{"_id":"Australiatest0","title":"","text":"Accessing health services during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nElective surgery\nSome elective surgery is now available, including:\n\nIVF\nscreening programs (cancer and other diseases)\npost-cancer reconstruction (such as breast reconstruction)\nprocedures for children aged under 18 years\njoint replacements, including knees, hips and shoulders\ncataracts and eye procedures\nendoscopy and colonoscopy procedures\n\nAround 1 in 4 closed elective surgery lists are reopening as part of this\nfirst stage of a gradual restart."}
{"_id":"Australiatest1","title":"","text":"Accessing health services during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nRemotely (telehealth)\nAny Australian with a Medicare card can now access telehealth services via\nphone or videoconference.\nThis service helps protect both patients and health workers from unnecessary\nrisk of infection. It is available from doctors, nurses, midwives, or allied\nand mental health professionals.\nThis is a temporary measure until 30 September 2020.\nYou don\u2019t need any special equipment, and can either use your phone or a\ncomputer. You and your provider will decide the best system to use for your\nneeds.\nProviders will bulk-bill consultations for:\n\nCommonwealth concession card holders\nchildren under 16 years\npatients who are vulnerable to COVID-19\n\nFor telehealth, vulnerable patients are those who are:\n\nisolating at home on the advice of a medical practitioner or a COVID-19 hotline\naged over 70\nan Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged over 50\nimmunocompromised or have a chronic health condition\na parent of a new baby\npregnant\nmeets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection\n\nOtherwise, you can pay by credit card at the time of your consultation.\nTo make a telehealth appointment, just call your health care provider. Your\nprovider might also offer any of your existing appointments as a telehealth\nappointment.\nIf you need to make an appointment on behalf of someone else, get information\nabout their condition before calling. This will ensure you can provide\nimportant details to your provider.\nRead more about telehealth services in the consumer fact sheet at MBS\nonline.\nDuring your telehealth consultation your doctor might need to give you a\nprescription. Read more about how you can get medicines, including delivery to your home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest2","title":"","text":"Accessing health services during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nWhat options are available for accessing services?\nIf you are struggling to breathe or seriously unwell, and it is an emergency\ncall 000 immediately. Tell ambulance staff about recent travel and\nany potential contact with someone with COVID-19.\nWhether for COVID-19 or another health reason, the way you access health care\nduring the shutdown depends on your circumstances.\nYou might see your health care provider:\n\nin person, by going to their facility\nin person, at your home\nremotely, via telehealth\n\nYou should keep your regular health care appointments, including home care,\nand medical or pathology appointments for chronic conditions. You might be able to arrange a telehealth\nappointment for some things.\nWe are opening GP respiratory clinics around the country to assess people with fever, cough, a sore throat,\nor shortness of breath.\nhealthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker\nAnswer questions about your symptoms to see if you need to seek medical help\nor get tested. This tool is available online at any time."}
{"_id":"Australiatest3","title":"","text":"Accessing health services during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nIn person (home visits)\nYou should continue to receive your usual health care, including any care you\nreceive at home, such as services under the Commonwealth Home Support\nProgramme and Home Care Packages.\nIf you are unwell and think you might have COVID-19, let your provider know\nbefore your appointment.\nWhen receiving face-to-face care at home, your care provider will:\n\nfollow all hand hygiene and cough etiquette protocols\nstay 1.5 metres from you, unless you need direct care\ngenerally not wear protective gear, unless you have been diagnosed with, exposed to, or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 \u2014 if they do, it does not mean they are unwell\n\nAged care workers with symptoms get tested for COVID-19. If they are suspected\nor confirmed to have COVID-19, they will not work.\nIf you want to start receiving services at home for the first time, check\nyour eligibility. You can apply\nfor yourself or on behalf of someone you care for.\nFor other services, you can either visit your health care provider or book a\ntelehealth appointment.\nIf you are isolating, you can also get your medicine delivered to your home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest4","title":"","text":"Accessing health services during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nIn person at your health provider\nFor any general health issues and regular appointments, you can go to your\nhealth provider\u2019s surgery, as usual.\nIf you have symptoms of COVID-19, let your health provider know when making the appointment.\nAlso tell them any recent travel or potential contact with someone with\nCOVID-19.\nWhen attending for treatment, follow the instructions your provider gives you.\nThis could include wearing a mask (your provider can give you one), sanitising\nyour hands when arriving and entering through a separate area.\nRemember to practise physical distancing.\nWhen receiving face-to-face care, your health care provider:\n\nwill follow all hand hygiene and cough etiquette protocols\nwill stay 1.5 metres from you, unless you need direct care\nmay or may not wear protective gear, depending on the situation \u2014 if they do, it does not mean they are unwell\n\nIf you need to make an appointment on behalf of someone else, get information\nabout their condition before calling. This will ensure you can provide\nimportant details to your provider.\nIf you need medicines, you can still get them from pharmacies."}
{"_id":"Australiatest5","title":"","text":"Boosting cash flow for employers\nWhat you need to know\n\nFor most businesses, the cash flow boost will automatically be credited to your account when you lodge your activity statement.\nYou won\u2019t be disadvantaged if you have been given a deferral for your earlier activity statement or are not required to lodge your income tax return yet. Read more about the impact of lodgment deferrals.\nIf eligible, the minimum cash flow boost credit you will receive when the March activity statement is lodged is $10,000. See examples of what you will receive.\nThe cash flow boosts will be applied to reduce liabilities arising from the same activity statement. If there is credit remaining after this occurs, you will generally receive a refund of that amount.\nIf you are due to receive a refund, we will generally pay it within 14 days.\nAny excess credit from the activity statement that received the cash flow boost amount will be refunded to you, rather than offset against other tax debts. However, any excess may still be applied against any outstanding debts with other Australian Government agencies.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest6","title":"","text":"Boosting cash flow for employers\nEligibility\nDiscretion to give you further time\nWe have discretion to give you further time, after 12 March 2020, to:\n\nhold an ABN\nprovide us notice that business income or supplies were made.\n\nHowever, the discretion is intended to be utilised only in very exceptional\ncircumstances. This can include where you cannot satisfy the condition:\n\nbecause although you were running an active business prior to 12 March 2020, you were not required to hold an ABN as a matter of law. For example, an entity which operates in the external territories of Australia is not required to have an ABN.\nonly because you have deferred your lodgment under an extension of lodgment date granted by the Commissioner of Taxation. For example, you had an automatic ATO lodgment deferral in place, as you were affected by the Australian bushfires in late 2019, and you lodge your first BAS after 12 March 2020.\n\nWe are unlikely to exercise the discretion to extend the 12 March 2020 date if\ndoing so would be inconsistent with the integrity provisions. For example,\nwhere steps are taken to set up new entities, or revive dormant entities,\nsolely for the sole or dominant purpose of accessing the cash flow boost.\nFind out about:\n\nProviding more information about your eligibility or ineligibility\nPS LA 2020\/21 Commissioner's discretion to allow further time for an entity to register for an ABN or provide notice to the Commissioner of assessable income or supplies\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest7","title":"","text":"Boosting cash flow for employers\nEligibility\nBusinesses (including sole traders, companies, partnerships or trusts) and NFP\norganisations will be eligible to receive the cash flow boost if:\n\nYou are a small or medium business entity or NFP of equivalent size (that is, an entity with aggregated annual turnover less than $50 million).\nYou held an ABN on 12 March 2020.\nYou made payments to employees subject to withholding (even if the amount you were required to withhold is zero), such as\nsalary and wages\ndirector fees\neligible retirement or termination payments\ncompensation payments\nvoluntary withholding from payments to contractors.\n\n\nOn or before12 March 2020, you lodged at least one of\na 2018\u201319 income tax return showing that you had an amount included in your assessable income in relation to you carrying on a business\nan activity statement or GST return for any tax period that started after 1 July 2018 and ended before 12 March 2020 showing that you made a taxable, GST-free or input-taxed sale.\n\n\n\nThere are only exceptional circumstances where we may have discretion to give\nyou further time after 12 March 2020.\nYou won\u2019t be disadvantaged if you have been given a deferral for your earlier\nactivity statement or are not required to lodge your income tax return yet.\nRead more about the impact of lodgment deferrals.\nYou are not eligible for the cash flow boosts if you change the way you\noperate for the sole or dominant purpose of becoming entitled to cash flow\nboosts when you would otherwise not be entitled. Read more about schemes.\nIf you don't meet these general eligibility criteria but think you may still\nbe entitled to the boost, there are special eligibility rules for entities in\nthe following situations:\n\nNew to business\nCharities\nBusiness created PAYG withholding role after 12 March 2020\nEntities that are not registered for GST\nEntities with a reduction in turnover to below $50 million\nBusinesses with related parties, or that are part of a group\nBusinesses with multiple branches\nBusinesses that are part of a GST joint venture\nBusinesses that use another entity to manage payroll\n\nExample 1 \u2013 A business that is eligible for the cash flow boost\nRobert has operated a small restaurant in Adelaide since 2015. He has had an\nABN since then and pays wages to his chefs every week.\nRobert's income tax return for 2018\u201319 is not due until May 2020. However, he\nhas lodged all his activity statements since July 2018.\nRobert is eligible to receive a cash flow boost.\nEnd of example\nExample 2 \u2013 A business that does not pay employees\nAngela runs a small convenience store in Darwin using a trust as her business\nvehicle. She is the only person who works in the business. She provides for\nher own remuneration by making trust distributions during the year and does\nnot pay any wages.\nAs Angela does not make eligible payments to employees, she is not eligible to\nreceive the cash flow boost.\nOn 15 March 2020, Angela realises her business is not eligible and applies to\nbecome registered for PAYG withholding, backdated to 1 March 2020. She changes\nher business records to reclassify some trust distributions as wages.\nAngela is still not eligible to receive the cash flow boost because she has\nchanged the way her business operates for the purpose of receiving a cash flow\nboost that she was not otherwise entitled to receive.\nEnd of example\nFind about about:\n\nSpecial eligiblity rules\nDelivery of the cash flow boosts\nAccessing the cash flow boosts\nWhat you will receive\nTax consequences\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest8","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nMicrowaves sanitise masks\nThere is no evidence masks are sanitised by microwave radiation. It is also a\nbad idea. Firstly, microwave radiation can burn or disfigure certain parts of\nthe mask. Secondly, if the mask contains metal, it can damage your microwave\noven and set it alight.\nSimply putting your mask through your washing machine with detergent is\nsufficient to disinfect it. Learn more about the Centres for Disease Control\nand Prevention\nrecommendations."}
{"_id":"Australiatest9","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nParcels from China can spread coronavirus\nThere\u2019s no evidence the virus can survive on packages or letters for 28 days.\nAccording to WHO:\n\u201cThe most important thing to know about coronaviruses on surfaces is that they\ncan easily be cleaned with common household disinfectants that will kill the\nvirus. Studies have shown that the SARS-COV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 can\nsurvive for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours\non copper and less than 24 hours on cardboard. These were under experimental\nconditions using sensitive detection methods\".\n\u201cAs always clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub\nand avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose\u201d.\nVisit the World Health Organisation for more\ninformation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest10","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nI don\u2019t need to get the flu shot\nInfluenza (flu) and COVID-19 are two separate infections. While they\u2019re both\nviral infections, the viruses belong to two separate groups. The regular\ninfluenza vaccination does not provide immunity to COVID-19. Learn more about\nhow to protect yourself and others.\nIt is very important for people to get their influenza vaccination. As\noutlined by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nick Coatsworth, \u201cwe\u2019re\nentering flu season and\u2026one of the biggest messages we have\u2026to the public is\nget your flu vaccination\u201d. Some people become very sick with influenza. Having\nthe influenza vaccination, will help prevent you getting infected with\nCOVID-19 and influenza at the same time. Learn more about the DCMO'S\nresponse. "}
{"_id":"Australiatest11","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nEating garlic\/immune boosters prevents infection\nAccording to WHO \u201cGarlic is a healthy food\nthat may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence\nfrom the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from\nCOVID-19\".\nVaccines are the only effective means to boost your immune system to prevent\ninfection. Learn more about the World Health Organisation's response.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest12","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nMMS (miracle mineral supplement) is an effective treatment\nMMS contains sodium chlorite, which can be used to make chlorine dioxide, a\nchemical used as a textile bleaching agent and for disinfection. According to\nthe TGA,\n\u201cproducts containing\u2026 sodium chlorite pose a serious health risk if consumed\nby humans and should be labelled with warnings and the word \u2018POISON\u2019\u201d.\nMMS is not approved by the TGA for any therapeutic use and should not be taken to treat\ncoronavirus.\nNote that sodium chlorite is completely different to sodium chloride or common\ntable salt."}
{"_id":"Australiatest13","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nGargling salt water will prevent coronavirus\nGargling salt-water does not prevent COVID-19. While gargling is a common\ntreatment for a sore throat, there is no evidence to suggest that it would\neliminate or prevent COVID-19. Learn more about the World Health\nOrganisation's response to this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest14","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nIbuprofen exacerbates coronavirus\nThere is no published peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support this claim.\nIf you are currently taking ibuprofen to manage a health condition, do not\nstop taking it without speaking to your doctor first.\nThe TGA will continue to monitor this issue. Learn more\nabout the TGA's response. "}
{"_id":"Australiatest15","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nIf you can hold your breath for 10 seconds, you\u2019re ok\nHolding your breath for 10 seconds without coughing does not indicate you are\nfree from coronavirus. If someone has an acute viral infection, it may be\ndifficult for them to take a deep breath. However, being able to breathe\ndeeply doesn\u2019t mean someone is free of COVID-19. People\u2019s symptoms vary and\nthe only way to determine if you have the virus or not is to get tested.\nLearn more about symptoms to look out for.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest16","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nBioCharger NG can help treat coronavirus\nThe BioCharger is not a cure or treatment for COVID-19. As stated by the\nmanufacturer, Advanced Biotechnologies, \u201cThe BioCharger is not a medical\ndevice and for that reason Advanced Biotechnologies suggest that anyone seek\nmedical attention from their primary care provider if they are experiencing\nsymptoms of COVID-19\u201d.\nThe TGA has issued the company with two infringement notices and published a\nwarning to advertisers and consumers about illegal advertising relating to\nCOVID-19. According to the TGA, the assertion \"that the device could be used\nin relation to 'Wuhan Coronavirus'\", is \"a claim which has no apparent\nfoundation, and which the TGA takes extremely seriously\u201d. Learn more about\nTGA's response or ABC's report on this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest17","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nHand dryers kill coronavirus\nNo, hand dryers don\u2019t kill the SARS-COV-2 virus which causes COVID-19. Hand\ndryers blow out warm air and are not designed to disinfect materials from\nharmful organisms. To disinfect your hands, you should clean with soap and\nwater or an alcohol-based disinfectant.\nLearn more about the World Health Organisation's response to this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest18","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nHydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment\nHydroxychloroquine is an unproven treatment. Clinical trials around the world\nare testing whether it can treat COVID-19. However, according to the\nTGA, \u201cthese medicines pose well-known serious risks\nto patients including cardiac toxicity (potentially leading to sudden heart\nattacks), irreversible eye damage and severe depletion of blood sugar\n(potentially leading to coma)\u201d. Learn more about hydroxychloroquine.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest19","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nBreathing techniques can cure the virus\nThis breathing technique does not cure the virus. Controlled coughing helps\nwith conditions such as cystic fibrosis to clear airways of mucus. It is\nrelatively safe to perform as the mucus in cystic fibrosis usually can\u2019t\ninfect others. In the case of COVID-19, where people can infect others through\nairborne droplets, the opposite is true and this technique could help spread\nthe infection. Learn more about the ABC's investigation into this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest20","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nHospitals are giving out secret prevention tips\nHospitals are not disseminating secret prevention tips to staff. The Royal\nMelbourne Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women\u2019s Hospital have all publicly\nrefuted several viral posts attributed to them. For accurate information,\nvisit australia.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest21","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nHot temperatures kill the virus\nThere\u2019s no evidence that the virus dies in temperatures above 27 degrees or is\nprevented by drinking warm water. Learn more about the World Health\nOrganisation's advice to the public.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest22","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nVitamin C is an effective treatment\nThe Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)\ninvestigated this claim and \u201cfound there is no robust scientific evidence to\nsupport the usage of this vitamin in the management of COVID-19\u201d.\nVitamin C deficiency is rare in Australia. The only well-established evidence\nfor the use of Vitamin C is in the treatment of scurvy which is caused by\nVitamin C deficiency."}
{"_id":"Australiatest23","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nUV rays kill the virus\nUV lamps should not be used to prevent coronavirus or used on hands or other\nareas of skin. UV radiation cannot sterilise; at best in ideal situations, it\ncan inhibit growth of some microorganisms. Like sunbathing without sunscreen,\nUV lamps can cause skin irritation and you run the risk of long-term skin\ndamage. Learn more about the World Health Organisation's response to this\nmyth. "}
{"_id":"Australiatest24","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nDrinking water prevents infection\nDrinking water does not wash the\nvirus\ninto the stomach. While hydration is important with an infection, sipping\nwater will not prevent infection nor will it prevent infection from spreading."}
{"_id":"Australiatest25","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nThere is a cure\/ vaccine for coronavirus\nThere is currently no treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. Scientists around the\nworld, including those at the University of Queensland and the Doherty\nInstitute, are working hard to find a vaccine with the World Health\nOrganisation estimating a publicly available vaccine is 18 months away. In the\nmeantime, the best thing people can do is to stay at home as much as possible.\nLearn more about the World Health Organisation's response to this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest26","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\n5G networks are spreading the virus\n5G mobile networks do not spread COVID-19. As stated by the Australian\nRadiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency\n(ARPANSA), \u201c[s]uggestions that 5G has caused or is linked to\ncoronavirus are utterly baseless\u201d. Similarly, the World Health\nOrganisation has noted:\n\u201cViruses cannot travel on radio waves\/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading\nin many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.\"\n\u201cCOVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person\ncoughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a\ncontaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose.\""}
{"_id":"Australiatest27","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Mythbusting\nMosquitos spread coronavirus\nThere is no evidence to suggest mosquitoes carry and spread COVID-19. While\nmosquitoes can transmit other viruses like dengue and malaria, they don\u2019t\ntransmit other well-known viruses like HIV and Ebola. The novel coronavirus is\nprimarily spread by droplets produced during coughing or sneezing rather than\nblood. The SARS-COV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 has been found in blood\nsamples from infected people, however there is no evidence it can spread via\nmosquitoes.\nLearn more about the World Health Organisation's response to this\nmyth."}
{"_id":"Australiatest28","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nRenewing Reef HQ Aquarium\nThis initiative provides $2.6 million for Reef HQ Aquarium to ensure the\ncritical systems that control the environment within the aquarium are upgraded\nand maintained, supporting the health and wellbeing of the living exhibits\nwhile the aquarium is closed.\nFor further information, visit www.reefhq.com.au\nor contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority\u2019s Marketing Team on\n0488 073 281 or email media@gbrmpa.gov.au"}
{"_id":"Australiatest29","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nCommonwealth National Parks\u2014Support for Tourism\u2014Fee Waivers\nFrom 16 March to 31 December, 2020, the Australian Government is waiving up to\n$11.2 million in entry fees to the following national parks managed by Parks\nAustralia:\n\nBooderee National Park\nKakadu National Park\nUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park\n\nFree park entry will provide additional incentives for travelers to visit\nthese must see destinations once travel restrictions are relaxed.\nThe Australian National Botanic Gardens, Christmas Island National Park, Pulu\nKeeling National Park and Norfolk Island National Park do not charge entry\nfees and remain free to visitors.\nIn addition, up to $772,000 is available to assist businesses operating in\nCommonwealth National Parks by:\n\nProviding temporary relief from licence fees and permit charges levied by the Director of National Parks for the period of 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2021. Aside from the immediate respite from some ongoing operating costs, this will also allow business to re-commence operations without having to pay for licences and permits.\nProviding rent relief to tenants of the Australian National Botanic Gardens in accordance with the Australian Government's Rent Relief Policy\n\nFor more information email\nparksonlinefeedback@awe.gov.au; or\nvisit\nwww.parksaustralia.gov.au\/covid-19."}
{"_id":"Australiatest30","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nSupporting Indigenous Visual Arts Centres\nThe $7 million contribution to the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support\n(IVAIS) Program supports Indigenous Art Centres and Indigenous Art Fairs\nduring the Coronavirus crisis and beyond. Payments will be made directly to\nIVAIS-funded Indigenous Art Centres and IVAIS-funded Art Fairs to maintain\noperations and employment levels, ensuring that they continue to support\nartists and their communities.\nFor more information phone 1800 006 992, email\nivais@arts.gov.au, or visit\nwww.arts.gov.au\/covid-19-update."}
{"_id":"Australiatest31","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nLevy Relief for Commonwealth Fisheries\nThe Australian Government is waiving $10.3 million across the final two\ninstalments of levies for Commonwealth managed fisheries, reducing levies for\nthe 2019\u201320 financial year by two thirds. This will support fishers' cash flow\nduring the outbreak, and help them remain viable and able to return to full\nproduction when the outbreak subsides.\nFor more information, visit afma.govcms.gov.au\/afma-\ncovid-19-update or contact\nthe levies area of AFMA: Phone 1300 723 621 or email\nlevies@afma.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest32","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nCrisis Relief for Regional Arts\nThe $10 million initiative for the Regional Arts Fund provides crisis relief\nand targeted support to organisations, artists and arts workers that are\ncritical to delivering the arts to communities in regional and remote areas.\nFor more information email regional@arts.gov.au\nor visit\nwww.arts.gov.au\/covid-19-update."}
{"_id":"Australiatest33","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nRegional Air Network Assistance\nThe Australian Government is providing $198 million to assist domestic\ncommercial airlines to maintain a basic level of connectivity across their\nnetwork of regional routes. This will support critical air services connecting\nregional Australia to freight, medical testing, supplies and essential\npersonnel.\nFor more information go to Assistance to the aviation\nsector or\nrefer to the grant guidelines on the GrantConnect website:\nwww.grants.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest34","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat kinds of support\u00a0are available?\nSupport is tailored to meet the needs of communities and industries that need\nassistance during the crisis and into recovery. This may include:\n\nfee or levy relief\u2014this can be applied through existing mechanisms, requiring little or no action by businesses;\nincreasing payments through existing grant programs\u2014in ways that are quick and simple to deliver; or\nestablishing targeted new programs to support the particular needs of an industry sector.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest35","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nAdditional Funding for the Export Market Development Grant Scheme\nThe Australian Government is providing an immediate cash flow boost to\neligible Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) applicants in the 2019\u201320\nfinancial year.\nThe EMDG scheme reimburses small and medium-sized businesses up to 50 per cent\nof their eligible overseas market-promotion and export-development activities,\nto a maximum of $150,000. This new measure will increase funding for the\n2019\u201320 financial year by almost $50 million so that eligible applicants\nreceive their full entitlement.\nFor more information visit www.austrade.gov.au\/Australian\/Export\/Export-\nGrants or contact\nthe EMDG team at Austrade:\nemdg.help@austrade.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest36","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nRegional Airlines Funding Assistance\nThe Australian Government is providing $100 million to financially assist\nsmaller regional domestic air service providers to help manage cash flow\nissues they may be experiencing as a result of the impacts of the Coronavirus.\nThis will help these service providers to maintain essential connectivity for\nregional and remote communities. Air service providers can apply to the\nGovernment to be considered for support for assistance on a month-by-month\nbasis, where there is a demonstrated need.\nFor more information go to Assistance to the aviation\nsector or\nrefer to the grant guidelines on the GrantConnect website:\nwww.grants.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest37","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nHow does the Fund work?\nThe Deputy Prime Minister chairs a Ministerial Advisory Group, which meets\nregularly to consider proposals submitted from across a number of portfolios.\nFunding is channelled through existing mechanisms where possible to ensure\nsupport is provided quickly. New funding mechanisms are established where\nthere is a critical need.\nInitiatives under the Fund are administered by the department or agency with\nthe relevant sector responsibilities."}
{"_id":"Australiatest38","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nSupport Act: Crisis Relief to Artists, Crew and Music Workers\nThe $10 million contribution to the performing arts industry charity Support\nAct enables it to provide immediate crisis relief to artists, crew and music\nworkers affected by the Coronavirus crisis.\nFor more information email music@arts.gov.au or\nvisit\nwww.arts.gov.au\/covid-19-update."}
{"_id":"Australiatest39","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nThe following initiatives are part of the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund:\n\nRegional Airlines Funding Assistance\nRegional Air Network Assistance\nAirfreight Support\nLevy Relief for Commonwealth Fisheries\nAdditional Funding for the Export Market Development Grants Scheme\nSupporting Indigenous Visual Arts Centres\nCrisis Relief for Regional Arts\nSupport Act: Crisis Relief to Artists, Crew and Music Workers\nSupporting Australia's exhibiting zoos and aquariums\nCommonwealth National Parks\u2014Support for Tourism\u2014Fee Waivers\nTemporary waiver of Environmental Management Change for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park\nRenewing Reef HQ Aquarium\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest40","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nSupporting Australia's Exhibiting Zoos and Aquariums\nThis $94.6 million initiative provides vital funding to exhibiting zoos and\naquariums whose tourism revenue stream has stopped as a result of the travel\nand social distancing restrictions in place to limit the spread of\nCoronavirus. Funding will assist these businesses with the fixed operational\ncosts associated with caring for animals, and will help exhibiting zoos and\naquariums to remain viable and ready to welcome tourists when restrictions are\neased.\nFor more information visit www.austrade.gov.au\/Australian\/Tourism\/Tourism-\nand-business\/Grants\/supporting-australias-exhibiting-zoos-aquariums-\nprogram\/zoosandaquariums or contact the Austrade Programs Team by emailing\nZandAGrants@austrade.gov.au or calling\n1800 048 155."}
{"_id":"Australiatest41","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nAirfreight Support\nThe Australian Government has set up a $110 million International Freight\nAssistance Mechanism\n(IFAM) to keep open key international freight links with\ntrading partners for goods coming into and going out of Australia.\nIFAM will support the efforts of businesses trading internationally, including\nin the agricultural, seafood and healthcare sectors, to re-establish key\nglobal supply chains, which have been disrupted by COVID-19, supporting the\ninternational economic recovery. IFAM is essential to helping secure items\ncritical to the ongoing health response in Australia, such as essential\nmedical supplies, medicines and personal protective equipment.\nIFAM is a targeted, emergency and temporary measure helping Australian\nbusiness in its efforts to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.\nBusinesses in the agricultural and seafood sectors wishing to access the\nmechanism can register their interest at\nhaveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au\/international-freight-\nassistance or by calling the Department of Agriculture, Water and the\nEnvironment on (02) 6272 2444."}
{"_id":"Australiatest42","title":"","text":"COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund\nWhat initiatives are currently part of the Fund?\nTemporary waiver of Environmental Management Change for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park\nThis $8.1 million initiative temporarily waives the Environmental Management\nCharge for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park until 31 December 2020.\nFor more information, visit www.gbrmpa.gov.au or\nemail emc@gbrmpa.gov.au and for media enquiries\nemail media@gbrmpa.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest43","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nAfter you apply\nIt will take us up to four business days to process your application and send\nyour outcome letter to your myGov inbox. You may also receive an SMS\nnotification.\nIf you receive a notification from us and haven't applied to access your super\nearly, you need to call us or your fund as soon as possible.\nIf you have an Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) fund and\nyour application is approved, you do not need to contact us or your fund. Your\nfund will make the payment to you without you needing to apply to them\ndirectly.\nThe Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) have issued guidance to\nsuper funds and expect payment to be made to members within five business days\nonce they have been notified by us. However, this time may increase where\nfunds need to contact you to clarify information. More information can be\nfound on APRA's websiteExternal Link.\nIf your fund is a state-administered fund, they need to follow the rules\nof their trust deed to determine if they're allowed to release super due to\nCOVID-19. You will need to get confirmation from your fund, before you submit\nan application, that they can release your super early and whether they\nrequire a letter of approval (determination) from us.\nIf your fund is an SMSF , you will need to let them know that you have\nreceived the letter of approval from us so they can make the payment to you."}
