LONDON ( Parliament Politics Magazine) – recent weeks there has been much news about Covid. The Scottish government has announced that they will switch off the domestic vaccination passport scheme. In addition, masks are no longer compulsory for public use but remain compulsory in health care settings. Self-isolation is also encouraged, but free LFTs and contact tracing will cease at the end of June. The guidance also says that self-isolation support payments will end.
Getting tested
If you have been exposed to Covid 19, you might want to get tested for the virus. Doctors are often exposed to this virus through patients. Some are admitted to the hospital before anyone suspects they have the virus. Fearful of passing the virus onto their patients or family, doctors have started a petition to test all frontline NHS staff. It has nearly 700,000 signatures. The petition is still active.
Free COVID tests are no longer available from the NHS, but some people still have the option of paying for the tests. The National Health Service and local authorities are no longer offering free tests for COVID, but they will continue to provide limited free testing to those at high risk of contracting the virus. Alternatively, you can get a test for PS2 from a high street pharmacy. Privately purchased LFTs cannot be reported on the government website, so you will have to pay for them.
In the UK, there are three variants of the virus, Omicron BA.1 and Omicron BA.4. However, a new variant is emerging called Omicron BA.4. The latter has a higher transmission risk. Getting tested for Covid in the UK is important if you have had any symptoms of the virus. If you have the virus, you can avoid contracting it by getting vaccinations.
Getting vaccinated
Experts say that the current vaccine for Covid is proving to be effective against this virus, which has killed 179,706 people globally. While the number of deaths from Covid is varying, one study indicates that two doses of the vaccine protect against the virus and can prevent hospitalization. But it’s not clear when the next flu season will arrive, and the U.K. is awaiting its results before removing restrictions.
The COVID-19 vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer has been the preferred one for under-18s in the UK vaccination programme. In children aged five to 11, the reported cases of myocarditis or pericarditis after receiving the vaccine are low. But this doesn’t mean that the vaccine is completely safe for younger children. In the UK, more than 95 per cent of children have recovered from the disease after two doses.
The most likely to get vaccinated for COVID 19 are White British children, while Black Caribbean and Pakistani children are the least likely to get the vaccine. The vaccination rates are not driven by age groups or socio-demographics, but by the type of occupation a child performs. The most common occupations among children under age eleven are health professionals and teachers, while the least likely are black Caribbeans and people with weakened immune systems.
Staying at home
The UK is taking steps to help parents and caregivers cope with the impact of COVID, or coronavirus, in their homes. The National Health Service (NHS) has distributed more than 1.7 billion Covid testing kits since the pandemic began, and is now allowing people to order seven kits for home delivery. These kits can be used to check for illness and to monitor treatment progress. Those who receive covid are encouraged to keep the kits at home and test regularly to monitor their health and to track illness.
Although self-isolation is not required by law, it’s best to follow public health advice and stay away from other people as much as possible. In order to avoid spreading the virus to others, employers should review their COVID-isolation policy and consult with employees about the appropriate self-isolation policies. Consider the health and safety of your staff, and how they may be affected by the new rules.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that it has ceased the use of the domestic vaccine passport scheme. Face masks will no longer be compulsory in public places, although the government still recommends wearing one while in public areas. Similarly, self-isolation for people who are Covid positive is no longer required. The government has also removed the regulations that require venues to check the COVID Pass of those who visit their premises. These regulations are expected to expire on 24 March, and are unlikely to be extended.