Advisers will take a cautious approach to Covid-19 infections in their businesses with many planning to maintain staff isolation when they test positive, even if the rules are lifted in England early.
Last week the prime minister told Parliament that all remaining Covid restrictions in England, including the requirement to self isolate when Covid-positive, could be lifted a month early “provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue”.
The PM added he plans to detail the government’s strategy for living with Covid when Parliament returns from its current recess on 21 February.
Current Covid restrictions are due to expire on 24 March.
But commenting on their plans in the event of an early lifting of restrictions, advisers have told Health & Protection they plan to take a more cautious approach to managing staff who test positive.
Alan Knowles, managing director at Cura Financial Services, told Health & Protection that while he has not held conversations with staff about their plans as of yet, he will do so soon.
“Ultimately, it might depend if lateral flow tests remain available or not. If these are stopped then we will have little choice but to allow people in the office if they want to be in, but we will see what this brings. We will certainly keep working from home as a choice,” he said.
“One thing for certain is that we’ve all become very aware of coughs, sniffles and cold symptoms and we will encourage people to work at home or not work at all if they have such symptoms.
“I don’t see this ever changing now and why wouldn’t you do this, it’s likely more comfortable for you and fairer on your colleagues,” he added.
Naomi Greatorex, owner of Heath Protection Solutions, told Health & Protection that if she knew she had symptoms and returned a positive Covid test, she would isolate.
“This in part is due to my ability to be able to work from home, and therefore not be financially affected by this decision,” she said.
“This will be the main problem with people that are not in this position, and therefore possibly not able to make this choice.”
Greatorex added her decision is also based on wanting to keep family safe.
“My mother had a kidney transplant, and therefore continues to be at high risk of more severe illness from Covid. Which is the other issue with the relaxing of the isolation rules,” she continued.
“While I welcome life returning to normal, the question remains of what normal life will look like moving forward for people in higher risk health categories when the rules relax.”
‘Duty to behave in a sensible way’
Claire Ginnelly, an executive member of the Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (AMII), added she too would isolate if she tested positive for Covid even if all restrictions are lifted.
“Although most people want us to get back to a normal way of living as much as possible, I think we have a duty to behave in a sensible way and stay away from others to reduce the chance of the virus spreading,” she said.
“There is a chance the end to self-isolation could make people more anxious. Currently, one would like to think that if someone has tested positive they are not out mixing. If we are in a situation whereby people could be mixing while knowingly positive, anxiety will undoubtedly increase.
“I suspect many employers will continue to put their own rules in place and insist employees self-isolate if positive and I suspect education settings will do the same.
“We do need to get back to being responsible for our own behaviour and making our own decisions. However, with infection rates still so high, I feel it is too soon at the moment.”
‘Keep your germs to yourself’
Steve Ellis, associate director at Prosperis, revealed while the firm has not formally announced its strategy if all restrictions are lifted, common sense will prevail.
“We cannot afford all staff to be infected. We can all work from home as needed so it’s very much keep your germs to yourself,” he added.
Penny Jackson, owner of The Insurance Boutique, told Health & Protection she will continue to be as careful as she can be.
“I still wear a mask when on public transport and in shops mainly to protect others, however I have also found I am a lot less sick with colds and throat infections since mask wearing become a thing hence why I am happy to continue to wear one in confined spaces,” she said.
“If I feel unwell, I will continue to do tests and if I am positive I would self-isolate for five days as I do still fear for the very vulnerable. I also have a child who has regular hospital appointments and is awaiting surgery therefore I am careful as can be to avoid any potential interruptions to her care path.”
Protecting vulnerable people
Alan Lakey, director at CIExpert, revealed he too plans to keep to five day isolation requirements.
“While on a personal level I am prepared to take risks I have to remember that my wife’s parents live in an annexe to our property and are both vulnerable due to age and various co-morbidities. Therefore I will keep to the five day isolation for the time being,” he said.
While Issac Feiner, owner of LifePoint Healthcare, says while he will not require advisers to self isolate and in line with the UK regulation to self-manage themselves as they see fit, his firm’s workers have been working remotely for almost two years.
But Andrew Wilkinson, director at Moneysworth, says his firm is taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.
“I think the honest answer here we will wait and see what happens over the next week or two, including what the government has to say about living with Covid after the recess,” he added.