{"_id":"Australiatest44","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nSubmit an application\nApplications for early release of superannuation are accepted through ATO\nonline services via myGov.\nYou can only submit one application for COVID-19 early release of super\nin each financial year:\n\n2019\u201320, between 20 April and 30 June 2020\n2020\u201321, between 1 July and 24 September 2020 (Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only).\n\nThis is even if the total amount you request to be released, or the actual\namount released by your fund, is less than $10,000. For example, if you\nrequest $8,000, you cannot make another application to request the additional\n$2,000.\nIf you want to apply for COVID-19 early release of super in the 2020\u201321\nfinancial year, you need to submit an application in that financial year, even\nif you have submitted an application in 2019\u201320.\nThe application form on myGov will display all your superannuation accounts,\nas reported to us by your funds. You can request the release of your super\nfrom up to five super accounts. For example, if you want to receive a total of\n$10,000 you can request $5,000 from one fund and a second $5,000 from another\nfund. This must be done within one application form.\nIf you're a member of a self-managed super fund (SMSF) and your super account\nis missing from your list of available funds in myGov, phone us on 13 10\n20 and we'll help with your application."}
{"_id":"Australiatest45","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nBefore you apply\nATO-held super and rollovers\nATO-held super cannot be accessed directly from the ATO for a COVID-19 early\nrelease. If you wish to access super money we currently hold for you, you will\nneed to transfer it to your super fund before you can apply for COVID-19 early\nrelease of super.\nYou can transfer ATO-held super to an eligible fund in our online services\nthrough myGov. You will need to wait for the transferred super to reach your\nnominated fund before you apply for COVID-19 early release.\nIf you want to apply for COVID-19 early release and consolidate your super\ninto one fund, this cannot be done at the same time. You should either:\n\nwait until the rollover to your super fund is complete before you apply for COVID-19 early release of super, or\nwait until your application for COVID-19 early release of super has been approved and paid into your bank account, before you consolidate any accounts\n\nSee also:\n\nOnline services to create a myGov account and link it to the ATO.\nKeeping track of your super to check your super balances.\nATO-held super\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest46","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nBefore you apply\nBefore you start the application process, you should:\n\nset up your myGov accountExternal Link and link it to the ATO\nhave your Australian bank account information available \u2013 you will need this to complete your application and only Australian bank accounts are accepted\ncheck your super balance \u2013 your actual account balance may be higher or lower than that shown in ATO online or in the early release application form.\n\nThere are four ways you can check your super balance:\n\nCheck your total superannuation balance in ATO online services. There will be an 'as at' or 'effective' date for the balance. In a lot of cases, it will be 30 June 2019 as funds are only required to report to us once a year. This means your account balance may have changed since it was last reported to us, and may be higher or lower than shown on ATO online or in the early release application form.\nIf you have access to your super fund's online member portal, you can log on and check your current account balance there. It might be a good time to establish a login to your fund portal if you haven\u2019t already.\nCheck the last statement that your fund issued to you. This might be by paper or email.\nCall your fund, but understand that they have had a large increase in members calling and there could be delays in having your call answered\n\nIf your fund is a state-administered fund, or you're a member of an exempt\npublic sector super scheme (EPSSS), you will need to confirm whether they're\nallowed to release super due to COVID-19, before you submit an application."}
{"_id":"Australiatest47","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nSubmit an application\nCurrent super balance\nWe encourage you to check your fund's online portal to confirm your current\naccurate balance. Your current super balance may be lower or higher than what\nis shown in the application form. The amount shown in the form is the amount\nlast reported to us and your fund does not need to report your current balance\nto us.\nYou can apply for an amount higher than the balance shown in the application\nform (up to $10,000), provided your current balance is sufficient. This\nincludes if a 'nil' amount is showing in the application form. For example, if\nyou've confirmed your fund balance is $8,000, but the amount showing in ATO\nonline is $0.00 you can still apply for a release up to $8,000.\nIf you apply for an amount greater than your current balance, your fund will\nrelease the amount currently available (up to $10,000). For example, if you\nrequest $8,000, but your current balance is only $7500 your fund will release\n$7500."}
{"_id":"Australiatest48","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nEligibility\nEligibility:\n\nCitizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand\nTemporary residents\nAssessing your eligibility\n\nCitizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand\nTo be eligible for early release of super, a citizen or permanent resident of\nAustralia and New Zealand must be in one of the following circumstances:\n\nYou are unemployed.\nYou are eligible to receive one of the following \njobseeker payment\nyouth allowance for jobseekers (unless you are undertaking full-time study or are a new apprentice)\nparenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments)\nspecial benefit\nfarm household allowance.\n\n\nOn or after 1 January 2020 either \nyou were made redundant\nyour working hours were reduced by 20% or more (including to zero)\nyou were a sole trader and your business was suspended or there was a reduction in turnover of 20% or more.\n\n\n\nTemporary residents\nTo be eligible for early release of super in 2019\u201320, temporary residents must\nbe in one of the following circumstances:\n\nYou hold a student visa that you have held for 12 months or more and you are unable to meet immediate living expenses.\nYou are a temporary skilled work visa holder and still employed but unable to meet immediate living expenses.\nYou are a temporary resident visa holder (excluding student or skilled worker visas) and you cannot meet immediate living expenses.\n\nAssessing your eligibility\nYou do not need to attach evidence to support your application. However, you\nshould keep records and documents to confirm your eligibility as we may ask\nyou for this information.\nIt is important that you assess your eligibility accurately. We are\nadministering this measure on behalf of all Australians and will manage the\neligibility criteria with strict guidelines to ensure we can support those\nfinancially affected by COVID-19. There are penalties for making false and\nmisleading statements.\nYou can't access your super early for a dependant. If your dependant is\nfinancially affected by COVD-19, they must apply themselves.\nYou can only submit one application for COVID-19 early release of super per\nfinancial year. You are still able to apply for COVID-19 early release of\nsuper if you have previously accessed your super early in other circumstances."}
{"_id":"Australiatest49","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nSubmit an application\nApplication tips\nTo make the application process as smooth as possible, please check all your\ninformation is correct before you submit your application, including:\n\nyour contact details\nthe amount you request \u2013 your current balance through your fund\u2019s online portal to ensure your request is based on the latest available balance.\nyour Australian bank account details \u2013 only Australian bank accounts are accepted.\n\nYou can only submit one application for COVID-19 early release of super per\nfinancial year.\nYou can't access your super early for a dependant. If your dependant is\nfinancially affected by COVD-19, they must apply themselves.\nAn application can't be withdrawn or cancelled once it has been submitted. If\nyou no longer want the release of your super, you will need to contact your\nfund. If the bank account you provided on your application form is incorrect,\ncontact your super fund urgently to correct it.\nIf you notice another error in your application after you have submitted it,\nyou need to contact us as soon as possible to see if we can fix the error.\nNext step:\n\nApply nowExternal Link\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest50","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nBe aware of scams and schemes\nEarly access of your super is a free government service to help and\nsupport you during the impacts of COVID-19. Be aware of scams and schemes\nasking you to pay to release your super.\nWe\u2019re concerned about scams or schemes where people:\n\nimpersonate the ATO, or a trusted organisation like your super fund, to steal your money or personal identifying information\napproach you and charge you for services that are free, like gaining early access to your superannuation.\n\nIf you receive a phone call, text message or email offering to help you\nrelease your super early, do not :\n\nprovide your personal information\nclick on any links (we never include hyperlinks to a login page)\nshare your myGov login details with anyone, under any circumstances, including your tax agent.\n\nYou can phone us on 1800 008 540 to confirm if a contact you received is\ngenuine.\nStolen or misused identity\nIf you are concerned that someone has accessed your super without your\npermission, you should check:\n\nyour myGov and ATO Online account and make sure your contact details are still correct\nyour superannuation account to make sure that your account details are also correct, and that there have been no unauthorised transactions.\n\nIf you think that someone has stolen or misused your identity, contact:\n\nyour super fund immediately if you identify unauthorised transactions or updates to your account, and\nour Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033 (between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday-Friday) to help you establish your tax identity.\n\nSee also:\n\nIllegal early release of super\nProtecting your information\nYour identity security - get help\nVerify or report a scam\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest51","title":"","text":"COVID-19 early release of super\nImplications of accessing your super early\nAccessing your super early will affect your super balance and may affect your\nfuture retirement income.\nWithdrawing superannuation may also affect your:\n\nincome protection insurance\nlife \/ total permanent disability insurance cover\n\nInsurance may not be available on accounts that have a low balance.\nYou should consider whether you need to seek financial advice before\nsubmitting your application for early release of super. Services Australia\u2019s\nFinancial Information Service OfficersExternal\nLink can give you free, confidential financial information\nSee also:\n\nKeeping track of your super\nInactive low balance super accounts\nCOVID-19 accessing your superExternal Link \u2013 MoneySmart\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest52","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nUse a Virtual Private Network (VPN)\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nVirtual Private Network (VPN) connections are a popular method to connect\nportable devices to a work network. VPNs secure your web browsing and remote\nnetwork access.\nSometimes organisations specify that you use a VPN on work devices. If this is\nthe case, you should familiarise yourself with your organisation\u2019s VPN\nrequirements, policies and procedures.\nFor more information on VPNs see advice from the Canadian Centre for Cyber\nSecurity:\n\nUsing Virtual Private Networks.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest53","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nUse strong and unique passphrases\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nPasswords are pass\u00e9! Strong passphrases are your first line of defence.\nEnable a strong and unique passphrase on portable devices such as laptops,\nmobile phones and tablets.\nUse a different passphrase for each website and app, particularly those that\nstore your credit card details or personal information. To use the same\nusername (such as an email address) and passphrase for multiple accounts means\nthat if one is compromised, they are all at risk.\nFor more ACSC information, see 'Passphrases' in the:\n\nSmall Business Cyber Security Guide.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest54","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nUpdate your software and operating systems\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nIt is important to allow automatic updates on your devices and systems like\nyour computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones. Often, software updates\n(for operating systems and applications, for example) are developed to address\nsecurity issues. Updates also often include new security features that protect\nyour data and device.\nFor more ACSC information on updating operating systems and software, see:\n\nStep-by-Step Guide \u2013 Turning on Automatic Updates (For Windows 10)\nStep-by-Step Guide \u2013 Turning on Automatic Updates (For iMac & Macbook, and iPhone & iPad).\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest55","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nAvoid using portable storage devices\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nWhen transporting work from the office or shop to home, portable storage\ndevices like USB drives and cards are easily misplaced and, if access isn\u2019t\nproperly controlled, can harm your computer systems with malware.\nIf possible, transfer files in more secure ways, such as your organisation's\ncloud storage or collaboration solutions. When using USBs and external drives,\nmake sure they are protected with encryption and passphrases.\nFor more ACSC information on portable storage cyber security, see:\n\nQuick Wins for Your Portable Devices.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest56","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nUse trusted sources for information\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nCybercriminals and other malicious actors use popular and trending topics such\nas COVID-19 to spread disinformation or scam people. Impersonating, cloning or\ncreating websites to look genuine is one way to do this (see 'Beware of scams'\nabove). Producing and sharing false information on social media is another.\nBe sure to only use trusted and verified information from government and\nresearch institution\u2019s websites. Think critically about the sources of\ninformation that you use, and balance all evidence before believing what\npeople share.\nFor the latest COVID-19 information, see:\n\nAustralian Government COVID-19 website.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest57","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nSecure your devices when not in use\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nIt\u2019s much easier to access your information if other people have access to\nyour devices. Do not leave your device unattended and lock your computer when\nnot in use, even if it's only for a short period of time.\nYou should also carefully consider who has access to your devices. Don\u2019t lend\nlaptops to children or other members of the household using your work profile\nor account. They could unintentionally share or delete important information,\nor introduce malicious software to your device.\nIf you do share your computers or devices with family or your household, have\nseparate profiles so that each person logs in with a unique username and\npassphrase.\nFor more ACSC information on good cyber security behaviours, see:\n\nStay Smart Online - Protecting Your Computer From Online Threats.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest58","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nImplement multi-factor authentication\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nMulti-factor authentication is one of the most effective controls you can\nimplement to prevent unauthorised access to computers, applications and online\nservices. Using multiple layers of authentication makes it much harder to\naccess your systems. Criminals might manage to steal one type of proof of\nidentity (for example, your PIN) but it is very difficult to steal the correct\ncombination of several proofs for any given account.\nMulti-factor authentication can use a combination of:\n\nsomething the user knows (a passphrase, PIN or an answer to a secret question)\nsomething the user physically possesses (such as a card, token or security key)\nsomething the user inherently possesses (such as a fingerprint or retina pattern).\n\nIf your device supports biometric identification (such as a fingerprint scan)\nit provides an additional level of security, as well as a convenient way to\nunlock the device after you have logged in with your passphrase.\nFor more ACSC information on how to implement multi-factor authentication for\nspecific services, see:\n\nStep-by-Step Guides \u2013 Turning on Two-Factor Authentication\nStay Smart Online \u2013 Two-Factor Authentication.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest59","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nUse trusted Wi-Fi\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nUsing free wireless internet may be tempting; it can also put your information\nat risk. Free Wi-Fi by its very nature is insecure and can expose your\nbrowsing activity to cybercriminals. Cybercriminals have also been known to\nset up rogue Wi-Fi hotspots with names that look legitimate and can intercept\ncommunications, steal your banking credentials, account passwords, and other\nvaluable information.\nUse trusted connections when working from home, such as your home internet or\nmobile internet service from your telecommunications provider.\nFor more ACSC information on the steps you can take to secure your Wi-Fi, see:\n\nStay Smart Online - Wi-Fi and Internet Connections.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest60","title":"","text":"COVID-19: Cyber security tips when working from home\nCyber security tips\nBeware of scams\nHere are nine things you can do in your new working environment to protect\nyour work and your household\u2019s cyber security.\nCybercriminals see a crisis as an opportunity. Major change brings disruption,\nand businesses transitioning to working from home arrangements can be an\nattractive target.\nBe aware that the COVID-19 pandemic will be used by cybercriminals to try to\nscam people out of their money, data and to gain access to systems. While\nworking from home you should:\n\nExercise critical thinking and vigilance when you receive phone calls, messages and emails.\nExercise caution in opening messages, attachments, or clicking on links from unknown senders.\nBe wary of any requests for personal details, passwords or bank details, particularly if the message conveys a sense of urgency.\nIf in any doubt of the communicator's identity, delay any immediate action. Re-establish communication later using contact methods that you have sourced yourself.\n\nFor more ACSC information on how to identify and protect yourself from scams\nsee:\n\nThreat Update: COVID-19 Malicious Cyber Activity\nDetecting Socially Engineered Messages.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest61","title":"","text":"Citizenship\nApplying for citizenship\nDue to the Coronavirus pandemic, all face-to-face citizenship appointments\nhave been placed on hold. The Department will recommence in-person interviews\nand citizenship tests when it is safe to do so.\nNew applications for Australian citizenship are still able to be accepted\nduring this period.\nProcessing continues on all applications for Australian citizenship that have\nalready been lodged with the Department."}
{"_id":"Australiatest62","title":"","text":"Citizenship\nCitizenship ceremonies\nDue to the Coronavirus pandemic, in-person citizenship ceremonies have been\nplaced on hold.\nTo continue to enable conferees to become Australian citizens, the Department\nis undertaking online ceremonies through video link as an alternative to\ntraditional in-person ceremonies. These online ceremonies will continue to be\noffered as a temporary replacement to traditional in-person ceremonies until\nthe social distancing restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic ease.\nThese ceremonies will be with the presiding officer and generally a single\nconferee, or a household group if they reside at the same location. Ceremonies\nperformed via video link include integrity measures, such as confirming\nidentity.\nThe Department is contacting conferees with full details of the process. There\nis no need to contact the Department or your local council about your\nceremony.\nIn-person citizenship ceremonies will re-commence when it is safe to do so.\nGenerally, conferees have 12 months from their notice of approval to attend a\nceremony and make the pledge of commitment, however, during the COVID-19\nperiod, citizenship approval will not be cancelled if a conferee cannot attend\na ceremony within this 12 month period.\nFor more information, see the Minister\u2019s statement on Australian citizenship\nprocessing"}
{"_id":"Australiatest63","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nWhat should I use for routine cleaning?\nHard surfaces\nIn most circumstances, cleaning with detergent and water is sufficient.\nSoft or porous surfaces\nFor soft or porous surfaces like fabric or leather, seek advice from the\nmanufacturer of the item to be cleaned about which products can be safely\nused.\nDetergent can generally be used to clean fabric surfaces. If more thorough\ncleaning is needed, fabric surfaces may be steam cleaned. Leather will have\nspecial cleaning requirements.\nIf soft or porous surfaces require regular cleaning, such as seats in offices,\nor in vehicles, it may be more effective to use a removable washable cover or\na disposable cover and replace these as regularly as you would clean the\nsurfaces."}
{"_id":"Australiatest64","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nUsing disinfectants safely\nFollow all manufacturer\u2019s instructions and read the label and the Safety Data\nSheet (SDS). For information on how to read labels and SDS, see the Safe Work\nAustralia SDS page.\nDo not use different types of disinfectants together.\nStore your disinfectants safely and securely, out of direct sunlight and away\nfrom heat sources.\nMix your disinfectants in a well-ventilated area. Some concentrated products\nrecommend the use of a local exhaust ventilation system.\nFor spraying or misting products, spray directly into the cleaning cloth to\ndampen the cloth for use. Take care not to generate a mist.\nPPE to use when diluting and using disinfectants includes:\n\ngloves, elbow-length if available, and\neye protection (safety glasses, not prescription glasses).\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest65","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nHow should I clean if someone at my workplace is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?\nIf a person who has been at your workplace is suspected or confirmed to have\nCOVID-19, you must thoroughly clean and disinfect all areas of suspected\ncontamination.\nClean and disinfect all areas (for example, offices, bathrooms and common\nareas) that were used by the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Close\noff the affected area before cleaning and disinfection. Open outside doors and\nwindows if possible to increase air circulation and then commence cleaning and\ndisinfection.\n\nclean and disinfect hard surfaces using either: a physical clean using detergent and water followed by a clean with 1,000 ppm bleach solution (2-step clean), for example, household bleach or hospital-grade bleach solutions that are readily available from retail stores. Bleach solutions should be made fresh daily.\na physical clean using a combined detergent and 1,000 ppm bleach solution (2-in-1 clean) made up daily from a concentrated solution (refer to the Department of Health website for more information on achieving the correct bleach solution).\n\nOnce cleaning and disinfection is complete, place disposable cloths, PPE and\ncovers in a plastic rubbish bag, place it inside another rubbish bag (double-\nbagging) and dispose of the bag in the general waste.\nThere is no need to close down an entire workplace, while cleaning and\ndisinfection takes place, particularly if the person infected, or suspected to\nbe infected, has only visited parts of the workplace. However the cleaning and\ndisinfection must occur before any workers return to affected areas.\nWhether you need to suspend operations in your workplace will depend on\nfactors such as the size of the workplace, nature of work, number of people,\nand suspected areas of contamination in your workplace.\nThose cleaning an area of suspected contamination need to be equipped with\nappropriate Personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes disposable\ngloves and safety eyewear to protect against chemical splashes. If there is\nvisible contamination with respiratory secretions or other body fluids in the\narea, the cleaning staff should also wear a disposable apron. If the person\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19 is in the area to be cleaned (e.g. a\nhotel room), put on a surgical mask and ask the person to step outside if\npossible.\nClean your hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or where this\nis not possible, hand sanitiser of with at least 60% ethanol or 70%\nisopropanol as the active ingredient] before putting on and after removing\nPPE.\nCleaning equipment including mop heads and cloths should be laundered using\nhot water and completely dried before re-use. Cleaning equipment such as\nbuckets should be emptied and cleaned with a new batch of disinfectant and\nallowed to dry completely before re-use.\nIf your workplace handles food, you should follow the additional advice of\nFood Standards Australia New\nZealand."}
{"_id":"Australiatest66","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nCleaning and disinfection\nCleaning and disinfecting are two different processes:\nCleaning means physically removing germs, dirt and organic matter from\nsurfaces.\nDisinfecting means using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. It\u2019s\nimportant to clean before disinfecting because organic matter and dirt can\nreduce the ability of disinfectants to kill germs.\nA combination of cleaning and disinfection will be most effective in removing\nthe COVID-19 virus. Cleaning reduces the soil load on the surface, allowing\nthe disinfectant to work and kill the COVID-19 virus. Disinfectant may not\nkill the virus if the surface has not been cleaned with a detergent first."}
{"_id":"Australiatest67","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nHow do I clean?\nUse the following steps to clean an environment:\n\nWear gloves when cleaning. Gloves should be discarded after each clean. If it is necessary to use reusable gloves, gloves should only be used for COVID-19 related cleaning and should not be used for other purposes or shared between workers. Wash reusable gloves with detergent and water after use and leave to dry. Clean hands immediately after removing gloves using soap and water or hand sanitiser.\nThoroughly clean surfaces using detergent and water. Always clean from the cleanest surfaces to the dirtiest surfaces. This stops the transfer of germs to cleaner surfaces and allows you to physically remove and dispose of the largest possible amount of germs.\nIf you need to use a disinfectant, clean the surface first using detergent then apply a disinfectant or use a combined detergent and disinfectant (see next section). A disinfectant will not kill germs if the surface has not been cleaned first. Apply disinfectant to surfaces using disposable paper towel or a disposable cloth. If non-disposable cloths are used, ensure they are laundered and dried before reusing.\nAllow the disinfectant to remain on the surface for the period of time required to kill the virus (contact time) as specified by the manufacturer. If no time is specified, leave for 10 minutes.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest68","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nWhat should I use to disinfect?\nHard surfaces\nDisinfectants that are suitable for use on hard surfaces (that is, surfaces\nwhere any spilt liquid pools, and does not soak in) include: alcohol in a\nconcentration of at least 70%, chlorine bleach in a concentration of 1000\nparts per million, oxygen bleach, or wipes and sprays that contain quaternary\nammonium compounds. These chemicals will be labelled as \u2018disinfectant\u2019 on the\npackaging and must be diluted or used following the instructions on the\npackaging to be effective.\nSoft or porous surfaces\nDisinfectant is not suitable on fabric surfaces as it only works with extended\ncontact time with the surface."}
{"_id":"Australiatest69","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nDisposal or cleaning of materials and PPE\nReusable, washable cloths, PPE and covers should be washed in a regular cycle\nwash using the warmest possible setting with normal washing detergent. Avoid\nshaking out the items before placing in the washing machine.\nWear disposable gloves to handle used cloths, PPE and covers. Wash your hands\nthoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after removing the\ngloves.\nRegularly wash the hamper in which used PPE is stored while it is waiting to\nbe laundered. If the hamper is not washable, use a disposable lining, and\nreplace regularly.\nReusable, non-washable PPE such as eye protection, should be wiped clean with\na detergent solution first, then wiped over with a disinfectant, and left to\nair dry. Smearing or residues might result, and this can be cleaned off by\nusing more detergent solution and rinsing clean only after the disinfectant\nhas dried."}
{"_id":"Australiatest70","title":"","text":"Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19\nCleaning and disinfection\nRoutine cleaning\nWorkplaces should clean surfaces at least daily. Special attention should be\ngiven to frequently touched surfaces (e.g. tabletops, door handles, light\nswitches, desks, toilets, taps, TV remotes, kitchen surfaces and cupboard\nhandles). Ideally, once clean, surfaces should also be disinfected regularly.\nAlternatively, you may be able to do a 2-in-1 clean and disinfection by using\na combined detergent and disinfectant.\nSurfaces and fittings should be cleaned more frequently when:\n\nvisibly soiled\nused repeatedly by a number of people (e.g. trolleys, checkouts, EFTPOS machines), and\nafter any spillage.\n\nFor routine cleaning, disinfectants are usually only necessary if a surface\nhas been contaminated with potentially infectious material. For this reason,\nwhen and how often a workplace should undertake disinfection as part of\nroutine cleaning will depend on the likelihood of contaminated material being\npresent at the workplace. For example, in a busy retail environment with many\ncustomers and others entering a workplace each day, more frequent disinfection\nis recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. By contrast, for a small\nwork crew operating the same item of plant each day with little interaction\nwith other people, routine disinfection in addition to daily cleaning may not\nbe reasonably practicable."}
{"_id":"Australiatest71","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nAll others\nAdditional exemptions as determined by the Commissioner\nThe Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) may consider an\nadditional exemption in relation to the travel restrictions currently in place\nfor:\n\nforeign nationals travelling at the invitation of the Australian Commonwealth Government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response or whose entry would be in the national interest\ncritical medical services, including air ambulance and delivery of supplies, that regularly arrive into Australia from international ports\npeople with critical skills (for example, medical specialists, engineers, marine pilots and crews) by exception\ndiplomats accredited to Australia and currently resident in Australia, and their immediate family\n\u200bcase-by-case exceptions for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.\n\nExemptions must be granted prior to travelling to Australia. The request for\nan exemption through Commissioner\u2019s Discretion must be accompanied by:\n\npassenger details : name, DOB, visa type and number, passport number, Australian residential address, Australian telephone number)\ncase information : why this case should be considered for Commissioner discretion\/exemption\nsupporting statement : the request should be accompanied by a statement and evidence of how the individual meets one of the grounds for an exemption or excise of the Commissioner\u2019s discretion listed above.\n\nIt is important that all travellers provide evidence that they meet one of the\nexemptions above before travelling.\nDepending on your reason for requesting exemption, evidence must be provided\nand could include:\n\nproof of ID\nmarriage certificates\nbirth certificates\ndeath certificates\nproof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)\nvisa status\nletter from a doctor or hospital indicating why the travel is necessary\nletter from an employer indicating why the travel is necessary or the work undertaken is critical\nletter from a related business or company\nany other proof you may have to support your claims.\n\nAll evidence supporting a travel exemption claim needs to be officially\ntranslated into English. ****"}
