Optical sector bodies are reminding practices to maintain high standards of infection protection and controls (IPC), and stay vigilant to local public health advice, due to the increasing case prevalence of seasonal flu, Covid-19 and respiratory illness.
The latest report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimated a Covid-19 prevalence of 3.1 per cent across the total population in England and Scotland during the last two weeks of December 2023. This, stated sector bodies, meant that approximately one in every 32 people could test positive for Covid-19 infection at the current time.
In a joint statement, practices are advised that: “Maintaining high standards of IPC in line with your nation’s National Infection manual is vital to minimise the risk to your teams and patients, and ensure continuity of services as we begin 2024. Please stay vigilant to advice from your local public health authorities [health protection teams, medical or nursing directors] over the coming months.
“Ensure your practice is prepared so you have sufficient levels of PPE, including face masks for patients, to enable your practice to continue to provide eyecare safely, should local guidance be issued. This is in line with Section B40c of the Guidance for Professional Practice, where optometrists, dispensing opticians and other practice staff should wear a fluid resistance surgical face mask where there is a public health requirement to wear one.”
Additional advice includes:
“Covid-19 continues to be a serious disease, with new variants and waves predicted to continue in the future,” the joint statement added.
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Published in collaboration with ABDO, the Association of Optometrists, the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians and the Local Optical Committee Support Unit.