Commenting on the Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s announcement of plans to cut the COVID-19 self-isolation period from seven to five days, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:
“Health and care workers must be exempt from a reduction of the seven-day self-isolation.
“By the government’s own estimate, almost a third of individuals are infectious 5 days after symptoms starting. Health and care workers will fall into that group in large numbers and there can be minimal room for error or complacency.
“Current and growing workforce pressures must not drive a reduction in isolation requirements in an unsafe way.
“This change could increase the risk of transmission to other staff and patients. When providing close care, including to those with compromised immune systems, nursing staff must be confident that they are not putting patients at risk.”
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