{"_id":"Australiatest72","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nI am an Australian citizen or permanent resident\nAll travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day\nquarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of\narrival.\nYou can travel to Australia if you are an Australian citizen, a permanent\nresident, an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent\nresident or are a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia. If you\nare an immediate family member holding a temporary visa you will need to\nprovide us with evidence of your relationship.\nAustralian citizen\nAustralian citizens can enter Australia and, in exceptional circumstances,\nwill be permitted to enter without a valid Australian passport. If you don\u2019t\nhave a valid passport, please advise airline staff that you are an Australian\ncitizen and do not require a visa to enter Australia (even if you are a dual\nnational). The airline will contact the Australian Border Force to verify your\ncitizenship. It is important you get to the airport early in case of any\ndelays. Departure from the country you are in is subject to the rules and\ndecisions of authorities in that country.\u200b\nPermanent resident\nA permanent resident is someone who holds a permanent visa in Australia,\nincluding a Resident Return visa. Permanent residents must also undertake a\nmandatory 14-day quarantine in designated facilities (for example, a hotel) in\ntheir port of arrival once they enter Australia.\nNew Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia\nNew Zealand citizens who normally reside in Australia (with a subclass 444\nvisa or other permanent or provisional visa) can come to Australia. You must\ncarry proof of residency (driver's licence or documents that show your\nresidency). Present it at check-in. You must undertake a mandatory 14-day\nquarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of\narrival.\u200b\nImportant: New Zealand citizens and permanent residents not living in\nAustralia can only transit through Australia to return to New Zealand. Refer\nto Transiting Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest73","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nAll others\nApply online for an\u00a0exemption or provide further information\nApply online\nTravellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to\nAustralia can also use this form to apply for an exemption."}
{"_id":"Australiatest74","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nI want to apply for a visa\nYou should reconsider your need to apply for an Australian visa at this time\nand check this page regularly for updates on travel restrictions and visa\nprocessing.\nVisa processing arrangements\nThe Department is prioritising processing visa applications for those\ntravellers in the exempt categories to support urgent travel.\nWe encourage applicants to apply online wherever possible, as these\napplications will be processed faster than those lodged on paper.\nYou will not be able to apply for an ETA\nonline while the travel\nrestrictions are in place.\nDisruption of services\nSome services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by\nCOVID-19 and a range of services we rely on are increasingly unavailable.\nThis includes overseas panel doctors (see below), English language testing\nfacilities, biometric collection and paper application lodgement centres.\nWhile these services are unavailable, many applicants cannot meet visa\nrequirements. Applicants will be given additional time to complete checks and\nprovide the requested information.\nVisa medical appointments\nClients should be aware of disruptions to visa medical services, due to\nCOVID-19.\nMy Health Declarations is temporarily suspended. The Health Requirement\nincluding the health examinations for your intended visa will be determined\nonce your visa application has been lodged.\nOur visa processing officers are aware of the disruptions. We will take the\nextended timeframes into account when considering your visa application.\nYou do not need to contact us if your visa medical appointment has been\nrescheduled.\nIf you have not yet lodged a visa application or have not been requested to\nundertake an immigration medical examination, there is no need to contact a\nvisa medical services clinic in Australia or an overseas panel clinic at this\ntime.\nStudent visas\nYou do not need a visa if you are overseas and studying online with an\nAustralian education provider.\nEducation providers can issue a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol\nstudents to study online."}
{"_id":"Australiatest75","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nAll others\nTravellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to\nAustralia will need to have an exemption from the Australian Border Force\nCommissioner.\nAll travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day\nquarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of\narrival.\u200b\nTravel restrictions are subject to change. Some exemptions are in place.\nPlease check back regularly."}
{"_id":"Australiatest76","title":"","text":"Coming to Australia\nI am immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident\nYou are only considered to be an immediate family member if you are:\n\na spouse\na de facto partner\na dependent child\/ren\na legal guardian.\n\nAll travellers arriving in Australia must undertake a mandatory 14-day\nquarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of\narrival.\nYou may need to provide information to the Department before travelling to\nAustralia.\nGuardians\nA guardian, in relation to a child, is a person who has responsibility for the\nlong-term welfare of the child and has all the powers, rights and duties that\nare vested by law or custom in the guardian of the child, other than:\n\nthe right to have the daily care and control of the child; and\nthe right and responsibility to make decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child.\n\nIf you don\u2019t have a visa\nYou can't come to Australia until you have a visa. Apply for a visa and\ninclude proof (such as your marriage certificate, your birth certificate or\nbirth certificate for your children).\nIf you have a temporary visa (except for Partner and Child visa holders)\nUse the enquiry form below to provide further information to the Department.\nYou should attach proof (such as your marriage certificate, evidence of your\nde-facto relationship such as shared finances or property, your birth\ncertificate or birth certificate for your children). Do not travel until we\nadvise that you can.\nPartner (subclasses 100, 309, 801, 820) and Child (subclasses 101, 102, 445)\nvisa holders can come to Australia. You do not need to request an exemption.\nProspective Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders can\u2019t come to Australia at\nthe moment.\nApply online for an exemption or provide further information\nApply online\nTravellers who have a compassionate or compelling reason to travel to\nAustralia can also use this form to apply for an exemption."}
{"_id":"Australiatest77","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTravel plans in the coming months?\nIf you have future travel planned or are considering going overseas, cancel or\npostpone these plans. A ban is in place. The risks to your health and that of\nothers is too great."}
{"_id":"Australiatest78","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nGetting home\nPlanning your trip home\nIf you wish to return to Australia, and there are still commercial flights\navailable, take them as soon as possible. While we know it can be frustrating\nor expensive, the window of opportunity is closing.\nTravel regulations are changing at short notice. If you\u2019ve decided to return\nto Australia:\n\ncheck your route carefully and stay in touch with your airline or travel agent\nfollow official announcements from your transit airports and governing authorities\ncontact the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries you\u2019re transiting through if you have any queries about their entry or exit requirements\n\nTo stay up-to-date with our latest advice,\nsubscribe to our travel\nadvisories and news."}
{"_id":"Australiatest79","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nGetting home\nNo flights out?\nIf you wish to return to Australia, and there are still commercial flights\navailable, take them as soon as possible. While we know it can be frustrating\nor expensive, the window of opportunity is closing.\nMany travellers are having difficulty getting home because of flight cancellations or movement restrictions.\nIf you\u2019re one of them, we know it\u2019s a stressful and difficult time.\nWhere commercial flights are not available, we\u2019re working with the airline\nindustry and other governments to help Australians find ways to get home. This\nincludes a special partnership with Qantas and Virgin Australia and\nfacilitated flights from several destinations.\nSee further details on the COVID-19 \u2013 Helping Australians to return\nhome page.\nOver the past few weeks, we\u2019ve also worked with cruise operators and other\ngovernments to bring home thousands of Australian passengers from cruise\nships.\nCheck the website of your nearest Australian embassy or high\ncommission and follow them closely on social\nmedia for updates\nabout flights back to Australia. Some embassies and high commissions are\nproviding the option for Australians to register for direct communication,\nincluding in some places to receive updates on potential unscheduled\ncommercial flights."}
{"_id":"Australiatest80","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nStaying where you are\nIn some cases, you may need to make arrangements to stay where you are for a\nlonger period, until your departure can be arranged or border closures are\nlifted.\nWe understand this is a very challenging situation. Our ambassadors, high\ncommissioners and consular officials are doing all they can to assist those\nmost in need.\nThe scale and complexity of this crisis is greater than anything we have faced\nbefore. With the global shutdown of borders and transit hubs, it won\u2019t be\npossible for every Australian traveller to get home until the travel\nrestrictions are lifted.\nIn some cases, particularly if you\u2019re living and working overseas long-\nterm, you may have the support, accommodation and income you\nneed to remain where you are through this period.\nIf, for whatever reason, you\u2019re staying somewhere longer than you\nplanned:\n\nfollow the advice of local authorities\nsubscribe to news and the travel advice for your location\nfollow your local Australian embassy or high commission on social media; and register with them if they have called for it\nmake arrangements for an extended stay\ntake care to minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19\n\nRead more:\n\nCOVID-19 - what to do when you can't get home\nCOVID-19 - advice for Australians living, working or studying overseas\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest81","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTravelling to Australia by yacht or small craft\nIf you\u2019re planning to sail your yacht or small craft back to Australia,\ncarefully consider the risks to your personal health and safety and that of\nyour crew members from COVID-19 and related restrictions. Due to border\nclosures and other restrictions, you may not have access to ports and supplies\nen route. It\u2019s not the responsibility of the Australian government to\nnegotiate access or facilitate your journey.\nAt this time, we recommend you either moor your boat and stay where you are,\nor if you wish to come home and flights are available, store your boat and fly\nback to Australia.\nSee our Travelling by boat page for further information."}
{"_id":"Australiatest82","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19)\nConsular services\nOur ability to provide our usual consular services in many places is limited during this time. In some\ncountries, our embassy buildings are closed to the public or offering limited\nconsultations by appointment only. This is due to tight restrictions on local\nservices and movement, including of our embassy staff.\nWhile we can\u2019t always get out and about in the way we normally would, rest\nassured our staff are hard at work behind the scenes. We\u2019re focused on sharing\nthe most up-to-date local advice and information for Australians, providing\nconsular and passport services in situations of genuine need and working with\nother governments on the international effort to combat COVID-19.\nThe Foreign Minister decided on 26 March to direct the departure to Australia\nof all remaining dependants and non-essential staff from a number of\nAustralian embassies and high commissions in countries where there is\nsignificant pressure on local health systems and reducing transport links.\nThis will not affect the provision of services to Australians in these\nlocations."}
{"_id":"Australiatest83","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities\nPeople most at risk\nAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at greater risk of\ncoronavirus if they:\n\nare aged 50 years and over with chronic medical conditions\nhave a weakened immune system\nare aged 70 years and over\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest84","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities\nWhere you can get help\nCall your local Health Service, or ask someone you trust in the community to\ncall, if you feel unwell.\nMap of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical\nservices\nUse this interactive map to find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander\nHealth Service near you.\nNational Coronavirus Helpline\nCall this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or\nhelp with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a\nweek.\n1800 020 080\nView contact\nNational Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation\nThe National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is\nthe national authority on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health\ncare. See their website for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander\u2013focused\nnews, information, links and contacts.\nhttps:\/\/www.naccho.org.au\/\nView contact\nNational Indigenous Australians Agency\nThe National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is committed to improving\nthe lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Visit their\nwebsite for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander\u2013focused news, information,\nlinks and contacts.\nhttps:\/\/www.niaa.gov.au\/\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest85","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities\nKeeping in touch with your community\nStaying connected with family, friends and your community is important. Some\nways you can do this are:\n\ncalling people for a yarn on the phone\ntalking about the community and checking if they are OK\ntalking about the virus and how to stop the spread\nconnecting to family and friends on social media\nsharing your tips on social media #KeepOurMobSafe\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest86","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities\nWhy remote communities are at risk\nAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people living in remote\ncommunities are at greater risk from COVID-19. This is because:\n\nthere are higher rates of other health issues in these communities\nit can be harder to access health care\npeople in the community are very mobile and travel often\npeople often rely more on outreach services in remote places\n\nPeople who live in remote communities are a priority of the Australian\nGovernment and the COVID-19 National Emergency Response\nPlan. We all need to work together to keep\npeople safe and stop the spread of the virus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest87","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities\nProtect your mob and stop the spread\nYou can help stop the spread by:\n\nkeeping your hands clean \u2014 wash your hands with soap and water (where possible) for at least 20 seconds. Do this after you cough or sneeze, go to the toilet, and before you make any food\ncoughing or sneezing into the inside of your elbow, not your hands\nputting your tissues in the bin after you use them and washing your hands after\nnot touching your face\ncleaning surfaces often, such as door handles, kitchen and bathroom benchtops\nnot hugging or shaking hands with people\nkeeping away from people and family in the community if you are sick with a fever, cough or sore throat or are having trouble breathing \u2014 and seeking medical help\n\nOther ways you can protect your community and Elders include:\n\nnot travelling to places in your community, or other communities, unless you have to\nstaying at home and away from other people as much as you can. If you are around people, try to stay 2 big steps away from them.\nkeep taking any medicines you use \u2014 this way you\u2019ll stay as healthy as possible\nnot sharing cups or water bottles\nnot smoking or sharing smokes with other people\ngetting a flu shot to protect yourself and your family from the flu too\ndownloading the COVIDSafe app\n\nRead more about how to protect yourself and others.\nRead our advice on staying healthy during COVID-19\nrestrictions.\nDownload the COVIDSafe app\nThe COVIDSafe app makes it quicker to let people know if they have been\nexposed to coronavirus. When enough people download this app, governments can\nease restrictions and things can get back to normal sooner.\nThe app won\u2019t know your location. Your privacy is protected by the COVIDSafe\nprivacy policy.\nOnce the coronavirus outbreak is over you can delete the app from your phone.\nAny information the app collected will be destroyed.\nYou don\u2019t have to download the app, but downloading it will help protect your\nfamily and your community. The more people who download the app, the quicker\nwe can fight the virus.\nCOVIDSafe app\nThe COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus\n(COVID-19). This helps us support and protect you, your friends and family.\nPlease read the content on this page before downloading."}
{"_id":"Australiatest88","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nMedical appointments and medicines\nYou can access bulk-billed appointments with your doctor, nurse or mental\nhealth professional via phone or videoconference. If you would like to arrange\na telehealth appointment,\ncontact your doctor.\nAccessing medicines while staying at home\nYour doctor may be able to arrange to have your prescriptions sent to your\npharmacy directly so you\ncan stay at home. For more information on whether you can access this service\nplease call your pharmacy and speak to them about the best way to arrange\nthis."}
{"_id":"Australiatest89","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nPeople most at risk\nYour risk of serious illness from coronavirus increases if you are:\n\naged 70 years or over\naged 65 years or over and have a chronic medical condition\nan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years and over who has a chronic medical condition\nimmune suppressed\n\nThere is currently no cure or vaccine for coronavirus, or immunity in the\ncommunity, so you need to protect yourself."}
{"_id":"Australiatest90","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nWellbeing support \nThe Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line\nSenior Australians, their families and carers can call the Older Persons\nCOVID-19 Support Line if they:\n\nwould like to talk with someone about the COVID-19 restrictions and the impact on them\nare feeling lonely or are worried about a loved one\nare caring for someone and need some information or a listening ear\nneed help or advice about changing the aged care services they are currently receiving\nneed help to access new care services or essential supplies such as shopping\nare concerned about a friend or family member living with dementia\n\nOlder Persons COVID-19 Support Line\nThe Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line provides information and support to\nsenior Australians, their families and carers. Call Monday to Friday, except\npublic holidays, from 8.30am to 6pm.\n1800 171 866\nView contact\nCommunity Visitors Scheme\nThe Community Visitors Scheme arranges volunteer visits to older people to\nprovide ongoing friendship and companionship. Visits are available to anyone\nreceiving government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Packages.\nDuring the coronavirus pandemic, we are focusing on phone and virtual\nfriendships while physical distancing measures and visiting restrictions are\nin place.\nRead about the program and how to register."}
{"_id":"Australiatest91","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nSymptoms\nSymptoms include (but are not limited to) fever, a dry cough, a sore throat\nand difficulty breathing.\nIf you develop mild symptoms of\nCOVID-19:\n\nisolate yourself from others at home and use a separate bathroom, if available\nuse a surgical mask when around other people. If you don\u2019t have a mask, practise good sneeze\/cough hygiene\npractise good hand hygiene\ncall a doctor and tell them about your symptoms and whether you have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19\n\nIf you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing:\n\ncall 000, ask for an ambulance and notify the officers if you have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest92","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nProtecting yourself\nAs we move towards a COVIDSafe Australia, it is\nimportant for people at greater risk of serious illness if they get COVID-19\nto take extra steps to protect themselves.\nYou should maintain good hygiene and take care when interacting with other\npeople. These are the best defences for you and your family against\ncoronavirus. This includes:\n\ncovering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue\ndisposing of used tissues immediately into a rubbish bin and washing your hands\nwashing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet, and when you have been out to shops or other places\nusing alcohol-based hand sanitisers (60% alcohol), where available\ncleaning and disinfecting surfaces you have touched\nstaying 1.5 metres away \u2014 2 arms\u2019 length \u2014 from other people. This is an example of physical distancing\ncontinuing to stay at home and avoid contact with others\ncontinuing to avoid non-essential travel\nconsidering having the chemist deliver your medicines\nconsidering having your groceries and essential items delivered to your home\ndownloading the COVIDSafe app to your smartphone for the times you do need to go out \u2014 the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line can help you with this\n\nRead our fact sheet about the support available to\nyou if you are isolated and finding it difficult\nto access food and basic household items."}
{"_id":"Australiatest93","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for older people\nAssistance with food and meals \nMany Commonwealth funded providers, such as Meals on\nWheels, can assist you with access to regular\nfood supplies and prepared meals.\nIf you are in urgent need of support, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200\n422 and they can refer you directly to these services in your local area.\nIf you are not registered with My Aged Care and you are 65 years or over, you\ncan call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. My Aged Care will ask you some\nquestions to help you register. Services can be set up quickly for up to 6\nweeks without the need for an assessment.\nIf you are already receiving aged care services, you can also arrange this\ndirectly with your provider.\nPrioritised online grocery ordering\nWe have worked with a number of grocery suppliers, including Coles and\nWoolworths, on priority access to their online and telephone shopping service\nfor older and vulnerable people.\nIf you are registered with My Aged Care, you can provide your My Aged Care ID\nnumber to access priority delivery.\nIf you are not registered with My Aged Care and you are 65 years or over, you\ncan call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. My Aged Care will ask you some\nquestions to help you register."}
{"_id":"Australiatest94","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people in aged care facilities\nResidents\nAs we move towards a COVIDSafe Australia and\nphysical distancing measures are eased around the country, special\nrestrictions will remain in place for aged care\nfacilities to protect older Australians.\nResidential aged care facilities will continue to restrict visits in line with\nthe Australian Health Protection Principal Committee advice for residential\naged care facilities.\nThey will also continue to postpone large group visits, gatherings, and\nexternal excursions.\nAged care facilities will help residents stay connected with family and\nfriends by phone and video calls.\nIf you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you will be kept separate from other\npeople and will not be able to see visitors.\nHealth care and residential care workers will continue to provide support and\ncare for you while you are isolated.\nIf you need to leave your room, such as for medical care, you will be given a\nsurgical mask. Health care workers will provide masks to you.\nResidents who are well do not need to wear a mask.\nResidents admitted from other health facilities\nActive screening for symptoms of COVID-19 in residents being admitted or re-\nadmitted from other health facilities and community settings should be\nconducted. No new residents with COVID-19 compatible symptoms are permitted to\nenter the facility.\nAppropriate infection prevention practices should be implemented for residents\nreturning from treatment or care at other facilities."}
{"_id":"Australiatest95","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people in aged care facilities\nVisitors\nSome people cannot visit a residential aged care facility:\n\nVisitors who have returned from overseas in the last 14 days\nVisitors who have been in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days\nVisitors with a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness\nChildren 16 years and under, except in special circumstances, for example, where the aged care resident is in palliative care\n\nFrom 1 May 2020, you must have your influenza vaccination in order to visit an\naged care facility.\nVisits should be short and conducted in the resident\u2019s room, outside, or in a\nspecific designated area (not a communal space).\nEach resident may have no more than 2 visitors at one time per day, including\ndoctors. These may be immediate social supports (family members, close\nfriends) or professional service or advocacy.\nIf you can\u2019t visit a resident in aged care as often as you would like to there\nare other ways to keep in touch and stay connected. You can keep in touch by:\n\nphone calls\nvideo calls\nsocial communication apps\nsending a postcard\nsharing photos, artwork, or short home videos\n\nThis will limit your exposure to COVID-19 and your chances of accidentally\nspreading it to older people in your life.\nIf you regularly visit someone living with a cognitive impairment, consider\nother ways to maintain social contact to help reassure people who may feel\nanxious about possible changes to their day to day life. You can also contact\nthe National Dementia Helpline on\n1800 100 500.\nAll visitors need to:\n\nprovide details on their current health status to staff of the residential aged care facility\nbe willing to undergo fever screening process prior to entry, where appropriate\nwash their hands before entering and leaving a resident\u2019s room\nstay 1.5 metres away from residents where possible\nstay away when unwell\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest96","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people in aged care facilities\nManagers and staff\nSee our:\n\nadvice on providing aged care services during COVID-19\nresources for aged care services\n\nThe Australian Government has announced that residential aged care facilities\nshould take extra precautions to keep residents safe from COVID-19. Both\nindividuals and management need to take responsibility for the health of\nvisitors and staff at facilities to protect our most vulnerable community\nmembers.\nAged care facilities will:\n\nclosely monitor the health of staff, including fever screening, where appropriate\nscreen new and returning residents before entry\nput up signs and explain the steps they are taking to protect residents\u2019 health\n\nStaff should be made aware of early signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Any staff\nwith fever or symptoms of acute respiratory infection (for example, cough,\nsore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath) should be excluded from the\nworkplace and tested for COVID-19. Staff must report their symptoms to the\nresidential aged care facility.\nSick leave policies must enable employees to stay home, if they have any \u2014\neven very mild \u2014symptoms of respiratory infection.\nTo make more workers available, the Government is relaxing international\nstudent visa work conditions for aged care facilities and home care providers.\nThis will allow international student nurses and other aged care workers to\nwork more than 40 hours a fortnight. There are currently around 20,000\ninternational student nurses studying in Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest97","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people in aged care facilities\nPreventing the spread of coronavirus\nPractising good hand and sneeze\/cough hygiene is the best\ndefence against most viruses. You should:\n\nwash your hands frequently with soap and water, including before and after eating, and after going to the toilet\ncough or sneeze into your elbow, dispose of tissues straight away, and wash your hands\navoid contact with others by \u2018physical distancing\u2019 \u2013 stay more than 1.5 metres away from people whenever possible\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest98","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with chronic health conditions\nConditions that increase the risk of serious illness from COVID-19\nAnyone could develop serious or severe illness from COVID-19, but those with\nchronic health conditions or weakened immune systems are at greater risk.\nIf you are working and you have a chronic condition or your immune system is\ncompromised, talk to your employer or workplace about having a risk\nassessment.\nChronic conditions that put you at greater risk\nThese conditions increase your risk if you are aged over 65, or if you are an\nAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged over 50:\n\nchronic renal failure\ncoronary heart disease\ncongestive cardiac failure\nchronic lung disease such as severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic emphysema\npoorly controlled diabetes\npoorly controlled hypertension\n\nImmune system conditions that put you at greater risk\nYou are at increased risk at any age if your immune system is significantly\nweakened:\n\ndue to haematologic neoplasms such as leukaemias, lymphomas and myelodysplastic syndromes\npost-transplant, if you have had a solid organ transplant and are on immunosuppressive therapy\npost-transplant, if you have had a haematopoietic stem cell transplant in the last 24 months or are on treatment for graft versus host disease (GVHD)\nby primary or acquired immunodeficiency including HIV infection\nby having chemotherapy or radiotherapy\n\nMedical treatments that put you at greater risk\nYou are also at increased risk if you take any biological disease-modifying\nanti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) or any of the following immunosuppressive drugs:\n\nazathioprine, more than 3mg per kg per day\n6-mercaptopurine, more than 1.5mg per kg per day\nmethotrexate, more than 0.4mg per kg per week\nhigh-dose corticosteroids (20mg or more of prednisone per day or equivalent) for 14 days or more\ntacrolimus\ncyclosporine\ncyclophosphamide\nmycophenolate\nany combination of these or other DMARDs\n\nDisease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used to treat inflammatory\nforms of arthritis. They suppress the immune system and this slows the\ndevelopment of the arthritis.\nSome DMARDS have a broad effect on the immune system while the biological\nDMARDS target specific parts of the immune system."}
{"_id":"Australiatest99","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with chronic health conditions\nProtecting yourself\nIt\u2019s vital to do everything you can to protect yourself and\nothers from coronavirus:\n\nmaintaining good hygiene\nphysical distancing\navoiding public gatherings\nisolation\n\nMake sure you continue to go to any usual or scheduled appointments with your\ndoctor. See how to access health services\nand medications during COVID-19 restrictions.\nIf you are at greater risk due to a chronic condition or weakened immune\nsystem, you should also:\n\nstay at home, including working from home if possible\navoid non-essential travel\navoid contact with others\nspeak to your chemist about having medication delivered to you\nmake use of telehealth services for routine or non-urgent medical help\nconsider getting groceries and other essentials delivered\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest100","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with chronic health conditions\nServices and support \nTelehealth services\nYou can access bulk-billed telehealth services from your doctor, nurse or\nmental health professional via phone or videoconference. Learn more about\ntelehealth services.\nOrdering prescription medications from home\nYou can get medicines from home during the COVID-19\nrestrictions.\nYou might also be eligible to have prescription medications delivered from\nyour regular pharmacy through the Home Medicines Service.\nLearn more about Home Medicines\nServices or contact your local\npharmacist.\nUrgent referrals to grocery suppliers\nWe are working with grocery suppliers to ensure vulnerable\npeople have priority access to online\nand telephone shopping.\nStay connected and care for your mental health\nBeing isolated can be stressful and hard to manage. Learn more about how to\nmanage isolation.\nLooking after your mental health is an important part of staying healthy. The\nGovernment\u2019s Head to Health\nwebsite is the best\nplace to start if you need some help coping with anxiety and worry about\ncoronavirus.\nYou can also visit the new Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support\nService being provided by Beyond\nBlue."}
{"_id":"Australiatest101","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nGovernment response\nManagement and operational plan\nWe\u2019ve developed a plan for people of all ages with disability, their families,\ncarers, support workers and the disability and health care sectors.\nIt provides high-level guidance on how to manage and prevent the transmission\nof COVID-19 for people with disability and will be updated as needed.\nManagement and Operational Plan for People with\nDisability\nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\nguides the Australian health sector response. This management and operational\nplan focuses on people with disability. There is an easy read version on this\npage, too.\nThe plan was overseen by the Advisory Committee for the COVID-19 Response for\nPeople with Disability."}
{"_id":"Australiatest102","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nSupporting people with disability\nHome care providers\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) Guide for Home Care\nProviders\nThis guide is for providers of aged care and disability services who offer\nhome care and support services to older people living at home and people with\ndisability living in the community. It provides information and guidance on\nhow to stay safe from coronavirus (COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest103","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nSupporting people with disability\nHealth professionals\nInformation for health workers in emergency departments supporting people\nwith disability\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for health workers in\nemergency departments (EDs) who provide health care to people with\nintellectual or developmental disability during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nInformation for health workers in hospitals supporting people with\ndisability\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for health workers in\nhospitals who provide health care to people with intellectual or developmental\ndisability during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nInformation for health workers supporting people with\ndisability\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for health workers providing\ncare to people with intellectual or developmental disability during the\nCOVID-19 pandemic.\nInformation for health and mental health workers supporting people with\ndisability\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for health and mental health\nworkers providing care to people with intellectual or developmental disability\nduring the COVID-19 pandemic.\nInformation for primary health care services supporting people with\ndisability\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for primary health care\nstaff and services, including general\npractitioners (GPs), providing care to people with intellectual or\ndevelopmental disability during the COVID-19 pandemic."}
