Written question WQ89153
- Asked by
- Russell GeorgeConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
What preparations has the Minister made to re-establish routine COVID-19 testing for all symptomatic health and social care workers this autumn, after it was paused for the spring and summer?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Following a significant reduction in regular testing over spring and summer, I have reviewed testing guidelines for autumn and winter.
While COVID-19 and flu seasons remain hard to predict, current public health advice suggests:
- It is most likely that there will be a peak in prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the winter season, but associated COVID disease will remain relatively mild.
- There is no indication that there will be a bad influenza season in 2023/24
- There is no indication that there will be a bad RSV season in 2023.
The testing of all symptomatic health and social care staff is therefore not currently routinely recommended, unless they are personally vulnerable and anti-viral therapy would be appropriate. Staff with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection who do not feel well enough to carry out normal activities are advised to contact their manager, try to stay at home and avoid contact with anyone who is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell if they were to contact an acute respiratory infection.
We will closely monitor the public health situation over the winter and if additional precautionary measures are needed, the testing strategy will be reviewed.