control experts.

PPE guidance is updated to reflect pandemic evolution and the changing level of risk of healthcare exposure to COVID-19. Guidance on the Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home is currently being reviewed following the publication of the adult social care action plan on 15 April 2020. Updated guidance will be published soon.

Additional resources on the appropriate use of PPE in care homes are included in the guidance: How to Work Safely in Care Homes, which can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-care-homes