{"_id":"Australiatest104","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nWhy people with disability are at risk\nSome people with disability have higher rates of health issues including\nchronic conditions and weakened immune system.\nMany people with disability rely on support and assistance from family\nmembers, carers and support workers."}
{"_id":"Australiatest105","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nSupporting people with disability\nSupport workers and carers\nInformation for Disability Support Providers and\nWorkers\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for disability support\nproviders and workers who provide health care to people with intellectual or\ndevelopmental disability during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nGuide to personal protective equipment (PPE) for disability care\nproviders\nThis fact sheet provides information and guidance for disability care\nproviders on the use of PPE.\nInformation for support workers and carers on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing\nfor people with disability\nAdvice on who should be tested, where testing can be done, and how to explain\nthe testing process to a person with disability."}
{"_id":"Australiatest106","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nProtecting yourself\nAs we move towards a COVIDSafe Australia and states\nand territories ease physical distancing measures, it\u2019s vital to do everything\nyou can to continue to protect yourself and others from coronavirus:\n\ngood hygiene\nphysical distancing\navoiding public gatherings\nif you are sick, stay home and if you have cold or flu-like symptoms get tested\n\nMake sure you continue to go to any scheduled appointments with your doctor.\nIf you are worried about going to see them in person, contact them to arrange\na telehealth consultation.\nYou can also:\n\nspeak to your pharmacist about having medication delivered to you\nconsider getting groceries and other essentials delivered. A priority service is available for NDIS participants\n\nRead the Department of Social Service's accessible, easy read, coronavirus\n(COVID-19) resources."}
{"_id":"Australiatest107","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for people with disability\nServices and support\nTelehealth services\nYou can access bulk-billed telehealth services from your doctor, nurse or\nmental health professional via phone or videoconference. Learn more about\ntelehealth services.\nElectronic prescriptions\nWe are fast tracking electronic prescription for up to 80% of general\npractices and community pharmacies for those at greater risk of serious\nillness.\nOrdering prescription medications from home\nYou might be eligible to have prescription medications delivered from your\nregular pharmacy through the Home Medicines Service.\nLearn more about Home Medicines\nServices or contact your\nlocal pharmacist.\nStay connected and care for your mental health\nBeing isolated can be stressful and hard to manage. Learn more about how to\nmanage isolation.\nPrioritising your mental wellbeing is an important part of staying healthy.\nThe Government\u2019s Head to Health website is\nthe best place to start if you need some help coping with anxiety and worry\nabout coronavirus.\nYou can also visit the new Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support\nService provided by BeyondBlue."}
{"_id":"Australiatest108","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel\u00a0within Australia\nAustralians must avoid all non-essential domestic travel.\nState and territory restrictions\nStates and territories can apply their own restrictions, including closing\ntheir state borders and additional quarantine requirements. Find out more\nabout restrictions in your state or territory:\n\nAustralian Capital Territory:ACT Government travel advice\nNew South Wales: NSW Government travel and transport advice\nNorthern Territory:Northern Territory Government remote work and travel\nQueensland: Queensland Government travel advice\nSouth Australia:Government of South Australia cross-border travel\nTasmania:Tasmanian Government travellers and visitors\nVictoria : Victoria State Government Health and Human Services\nWestern Australia:Government of Western Australia travel advice\nNorfolk Island: Norfolk Island Regional Council COVID-19 advice\nIndian Ocean Territories: Advice from the Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands\n\nRemote area restrictions\nThe Australian Government is restricting travel to certain remote communities\n(designated areas). These restrictions aim to protect Community Elders and\nthose already sick.\nBefore you can enter a designated area, you must quarantine for 14\ndays.\nIf you are already in a designated area, stay there unless it is essential to\nleave for medical treatment.\nFind out how to access remote designated\nareas.\nTo view the maps of designated areas and to find out more, see:\n\nMaps of designated biosecurity (travel restricted) areas\nStay in your community and if you can, stay home\nBiosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest109","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nAustralia\u2019s borders are closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and\nimmediate family members can travel to Australia.\nTravellers arriving from any country may undergo enhanced health screening on\narrival in Australia. All arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days and state\nand territory travel restrictions may also apply.\nThe Information for international travellers fact\nsheet is provided to travellers on arrival in Australia\nand provides further information on current requirements.\nLearn more about who can enter Australia from the Department of Home\nAffairs.\nAustralian Border Force liaison officers at overseas airports will work with\nairlines to identify anyone who should not board a flight to Australia.\nRestrictions on international travel remain for now.\nNational Cabinet has agreed to a 3-step plan to create a COVIDSafe society.\nUnder Step 3, interstate travel and the possibility of travel to New Zealand\nwill be considered."}
{"_id":"Australiatest110","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nSpirit of Tasmania\nThe restrictions on cruise\nships do not\napply to the Spirit of Tasmania, to allow Tasmanians to travel home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest111","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nIn-flight\nIf you are on an international flight and show signs of an infectious disease:\n\nthe airline must report you to biosecurity officers\nbiosecurity officers will assess you before you get off the plane\nyou may be required to quarantine or referred to a hospital\n\nIf you are unwell on a flight, you will be identified and referred for\nassessment when you arrive at your destination."}
{"_id":"Australiatest112","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nQuarantine for arriving travellers\u00a0\nSince 29 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia by air or sea must\nbe isolated in mandatory quarantine accommodation for 14\ndays from their arrival, with\nfew exceptions. After mandatory quarantine, they can transit domestically and\ntravel home.\nThese requirements are managed and enforced by state and territory governments\nwith Australian Government support, including from the Australian Defence\nForce and Australian Border Force.\nTravellers are quarantined in the city they arrive in for 14 days, even if\nthey don\u2019t normally live there or plan to travel elsewhere in Australia from\nthere.\nMost quarantine accommodation is being managed by state and territory\ngovernments. They will:\n\nhandle transport for travellers from their arrival point to their quarantine accommodation\nmanage quarantine arrangements at the accommodation facility\n\nTo find out more about the quarantine requirements in your state or territory,\nor to ask about someone you know who has been quarantined, contact your state\nor territory government health department.\nThe Chief Medical Officer can, in consultation with the Australian Health\nProtection Principal Committee, declare a\nHuman Health Response Zone (HHRZ) to support quarantine and isolation\nprocedures. Mandatory quarantine arrangements are mostly being managed under\nstate and territory public health legislation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest113","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel from Australia\nThere is a ban on all overseas travel, with few exceptions.\nSince 25 March 2020, all Australian citizens and permanent residents have\nbeen prohibited from travelling out of\nAustralia unless\ngranted an exemption.\nTo find out more, go to Smartraveller\u2019s coronavirus (COVID-19)\ninformation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest114","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nExemptions from mandatory quarantine\nThe following groups may be exempt from the 14 day mandatory quarantine\nrequirements when entering Australia. While these groups are exempt from\nmandatory quarantine, all arrivals into Australia must continue to\npractise physical distancing, cough etiquette and hand hygiene. Other\nrequirements, such as isolation, may still apply.\nUnaccompanied minors\nUnaccompanied minors will be allowed to travel domestically after entering\nAustralia to quarantine with a parent or guardian at their home.\nTransit passengers\n\nInternational transit passengers arriving into Australia are able to depart on another international flight if the following conditions are met: \nIf the individual has up to 8 hours until the departing international flight, they must remain at the airport and be permitted to onward travel, maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene.\nIf 8-72 hours before the departing flight, they must go to mandatory quarantine at the state designated facility until the time of the departing flight.\n\n\nNo domestic onward travel is allowed, even if this is to meet a departing international flight. These people should go into mandatory quarantine at the state designated facility at the first point of arrival.\n\nDiplomats\n\n\nAustralia has legal obligations under the Vienna Convention to ensure diplomats freedom of movement and travel, and protection from detention. Diplomats are not required to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine on arrival into Australia.\n\n\nDiplomats should isolate at their mission or in their usual place of residence on arrival for 14 days.\n\nDiplomats must continue to practise physical distancing, cough etiquette and hand hygiene.\n\nCompassionate or medical grounds\nApplications on medical or compassionate grounds should be submitted to the\nrelevant state or territory who will consider requests on a case-by-case\nbasis.\nSee contact details for state or territory public health agencies.\nIndustry exemptions\nThe following industry groups may also be exempt from mandatory quarantine:\n\nAviation crew\nMaritime crew (excluding cruise ships).\n\nFor further information on industry exemptions, please refer to our COVID-19\nresources for the travel industry."}
{"_id":"Australiatest115","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nTravel to Australia\nCruise ships\nSince 27 March 2020 additional restrictions on cruise ships, including\ndomestic cruises, have been in place. All foreign cruise ships are legally\nrequired to leave Australian waters and no foreign cruise ships may enter\nAustralian waters (except for some limited exceptions).\nBefore this, on 15 March, the Government announced a ban on the entry of\ncruise ships that had left a foreign port. Cruise ships could apply for an\nexemption to arrive at an Australian port if they were already underway and\nreturning home.\nAustralian Border Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are\nworking to bring people back to Australia who were on a cruise when the ban\nwas announced. They will then work to get passengers to their home\ndestinations, either in Australia or overseas.\nCruise ship crews are not exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements."}
{"_id":"Australiatest116","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers\nStay informed\nWhether you\u2019re travelling in Australia or overseas, make sure you know the\nfacts about COVID-19.\nKeep informed through our COVID-19 news and media.\nSmartraveller\nVisit the Smartraveller website regularly to check for international\ndevelopments and subscribe to updates.\nConsular assistance 1300 555 135\nSmartraveller\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest117","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia \u2013 Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan\nWhy we need a pandemic health intelligence plan\nWe must remain vigilant to prevent a \u2018second wave\u2019 of infection as public\nhealth-related restrictions are relaxed.\nWhile the current number of COVID-19 cases in Australia is low, it is likely\nthere are people who are unknowingly infected and could spread the virus.\nThe Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan is designed to inform\ndecisions on adjusting the measures in place to suppress the spread of\nCOVID-19 in Australia. By using intelligence and surveillance we can consider\nboth our readiness to adjust restrictions and the outcome of changes we have\nalready made.\nThe plan includes 4 broad intelligence inputs, delivering objective measures\nand indicators which will be the basis for decisions about safe, gradual\nadjustment of our response measures."}
{"_id":"Australiatest118","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia \u2013 Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan\nCommunity acceptance and adherence\n\nEffectiveness of measures depends on the community understanding, accepting and following public health advice.\nThe plan includes monitoring how well the public is adhering to health guidance, including community attitudes, transport and traffic movements, and movement data.\n\nGathering this information will allow Australian governments to make evidence-\nbased decisions about the measures required to continue to suppress the spread\nof COVID-19 during the next phases of our response."}
{"_id":"Australiatest119","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nCoronavirus Supplement\nOn 22 March 2020, the Government announced it will provide a temporary payment\nof $550 per fortnight, known as the Coronavirus Supplement, to new and\nexisting eligible income support recipients. On 24 March 2020, the Government\nextended the eligibility criteria for this payment to Australians receiving\nstudent support payments including Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY.\nEligible recipients will receive the Coronavirus Supplement from 27 April 2020\nalong with their usual payment.\nEligibility for the Coronavirus Supplement is for people receiving the\nfollowing payments:\n\nJobSeeker Payment (formerly known as Newstart Allowance)\nYouth Allowance\nSickness Allowance\nABSTUDY (Living Allowance)\nAustudy\nParenting Payment\nPartner Allowance\nWidow Allowance\nFarm Household Allowance\nSpecial Benefit.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest120","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFirst Economic Support Payment\nOn 12 March 2020, the Government announced it will provide an Economic Support\npayment of $750 to approximately 6.8 million existing payment recipients and\nconcession card holders that are eligible as at 12 March 2020. On 22 March\n2020, the eligibility criteria for this payment was extended to new payment\nrecipients who are eligible for their payment or card between 12 March 2020 to\n13 April 2020 (inclusive). As long as someone had lodged a claim for an\neligible payment and was eligible for that payment by 13 April 2020, they\nshould have already received this economic support payment via Services\nAustralia or the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs. Payments were made from 31\nMarch 2020 and would have been received by the majority of recipients by 17\nApril 2020.\nEligibility for the first Economic Support payment was for the following\npayment recipients and concession cardholders, given that they resided in\nAustralia and were eligible as at 13 April 2020:\n\nAge Pension\nDisability Support Pension\nCarer Payment\nParenting Payment\nWife Pension\nWidow B Pension\nABSTUDY (Living Allowance)\nAustudy\nBereavement Allowance\nJobSeeker Payment (formerly Newstart Allowance)\nYouth Allowance\nPartner Allowance\nSickness Allowance\nSpecial Benefit\nWidow Allowance\nFamily Tax Benefit, including Double Orphan Pension\nCarer Allowance\nPensioner Concession Card holders\nCommonwealth Seniors Health Card holders\nVeteran Service Pension; Veteran Income Support Supplement; Veteran Compensation payments, including lump sum payments; War Widow(er) Pension; and Veteran Payment\nDVA PCC holders; DVA Education Scheme recipients; Disability Pensioners at the temporary special rate; DVA Income support pensioners at $0 rate\nVeteran Gold Card holders\nFarm Household Allowance.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest121","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nTemporary Exemptions From Mutual Obligations\nOn 14 May 2020, the Government announced that mutual obligation requirements\nwill continue to be suspended until 1 June 2020 as a result of the impact of\nCOVID-19. This extends the exemptions which were due to end on 22 May, as\nannounced on 22 April 2020.\nThis means that during this period no compliance action will be taken for job\nseekers who do not report their attendance at appointments or activities,\nwhich means no one's payments will be suspended. The Government will continue\nto review these arrangements regularly.\nPlease visit the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business's\nwebpage for further\nMinisterial announcements.\nThe Government also announced a number of changes to mutual obligation\nrequirements to reduce or eliminate the need for face-to-face contact, when\nrequested by a job seeker or job service provider. The changes include:\n\nJob seekers will have the option to request that face to face meetings with their job service providers take place over the phone or via an online channel such as Skype;\nJob seekers will be able to complete activities such as online training, creating job plans, writing a CV and preparing job applications online;\nJob Plans will be adjusted to a default requirement of four job searches a month (or fewer, at provider discretion) to reflect the softening labour market conditions.\nWork for the Dole and other activities delivered in group settings that cannot be delivered online will be suspended until further notice;\nJobs Fairs and other large events will be postponed; and\nJob service providers will be required to perform new risk assessments for a range of activities like Youth Jobs PaTH internships.\n\nCurrent income support recipients who cannot meet mutual obligation\nrequirements due to isolation should call Services\nAustralia and can be granted a Major\nPersonal Crisis exemption, without having to provide evidence such as a\nmedical certificate.\nStudents receiving Youth Allowance (student) or other study related payments\nwho are in Australia but unable to attend studies due to coronavirus would be\ntaken to have a reasonable excuse for not meeting study activity requirements\nfor their payments. Individuals in this situation must contact Services\nAustralia to advise them of the circumstances."}
{"_id":"Australiatest122","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nPeople with disability\nThe Government released the Management and operational plan for COVID-19 for\npeople with disability on 17 April. This plan sets out a national approach to\nensure that the healthcare needs of people with disability, their families and\ncarers can be met during the pandemic, including access to appropriate\nscreening, prevention and health care. You can find the full details of the\nplan on the Department of Health\nwebsite.\nThe department understands that people with disability, their carers and their\nfamilies may be particularly affected by coronavirus.\nPeople with disability who need help because of coronavirus can contact the\nDisability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787. More information, links,\nresources and support are available on the department\u2019s Disability and\ncarer's webpage."}
{"_id":"Australiatest123","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nWhole of Government Response to coronavirus\nThe Australian Government is providing a range of measures to address the\nglobal health crisis related to coronavirus. Please visit The Treasury's\nwebpage for information on the\neconomic response to coronavirus including details of the JobKeeper payment\nscheme and an overview of the Government's targeted economic response\npackages.\nFor Department of Social Services specific related measures, please visit the\nMinister for Families and Social Services'\nwebpage for Ministerial\nannouncements.\nFor general health information and advice on coronavirus, please visit the\nDepartment of Health's webpage."}
{"_id":"Australiatest124","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nReduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate\nThe Government has decided to reduce the JobSeeker Payment Partner Income Test\ntaper rate from 60 cents to 25 cents from 27 April 2020. This will allow more\ncouples to access payment where one of the couple loses their job and goes\nonto JobSeeker Payment, and the working partner is on a more modest income.\nThe Government is committed to assisting Australians affected by the\ncoronavirus outbreak through a range of measures in the social security\nsystem. A temporary change to the partner income test will ensure that couples\nwho experience an economic shock that results in one partner losing their job\nor having their earnings reduced, are able to access income support or have\ntheir existing entitlement increased."}
{"_id":"Australiatest125","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nExpanding Eligibility and Qualification for Payments\nThe Government also temporarily put in place expanded eligibility and\nqualification criteria from 25 March 2020.\nEligibility for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance for jobseekers have been\nexpanded to assist:\n\nsole traders and self-employed people. They will be able to meet mutual obligation requirements by continuing to operate their businesses.\npermanent employees who have been stood down or lost their job.\npeople caring for someone infected or in isolation as a result of contact with Coronavirus.\n\nThe following eligibility criteria have also been temporarily waived, for\ncertain payments:\n\nthe assets test\nthe Ordinary Waiting Period (already waived until 12 June 2020)\nthe Liquid Assets Waiting Period\nthe Seasonal Workers Preclusion Period\nthe Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period.\n\nAlso from 25 March 2020, access to payments will become easier with a\ntemporary removal of the requirement for an Employment Separation Certificate,\nproof of rental arrangements and verification of relationship status."}
{"_id":"Australiatest126","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nEmployment Fund\nTo further assist job seekers to prepare for and move quickly back into work,\nthe Morrison Government is also bringing forward the Employment Fund credit\nfor the most job-ready job seekers to be available immediately, rather than\nafter 13 weeks, which is currently the case.\nThis change will apply to job seekers who commence in jobactive from 4 May\n2020.\nThe Employment Fund can be used by employment service providers to purchase\nwork-related items including licenses, equipment, training or qualifications\nto ensure workers are prepared and able to take up critical roles in the\neconomy."}
{"_id":"Australiatest127","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nEmergency Assistance and Support\nInformation on immediate emergency assistance or support available for those\naffected by coronavirus:\n\nFor national emergency relief services, including food, clothing, vouchers or help with bills, contact your local arm of The Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul.\nFor local emergency relief providers search 'Financial Crisis and Material Aid \u2013 Emergency Relief' at serviceproviders.dss.gov.au. Please note provider details are updated regularly but may not be current at the time of your search.\nFor financial counselling, including advice on managing debt, contact the free and confidential National Debt Helpline by calling 1800 007 007. Or visit MoneySmart for advice to help you manage your money.\n\u2022 For those experiencing domestic violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT. Mensline Australia and the Men's Referral Service also offer support to people using violence. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000\nLifeline offers personal crisis support services. Call 131 114 at any time. Kids Helpline is a free service for young people aged 5 to 25. Kids, teens and young adults can call 1800 551 800 at any time.\nThose on a low income may be eligible to apply for a 'No Interest Loan'. For more information and details on how to apply, visit Good Shepherd Microfinance.\nTo test eligibility for income support payments including JobSeeker, contact Services Australia by visiting servicesaustralia.gov.au.\nFor more information on how the JobKeeper payment impacts Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Carer Payment (CP) recipients, please see COVID-19 Impact on DSP and CP and JobKeeper Recipients - Fact Sheet\nFor advice on how to seek medical help or to get tested for coronavirus, contact your state or territory health authority, or call the coronavirus helpline on 1800 020 080 at any time.\nLatest news, advice and public health information is available at Australia.gov.au, or download on the 'Coronavirus Australia' app from the Apple and Google Play stores.\nThere are a number of Government funded crisis and support services to help people during the coronavirus pandemic. Download a list of dedicated online and telephone-based services for people with disability, older Australians, carers and for people experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest128","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nSecond Economic Support Payment\nThe Government announced on 22 March 2020, it would provide a second Economic\nSupport payment of $750 to approximately 5 million recipients under the same\neligibility criteria as the first Economic Support payment, provided the\nrecipient does not receive the Coronavirus Supplement with their payment. If\nrecipients are eligible at 10 July 2020, this second Economic Support payment\nwill be automatically paid via Services Australia or the Department of\nVeterans\u2019 Affairs. Payments will be made from 13 July onwards.\nPlease visit the Services Australia\nwebsite for more information on each\nindividual payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest129","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nReduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate\nWhat is the change?\n\nUnder the current allowance income test, the income a person's partner earns is taken into account when determining their rate of payment. Over the partner income free area of $994 per fortnight, every dollar of income reduces the person's JobSeeker Payment by 60 cents. \nFor JobSeeker Payment (including Energy Supplement), the current cut-out for a couple in which only one partner earns income is $1,858.50 per fortnight or $48,321 per annum.\nFrom 27 April 2020 the taper rate for the partner income test associated with JobSeeker Payment will change from 60c to 25c. This change is temporary and will operate until the Coronavirus Supplement ceases to be payable. As a result of this change, the new partner income test cut-out for JobSeeker Payment will be $3,068.80 per fortnight, or $79,788.80 per year.\nNew and existing JobSeeker Payment recipients whose payment rate is adjusted because of partner income will benefit from this proposal.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest130","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nSimplifying Income Reporting\nThe Government is also creating flexibility associated with the commencement\nof the Simplifying Income Reporting Act, which was due to start on 1 July\n2020. This will allow for the commencement date to be set taking into account\nthe effect of the Coronavirus on income support recipients and Services\nAustralia resources."}
{"_id":"Australiatest131","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers\nApprentices and Trainees\nThe Australian Government is supporting small business to retain their\napprentices and trainees\nthrough a wage subsidy. Find out about Supporting Apprentices and\nTrainees.\nFurther information is also available at the Australian\nApprenticeships\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"Australiatest132","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers\nSubsidised infection control training fast-tracked for re-opening businesses\nThe Australian Government together with state and territory governments have\nestablished a new $80 million Infection Control Training Fund to fast-track\nfee free (or low cost) infection control training to support the re-opening of\ncustomer-facing businesses nationwide. The infection control short courses are\nthe first national training products developed by the new Australian Industry\nSkills Emergency Response Sub-Committee in response to COVID-19.\nEmployers are encouraged to visit\ntraining.gov.au to find out\nmore information about the training and contact their local training providers\nor skills departments in their state and territory to find out where this\ntraining is available for their employees."}
{"_id":"Australiatest133","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers\nLooking to hire?\nWhile many businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and are\nreducing their workforces, there are some areas of the economy which have an\nincreased demand for workers. In this rapidly changing jobs market the\nAustralian Government has increased the support available for businesses\nlooking to hire.\nIf you are looking to recruit, you can email our Workforce Contact\nCentre who can add your advertised vacancies to\nthe Jobs Hub or provide guidance on how to\npost a vacancy on jobactive.gov.au.\nIf you have large recruitment needs a departmental representative will talk to\nyou about other options to assist with your recruitment such as connecting you\nwith an employment services provider or recently retrenched or stood down\nworkers."}
{"_id":"Australiatest134","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for higher education providers\nShort, online courses available\nShort, online courses for workers who have been affected by COVID-19 are\nlisted on Course Seeker. For a list of courses, fees or enrolment information,\nvisit www.CourseSeeker.edu.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest135","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for higher education providers\nClinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic\nAs health service providers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, some student\nplacements have been paused or cancelled. The Australian Government, the\nAustralian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), national boards and\naccreditation authorities, want to encourage student placements to continue\nwhere this is safe and possible, recognising that health services and\nsupervising clinicians will need to balance the risks and benefits to students\nand the health workforce.\nA set of principles for student clinical education have ben\ndeveloped to help guide these decisions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest136","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for higher education providers\nHigher Education Relief Package\nOn 12 April 2020, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, the Minister for Education and\nSenator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and\nFamily Business, announced the Higher Education Relief Package.\nThe package will support workers displaced by the COVID-19 crisis to upskill\nor retrain, and support universities and other higher education providers to\ncontinue teaching"}
{"_id":"Australiatest137","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for higher education providers\nDepartmental higher education activities delayed\nTo reduce administrative burden for higher education providers while they\nrespond to the COVID\u201119 situation, the Department of Education, Skills and\nEmployment will be delaying a number of higher education activities, such as\nreports and data required from higher education providers.\nFurther details are available on the specific activities that have been\ndelayed or deferred."}
{"_id":"Australiatest138","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international students\nSupport and wellbeing\nAccess to superannuation for international students\nOn 4 April 2020 , the Government announced international students who have\nbeen in Australia for longer than 12 months and who find themselves in\nfinancial hardship during the coronavirus crisis will be able to access their\nAustralian superannuation.\nFor more information see the\nannouncement.\nHealth and wellbeing support\nTo find out how you can seek help if you are experiencing distress, anxiety or\nconcern as an international student as a result of COVID-19, read the Support\nfor international students affected by coronavirus fact sheet.\n\nSupport for international students affected by coronavirus\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest139","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for job seekers\nJobs Hub\nIn this rapidly changing jobs market the Australian Government is supporting\nbusinesses and those Australians looking for work.\nWhile many businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and are\nreducing their workforces, there are some areas of the economy which have an\nincreased demand for workers.\nThis includes jobs in health and care sectors, transport and logistics, some\nareas of retail, mining and mining services, manufacturing, agriculture and\ngovernment sectors, among others.\nThe Jobs Hub helps you find advertised vacancies."}
