Agency workers should be asked about any previous /recent/ upcoming travel. 

Agency Managers / Trainers / on site representative’s are keep up to date with the Coronavirus hotspots that are emerging, as these are changing rapidly.

You can find the latest news of infection hotspots at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public. This should be checked daily

We are reminding all workers that is their responsibility to mention any travel that could compromise their health status and impress on them the seriousness of this. Anyone at risk of potentially having the virus due to recent travel patterns should self-isolate until they are outside the incubation period and should not be placed in shifts.  As a reminder the official advice governing precautions based on travel to certain countries can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public.

Good hygiene has never been more critical. We remind our workers:

• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home when they are sick.
• Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

·If people have been requested to self-isolate and they are unsure what this means, explain that they should take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like they would with other flu viruses. This means remaining at home for 14 days and not going to work, school or public areas. Where possible, they should avoid having visitors to their home, but its ok for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food. They should not use public transport or taxis. They should contact a friend, family member or delivery services to carry out errands on their behalf or take their children to school.

·The World Health Organization has declared this is a public health emergency of international concern and certainly infections are now spreading rapidly outside China. A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus causes more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.