SNIPEF

As we enter Autumn and Winter, COVID-19 cases are expected to arise. Whilst all policies for COVID-19 requirements have been removed, the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) have prepared a guidance document on what to do if you test positive, and how businesses can risk assess their premises. 

What to do if you get a positive test result? Employees should stay at home for five days after the day they took their test (day 1), or from the day their symptoms started. This advice should be followed until they are well enough to resume normal activities/symptoms have subsided – you do not need a negative test. For employees aged 18 years or younger with a positive COVID-19 test, the recommended ‘stay at home’ period is reduced from five days to three days. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults. After returning to work, employees should avoid high risk groups (including those with impeded immune systems) for 10 days after they took their test, because some individuals can be infectious for this amount of time even after symptoms have alleviated. Other individuals can still show symptoms of fatigue and a lingering cough after their isolation period is over – this does not, however, mean you are still infectious.  

The government have offered a Self-Isolation Support Grant to ameliorate the financial difficulties of the isolation period. How do you know if you are eligible? Workers who earn less than/close to £1,608.75 per month before deductions are eligible, as are those who receive certain benefit payments. Employees who don’t meet low-income threshold may still be eligible depending on circumstances, i.e., if they have children to care for. A grant payment of £225 can be made for each eligible period of isolation; individuals can only apply for the grant once in any isolation period, but can apply again for each separate time they, or someone they care for, has a positive PCR up to a maximum of three times. If you meet the criteria, or have questions over your eligibility, you can apply for the grant through local authority. It is the employer’s responsibility to make the claim, and the grant does not need to be paid back. 

For further information, click here to read the report in full.