{"_id":"Australiatest140","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for job seekers\nExisiting job seekers\nIf you are a current job seeker or participant, this fact sheet provides\nimportant information about mutual obligation requirements, appointments with\nyour provider, and what to do if you are self-isolating:\n\nInformation for job seekers and participants\n\nIf you are participating in the ParentsNext program, this fact sheet provides\nimportant information about your activities and appointments.\n\n\nInformation for ParentsNext participants\n\n\nParentsNext participants Frequently Asked Questions\n\n\nIf you are a New Business Assistance with NEIS participant, these Frequently\nAsked Questions (FAQ) provides information about accessing the Coronavirus\nSupplement and what support is available during this time:\n\nNew Business Assistance with NEIS participants - Frequently Asked Questions\n\nIf you are a New Business Assistance with NEIS provider, these Frequently\nAsked Questions (FAQ) provides information about supporting NEIS participants\nduring the Coronavirus situation.\n\nNew Business Assistance with NEIS providers \u2013 Frequently Asked Questions\n\n*[NEIS]: New Enterprise Incentive Scheme"}
{"_id":"Australiatest141","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for job seekers\nMutual obligation requirements for job seekers will recommence, in a limited capacity, from Tuesday 9 June 2020\nMutual obligation requirements for job seekers will recommence, in a limited\ncapacity, from Tuesday 9 June 2020.\nDuring this period, suspensions and financial penalties will not apply.\nMutual obligation requirements remain suspended up to and including Monday 8\nJune 2020 to ensure job seekers and employment service providers are given\ntime to prepare for the new arrangements.\nFrom Tuesday 9 June 2020 job seekers will be required to undertake at least\none appointment with their employment services provider. This can be done\nonline or over the phone.\nJob seekers are encouraged to maintain contact with their employment services\nprovider at this time to ensure they are aware of opportunities available for\ntraining, upskilling or employment.\nSpecial circumstances exemptions will continue to be available from Services\nAustralia for job seekers who require them.\nSole traders and those who are self-employed will continue to be exempted from\nrequirements to allow them to work to re-establish their business.\nThese arrangements are supporting Australians through the challenges presented\nby COVID-19.\nDetails of further changes to mutual obligation requirements will be made\navailable in the coming weeks.\nYou can also visit jobactive."}
{"_id":"Australiatest142","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nAHPPC Statement: Risk management for re-opening Boarding Schools and School-based Residential Colleges\nOn 1 May 2020, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)\nreleased health advice for the re-\nopening of boarding schools and school-based residential colleges. This advice\nis designed to assist boarding and school-based residential colleges to plan\nfor the safe re-opening of their facilities and lower the risk of transmission\nof COVID-19 in these settings."}
{"_id":"Australiatest143","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nReducing potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools\nOn 24 April 2020 , the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee\n(AHPPC) released health advice in relation to\nreducing the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. This\npractical guidance and advice has been prepared for school leaders engaging\nwith children, parents, teachers and support staff to reduce even further the\nrelatively low risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission in schools during\nthe COVID-19 pandemic.\nThis updated advice supersedes the advice issued on 16 April 2020.\nYou can read more on the Department of\nHealth\u2019s website.\nThe Department of Education, Skills and Employment has developed a series of\nposters with information and tips for school staff, high school and secondary\nschool students, and primary school students on how to minimise the risk of\nCOVID-19 transmission in schools. The posters may be downloaded and printed\nfor use in schools.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) \u2014 Help stop the spread \u2013 resource for teachers and\nschool staff\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) \u2014 Help stop the spread \u2013 resource for primary school\nstudents\nCoronavirus (COVID\u00ac-19) \u2014 Help stop the spread \u2013 resources for high school\nand secondary school students"}
{"_id":"Australiatest144","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nResources for teachers and school leaders\nThe department has collated a series of resources that may be useful for\nteachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find these on the Resources\nfor teachers and school leaders page."}
{"_id":"Australiatest145","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nSenior secondary arrangements and university admissions\nOn 7 April 2020 the Education Council\nmet by teleconference to discuss options for senior secondary arrangements and\nuniversity admissions. The council agreed that students will be able to\nachieve a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education this year, and that\ncertificate will facilitate access to university, further education and\nemployment. The Council also endorsed a set of national principles to be\nconsidered by the National Cabinet to support continued delivery of high-\nquality school education for all students during COVID-19. For more\ninformation read the Council\u2019s\nCommunique."}
{"_id":"Australiatest146","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nInformation about\u00a0\nEducation Ministers met on 20 March 2020 and decided that NAPLAN will not\nproceed in 2020. The NAPLAN test window was scheduled to be held from 12 to 22\nMay.\nThe decision to not proceed with NAPLAN in 2020 has been taken to assist\nschool leaders, teachers and support staff to focus on the wellbeing of\nstudents and continuity of education, including potential online and remote\nlearning. Further, the impact of responses to the COVID-19 virus may affect\nthe delivery of NAPLAN testing, including the operation of centralised marking\ncentres and the implications for nationally comparable data if an insufficient\nnumber of students are available to do the test.\nFurther detail regarding this\ndecision\nis available.\n*[NAPLAN]: National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy"}
{"_id":"Australiatest147","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nNew Research\nThe Australian Government commissioned six pieces of research to examine the\npotential impact of remote learning from home on educational outcomes for\nvulnerable cohorts of children, and barriers to access and evidence-based\nactions to respond.\n\nProfessor Natalie Brown \u2013 The Peter Underwood Centre\nProfessor Geoff Masters \u2013 ACER\nProfessor Janet Clinton - Centre for Program Evaluation, Melbourne Graduate School of Education\nProfessor Stephen Lamb \u2013 Centre for International Research on Education Systems\nProfessor Sarah O\u2019Shea National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education\nDr Alan Finkel AO FAA FTSE FAHMS - Rapid Research Information Forum\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest148","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nCOVID-19 support available to non-government schools\nThe Government is providing assistance of up to $100,000 to help eligible\nsmall and medium sized businesses and not-for profit organisations with their\ncash flow so they can keep operating.\n\nCOVID-19 support for non-government schools\n\nEarly Access to Recurrent Funding\nThe Government will also bring forward the July 2020 recurrent school funding\npayment for non-government schools that were providing a physical learning\nenvironment for students from the commencement of Term 2, 2020 and at 2 May\nhad a plan to be open and delivering education in a standard classroom setting\nby 1 June 2020. Non-government schools can find out more about this by\nvisiting the Schools Hub.\nFamilies should continue to talk with their school about operational matters.\nSpecial Circumstances \u2013 School Hygiene Assistance Fund\nTo help ensure non-government schools can put appropriate hygiene measures in\nplace, the Australian Government will provide an additional $10 million to\nimprove COVID-19 hygiene measures in non-government schools that plan to have\n50 per cent of their students back in the classroom by 1 June 2020. Special\nCircumstances funding will to help offset hygiene costs for items such as\nsoap, hand sanitiser, classroom cleaning products and additional cleaning that\nmay be required.\nMore information is available on the Special Circumstances - school hygiene\nassistance page."}
{"_id":"Australiatest149","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for schools and students\nSupport for students with disability\nThe Australian Government is committed to ensuring that every student,\nincluding students with disability, have access to education in a sustainable\nand effective manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nAdvice is available for schools and parents to ensure students\ncontinue to receive reasonable adjustments. Guidance and\nresources are also available to assist with learning at home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest150","title":"","text":"Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme - supporting the flow of credit\nInformation for small and medium businesses\nThe Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme will provide small and medium sized\nbusiness with timely access to working capital to help them get through the\nimpact of the Coronavirus.\nThe Government will provide eligible lenders with a guarantee for loans with\nthe following terms:\n\nSMEs, including sole traders, with a turnover of up to $50 million.\nMaximum total size of loans of $250,000 per borrower.\nLoans will be up to three years, with an initial six month repayment holiday.\nUnsecured finance, meaning that borrowers will not have to provide an asset as security for the loan.\n\nThe decision on whether to extend credit, and management of the loan, will\nremain with the lender. However, the Government expects that lenders will look\nthrough the cycle to sensibly take into account the uncertainty of the current\neconomic conditions when determining whether credit should be extended.\nAs part of the loan products available, the Government will encourage lenders\nto provide facilities to SMEs that only have to be drawn if needed by the SME.\nThis will mean that the SME would only incur interest on the amount they draw\ndown. If they do not draw down any funds from the facility, no interest will\nbe charged, but they will retain the flexibility to draw down funds should the\nneed arise.\nSMEs interested in the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme should approach their\nfinancial institution for more information. The Government is working with\nbanks and other eligible lenders to ensure loans are available as soon as\npossible. While the scheme officially commences from April 2020, your bank or\nother lenders may be able to provide credit sooner, and still benefit from the\nguarantee.\nThe Treasurer has varied the authorisation conditions for the Australian\nFinancial Complaints Authority (AFCA) scheme to limit the matters that AFCA\ncan consider in relation to certain decisions made by lenders under the\nCoronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme.\nUnder the AFCA Scheme Authorisation (Additional Condition) Amendment\n2020, the AFCA Scheme\nRules will be amended to limit AFCA\u2019s ability to consider decisions made by\nthe lender about whether to provide a loan (and the amount of the loan) under\nthe Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme and ensure that when making assessments\nor determinations about a complaint, AFCA gives consideration to the impact of\nthe coronavirus on the economy and the intent and requirements of the Scheme.\nThe amendments to AFCA\u2019s authorisation conditions also apply to decisions made\nby lenders (all lenders and not only those lenders that are participating\nlenders under the Scheme) to approve repayment deferrals for businesses in\nresponse to the coronavirus crisis. The amendments exclude from AFCA\u2019s remit\ncomplaints in relation to decisions by lenders to offer repayment deferrals to\nbusinesses impacted by the coronavirus, and any consequential change to the\namounts payable under the loan or the duration of the loan.\nAFCA will amend its Scheme Rules to give effect to this change and provide\nfurther guidance for businesses and lenders. The changes to the rules will\napply for complaints made after 25 April 2020.  \nView the list of participating lenders."}
{"_id":"Australiatest151","title":"","text":"Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme - supporting the flow of credit\nInformation for participating lenders\nDue to high demand, the expression of interest (EOI) process for the\nCoronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme is now closed. Further information will be\nprovided on the Treasury website if the Government seeks to undertake another\nround of EOIs in the future."}
{"_id":"Australiatest152","title":"","text":"Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme - supporting the flow of credit\nAllocation principles for the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme\nThe Commonwealth will initially allocate the majority of the total $40 billion\nguaranteed loan allocation following an expression of interest process.\nThe Commonwealth may allocate the guaranteed loan allocation on the basis that\nsome or all of the allocation must be utilised, or expected to the utilised,\nby a specified date.\nFor example, if a large lender were to seek a $8 billion allocation, the\nCommonwealth may provide an allocation to a lender of:\n\n$6 billion on an unconditional basis; plus\n$2 billion on a conditional basis, to be available only if the unconditional component is utilised, or expected to utilised, over the six month period.\n\nThe Commonwealth will in its discretion re-allocate unused conditional\nallocation amounts as required.\nLenders should provide information to Treasury which they consider appropriate\nto support their application.\nTreasury may request further information from lenders to support their\napplication. Lenders should be in a position to provide additional information\nif requested, for instance:\n\nthe lender's expertise extending SME credit on an unsecured and secured basis;\nthe lender's organisational capacity to quickly extend SME credit (using current business portfolio size and market share as a proxies);\nthe implications of lender\u2019s proposed allocation in terms of percentage and absolute growth in their business lending portfolio;\nthe lender\u2019s financial strength and the robustness of the lender\u2019s credit risk management framework; and\nfor mid-sized and smaller banks, and non-bank lenders, the lender\u2019s ability to meet underserviced regional areas or other specific needs.\n\nNon-bank lenders may submit expressions of interest. However, such\napplications will be subject to additional scrutiny compared to bank lenders,\nwhich are licenced and supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation\nAuthority (APRA).\nThe Commonwealth is unlikely to grant an allocation to non-bank lenders or\nother entities with:\n\nless than $50 million in assets, and\/or\nlimited pre-existing SME lending experience.\n\nThe Commonwealth will make allocation decisions at its discretion, taking into\naccount:\n\nthe factors referenced above;\nthe total quantum of all lenders' requested allocation at that point in time;\nthe benefit of promoting competition by mid-sized and smaller banks, and non-bank lenders.\n\nThe Commonwealth will consult with APRA in relation to expressions of interest\nreceived from ADIs."}
{"_id":"Australiatest153","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nHealth & safety in the workplace\nWorkplaces must follow the rules about health and safety during coronavirus to\nhelp stop it spreading. Find out more about:\n\nrules and obligations under workplace health and safety laws\nhow to manage the risk of coronavirus in the workplace\nwhere to go for help.\n\nLearn more about Health and safety in the workplace during\ncoronavirus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest154","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nBusiness bankruptcy & insolvency\nDuring these challenging and unprecedented times, some businesses may need to\nclose because they are no longer profitable or run out of money.\nThis can mean that employees lose their jobs, and in some cases where a\nbusiness is bankrupt or goes into insolvency, employers may not be able to pay\ntheir employees the wages and entitlements they\u2019re owed.\nWhen an employer is bankrupt, or goes into liquidation or insolvency,\nemployees may be able to get help through the Fair Entitlements Guarantee.\nSometimes, an employer might close their business and abandon it without\nplacing it into liquidation. Where this happens, the Australian Securities and\nInvestments Commission (ASIC) may be able to help recover unpaid employment\nentitlements.\nMore information:\n\nBankruptcy & liquidation\nFair Entitlements Guarantee \n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest155","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nUsing paid leave\nEmployers and employees are encouraged to explore options that enable an\nemployee to take their accrued leave entitlements during the coronavirus\noutbreak. Options include:\n\ntaking accrued annual leave\ntaking any other paid leave (such as long service leave or paid leave available under an award, enterprise agreement or employment contract)\ndirecting employees to take accrued annual leave in certain circumstances\ntaking any other paid leave by agreement between the employee and the employer.\n\nEmployers may also choose to give employees extra paid leave that is above\ntheir minimum entitlements for a period of time (e.g. instead of standing down\nthe employee without pay).\nUnder the new JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act, qualifying employers can\nrequest an employee take paid annual leave, and agree with the employee for\nthem to take leave at half pay.\nLearn more:\n\nJobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act\nPay and leave during coronavirus\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest156","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nUsing unpaid leave\nIn many circumstances, employees won\u2019t have access to paid leave during the\ncoronavirus outbreak. For example, if they are permanent but have already used\nall their accrued leave entitlements. In these situations, employers and\nemployees can agree for an employee to take unpaid leave.\nUnder the Fair Work Act, unpaid leave is also available for employees in\ncertain circumstances, such as unpaid carer\u2019s leave for casual employees.\nLearn more:\n\nPay and leave during coronavirus\n\nMore information:\n\nUnpaid carer\u2019s leave\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest157","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nStanding down employees & business closures\nEmployers may be able to stand their employees down without pay during the\ncoronavirus outbreak for a number of different reasons. These can include\nwhere:\n\nthe business has closed because of an enforceable government direction relating to non-essential services (which means there is no work at all for employees to do even from another location)\na large proportion of the workforce is in self-quarantine meaning the remaining employees can\u2019t be usefully employed\nthere\u2019s a stoppage of work due to lack of supply for which the employer can\u2019t be held responsible\na \u2018qualified employer\u2019 is using a JobKeeper enabling stand down direction in accordance with the new temporary JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act.\n\nEnterprise agreements and employment contracts can have different or extra\nrules about when an employer can stand down an employee without pay, for\nexample, a requirement to notify or consult.\nEmployees that are stood down remain employed during the period of the stand\ndown.\nLearn more about:\n\nJobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act\nStand down during coronavirus\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest158","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nEnding employment\nIf other options have been exhausted, or if they aren\u2019t feasible, some\nemployers may need to make their employees\u2019 positions redundant in response to\na business downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Where this happens,\nemployers must make sure they comply with any requirement to notify and\nconsult about the redundancies under an applicable award, enterprise\nagreement, employment contract or workplace policy. They also need to make\nreasonable efforts to find their employees other jobs either within the\nbusiness or within one of its associated entities.\nThey also need to provide those employees with their correct entitlements,\nwhich may include notice, redundancy pay and payment of any accrued leave\nentitlements.\nThe Fair Work Act protects employees from being dismissed for a number of\nreasons, including:\n\nbecause they are temporarily away from work because they are sick (such as with coronavirus)\ndiscrimination\nany reason that is harsh, unjust or unreasonable or another protected right.\n\nFlexibility in the workplace allows employers and employees to make\narrangements about working conditions that suit them. Employers and employees\nneed to consider and comply with any requirements under the Fair Work Act, an\napplicable award, enterprise agreement, employment contract or workplace\npolicy.\nLearn more:\n\nEnding employment and redundancy during coronavirus\n\nTools:\n\nNotice and Redundancy Calculator\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest159","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws\nArranging flexible work\nThere are a range of flexible working arrangements that employers and\nemployees can explore together that may suit their individual needs and\ncircumstances. These include:\n\nworking from home\nchanging the number of hours an employee works\nchanging the start or finish times of employees' shifts\nchanging patterns of work, such as rostering arrangements\nchanging the type of work done by employees.\n\nFlexibility in the workplace allows employers and employees to make\narrangements about working conditions that suit them. Employers and employees\nneed to consider and comply with any requirements under the Fair Work Act, an\napplicable award, enterprise agreement, employment contract or workplace\npolicy.\nUnder the new JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act, in certain\ncircumstances, qualifying employers can temporarily change employees\u2019 usual\nduties and locations of work, and agree with their employee to change days and\ntimes of work.\nLearn more about arranging flexible work during coronavirus:\n\nJobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act\nAlternative work arrangements during coronavirus\nTemporary changes to workplace laws during coronavirus\n\nMore information:\n\nFlexibility in the workplace\nFlexible working arrangements\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest160","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws\nImpacts to people in a Debt Agreement\nWhat can people in an active Debt Agreement do if they are affected by the\nCoronavirus?\nIf you are in an active Debt Agreement and your circumstances have changed as\na result of the Coronavirus, you can contact your debt agreement administrator\nto discuss your options, which may include submitting a possible variation\nproposal.\nFor example, you may request that:\n\nThe payments you have made to date be accepted as the full payment (which would end the debt agreement)\nThe debt agreement to be extended for a specific period\n\nFor more information see What is a debt agreement?"}
{"_id":"Australiatest161","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws\nImpacts to people who are currently bankrupt\nHow will payments from the Coronavirus Economic Response Package affect people\nin bankruptcy?\n\nEconomic support payments - are not claimable by your bankruptcy trustee as income or as an asset, regardless of whether you receive the payments before or after the date of bankruptcy.\nCOVID-19 supplement payments - are claimable by the trustee if you receive them before the date of bankruptcy and it remains in your bank account when you become bankrupt. During bankruptcy these payments are included in your after-tax income amount. If your after-tax income exceeds a set amount, you may have to make compulsory payments. For more information see Income and employment.\n\nMore information about these types of payment are available at Services\nAustralia.\nEarly access to superannuation \u2013 Should you receive payments from your\nsuperannuation under the Coronavirus Economic Response Package, there is no\nchange to the way this payment is treated in bankruptcy. See Is my\nsuperannuation affected? for details on\nwhat happens to your super during bankruptcy. The Australian Taxation Office\nhas more information about super payments on their website at Early access to\nyour super."}
{"_id":"Australiatest162","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws\nSeek free advice from a financial counsellor\nYou can get help from a free financial counsellor by contacting the National\nDebt Helpline on 1800 007 007.\nFinancial counsellors provide free, independent and confidential advice to\nhelp you manage your debts or negotiate with creditors.\nUnlike financial planners or advisors, they do not provide investment advice\nor recommend products. They do not receive commissions.\nThe National Debt Helpline website also has step-by-\nstep guides and useful information on how to deal with specific types of\ndebts."}
{"_id":"Australiatest163","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws\nTemporary debt relief\nOn 25 March 2020, changes came into effect to support individuals and\nbusinesses. The temporary debt relief measures include:\n\nSix month temporary debt protection\nChanges to bankruptcy notices\nImpacts to people who are currently bankrupt\n\nIf you have been financially impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19), you may be\neligible to receive financial assistance - see the Services Australia website\nAffected by\ncoronavirus for more information.\nIf your business has been impacted, you can find more information on the\nbusiness.gov.au website:\n\nCoronavirus information and support for business \u2013 summary of all Australian Government information and support\nTemporary relief for financially distressed businesses - temporary changes to bankruptcy and director liabilities for trading while insolvent\n\nSix month temporary debt protection\nWe have increased the temporary debt protection period available for people in\nfinancial difficulty from 21 days to six months. This protection now prevents\nrecovery action by unsecured creditors for a six month period.\nYou can use this time to:\n\nSeek advice from a free financial counsellor - contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or see Where to find help.\nNegotiate a payment plan with your creditors. You can do this yourself or authorise someone else to negotiate on your behalf.\nConsider if any of the formal insolvency options would be right for you - see What are my options?\n\nFor more information see What is temporary debt\nprotection?\nChanges to bankruptcy notices\n\n\nWe have increased the debt threshold required for creditors to apply for a bankruptcy notice against a debtor. The limit has increased from $5,000 to $20,000.\n\n\nWe have increased the timeframe for a debtor to respond to a Bankruptcy notice from 21 days to up to six months. This means that a creditor will have to wait until the six month period has passed before they can commence bankruptcy proceedings.\n\n\nWhat happens to Bankruptcy Notices issued before 25 March 2020?\nIf the bankruptcy notice was issued before 25 March 2020, the debtor has 21\ndays to comply with the bankruptcy notice. For more information see\nBankruptcy notices.\nThese temporary measures will be available for six months."}
{"_id":"Australiatest164","title":"","text":"Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws\nImportant information for practitioners\nGuidelines for debt agreement administrators\nWe have made important temporary updates to the certified duties of debt\nagreement administrators, regarding proposals to vary debt agreements. These\nchanges are currently in affect for six months (until 30 September 2020).\nFor more information about these changes see Practitioners: COVID-19 and\nchanges to debt agreements.\nFor updated general guidelines for practitioners, including debtors in arrears\nnotifications see Practitioners: COVID-19 and updated advice from the\nInspector-General.\nGuidelines for trustees\nGeneral guidelines are now available for trustees regarding COVID-19 and its\neffect on our stakeholders. This includes information about Official Receiver\nservices, meetings of creditors and statutory returns.\nFor more information see Practitioners: COVID-19 and updated advice from the\nInspector-General."}
{"_id":"Australiatest165","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nOnline shopping scams\nScammers have created fake online stores claiming to sell products that don\u2019t\nexist \u2014 such as cures or vaccinations for COVID-19, and products such as face\nmasks.\nTips to protect yourself from these types of scams:\n\nThe best way to detect a fake trader or social media shopping scam is to search for reviews before purchasing. No vaccine or cure presently exists for the coronavirus.\nBe wary of sellers requesting unusual payment methods such as upfront payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, preloaded card or electronic currency, like Bitcoin.\nMore information is available at: Online shopping scams.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest166","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nSuperannuation scams\nScammers are taking advantage of people in financial hardship due to COVID-19\nby attempting to steal their superannuation or by offering unnecessary\nservices and charging a fee.\nThe majority of these scams start with an unexpected call claiming to be from\na superannuation or financial service.\nThe scammers use a variety of excuses to request information about your\nsuperannuation accounts, including:\n\noffering to help you access the money in your superannuation\nensuring you\u2019re not locked out of your account under new rules.\nchecking whether your superannuation account is eligible for various benefits or deals.\n\nExample of a superannuation scam\nA scammer will call pretending to be from a superannuation or financial\nservice. They may refer to the government\u2019s superannuation early release\nmeasures, and ask questions such as:\n\nHave you worked full time for the last 5 years? \nAre you going to apply for the $10 000 superannuation package?\n\nOr falsely claim:\n\nInactive super accounts will be locked if not merged immediately.\n\nSuperannuation early-access scams\nMany Australians are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\nOn 22 March, the Australian Government announced eligible individuals would be\nallowed early access to their superannuation. Scammers are taking advantage of\nthe government\u2019s early-release measures in a variety of phishing scams\ndesigned to steal your superannuation.\nFor more information, see our Superannuation early-access scams fact\nsheet.\nTips to protect yourself from these types of scams:\n\nNever give any information about your superannuation to someone who has contacted you \u2014 this includes offers to help you access your superannuation early under the government\u2019s new arrangements.\nHang up and verify their identity by calling the relevant organisation directly \u2014 find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.\nSee our Scamwatch media release warning about superannuation scams.\nFor more information on superannuation scams visit ASIC\u2019s MoneySmart website.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest167","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nPhishing \u2013 Government impersonation scams\nScammers are pretending to be government agencies providing information on\nCOVID-19 through text messages and emails \u2018phishing\u2019 for your information.\nThese contain malicious links and attachments designed to steal your personal\nand financial information.\nIn the examples below the text messages appear to come from \u2018GOV\u2019 and \u2018myGov\u2019,\nwith a malicious link to more information on COVID-19.\nScammers are also pretending to be Government agencies and other entities\noffering to help you with applications for financial assistance or payments\nfor staying home.\nTips to protect yourself from these types of scams:\n\n\nDon\u2019t click on hyperlinks in text\/social media messages or emails, even if it appears to come from a trusted source.\n\n\nGo directly to the website through your browser. For example, to reach the MyGov website type \u2018my.gov.au\u2019 into your browser yourself.\n\nNever respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details, even if they claim to be a from a reputable organisation or government authority \u2014 just press delete or hang up.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest168","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nHow you can help others\nYou can help others by talking and sharing information about scams when\nconnecting with your friends, family and colleagues.\nAsk the businesses you connect with regularly about scams they see, how they\ncan protect you and how you can protect yourself.\nIf you use social media or particular applications \u2014 learn how to report scams\nto them and choose services that will identify and remove scammers from their\nplatform or website.\nAsk your bank or financial institution about how to protect your financial\ninformation and how they will help you if you get scammed.\nGovernment, law enforcement, individuals and businesses all play an important\nrole in helping to protect the community from scams."}
{"_id":"Australiatest169","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nHow scammers contact you\nDuring a crisis like COVID-19, you may be isolated and using online services\nmore than ever, so it is important to think about who might be really\ncontacting you. They may find you by:\n\ncalling you or coming to your door\ncontacting you via social media, email or text message\nsetting up websites that look real, and impersonating government, business or even your friends\ncollecting information about you so that when they make contact they are more convincing.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest170","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nScams targeting businesses\nScammers are using COVID-19 in business email compromise scams by pretending\nto be a supplier or business you usually deal with.\nScammers are using COVID-19 as an excuse to divert your usual account payments\nto a different bank account. Your payment goes to the scammer instead of the\nreal business.\nTips to protect yourself from these types of scams:\n\nVerify any request to change bank details by contacting the supplier directly using trusted contact details you have previously used.\nConsider a multi-person approval process for transactions over a certain dollar amount, with processes in place to ensure the business billing you is the one you normally deal with.\nKeep the security on your network and devices up-to-date, and have a good firewall to protect your data.\n\nBusinesses can also sign up to the ACCC\u2019s Small Business Information\nNetwork to receive emails about new or updated resources,\nenforcement action, changes to Australia\u2019s competition and consumer laws,\nevents, surveys and scams relevant to the small business sector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest171","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nAbout COVID-19 scams\nScamwatch has received over 2700 scam reports mentioning the coronavirus with\nover $1 114 000 in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19\n(coronavirus). Common scams include phishing for personal information, online\nshopping, and superannuation scams.\nIf you have been scammed or have seen a scam, you can make a report on the Scamwatch website, and find more information about where to\nget help.\nScamwatch urges everyone to be cautious and remain alert to coronavirus-\nrelated scams. Scammers are hoping that you have let your guard down. Do not\nprovide your personal, banking or superannuation details to strangers who have\napproached you.\nScammers may pretend to have a connection with you. So it\u2019s important to stop\nand check, even when you are approached by what you think is a trusted\norganisation.\nVisit the Scamwatch news webpage for general warnings and media\nreleases on COVID-19 scams.\nBelow are some examples of what to look out for.\nThese are a few examples, but there are many more. If your experience does not\nmatch any of the examples provided, it could still be a scam. If you have any\ndoubts at all, don\u2019t proceed."}
{"_id":"Australiatest172","title":"","text":"Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams\nPhishing \u2013 Other impersonation scams\nScammers are pretending to be from real and well known businesses such as\nbanks, travel agents, insurance providers and telco companies, and using\nvarious excuses around COVID-19 to:\n\nask for your personal and financial information\nlure you into opening malicious links or attachments\ngain remote access to your computer\nseek payment for a fake service or something you did not purchase.\n\nTips to protect yourself from these types of scams:\n\nDon\u2019t click on hyperlinks in text\/social media messages or emails, even if they appear to come from a trusted source.\nNever respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details \u2014 just press delete or hang up.\nNever provide a stranger remote access to your computer, even if they claim to be from a telco company such as Telstra or the NBN Co.\nTo verify the legitimacy of a contact, find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest173","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\nOn 2 April 2020, the Australian\nGovernment announced the new Early Childhood Education and Care Relief\nPackage. From Monday 6 April 2020, weekly payments will be made directly to\nearly childhood education and care services in lieu of the Child Care Subsidy\nand the Additional Child Care Subsidy, to help them keep their doors open and\nemployees in their jobs.\nPayments will be made until the end of the 2019\u201320 financial year and families\nwill not be charged fees during this time.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) information for early childhood education and care\nproviders and services from 6 April\n2020\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package Conditions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013Information for Family Day\nCare and In Home Care Providers\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) information for early childhood education and care\nproviders and services\u2013up to and including 5 April\n2020"}
{"_id":"Australiatest174","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\nProviders and services may apply to receive a supplement or \u2018top up\u2019 of Early\nChildhood Education and Care Relief Package payment in exceptional\ncircumstances. Providers and services should select the application form that\nreflects their reason for applying for additional support as per text boxes\nbelow.\nServices seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment that have\n30 per cent or more of employees who are not eligible for the JobKeeper\nPayment can complete this\napplication\nand outline their circumstances. Services must complete this\nspreadsheet and attach it to their application. Applications\nwithout an attached spreadsheet will not be assessed.\nProviders seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment for any\nother reason should complete this\napplication\nand outline their circumstances.\nIn Home Care (IHC) providers, or large providers (those with 50 or more\nservices), should email\nECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au to\nrequest a service-level spreadsheet to complete. This streamlined process is\navailable to IHC and large providers even if not all services are eligible for\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments.\nThis video provides all the information you need to know to complete your\napplication for an Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment under the\nCOVID-19 Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package."}
{"_id":"Australiatest175","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\nStay in touch\nMake sure your contact details (particularly email addresses) are up to date\nin the Child Care Subsidy System so you don\u2019t miss out on important\ninformation. You can do this via the Provider Entry\nPoint\nor through your third party software.\nPlease also make sure that you have subscribed to receive\ncommunications from the\nDepartment of Education, Skills and Employment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest176","title":"","text":"Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nStaying committed to flattening the curve\nEach step we take needs to be underpinned by a strong commitment from all of\nus to:\n\nstay 1.5 metres away from other people whenever and wherever we can\nmaintain good hand washing and cough\/sneeze hygiene\nstay home when we\u2019re unwell, and get tested if we have respiratory symptoms or a fever, and\ndownload the COVIDSafe app so we can find the virus quickly\n\nOur success depends on us making these behaviours part of our daily lives\nduring the COVID-19 pandemic to keep us COVIDSafe.\nWhenever you leave home, you should think about how you\u2019re going to keep\nyourself, family, friends and co-workers safe. Make conscious choices about\nwhat you do and when you do it.\nThis is particularly important for people who are at greater risk of serious\nillness from COVID-19, their friends and\ntheir family."}
{"_id":"Australiatest177","title":"","text":"Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nThe 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia\nNational Cabinet\u2019s 3-step plan provides a pathway for states and territories to move\ntoward COVIDSafe communities in a way that suits their circumstances.\nStates and territories will move between the steps on the pathway at different\ntimes, in line with their public health situation and local conditions.\nThey\u2019ll need to maintain strong and prompt control of any outbreaks.\nThe plan gives Australians some certainty about what is to come in the months\nahead. In conjunction with advice released by Safe Work\nAustralia, it\nwill help our businesses make decisions about how they can operate in a\nCOVIDSafe way to protect their customers and workers.\nFor each of the major areas of restrictions we have set out 3 key\nsteps\nbetween where we are now and where we want to be.\n\nThe first steps are cautious ones. It is important we do not move too quickly and risk losing the control we have achieved. Some businesses will start to reopen as we start to allow groups of up to 10 people to be together in homes and in the community. These steps help build our COVIDSafe economy, and also give us more opportunities to connect with family and friends.\nThe second steps in each area will build on this through larger gatherings and even more businesses reopening. As businesses take steps to ensure they are COVIDSafe, we should all feel safe and confident doing some of the things we\u2019ve missed over the last few months. Some higher-risk settings and activities will still be tightly restricted.\nThe third steps are where we start to fully embrace long-term COVIDSafe ways of living and working \u2014 the arrangements that will be our \u2018new normal\u2019 while the virus remains a threat. Restrictions will be minimised. Gatherings of up to 100 people, interstate travel, growth in community sport, and the possibility of travel to New Zealand, will be underpinned by COVIDSafe practices. With everyone playing their role, we will build a COVIDSafe Australia, where lives and livelihoods are protected. It is likely some restrictions, on things like international travel and mass gatherings, will remain necessary.\n\n \nView text description and larger image of\n'3-Step Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia '\ngraphic"}
{"_id":"Australiatest178","title":"","text":"Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nMonitoring our progress\nNational Cabinet will regularly review our progress. They will be closely\nmonitoring the situation as restrictions are eased to assess the impact of the\nchanges so we can move forward safely and with confidence.\nAs set out in the Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan endorsed by National Cabinet on 1 May 2020, they will\nconsider:\n\nthe pattern of disease around Australia\nthe capacity of our public health surveillance and testing approaches to detect and isolate cases\nthe readiness of our health system to respond to outbreaks while also meeting people\u2019s ongoing health needs, and\nhow well people are following the health advice and abiding by the restrictions in place\n\nThis information will guide decisions on the steps each jurisdiction takes as\nwe make Australia COVIDSafe.\nAustralia is prepared for an increase in case numbers or possible outbreaks.\nIt may be that in some parts of the country we sometimes have to take a step\nback in order to contain a local outbreak. This should be the exception rather\nthan the norm.\nWe want to avoid the uncertainty and disruption of turning restrictions off\nand on again, including further health, economic and social shocks as a\nresult. Our continued success depends on all Australians staying COVIDSafe.\nAll Australians have an ongoing role to play in protecting their families, co-\nworkers and the most vulnerable in the community."}
{"_id":"Australiatest179","title":"","text":"Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nLiving in a COVIDSafe Australia\nAustralia has been highly successful in \u2018flattening the curve\u2019. The number of\nnew COVID-19 cases in Australia each day is very low. We can now begin to take\ncareful steps to ease some of the restrictions that have helped us suppress\nthe spread of this virus.\nFrom the beginning there have been differences in how COVID-19 has spread in\ndifferent parts of the country. National Cabinet has agreed a 3-step\nplan to\ngradually remove baseline restrictions between now and July. The plan is based\non the expert advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee\n(AHPPC) on how to establish COVIDSafe ways of working and living.\nUnder this plan, each state and territory government will decide which\nrestrictions can be eased when, taking into account their local circumstances,\nmeaning states and territories may move at different speeds."}
{"_id":"Australiatest180","title":"","text":"Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nMotivation and support\nIt\u2019s important to be active most days, or every day if you can. But staying\nmotivated can be a challenge at times.\nThings that might help you keep on track include:\n\nfinding things you enjoy doing\nvarying your activities to keep them interesting\nsetting achievable goals\nsetting a routine and planning your day to include time for activity\nmonitoring your activity and progress\ngetting the support of your family and friends\n\nRead more about getting\nactive\nand download our exercise\nplanner to keep you on\ntrack.\nIt\u2019s important to care for your physical and mental health in difficult times.\nSee our advice on:\n\ncaring for your mental health\nhealthy eating during COVID-19 restrictions\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest181","title":"","text":"Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nCOVID-19 Sports and Health Advisory Committee\nA COVID-19 Sports and Health Advisory Committee will support and\nguide sporting. The Committee includes experts from across the sporting\nsector.\nThe current advice is that:\n\nThe public health advice in your state or territory needs to support a re-start of activities. Any exemptions will need approval from your state or territory.\nAnyone with cold or flu like symptoms, even if mild, cannot take part until they are well.\nDeep cleaning of shared items and areas as per the Infection Control Guidelines.\nEveryone must practise good hygiene. They must wash their hands before and after each session and must avoid touching their face.\nKeep records of who attends each venue (names and phone numbers). Public health officials will need this if there is a confirmed case.\nEach organisation must make sure they follow protocols and members are aware of their duties.\nOrganisations must keep up to date with the National Guidelines on the Department of Health website.\n\nIf you have any questions you can contact the Committee via email:\nCOVID19Sports [at] health.gov.au"}
{"_id":"Australiatest182","title":"","text":"Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nWhy staying active is important \nAs we spend more time at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, it\u2019s easy to\nforget our daily activity routine.\nMany of our usual venues have closed, and we\u2019re no longer getting incidental\nexercise from commuting or running errands.\nBut it\u2019s especially important to stay active during this time. Regular\nexercise is good for both our physical and mental health. It has many\nbenefits, including:\n\nreducing the risk of health conditions like stroke and heart disease\ncontrolling weight\nreducing stress and anxiety\nimproving sleep\n\nRead our guidelines on how much physical activity you should get each\nday."}
{"_id":"Australiatest183","title":"","text":"Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nPhysical activity you can\u2019t do right now\nTo ensure physical distancing to stop the\nspread of the virus, in most places you can\u2019t currently:\n\ngo to gyms, health clubs or fitness centres\nvisit public swimming pools\nplay indoor or outdoor organised sporting events\nattend classes, such as yoga or dance, in community centres and halls\nuse playgrounds or outdoor gyms\nvisit national or state parks\nexercise with a group such as a boot camp or team sport\n\nState and territory governments have different restrictions. See your state or\nterritory website for more information:\n\nAustralian Capital Territory\nNew South Wales\nNorthern Territory\nQueensland\nSouth Australia\nTasmania\nVictoria\nWestern Australia\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest184","title":"","text":"Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nWays you can still be active \nThere are still many ways you can be active while maintaining physical\ndistance.\nOut and about\nYou can still exercise in some public places. You can meet up with a friend,\nfamily member, or trainer. You can:\n\nwalk\njog\nride a bike or scooter\nkick a ball at the oval\n\nJust remember to stay home if you are unwell, keep 1.5 metres apart, avoid\nphysical contact, and wash your hands.\nAt home\nPhysical activity you can do at home includes:\n\nweights training \u2014 if you don\u2019t have any weights, make your own with filled water bottles, cans or jars\nyoga\npilates\nbackyard sports\ngoing up and down stairs\non-the-spot running, star jumps, sit ups and push ups\ngardening\ndancing\nvirtual fitness classes\nZoom or Skype group lounge exercises with your friends\n\nYou will find plenty of inspiration at the Find Your\n30 campaign.\nRegardless of your fitness level, or the space you have to work with, you will\nfind free exercise videos on YouTube and a large choice of home workout apps\navailable for download."}
{"_id":"Australiatest185","title":"","text":"Families\nChild Care Subsidy and child care\nYou won\u2019t need to pay child care fees when you access child care between 6\nApril and 28 June 2020.\nDuring this time, you should:\n\nenrol or re-enrol your child with a service\nkeep your child enrolled\ncontinue using child care as you need.\n\nIf you need to enrol or re-enrol your child you should talk to your child care\nservice. You\u2019ll also need to confirm their\nenrolment\nwith us.\nIf you need to find a child care service, you can use the Child Care\nFinder website.\nWhat else you need to know is different if:\n\nyou were getting Child Care Subsidy before 6 April 2020\nyou\u2019re new to child care.\n\nIf you were getting Child Care Subsidy before 6 April 2020\nYou won\u2019t get Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy during this\ntime. But you should make sure you stay eligible for Child Care\nSubsidy, for example\nby:\n\ncontinuing to care for your child at least 14% of the time\nmeeting immunisation requirements\ntelling us if you have a change in your circumstances.\n\nOn 29 June 2020, your Child Care Subsidy will start again as long as you stay\neligible. There\u2019s nothing you\u2019ll need to do to start it again.\nYou should continue to update your family income\nestimate as necessary, especially if you get Family Tax Benefit.\nFees before 6 April 2020\nYour child care service may waive your out of pocket fees between 23 March and\n5 April 2020. You should speak to them about this.\nAbsences before 6 April 2020\nDue to coronavirus, you have 20 extra absences per child for the 2019-20\nfinancial year. This means you can get up to 62 absences this year for any\nreason.\nAdditional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) Temporary Financial Hardship claims\nbefore 6 April 2020\nIf you\u2019ve already claimed ACCS Temporary Financial Hardship, we can only pay\nit to 5 April 2020.\nThere\u2019s no need to claim it between 6 April and 28 June 2020 as you won\u2019t need\nto pay fees.\nCentrepay deductions\nIf you pay your fees through\nCentrepay, remember to check\nyour deductions. You can suspend or cancel them if you need.\nUse our online help guides to either suspend your\ndeduction or cancel your\ndeduction.\nIf you\u2019re new to child care\nYou may want to start getting Child Care Subsidy when it starts again on 29\nJune 2020.\nYou should claim now,\neven though we won\u2019t pay it until late June.\nRead more about if you\u2019re new to child care."}
{"_id":"Australiatest186","title":"","text":"Families\nDad and Partner Pay\nYou can\u2019t get JobKeeper Payment and Dad and Partner Pay at the same time. You can choose a\npayment start date to get Dad and Partner Pay after getting JobKeeper Payment.\nThe work test\nTo be eligible for Dad and Partner Pay you need to meet the work\ntest.\nJobKeeper Payment also\ncounts towards the work test."}
{"_id":"Australiatest187","title":"","text":"Families\nChild Support\nIf you have a child support assessment and your situation has changed, tell us so\nwe can update your details. This includes if:\n\nyour income has decreased\nyour income has increased and you've recently estimated your income for child support\ncare of your children has changed.\n\nThis is important so we can make sure your assessment is correct.\nYou can update your details online, through the Express Plus Child\nSupport mobile app or by calling us."}
{"_id":"Australiatest188","title":"","text":"Families\nFamily Tax Benefit (FTB)\nCoronavirus may impact your Family Tax Benefit (FTB). This includes if:\n\nyour family income changes\nyour child\u2019s over 16 and can\u2019t study.\n\nIf your family income changes\nYour family income estimate affects how much FTB you can get. If you or\nyour partner stop work, your family\u2019s income may change. Read our guide about\nhow to update your income estimate.\nWhat to include in your income estimate\nYou may need to include some payments you or your partner get from us in your\nfamily income estimate. These include:\n\nJobSeeker Payment\nParenting Payment\nCoronavirus Supplement.\n\nIf you get JobKeeper Payment from your employer, you also need to include it in your income\nestimate.\nRead more about what to include in your income\nestimate.\nWhat you don\u2019t need to include in your income estimate\nThe following income is non-taxable and doesn\u2019t need to be included in your\nfamily income estimate:\n\nthe $750 Economic Support Payment\nsuperannuation released early under COVID-19 early release of super.\n\nIf your child\u2019s over 16 and can\u2019t study\nWhen your child turns 16, you may continue to get FTB for them. However, they\nneed to be in full time secondary study or\nexempt from the study requirements.\nYour child may still meet these study requirements even if:\n\nthey\u2019re sick or isolated\ntheir school closes\nyou choose to keep them away as a precautionary measure.\n\nIf they intend to return to study, you\u2019ll continue to qualify for FTB. There\u2019s\nnothing you need to do."}
{"_id":"Australiatest189","title":"","text":"Families\nParental Leave Pay\nIn most cases, your employer pays your Parental Leave\nPay. If your employer\ncan\u2019t pay you because of coronavirus, we can pay you.\nTell us about this change online. Sign in to your Centrelink online\naccount through\nmyGov, then select Parental Leave Pay Circumstances.\nIf we haven't assessed your claim yet, call the Families\nline.\nIf you get JobKeeper Payment\nYou can\u2019t get JobKeeper Payment and Parental Leave Pay at the same time.\nTo get Parental Leave Pay you must be on leave or not working. This is from\nyour child\u2019s birth or adoption until the end of your Paid Parental Leave\nperiod. You can get Parental Leave Pay after your JobKeeper Payment ends, if\nyou didn\u2019t work during that time.\nIf you returned to work, you can\u2019t get Parental Leave Pay when your\nJobKeeper Payment ends.\nThe Work Test\nTo be eligible for Parental Leave Pay you need to meet the work\ntest.\nJobKeeper Payment also\ncounts towards the work test.\nIf you can\u2019t get Parental Leave Pay, you may be able to get Newborn Upfront\nPayment and Newborn Supplement. This is after your child\u2019s birth.\nYou may be eligible for another payment now. Find out more if you need a\npayment because of coronavirus (COVID-19).\nIf you stopped work because of the risk to your pregnancy\nDepending on your individual work circumstances, we may move your work test\nperiod under the Dangerous Job provisions. If you had to stop working\ndue to the risk of coronavirus, you may still meet the work\ntest. You\nmust provide proof from your employer and a medical professional. This proof\nmust confirm you stopped work because of the risk to your pregnancy."}
{"_id":"Australiatest190","title":"","text":"Families\nAdditional payments\nIf you get Family Tax Benefit you may get 1 or both Economic Support\nPayments. We'll\npay these into your bank account automatically.\nIf you get Parenting Payment you may get the Coronavirus\nSupplement from late\nApril 2020. We'll pay this as part of your normal payment. You may also get\nthe first Economic Support\nPayment. We'll pay\nthis into your bank account automatically.\nYou won\u2019t get the second Economic Support Payment in July 2020 if you get the\nCoronavirus Supplement."}
{"_id":"Australiatest191","title":"","text":"Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nHome delivery of medicines\nHome delivery is a good option if you are isolating, are more vulnerable to\nserious illness, or prefer to stay at home.\nCall your preferred pharmacy or check their website to see whether:\n\nthey have your medicine in stock\nthey offer home delivery\nyou can order online or over the phone\n\nIf needed, you can ask a friend or family member to place an order for you.\nIf you have a paper prescription, you must post it or get someone to take it\nto the pharmacy before they can deliver the medicine.\nIf your doctor sent a digital copy of the prescription, the pharmacy will send\nthe medicine to the address on the prescription.\nMake sure your doctor and pharmacist have your correct address.\nDelivery drivers should practise physical distancing\nwhen they deliver the medicine. This means they may:\n\nnot ask for a signature\nleave the package near your door instead of handing it to you directly\n\nDelivery drivers may also wear protective gear, such as face masks and gloves,\nas a precaution. This does not mean they are unwell."}
{"_id":"Australiatest192","title":"","text":"Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nGetting medicine from a pharmacy in person\nYou can continue to get medicine from a pharmacy in person if you are healthy.\nRemember to practise physical distancing.\nPharmacy staff may wear protective gear, such as face masks and gloves, as a\nprecaution. This does not mean they are unwell.\nIf you cannot get to a pharmacy and home delivery is not an option, ask a\nfriend or family member to fill your prescription for you."}
{"_id":"Australiatest193","title":"","text":"Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nLimits on some medicines\nLimits apply to some prescription and over-the-counter medicines. These help\nto make sure everyone has access to the medicine they need.\nLearn about:\n\nlimits on prescribing hydroxychloroquine\nlimits on other prescription and over-the-counter medications\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest194","title":"","text":"Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nPaper and digital copy prescriptions\nDoctors can provide you with a paper prescription or send a digital copy of\nthe prescription to your preferred pharmacy following a telehealth\nconsultation.\nIf your doctor sends a digital copy to a pharmacy, you must fill the\nprescription at that pharmacy. If there are any repeats on the prescription,\nthe repeats must be kept at that pharmacy. You can contact the pharmacy to\narrange the next supply of your medicine when you need it.\nYour doctor is legally required to keep the paper prescription if they have\nsent the digital copy to a pharmacy.\nIf you already have a paper prescription at home, you can ask a friend or\nfamily member to fill this prescription at your preferred pharmacy if you are\nisolating. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor for a digital copy of a new\nprescription to be sent to your pharmacy following a telehealth\nconsultation.\nSee our guide for patients on how to access prescriptions and prescription\nmedications via telehealth.\nYou can get most medicines with a digital copy of a prescription. If your\nmedicine is restricted under legislation, your doctor can only provide a paper\nprescription."}
{"_id":"Australiatest195","title":"","text":"Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nHome delivery of medicines\nDelivery service for vulnerable groups and people in isolation\nThe Home Medicines Service offers free home\ndelivery of:\n\nPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines\nRepatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) medicines\n\nYou can use the service if you are:\n\nisolating at home on the advice of a medical practitioner or a COVID-19 hotline\naged over 70\nan Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged over 50\nimmunocompromised or have a chronic health condition\na parent of a new baby\npregnant\nan aged care home resident, if your facility does not use another home delivery service\n\nThe service may be available from any pharmacy approved to supply PBS and RPBS\nmedicines.\nEach delivery through the service must include at least one PBS or RPBS\nmedicine. You can order other items as part of the same delivery.\nYou can access the service free once a month. If you want more deliveries,\npharmacies may charge a fee.\nLearn more about the Home Medicines\nService or contact your preferred pharmacist for\ndetails."}
{"_id":"Australiatest196","title":"","text":"Good hygiene for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhen you are well\nEveryone \u2013 even when well \u2013 can help slow the spread of COVID-19.\nThis means:\n\nwash your hands often with soap and water. This includes before and after eating and after going to the toilet\nuse alcohol-based hand sanitisers when you can\u2019t use soap and water\navoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth\nclean and disinfect surfaces you use often such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs\nclean and disinfect objects you use often such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes\nuse tap and go instead of cash where possible\nincrease the amount of fresh air by opening windows or changing air conditioning\n\nThere is no evidence that alcohol-free hand rubs are effective against viruses\nlike COVID-19. Experts recommend you don\u2019t use them."}
{"_id":"Australiatest197","title":"","text":"Good hygiene for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhen you are sick\nAs we move towards living COVIDSafe, it is important that you stay at home if\nyou feel unwell. You should also continue to practise good hygiene.\nIf you have cold or flu like symptoms you should seek medical advice and get\ntested for COVID-19. You should get\ntested even if your symptoms are mild.\nIf you have COVID-19 you must isolate and follow the\ndirections of your local Public Health Unit.\n0:30  Read transcript\nTo help stop the spread of viruses\nlike the flu or coronavirus\ngood hygiene is essential.\nThat starts with washing your hands thoroughly\nwith soap and water\nwhenever you cough, sneeze or blow your nose,\nprepare food or eat, care for someone sick,\ntouch your face, or use the toilet.\nRemember to cough or sneeze into your arm\nor a tissue. Bin the tissue and wash your hands.\nTogether, we can help stop the spread\nand stay healthy.\nVisit australia.gov.au\nAuthorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.  \nEveryone must also stay 1.5 metres away from other people whenever possible.\nThis is called physical distancing."}
{"_id":"Australiatest198","title":"","text":"Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak\nOur response plan\nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\n(COVID-19) Short Form outlines how key activities will operate and how the\npublic can support the response. It outlines:\n\nwhat we know about the disease and the outbreak\nwhat sort of risk COVID\u201019 represents\nwhat the Australian Government health sector will be doing to respond\nhow the Government\u2019s response will affect people\nwhat people can do to contribute\nhow people can manage their own risk, the risk to their families and their communities\n\nAs we learn more about COVID-19 we are:\n\nregularly reviewing our response\nmoving resources into activities that are working well\nscaling back activities that are not working\n\nThe plan focuses on government activities. But many government and private\nagencies are working together to support the Australian Government response.\nAustralian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\n(COVID-19) Short Form \nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\n(Short Form) outlines how key activities will operate and how the public can\nsupport the response.\nThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on\nCOVID-19 has developed a Management Plan which supports the\nCOVID-19 Plan\u2019s objectives.\nManagement Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander\nPopulations\nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\nguides the Australian health sector response. This Management Plan focuses on\nculturally appropriate testing and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait\nIslander peoples, and for specific locations including remote communities.\nThe Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has published\nthe Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability.\nMore information for people with disability is available on the Department of\nSocial Service's website.\nManagement and Operational Plan for People with\nDisability\nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\nguides the Australian health sector response. This management and operational\nplan focuses on people with disability. There is an easy read version on this\npage, too.\nThe Communicable Diseases Network Australia\n(CDNA) has published the Australian National Disease Surveillance Plan\nfor COVID-19.\nAustralian National Disease Surveillance Plan for\nCOVID-19\nThis plan outlines the national approach for disease surveillance for\nCOVID-19. Information that is collected through this plan helps inform public\nhealth measures for control of COVID-19 in Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest199","title":"","text":"Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak\nWhat you can do\nHelp us stop the spread of the virus by:\n\nstaying informed through our COVID-19 health alert, which is updated every day\nkeeping in touch with friends and family to make sure they\u2019re well\ntaking steps to protect yourself and others, such as practising good hygiene and quarantining yourself if you\u2019re sick\nstaying healthy and making use of the ongoing support available\nbeing a smart traveller \u2014 read our COVID-19 advice for travellers\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest200","title":"","text":"Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak\nWhat we are doing now\nTo reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading through international travel, the\nGovernment is:\n\napplying travel restrictions\nscreening travellers who arrive in Australia and ensuring they quarantine on arrival\ncontinuing with border surveillance\n\nThe Government is also:\n\ndelivering a $17.6 billion economic support package to encourage investment and keep people in jobs\ndelivering a $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians\nproviding $669 million to expand Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians so everyone has access to quality healthcare while at home\ndelivering support to Australians experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence due to the fallout of coronavirus\nproviding $48.1 million for the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan in addition to $74 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians\nfunding home delivery of most prescription medicines for those unable to get to their local pharmacy\nsecuring face masks to help protect our medical professionals\ntracing coronavirus cases\nproviding information on our response and how you can protect yourself and others in English and other languages\nputting limits on some prescription and over the counter medications, to make sure those who need them can access them\n\nState and territory health authorities are:\n\ntesting people suspected of having the virus\nmonitoring close contacts of confirmed cases every day\nimposing travel restrictions between states\nopening fever clinics\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest201","title":"","text":"Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak\nWho manages the response\nState and territory governments are mainly responsible for health matters.\nWhen a major health issue like COVID-19 faces our country, they:\n\nwork together with the Australian Government\nshare information so they can provide the best possible care\nensure the response is consistent and integrated across the country\n\nThe Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) makes key\ndecisions and coordinates this response.\nThe AHPPC is made up of:\n\nthe Chief Health Officers from each state and territory\nthe Chief Medical Officer\nrepresentatives from key departments\n\nIt meets daily to assess the risk to Australia and recommend public health\nactions. The AHPPC endorsed the Government\u2019s emergency response plan.\nThe Australian Government has put together a team of widely respected\nclinicians, led\nby the Chief Medical Officer, to assist with the COVID-19 response.\nAustralia.gov.au\nVisit Australia.gov.au to learn more about\nCOVID-19 support from all of government including financial support and advice\nfor businesses and employees, help for education providers, advice on domestic\nand international travel and other community services."}
{"_id":"Australiatest202","title":"","text":"Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak\nOur aims\nThe Australian Government\u2019s health response to the COVID-19 outbreak aims to:\n\nminimise the number of people becoming infected or sick with COVID-19\nminimise how sick people become and the mortality rate\nmanage the demand on our health systems\nhelp you to manage your own risk and the risk to your family and community\n\nAustralia has been highly successful in 'flattening the curve'. The number of\nnew COVID-19 cases in Australia each day is very low. We are now beginning to\ntake careful steps to ease some of our restricitions that have helped us\nsuppress the spread of the virus. Find out more about our 3-step\nplan.\nOur response to COVID-19 has been informed by modelling of the impact of\nCOVID-19.\nThe modelling finds our health system will cope if we if we continue to:\n\nhave effective physical distancing\nincrease our health system capacity\nisolate people with the virus and their close contacts\n\nDecisions about the steps we take towards a COVIDSafe Australia are being\ninformed by intelligence and surveillance.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia \u2013 Pandemic Health Intelligence\nPlan\nThe Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan provides a framework for collecting the\ninformation required to support decision making about COVID-19."}
{"_id":"Australiatest203","title":"","text":"Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nCoronavirus and food safety\nMeal planning\nPlanning ahead means fewer visits to the shops. You can use a meal\nplanner to plan an entire week\u2019s meals and create a\nshopping list.\nMake extra servings of meals like soups, curries and stews and freeze them to\nuse later. Having some extra meals in the freezer is handy for days when you\ndon\u2019t feel like cooking or you\u2019re unwell.\nYou could try a meal kit delivery service such as Hello Fresh, Dinnerly,\nMarley Spoon or others. Check what\u2019s available in your area to see what each\nservice offers and what options suit your budget."}
{"_id":"Australiatest204","title":"","text":"Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nCoronavirus and food safety\nGrocery shopping\nUnless you are required to isolate, you can still go out\nto shop for food. Just make sure you\u2019re following physical\ndistancing requirements.\nSome extra things you can do to stay safe while shopping include:\n\nusing a list so your visit is short and you don\u2019t need to go out again to purchase forgotten items\nchoosing a time when fewer people are likely to be there\nwiping down your shopping trolley or basket with hand sanitiser or disinfectant \u2014 many supermarkets are providing these items for customers to use before entering the store\nusing cards instead of cash\nwashing your hands or using hand sanitiser after leaving the store\n\nSome things you can do to make food last longer, so you make fewer trips to\nthe supermarket, include:\n\nbuying food items that keep their nutritional value while stored or frozen. Frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables are picked while at their best and can be a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. Look for tinned fruit in natural juice, rather than syrup.\nusing cuts of meat, or beans and legumes that are suitable for stews and curries. This can often provide more than one meal as leftovers can be frozen.\n\nShopping online and having your order delivered, contact free, is a handy way\nto stock up your fridge and pantry without leaving the house. Check with your\nsupermarket to see if this service is available in your area.\nAssistance with grocery shopping and meals is available for older people who may need support."}
{"_id":"Australiatest205","title":"","text":"Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nHealthy eating during COVID-19 restrictions\nThere are many ways for Australians to choose foods that promote their health\nand wellbeing. The Australian Dietary\nGuidelines provide\nrecommendations for healthy eating that are realistic and practical. Most\nimportantly, the recommendations are based on the best available scientific\nevidence.\nThe Australian Guide to Healthy\nEating covers the 5 food groups and the recommended amounts you should eat\nevery day. These include:\n\nplenty of vegetables, including different types and colours, and legumes\/beans\nfruit\ngrain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and\/or high cereal fibre varieties, such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley\nlean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes\/beans\nmilk yoghurt, cheese and\/or their alternatives\n\nHealth eating habits include:\n\nbeing physically active and choosing amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs\nenjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods\ndrinking plenty of water\nlimiting intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt and added sugars such as biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, processed meats, commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips, crisps and other sugary or savoury snacks\nlimiting intake of alcohol\ncaring for your food \u2014 preparing and storing it safely\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest206","title":"","text":"Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nCoronavirus and food safety\nCOVID-19 is a respiratory disease spreading from person to person. It is not a\nfoodborne disease. There\u2019s no evidence to suggest people will get infected by\nswallowing the virus in, or on, food or drink. However, it is always a good\nidea to practise safe handling and preparation of food. When preparing and\nstoring your food:\n\nmaintain good hygiene practices\nwash fresh fruit and vegetables under running water before eating\navoid preparing food for other people if you have symptoms of respiratory illness\n\nBusinesses need to follow any social distancing requirements outlined by the\nAustralian and New Zealand Governments.\nFor more information visit Food Standards Australia New\nZealand.\nDuring COVID-19, it is important to be aware of false and misleading\nadvertising and claims about particular food products preventing or curing\nCOVID-19. If you are suspicious of claims being made about a food product,\nincluding those advertised as preventing or curing COVID-19, you can contact\nthe relevant food enforcement agency in your state or\nterritory."}
{"_id":"Australiatest207","title":"","text":"Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nCoronavirus and food safety\nInvolve the family\nThis is a good time to involve everyone in your household in their nutrition.\nGet your kids involved with:\n\nplanning meals\nmaking shopping lists\npreparing meals\ncleaning up\n\nOlder household members can take turns to prepare meals.\nDig out some favourite recipes or be more adventurous and try different\ncuisines."}
{"_id":"Australiatest208","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nDisinfecting\nBleach solutions\nDisinfect surfaces after cleaning. Disinfectant does not work as well on\nsoiled or dirty surfaces.\nUse a ready-made disinfectant that claims to kill viruses, or prepare a\nchlorine-based (bleach) disinfectant. Always follow the instructions on the\nlabel.\nWhile bleach (chlorine) solutions are effective, handling bleach can be\ndangerous. Consider using a safer alternative if possible.\nIf you decide to use bleach solution:\n\nfollow the instructions on the label\nwork in a well-ventilated area\ndo not use it with other products such as toilet bowl cleaners, acids (including vinegar) or anything containing ammonia\nwear gloves when handling or preparing the solution\nuse protective eye wear to protect against splashes\nmake up the solution daily\nuse it mainly on hard, non-porous surfaces \u2014 it can damage textiles and metals\nuse a disposable paper towel or cloth to wipe the surface with the bleach solution\n\nFor full instructions, read our COVID-19 environmental cleaning and\ndisinfection principles fact sheet.\nFor more information about disinfectants and bleach, read:\n\nappropriate use of disinfectants: information for consumers, health professionals and healthcare facilities \u2014 Therapeutic Goods Administration\nchlorine use in infection control \u2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\nchlorine \u2014 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)\nchlorine bleach safety \u2014 North Dakota State University\nworking with household (chlorine) bleach \u2014 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest209","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nProtect yourself when cleaning or disinfecting\nTo minimise the risk of getting coronavirus, you should:\n\npractise good hygiene\nwear disposable impermeable gloves, a surgical mask, and eye protection or a face shield\nwash hands with water and soap (use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is not available) before and after wearing protective gear\ndispose of gloves and masks in a leak-proof plastic bag\n\nIf you can see respiratory secretions or other bodily fluid on surfaces, wear\na full-length disposable gown as well.\nIf a confirmed case or a person in isolation is in a room you need to clean,\nask them to put on a surgical mask.\nGet advice from your work health and safety representative about wearing\nprotective gear correctly. View our information on PPE for the health\nworkforce."}
{"_id":"Australiatest210","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nPersonal hygiene\nTo protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19, you should:\n\npractise good hygiene\ntake the 5 moments for hand hygiene approach when dealing with patients\n\nAlso view our information on personal protective equipment (PPE) for the\nhealth workforce."}
{"_id":"Australiatest211","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nCleaning in the workplace\nCommunal areas for staff and the public\nRoutinely clean surfaces in these areas.\nThese areas include staff dining rooms, cafes, retail outlets, and staff\nmeeting rooms.\nHealth care settings\nIn patient areas, including consulting rooms:\n\nclean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces between each episode of patient care\ntake special care with surfaces that patients have touched directly or that have been exposed to respiratory droplets\ntake the 5 moments for hand hygiene approach\n\nFor inpatient care:\n\nroutinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily\nclean and disinfect more often in high intensity or high traffic areas, such as ICU or outpatient areas\nclean and disinfect equipment after each use\nclean and disinfect surfaces that have been exposed to respiratory droplets between episode of patient care\n\nIf an area is very contaminated, you may need to conduct a terminal clean.\nPatient transport vehicles\nSet the air conditioning to fresh air. Do not recirculate air in the vehicle.\nRoutinely clean the surfaces."}
{"_id":"Australiatest212","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nTerminal cleaning\nTerminal cleaning is a procedure to decontaminate an area after discharge or\ntransfer of a patient with an infectious disease. Terminal cleaning includes\nthorough cleaning and disinfection.\nTo carry out terminal cleaning:\n\nremove medical equipment and items used by the patient\nwear PPE \u2014 a surgical mask, protective eyewear, gloves and a gown\nchange bed screens and curtains, including disposable curtains or screens, that are soiled or contaminated\ndamp dust all surfaces, furniture and fittings\nclean windows, sills and frames\nclean all surfaces of bed and mattress\nmop the floor\nremove PPE and perform hand hygiene\nclean all cleaning equipment and return it to the cleaners\u2019 room or storage area\ndiscard any waste\nperform hand hygiene\n\nYou can use either of the following approaches:\n\n2-step clean: clean with detergent and then disinfect\n2-in-1 clean: clean with a combined detergent and disinfectant\n\nFor the 2-step clean, use either:\n\nTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-listed hospital-grade disinfectant that acts against viruses\nchlorine-based product such as sodium hypochlorite\n\nFor the 2-in-1 clean, use either:\n\ncombined detergent and TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectant that acts against viruses\ncombined detergent and chlorine-based product such as sodium hypochlorite (wipe or solution)\n\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our resources for health professionals on hygiene and\ncleaning.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWebinars\nView our webinars on the COVID-19 response for the health and aged care\nsector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest213","title":"","text":"Hygiene and cleaning for the health workforce during COVID-19\nRoutine cleaning\nFrequently touched surfaces\nFrequently touched surfaces include door handles, bedrails, tabletops and\nlight switches.\nClean these surfaces frequently (at least daily) or when visibly dirty. Use\ndetergent solution or combined detergent and disinfectant solution or wipes.\nFollow the instructions on the label.\nMinimally touched surfaces\nMinimally touched surfaces include floors, ceilings, walls, window curtains\nand blinds.\nClean these surfaces when visibly dusty or dirty and straight after any\nspills. Use:\n\ndetergent solution or wipes for general surfaces and non-patient care areas\ndetergent solution to damp mop instead of dry mopping\n\nYou should also:\n\nregularly change window curtains\nregularly clean sinks and basins\n\nFollow the instructions on the label when using cleaning products."}
{"_id":"Australiatest214","title":"","text":"If you need a payment\nCheck what you can get\nYou may get a payment in any of the following circumstances. These include if\nyou\u2019re:\n\nnot able to work or don\u2019t have work\nin isolation or hospitalised\ncaring for children.\n\nYou may get 1 of the following payments:\n\nYouth Allowance\nJobSeeker Payment\nParenting Payment.\n\nIf you\u2019re caring for a child, you may also be able to claim Family Tax\nBenefit.\nIf you\u2019re in severe financial hardship and can\u2019t get other income support, you\nmay be able to claim Special\nBenefit.\nIf you\u2019re in severe financial hardship because of extreme circumstances, you\nmay be able to claim the one off Crisis Payment \u2013 National Health Emergency\n(COVID-19) payment.\nYou may be able to get income from JobKeeper\npayment through your\nemployer. Ask them if they\u2019ve registered for this payment before you claim an\nincome support payment from us. If they have and you\u2019re eligible, your\nemployer will pay it to you. You don\u2019t need to call or visit us to claim\nJobKeeper payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest215","title":"","text":"If you need a payment\nReport and keep your payment\nIf we approve your claim, you\u2019ll need to report your\nincome for the past 2 weeks to\nget your first payment.\nTo do this, there\u2019ll be a reporting task for you to complete in either your:\n\nCentrelink online account\nExpress Plus Centrelink mobile app.\n\nYou need to report every fortnight, even when your and your partner\u2019s income\nis zero.\nYou can find out what day you need to report either:\n\nonline, using your Centrelink online account through myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app\nby phone.\n\n[ Claim a payment\nComplete the following steps to claim a payment due to coronavirus.\n](\/individuals\/subjects\/coronavirus-covid-19-and-how-we-may-help\/if-you-need-\npayment\/claim-payment)"}
{"_id":"Australiatest216","title":"","text":"If you need a payment\nClaim a payment\nIf you\u2019ve got a Centrelink online account, you can claim a\npayment.\nIf you don\u2019t have a Centrelink online account, you can get one online. You can\nestablish your identity and get a Centrelink Reference Number (CRN) with\nmyGov and\nthen link to Centrelink. You don\u2019t need to visit a service centre or call us.\nWatch our video to find out about setting up your Centrelink online account\nand claiming a payment.\nTranscript | Watch on\nYouTube"}
{"_id":"Australiatest217","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\nLegal representatives and Consular officials\nWe are asking legal representatives and detainees to use alternate means to\nengage including through phone calls, skype or other audio visual tools.\nWe can assist detainees with the use of audio-visual equipment and private\nrooms for phone calls in facilities where available. Your assistance with this\nis appreciated."}
{"_id":"Australiatest218","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\nDetention visitor program closure\u00a0\nThe immigration detention visitor program was\nceased on 24 March 2020. These measures are NOT permanent and we will\ncontinually review them.\nThere are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the immigration detention\nnetwork.\nAs community transmission of COVID-19 increases within Australia, our key\nfocus is preventing the entry of COVID-19 to facilities.\nWe are committed to the health and safety of detainees and staff.\nThe changes are consistent with those in the community and we will continue to\nput in place measures in detention facilities in line with advice from the\nDepartment of Health and the broader Commonwealth response.These are being\nregularly reviewed.\nEach detainee will receive a $20 phone credit each week to support ongoing\ncontact with family and community groups via their personal devices. This will\ncontinue until the measures are lifted for the visits program. We understand\nthe important role visitors play in detainees' health and wellbeing.\nThe decision to cease visits has been carefully considered in relation to\nsocial distancing and measures across all States and Territories around public\ngatherings and current health advice. \u200b"}
{"_id":"Australiatest219","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\n\u200bReligious services\nIt has been observed that most religious groups are self-electing to cease\nvisits to detention facilities as they adhere to the measures being\nimplemented within the community.\nEach detention facility has a Religious Liaison Officer (RLO) who is working\nwith a number of religious groups to ensure alternate methods for religious\nobservance. In some cases, pre-recorded services are being made available\nwhere a religious group does not have an alternate means to provide remote\nservices."}
{"_id":"Australiatest220","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\n\u200bPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE)\nPPE levels are being closely monitored to ensure there is sufficient equipment\nto respond to COVID-19.\nWe are continually working closely with the service providers to ensure a\ncoordinated response to any infectious disease outbreak.\nOur Detention Health service provider works with detainees who attend clinics\non COVID-19 related measures."}
{"_id":"Australiatest221","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\nMedical services\nAll detainees continue to have ongoing access to the medical professionals\nlocated within facilities.\nDetainees have access to the Health Advisory Service (HAS) for medical advice\noutside of onsite clinic hours. Qualified medical personnel provide medical\nadvice."}
{"_id":"Australiatest222","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\n\u200bExcursions\nIn line with the health advice it has been recommended that all movements be\nrestricted for detainees unless absolutely necessary."}
{"_id":"Australiatest223","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\n\u200bScrutiny bodies\nWe understand the importance of detainees having contact with scrutiny bodies\nand the important oversight role these scrutiny bodies provide.\nWe are working with the Ombudsman's Office, the Red Cross and the Australian\nHuman Rights Commission to ensure they can continue their ongoing work across\ndetention facilities, although in a different format."}
{"_id":"Australiatest224","title":"","text":"Immigration detention\nSuspected cases of COVID-19\nIf clinically indicated detainees will be tested in line with advice from\nhealth professionals and will be isolated pending test results.\nOur Detention Health service provider has conducted public health awareness\nactivities and posted information at sites on hand hygiene and other\npreventive measures detainees can take."}
{"_id":"Australiatest225","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nTemporary visa work arrangements\u00a0\nWe are making a number of changes to temporary visa holder arrangements during\nthe coronavirus crisis in order to protect the health of our community,\nsafeguard job opportunities for Australians, support critical industries, and\nassist with rapid recovery.\nEmployers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace\nlaws. Overseas workers, including international students, have the same rights\nunder Australian workplace law as all other employees."}
{"_id":"Australiatest226","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nSupermarkets\nOn 4 April 2020, the Government announced it was ceasing the temporary\nrelaxation of the 40 hour work limit for student visa holders working in\nsupermarkets.\nFrom 1 May 2020, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border\nForce will exercise normal discretion in relation to student visa holders\nemployed in supermarkets who exceed the work limitations of their visa.\nThe Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force officers will\nnot seek to enforce these conditions for, nor initiate prosecutions with\nrespect to, student visa holders who worked in supermarkets in accordance with\nthis temporary measure between 7 March 2020 and 30 April 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest227","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nAgriculture\nWe will apply flexible arrangements to allow critical workers, including\nSeasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme participants and Working\nHoliday Makers, to extend their stay in Australia:\n\nSeasonal Worker Programme workers with visas due to expire will be able to apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.\nPacific Labour Scheme workers with visas due to expire can apply for a new Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Pacific Labour scheme stream visa.\nWorkers currently in Australia under these programs will also be exempt from the requirement to work for a single employer and will be able to move between approved employers.\n\nIn addition, Working Holiday Makers who are working in critical sectors (eg\nagriculture, aged or health care) will be exempt from the 6 month work\nlimitation with one employer and eligible for a Temporary Activity (subclass\n408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream."}
{"_id":"Australiatest228","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nAged Care\nInternational students who work in aged care can also work more than 40 hours\na fortnight, to make sure there are enough staff to look after the elderly who\nare particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.\nAll aged care Approved Providers or Commonwealth funded aged care service\nproviders that have been issued with a RACS ID or a NAPS ID have been given\naccess to the temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders.\nThese aged care providers should see the letter provided to them by the\nDepartment of Health for further details.\u200b\nThese measures only apply to existing workers in their existing roles.\nThey are temporary measures and will be reviewed by the government regularly.\nEmployers will be advised in writing when these considerations no longer\napply."}
{"_id":"Australiatest229","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nNursing\nStudent visa holders already enrolled in nursing can undertake work to help\nand support the health effort against COVID-19 as directed by health\nofficials. We will not take any enforcement action regarding student nurses\nworking in these circumstances.\u200b"}
{"_id":"Australiatest230","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nProtecting vulnerable workers in operations and supply chains\nChanges to business operations and structures due to COVID-19 may\nsignificantly impact some workers, in Australia and overseas, and increase\ntheir vulnerability to modern slavery and other forms of exploitation. The\ngovernment is encouraging employers and industry to be aware of the risks and\ntake steps to protect vulnerable workers.\nSee Modern Slavery Act: Information for reporting entities about the impacts\nof Coronavirus"}
{"_id":"Australiatest231","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nAirline industry\nFrom 2100 AEDT 20 March 2020, airline staff should ensure that only exempt\ntravellers board a flight to Australia. Where possible, the Australian\nAdvanced Passenger Processing system will be used to deny uplift for all other\ntravellers.\nThe Australian Government will honour all \u201cokay to board\u201d messages that\nairlines receive.\nAirlines must contact the Australian Border Force Border Operations Centre\nprior to non-exempt travellers boarding the flight.\nAirline crew (including medivac crew) are exempt from the travel restrictions.\nAirline crew are advised to take particular care on lay-overs, to use\ndedicated private transport and to avoid crowded public spaces.\nAirline crew should monitor for symptoms and not fly if they are ill. This\nincludes off-shift crew who are travelling as passengers on an aircraft to\nreposition at another location. The same process is to be followed for this\ncohort as on-shift crew.\nAirline crew are required to self-isolate in their accommodation, if they\nenter Australia, until their next work flight."}
{"_id":"Australiatest232","title":"","text":"Industry and employers\nCruise ship industry\nAs of 15 March 2020 there is a full restriction on arrivals of any cruise ship\nthat has left a foreign port. The restrictions are inclusive of direct\narrivals and Round Trip Cruises (RTC).\nThis measure will be reviewed after 30 days.\nThe health, welfare and safety of Australians, both at home and overseas, is\nthe highest priority of the Australian Government.\nFrom 1am AEDST 16 March 2020, Australia will deny entry to any cruise ship\nthat has left a foreign port, with the exception of:\n\nAustralian-flagged vessels.\nInternational cruise ships en route having departed their last overseas port and destined for Australia.\nAustralian cruise vessels (domestic cruise ships) operating within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone can continue to operate without restriction.\nRound Trip Cruises that are already in progress and currently returning to Australia.\n\nCruise ships that do not meet the above exemptions, may be approved through\nthe Maritime Traveller Processing Committee (MTPC). These approved cruise\nships will be required to go to Brisbane or Sydney.\nCrew\nCruise ship crew must self-isolate for 14 days or for the duration of their\nstay whichever is shorter."}
{"_id":"Australiatest233","title":"","text":"Information for employers\nEligibility\nAs part of the application process, businesses and not-for-profits need to\nassess that they have or will likely experience the required turnover decline.\nEmployers (including not-for-profits) will be eligible for the subsidy if:\n\ntheir business has an aggregated turnover of less than $1 billion (for income tax purposes) and they estimate their GST turnover has fallen or will likely fall by 30 per cent or more; or\ntheir business has an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or more (for income tax purposes) and they estimate their GST turnover has fallen or will likely fall by 50 per cent or more.\n\nAn employer is not eligible for the JobKeeper payment if:\n\nthe Major Bank Levy was imposed on the entity or a member of its consolidated group for any quarter before 1 March 2020;\nthe entity is an Australian government agency (within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997);\nthe entity is a local governing body;\nthe entity is wholly owned by an Australian government agency or local governing body;\nthe entity is a sovereign entity or an entity owned by a sovereign entity;\nthe entity is a company in liquidation; or\nthe entity is an individual who has entered bankruptcy.\n\nThe Tax Commissioner has discretion to consider additional information that\nthe business or not-for-profit can provide to establish that they have been\nsignificantly affected by the impacts of the coronavirus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest234","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWho must go into isolation\nYou will need to isolate to prevent the spread of the virus to others if:\n\nyou have COVID-19\nhealth authorities suspect you have COVID-19\n\nYou will need to isolate in:\n\nhospital if you need hospital care\nyour home if it is suitable\nanother location if needed as decided by your public health authority\n\nThe public health authority will advise you when you can leave."}
{"_id":"Australiatest235","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat is isolation?\nA person with coronavirus (COVID-19) or suspected to have it must enter\nmandatory isolation.\nIsolation is different from quarantine and physical\ndistancing."}
{"_id":"Australiatest236","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nCleaning\nClean all 'high-touch' surfaces at least once per day wearing water-proof\ndisposable gloves. This includes:\n\nbenchtops\ntabletops\ndoorknobs\nbathroom fixtures\ntoilets\nbedside tables\nphones\ncomputer keyboards\ntablets\n\nYou should also clean any surfaces that may have blood, body fluids and\/or\nsecretions on them.\nRead labels of cleaning products and follow the instructions for use. Labels\ncontain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product. They\nalso include precautions you should take when applying the product.\nThere are 2 options for cleaning something:\n\na 2-step cleaning process, where you clean something with detergent and then disinfect it\na 1-step process, where you use a combined detergent and disinfectant product.\n\nThe disinfectant you use should say on the label it is hospital-grade that\nkills viruses. You can also use a chlorine-based product such as bleach.\nIf you are cleaning something for another person who has COVID-19 you should:\n\nwear a mask and disposable gloves when handling soiled items\nwash your hands immediately after removing gloves and masks\nwash laundry. Do not shake the laundry items before washing\nremove and wash clothes or bedding that has blood, body fluids and\/or secretions on them\nread and follow the directions on laundry items and detergent. Wash and dry with the warmest temperatures recommended on the label\nwash dishes in a dishwasher where possible\n\nPut gloves, masks, and other contaminated items in a lined waste bin before\ndisposing of them with other household waste. Wash your hands immediately\nafter handling these items."}
{"_id":"Australiatest237","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSupport services\nThere are a range of support services available to help you. You can do the\nfollowing:\n\n\nVisit Head to Health for links to trusted Australian mental health online and phone supports, resources and treatment options. This useful website also has online programs and forums, as well as a range of digital information resources.\n\n\nContact your local state and territory health departments.\n\n\nNational Coronavirus Helpline\nCall this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or\nhelp with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a\nweek.\n1800 020 080\nView contact\nTranslating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)\nTIS National is for people who do not speak English and for agencies and\nbusinesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.\n131 450 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS\nNational)\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest238","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSteps other members of the household and caregivers can take to prevent infection\nYou should only share a house with a person with COVID-19 if:\n\nyou are providing essential care to that person\nyou cannot find a different place to live\n\nPeople who stay in the same place as someone with COVID-19 will be a close\ncontact and must follow quarantine rules. People should\nfollow these rules for 14 days from when the person with COVID-19 was last\ninfectious.\nWash your hands\nWash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20\nseconds. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if your hands are not\nvisibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.\nAlways wash your hands before putting on and after taking off gloves and\nmasks.\nWear a mask\nWear disposable masks and gloves when:\n\nyou are in the same room as the person with COVID-19\nyou touch or have contact with the person\u2019s blood, body fluids and\/or secretions\n\nYou should:\n\nmake sure your mask covers your nose and mouth at all times\nthrow out masks and gloves after use\nwash your hands immediately after taking off masks and gloves\n\nMonitor symptoms\nIf you are a caregiver or household member and develop a cold or flu-like\nsymptoms you should call your GP or\nhealthdirect. Tell them you are a close\ncontact of someone with COVID-19.\nIf you become very unwell and it is a medical emergency call 000."}
{"_id":"Australiatest239","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to get food and medication\nYou can get food and medication while in isolation in the following ways:\n\nAsk friends or family members you don\u2019t live with to get food and medication to leave at your door. If you need a prescription filled arrange this with your usual pharmacist or GP. You can then let your friend or family member know where to go to collect the medication.\nArrange a food delivery service. Have all food left outside your house. Do not let any delivery person into your home.\nIf you need a prescription filled, you can arrange for your doctor to send your prescription to your pharmacy. They can then deliver it to your house. Read more about getting medicines and accessing health services.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest240","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nLiving with other people while in isolation\nIf you share your home with others, you should limit your contact with them.\nDo this by:\n\nstaying alone in your own room\nusing a different bathroom, if possible\navoiding shared areas\nwearing a mask when in the same room as others\nnot being in the same room as other people, especially people at risk of severe disease (this includes elderly people and people with heart, lung, or kidney conditions and diabetes)\npractising good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes\nnot sharing household items\nfrequently cleaning the house, especially things people touch often, like door handles\n\nCover coughs and sneezes\nPractise good cough and sneeze hygiene:\n\ncover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze\nif you don\u2019t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow\nplace used tissues in a bin\nwash your hands straight away with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or\nuse an alcohol-based hand sanitiser\n\nWash your hands regularly\nYou should wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.\nYou can use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if your hands are not visibly\ndirty.\nAlways do this:\n\nbefore entering an area where there are other people\nbefore touching things used by other people\nafter using the bathroom\nafter coughing or sneezing\nbefore putting on, and after removing, gloves and masks.\n\nWear a mask\nWear a mask when you are:\n\nin the same room as another person, even if they are also in isolation\npassing through communal areas\nyou visit a health care provider\n\nMake sure your mask covers your nose and mouth at all times. Don\u2019t touch your\nmask unnecessarily and replace it if it is wet.\nDon\u2019t share household items\nYou should not share items with people in your home if possible, including:\n\ndishes\ndrinking glasses\ncups\ncutlery\ntowels\nbedding\n\nAfter using these items, wash them with soap and water or put them in a\ndishwasher or washing machine."}
{"_id":"Australiatest241","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReturning to your community\nYour Public health Unit will advise you when you are clear to end isolation\nand return to normal activities.\nYou must continue to practise physical distancing, and good\nhygiene.\nIf you become unwell and have any cold or flu like symptoms return home and\ncontact your doctor."}
{"_id":"Australiatest242","title":"","text":"Isolation for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSteps you need to take while in isolation\nIf you are not at home when you find out you have COVID-19, you must go\nstraight home. You cannot stop anywhere, not even to buy medicine or\ngroceries. Where possible, use personal transport such as a private car.\nYou must stay isolated until your public health authority advises you are safe\nto leave. If you leave isolation without permission you may face criminal\ncharges or a fine.\nIsolation means you:\n\nmust not leave your home except in an emergency or to get essential medical care\nmust not go into public places including work and shops\nmust not let any other person into your home unless the person \nlives with you and cannot live somewhere else\nis providing medical care for you\nis entering for an emergency\n\n\n\nYou should tell your public health unit before leaving your house if possible.\nIf you leave, you must wear a mask.\nIf you live in a house, you may go into your garden or courtyard. You can go\nonto your balcony if you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel.\nIf you are in a hotel you must avoid contact with other guests and staff.\nMonitor symptoms\nIf your symptoms get worse phone your doctor. You should be on the lookout for\nhigh fevers or trouble breathing.\nKeep in contact with your GP so they can monitor your health.\nIf you are having serious symptoms you should call 000 straight away. This\nincludes shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or chest pressure or pain.\nTell the ambulance staff you have COVID-19.\nIf you live alone, a friend or family member can ring you to check you are OK."}
{"_id":"Australiatest243","title":"","text":"Job seekers\nJobKeeper payment\nIf you or your partner get income from JobKeeper\npayment, you must report it to us if you also get\nJobSeeker Payment. Read about how to report income from JobKeeper\npayment.\nJobKeeper payment is paid to your eligible employer by the Australian Taxation\nOffice (ATO). Your employer will tell you if they\u2019re eligible and pay you\nJobKeeper payment as part of your usual wages.\nTalk to your employer to find out if they are going to pay you through the\nJobKeeper Payment scheme. You don\u2019t need to call or visit us."}
{"_id":"Australiatest244","title":"","text":"Job seekers\nMutual obligation requirements\nWe\u2019ve suspended mutual obligation requirements for:\n\nJobSeeker Payment\nYouth Allowance as a job seeker\nParenting Payment\nSpecial Benefit.\n\nWe\u2019ll let you know when they start again.\nYou can still choose to:\n\nattend phone or online appointments with your provider\ndo the online activities in your Job Plan.\n\nHowever, it won\u2019t affect your payment if you don\u2019t do these things.\nYou still need to report your income every fortnight so we pay you the right amount. Tell us if\nyou report the wrong income. Tell us also about any changes in your\ncircumstances. If you don\u2019t, we may pay you too much. This means you\u2019ll have a\ndebt to pay back.\nWe may be able to exempt you from your requirements if you\u2019re impacted by\ncoronavirus. If you\u2019re in isolation at home, we\u2019ll grant you an exemption for\nup to 14 days.\nFor us to do this you need to tell us as soon as possible after you\u2019re\nisolated by calling us on your\nregular payment line. You need to tell us why you\u2019re isolated, for example, if\nany of the following apply:\n\na doctor or government authority has told you to isolate yourself because of possible exposure to coronavirus\nyou need to isolate yourself after reading the latest health alerts from the Department of Health.\n\nYou don\u2019t need to give us proof to support your exemption. However, if you\nneed to stay in isolation longer, you\u2019ll need to call\nus on your regular payment line\nto update us on your circumstances.\nIf you\u2019re a principal carer you may also be exempt. You may be exempt if\neither:\n\nyour child\u2019s childcare centre has closed\nyou\u2019re caring for an adult with a disability or special needs whose day service or supported workplace premises closes.\n\nYou\u2019ll need to call us on your\nregular payment line to let us know."}
{"_id":"Australiatest245","title":"","text":"JobKeeper Payment\nKeeping the system fair\nIf you have questions about workplace entitlements and obligations in relation\nto the JobKeeper Payment scheme, the Fair Work Commission has released\nguidance on how it can assist with JobKeeper disputesExternal\nLink.\nIf you are concerned that someone is doing the wrong thing in relation to\nJobKeeper payment, you can tell us about it. To report illegal or behaviour of\nconcern, see Making a tip off.\nATO information on JobKeeper Payment support for businesses significantly\naffected by the coronavirus (COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest246","title":"","text":"Leaving Australia\nAustralians and permanent residents\nIf you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave\nAustralia due to COVID-19 restrictions **** unless you have an exemption. You\ncan apply online but you must meet at least one of the\nfollowing:\n\nyour travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid \nyour travel is essential for the conduct of critical industries and business (including export and import industries)\nyou are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia\nyou are travelling on urgent and unavoidable personal business\nyou are travelling on compassionate or humanitarian grounds \nyour travel is in the national interest.\n\nYou must provide evidence to support your claims that may include:\n\npassport\/s\nmarriage certificate\/s\nbirth certificate\/s\ndeath certificate\/s\nproof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)\nvisa status\nproof that you are moving to another country on a long term basis such as leases, job offers and evidence your goods are being transported\nyour current visa status, including in Australia and\/or overseas\nletter from a doctor or hospital about any medical treatment\/condition with statements on why travel is necessary\nletter from an employer showing why the travel is necessary or that the work undertaken by you is critical\nstatement or evidence to show when you wish to return to Australia\nany other proof you may have to support your claims.\n\nAll evidence supporting a travel exemption claim needs to be officially\ntranslated into English. ****\nYou should apply for an exemption at least 48 hours before, but not more\nthan 3 months before your planned travel.\nIf you are not granted an exemption, you should not continue with your\ntravel plans. If granted an exemption, you must take evidence of that\nexemption decision to the airport.\nYou will not need to apply for an exemption if you are:\n\nordinarily resident in a country other than Australia\nan airline, maritime crew or associated safety worker\na New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa\nengaged in the day-to-day conduct of outbound freight\nassociated with essential work at offshore facilities\ntravelling on official government business, including members of the Australian Defence Force.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest247","title":"","text":"Leaving Australia\nNon-citizens\nDue to the current COVID-19 situation in Australia, including state and\nterritory border restrictions, business closures and social distancing\nrequirements, international visitors are encouraged to return home when\npossible to do so.\nTemporary visa holders should be aware that if they wish to return to\nAustralia while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, they will generally need a\ntravel exemption. For more information about the Commissioner\u2019s Exemption, see\nComing to Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest248","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSchools\nThe health advice on schools has not changed. The Australian Health\nProtection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advises it is safe for schools to\nbe open with students attending.\nStates and territories are making decisions regarding schools based on local\ncircumstances. Visit your state or territory government website for more\ninformation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest249","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAged care facilities\nSpecial restrictions remain in place for aged care\nfacilities to protect older Australians. On 21 April, the Australian Health\nProtection Principal Committee (AHPPC) updated their advice for residential\naged care facilities."}
{"_id":"Australiatest250","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhy these limits are important\nThe 3-Step Plan to a COVIDSafe Australia maps out a pathway states and territories\ncan take to ease restrictions in the coming months, depending on their\ncircumstances. Each state and territory will move forward at their own pace."}
{"_id":"Australiatest251","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nCommunity sport and recreation\nA set of National Principles as well as the Australian Institute of Sport\u2019s (AIS) Framework\nfor Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19\nEnvironment, will guide a staged\nresumption of sport and recreation in Australia.\nThe National Principles will make clear how sport and recreational activities\ncan only occur. Stringent public and personal health measures will need to be\nin place.\nSport and recreation activities will resume in stages, guided by the\nFramework. This applies to high performance, community, and individual\nactivities.\nA specialist COVID-19 Sports and Health Committee will also be established. It\nwill include relevant sports medicine and health experts from the AIS, sports,\nand governments to monitor and support the resumption process. It will report\nto the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.\nSee our advice on exercising and staying active during COVID-19\nrestrictions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest252","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nPhysical distancing and hygiene\nEveryone should continue keeping their distance from other people whenever\npossible. When we are around other people, it is important we practice\nphysical distancing \u2013 also called social distancing \u2013 and\ngood hygiene. You should also consider downloading the\nCOVIDSafe app, which works\nalongside physical distancing, good hygiene and enhanced testing to stop the\nspread of coronavirus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest253","title":"","text":"Limits on public gatherings for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nStates and territories\nState and territory governments have different restrictions in place for\npublic gatherings. Please visit your state or territory website for more\ninformation.\n\nAustralian Capital Territory COVID-19 site\nNew South Wales COVID-19 site\nNorthern Territory COVID-19 site\nQueensland COVID-19 site\nSouth Australia COVID-19 site\nTasmania COVID-19 site\nVictoria COVID-19 site\nWestern Australia COVID-19 site\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest254","title":"","text":"Looking after your mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nHow we might be feeling and why\nOn top of the concern we\u2019re all feeling about the health impacts of a virus\nlike this one, COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down.\nAll of the things we\u2019re used to doing each week \u2014 going to school and work,\ncatching up with friends and family, going out for dinner, playing sport,\ngoing on holidays \u2014 have changed.\nMany people have lost their jobs and there is uncertainty about how COVID-19\nwill affect jobs and the economy into the future.\nAnd for people working in health care and essential services, work pressures\nhave never been greater.\nUnder these circumstances, it\u2019s normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, confused,\nsad or even bored. But these feelings can take their toll, and we all need to\ntake the time to care for ourselves and to look out for our friends, family\nand colleagues."}
{"_id":"Australiatest255","title":"","text":"Looking after your mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nWhy it\u2019s important to look after your mental health during COVID-19\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way we live. To help keep us\nsafe, it is likely that our lives will be different for a while.\nWhen we aren\u2019t able to see our friends and family regularly, it can be harder\nto keep on top of how we\u2019re feeling.\nBeing aware of how you\u2019re feeling and knowing what you can do to look after\nyour mental wellbeing is an important part of staying healthy during this\nchallenging time."}
{"_id":"Australiatest256","title":"","text":"Looking after your mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nGet help now\nIf you need help right now, it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,\nanywhere in Australia.\nIn an emergency, call 000.\nLifeline\nContact Lifeline for support if you are experiencing a personal crisis or have\nsuicidal thoughts. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from\nanywhere in Australia.\nLifeline 24-hour crisis line 131 114 Lifeline\nAustralia Postal addresses: PO Box 173 Deakin\nACT 2600\nView contact\nKids Helpline contact\nKids Helpline provides a free, private and confidential phone and online\ncounselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. The service is available 24\nhours a day from anywhere in Australia.\n1800 551 800 Kids Helpline\nView contact\nSuicide Call Back Service\nCall the Suicide Call Back Service for immediate, professional 24\/7 telephone\nand online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.\n1300 659 467 Suicide Call Back\nService\nView contact\nBeyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service\nBeyond Blue are providing information, advice and strategies to help you\nmanage your wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nHotline 1800512348 Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing\nSupport Service\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest257","title":"","text":"Looking after your mental health during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions\nWhat you can do\nThere are things you can do to take care of your mental health and wellbeing.\nLook after your physical health\nExercising and eating well help us stay physically and mentally healthy. Read\nmore about how you can stay physically active while following physical distancing rules, and find\ntips on eating well at home.\nGetting a good night\u2019s sleep is a really important part of staying healthy. If\nyou\u2019re finding it hard to get to sleep, these tips might\nhelp.\nStay connected\nMaintaining social connections is important to feeling safe and well.\nYou can still keep in touch with family and friends while you practise\nphysical distancing through:\n\nvideo chats\nphone calls\nonline groups\nchats with neighbours while keeping 1.5 metres apart\n\nDevelop new routines\nWe\u2019re used to having routines to guide our days and give us a sense of\nachievement. When so much seems out of our control, establishing some\nstructure in our days will help to provide stability and a \u2018new normal\u2019.\nThis is particularly challenging for families adjusting to home learning. Try\nto create new routines as a family to help separate \u2018work and school time\u2019 and\n\u2018family time\u2019.\nThink about the parts of your usual routine you value the most and find ways\nto make these part of your day \u2014 such as having lunch with colleagues via\nvideo chat, or finding an online gym class.\nTake breaks\nBe kind to yourself and take time just for you, even if it is just a few\nminutes to take some deep breaths and step outside into the fresh air.\nPlan your breaks and use them to do something that makes you feel calm and\nhappy.\nReach out to others\nSome people are particularly vulnerable for different reasons. They may be\nolder, live on their own, have a chronic medical condition, or live in a\nchallenging home situation.\nReaching out to give people support, if you are able, can help your mental\nwellbeing and make a big difference to someone else\u2019s life.\nSeek support\nIt\u2019s normal to have ups and downs, and it is important to talk about how\nyou\u2019re feeling with family and friends. In times like these, they are likely\nexperiencing similar feelings.\nIf you want to talk to someone else, but aren\u2019t sure where to start, there are\nlots of great online and phone chat support services available. Head to\nHealth is a good place\nto begin, and Beyond Blue has launched a dedicated coronavirus online and\nphone support service.\nBut if you are feeling anxious or depressed for an extended period, see a\nhealth professional.\nDoctors and other health care providers such as psychologists are consulting\nvia video or phone. Find out more about telehealth options."}
{"_id":"Australiatest258","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nMental health for patients and carers\nFor mental health information for patients and carers, see our page about\nlooking after your mental health.\nMore resources for the general public are available at our coronavirus\n(COVID-19) resources collection."}
{"_id":"Australiatest259","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nKeeping mentally healthy\nPublications and fact sheets\n\nComcare \u2014 Looking after your mental health\nBeyond Blue \u2014 Protecting your mental health and wellbeing as a healthcare worker and their Mental Wellbeing Support Service\nAustralian Psychological Society \u2014 Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety\nHeadspace \u2014 How to cope with stress related to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nBlack Dog Institute \u2014 TEN: The Essential Network for health professionals and Coronavirus anxiety resources\nSafe Work Australia \u2014 Information on COVID-19 and work health and safety\n\nCheck the Head to Health\nwebsite for:\n\nlinks information, advice, and free or low-cost phone and online mental health supports and services\nresources and services (including COVID specific) that can help if you\u2019re experiencing mental health concerns or trying to support someone else\n\nMore resources for health care workers are available at our coronavirus\n(COVID-19) resources collection.\nRead about Australia\u2019s National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response\nPlan. It responds to the mental health and wellbeing needs\nof all Australians during the response and in recovery from the COVID-19\npandemic. This plan has been developed under the co-leadership of Victoria,\nNew South Wales and the Australian Government and has been informed by all\njurisdictions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest260","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nGet urgent help\nIf you need help right now, it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,\nanywhere in Australia.\nIn an emergency, call 000.\nLifeline\nContact Lifeline for support if you are experiencing a personal crisis or have\nsuicidal thoughts. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from\nanywhere in Australia.\nLifeline 24-hour crisis line 131 114 Lifeline\nAustralia Postal addresses: PO Box 173 Deakin\nACT 2600\nView contact\nKids Helpline contact\nKids Helpline provides a free, private and confidential phone and online\ncounselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. The service is available 24\nhours a day from anywhere in Australia.\n1800 551 800 Kids Helpline\nView contact\nSuicide Call Back Service\nCall the Suicide Call Back Service for immediate, professional 24\/7 telephone\nand online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.\n1300 659 467 Suicide Call Back\nService\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest261","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nKeeping mentally healthy\nTake breaks\nBe kind to yourself, and take breaks during your shifts, even if it is just a\nfew minutes to catch your breath. Managers and supervisors should ensure staff\ntake regular breaks to reduce stress.\nBetween shifts, get as much rest as you can, and try to take time for yourself\nto do things you enjoy. Managers and supervisors should make sure staff have\nenough time between shifts to rest, sleep and prepare for the next day."}
{"_id":"Australiatest262","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nKeeping mentally healthy\nConnect\nKeep in regular contact with family and friends, even if you are isolating,\nthrough:\n\nvideo chats\nphone calls\nonline groups\n\nTalk about your shared experiences with your colleagues or manager \u2014 they are\ngoing through the same thing and can offer valuable support.\nManagers and supervisors should encourage staff to express any concerns about\ntheir mental health, as it might indicate broader issues across their\nworkforce."}
{"_id":"Australiatest263","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nWhy mental health is important for health workers\nHealth workers at the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic are critical in the\nfight against the virus.\nMeasures like social distancing and isolation are helping to slow its spread.\nBut health workers still face extreme pressure from the increased demand on\nthe health care system.\nLong and irregular hours and heavy workloads can increase stress and cause\nmental health issues, including burnout. Managers and supervisors should be\nsensitive to the issues that might affect their employees.\nLooking after yourself, your mental health and wellbeing is critical in these\ntough times."}
{"_id":"Australiatest264","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nHow health workers might be feeling\nThe COVID-19 pandemic is putting significant psychological pressure on health\nworkers.\nUnprecedented demand on their time and skills can make it hard to take time\noff.\nEven when taking all precautions, there is a constant worry about being\nexposed to the virus, and unknowingly spreading it to patients and family.\nMany health workers have to avoid contact with vulnerable family members,\ncausing further social isolation.\nIntense media scrutiny and a lack of understanding from the community,\nincluding hostility at times, adds to the stress.\nFeeling under pressure is normal in the current situation. But these\ncompounding pressures can lead to more serious anxiety, depression, post-\ntraumatic stress disorder and burnout.\nLooking after your mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is important to\nhelp you cope in the longer term. This is not a sprint; it\u2019s a marathon."}
{"_id":"Australiatest265","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nKeeping mentally healthy\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now"}
{"_id":"Australiatest266","title":"","text":"Mental health for the health workforce during COVID-19\nKeeping mentally healthy\nSeek support\nIt\u2019s important to share your feelings with your family, friends, and\ncolleagues. But if you are feeling anxious or depressed for an extended\nperiod, see a health professional.\nDoctors, and other health care providers, including psychologists, can consult\nvia video or phone. Find out more about telehealth options, or find mental health support\ncontacts.\nAs a manager or supervisor, if a staff member tells you about the mental\nhealth challenges they are experiencing, help them find support, including at\nHead to Health.\nIt is important to respect the privacy of staff who are dealing with complex\npersonal and mental health issues and might not wish to discuss these at work."}
{"_id":"Australiatest267","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: Children are \u2018super spreaders\u2019 of coronavirus\nTRUE: While children are known to be \u2018super spreaders\u2019 of germs and bugs\ngenerally, certainly for influenza they can be, this does not appear to be the\ncase with coronavirus. At least not yet. There is no data anywhere in the\nworld that shows that major spreading of this virus has occurred with\nchildren. We're not ruling this out. It is possible. But all the evidence is\nthat they are not super spreaders of coronavirus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest268","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: You can treat coronavirus with antibiotics or antimalarial medicines\nTRUE: There is no vaccine or treatment for coronavirus yet.\nResearchers around the world are working hard to develop a vaccine for the\nvirus but we don\u2019t know how long this will take. Estimates vary between 12 or\n18 months.\nResearchers are also looking into the use of different medicines that may help\ntreat coronavirus including arthritis, anti-malaria and HIV medicines. They\nwill not cure coronavirus but it may decrease the number of people who get the\nvirus and the severity of cases.\nIt is important, therefore, to not wait around for a vaccine or treatment for\ncoronavirus \u2013 and that\u2019s why so many public health measures have been adopted\nby Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest269","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: Testing everyone will stop the spread of coronavirus TRUE: Testing does not stop the spread of the virus.\nLike any virus, COVID-19 moves from one person to another. Only social\ndistancing at all times, and home quarantining if you are unwell can stop the\nspread of the virus.\nTesting to confirm whether someone who is displaying symptoms has COVID-19\nhelps us track the spread of the disease and reduce transmission. If we know\nsomeone has it, that person can isolate themselves and we can track who they\nhave been in contact with and reduce the risk of further transmission.\nHowever, testing negative to COVID-19 doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not at risk yourself\nor a risk to others. You can test negative to COVID-19 after you\u2019ve been\nexposed but before you develop symptoms. You can test negative one day, and\ncatch COVID-19 the next day. That is why it is so important to practise good\nhygiene and social distancing, and to stay at home except for the essentials.\nThis is helping prevent the transmission of not only COVID-19 but other\ndiseases as well, reducing demand on our health services."}
{"_id":"Australiatest270","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: Testing kits are not accurate\nTRUE: The current testing for COVID-19 uses what is called nucleic acid\namplification (Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)), which is very accurate. The\ntest involves a health professional taking a swab specimen from the person's\nthroat and nose. Currently, all test components are manufactured overseas,\npredominantly in Europe and Asia. While multiple suppliers of the testing\ncomponents and laboratories across and within states and territories use\ndifferent components, the important fact is that they use the same testing\nmethodologies. There is a strain on all testing related supplies due to global\ndemand far exceeding supply and production capacity. Point of care antibody\ntests are not accurate for diagnosis and are therefore not recommended for\nthat purpose.\nThe Australian Government is working closely with laboratories through the\nPublic Health Laboratory Network and with suppliers in order to secure\nsupplies and explore potential alternative supply solutions to ensure that\nAustralia maintains the capacity and capability to test for coronavirus.\nAccess this website regularly to stay informed about key developments in the\nAustralian Government\u2019s response to COVID-19.\nSBS ___also has a\nrange of information on COVID-19 in your language. You can also use mobile\nphone apps and browser extensions to translate government information. Search\nfor one that meets your needs._\nTo access additional information in English, visit www.australia.gov.au\n."}
{"_id":"Australiatest271","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: A two week lockdown will stop the spread of coronavirus\nTRUE: Imposing restrictions for two or three weeks and then lifting them\nand returning to our normal lives will not stop the spread of coronavirus.\nThe risk of only a two week lockdown is coronavirus would rear its ugly head\nagain, perhaps more aggressively than before.\nSome people have asked why we haven\u2019t imposed a blanket lockdown like other\ncountries have done. The answer to this is that, unlike countries such as\nItaly, Spain and Iran, and cities such as Wuhan in China, where the outbreak\nbegan, we have remained ahead of the curve.\nBy the time health experts in these countries recognised what was occurring,\ncoronavirus was out of control and spreading like wildfire. This is why\nhospitals in these countries have struggled to cope with people with severe\nforms of the disease.\nOur health experts will continue to monitor the number of new cases each day\nin Australia and where transmission is taking place. They will then make\nrecommendations based on the evidence as to any new rules or restrictions that\nneed to be put in place. Everyone should stay up to date with current\nrestrictions by visiting www.australia.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest272","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: Australia can\u2019t obtain enough medical equipment and supplies (ventilators, masks, testing kits)\nTRUE: The simple message to patients and, crucially, the health workers\nwho look after them, is \u2013 yes, Australia has enough equipment to fight this\npandemic. However, there is a strain on all testing related supplies due to\nglobal demand far exceeding supply and production capacity.\nStaff can be assured that we have personal protective equipment coming in all\nthe time, which means, in turn, that patients can get the best possible care.\nFor instance, the National Medical Stockpile has more than 10 million masks.\nThe Australian Government continues to work to secure additional masks to\nensure the National Medical Stockpile remains well stocked, and Australia has\nenough personal protective equipment to support our medical professionals as\nthe pandemic unfolds. This includes boosting domestic manufacturing capability\nand capacity.\nThere are usually 2,200 ventilated hospital beds in Australia. By repurposing\nanaesthetic machines and other equipment over the past six weeks, we now have\n4,400 ventilated beds, and we're looking to make that 7,500. At the start of\nApril, the number of patients with coronavirus in intensive care units and\nneeding ventilators was 20.\nThe Communicable Diseases Network Australia is meeting daily to reassess its\nguidance on testing requirements, so that only essential testing is being\nundertaken."}
{"_id":"Australiatest273","title":"","text":"Misinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nMisinformation and truths about Coronavirus\nFALSE: Australia\u2019s hospitals won\u2019t be able to cope with increased demand due to coronavirus\nTRUE: Australia\u2019s public and private hospitals have joined forces in the\nfight against coronavirus. An historic partnership between the Australian\nGovernment, state and territory governments and the private hospital sector\nwill make available an extra 34,000 beds and 105,000 medical staff nationally\nto help fight coronavirus.\nThe private sector will provide hospital services to public patients, making\nits equipment, beds, supplies and staff available to supplement the public\nsystem.\nThey will also continue to support the needs of long-stay public hospital\nNational Disability Insurance Scheme participants, and aged care patients and\ngeneral needs patients.\nThe partnership will ensure the full resources of Australia\u2019s world-class\nhealth system are ready and focused on treating patients as required through\nthe pandemic."}
{"_id":"Australiatest274","title":"","text":"Not-for-profit organisations\nJobKeeper Payment\nNot-for-profits including charities who have experienced a decline in turnover\nas a result of the Coronavirus may be eligible to apply for the JobKeeper\nPayment.\nUnder this scheme, employers impacted by the Coronavirus will be able to\naccess a subsidy from the Government to continue paying eligible employees.\nThe fortnightly subsidy of $1,500 per eligible employee will start on 30 March\n2020, with the first payments to be received by employers from the ATO from\nfirst week of May.\nNot-for-profits will be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if, at the time\nof applying:\n\nthey have an aggregated turnover of less than $1 billion (for income tax purposes) and they estimate their GST turnover has fallen or will likely fall by 30 per cent or more; or\nthey have an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or more (for income tax purposes) and they estimate their GST turnover has fallen or will fall by 50 per cent or more.\n\nCharities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits\nCommission (ACNC) will be eligible for the subsidy if they estimate their\nturnover has or will likely fall by 15 per cent or more relative to a\ncomparable period.\nNot-for-profits and charities can register for the JobKeeper Payment on the\nATO\u2019s website."}
{"_id":"Australiatest275","title":"","text":"Not-for-profit organisations\nBoosting cash flow\nThe Government is providing temporary cash flow assistance to support the\nactivities of not-for-profits including charities at a time when they are\nfacing increased demand for services.\nThis assistance involves two sets of cash flow boosts delivered in April and\nJuly-October 2020 to support employers to retain employees.\nThe Government will provide tax-free cash flow boosts of between $20,000 and\n$100,000 to eligible not-for-profits, delivered through credits in the\nactivity statement system."}
{"_id":"Australiatest276","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nPPE for the general public\nFor PPE advice for the general public, see:\n\nuse of surgical masks\nhow to protect yourself and others\n\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our resources for health professionals on\nPPE.\nGuidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals\nduring the COVID-19 outbreak\nAn information sheet about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nduring hospital care of people with coronavirus (COVID-19).\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWebinars\nView our webinars on the COVID-19 response for the health and aged care\nsector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest277","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nHow we\u2019re managing PPE supply\nThere is a global shortage of PPE. We are working to increase our National\nMedical Stockpile and\nprovide more PPE.\nWe ask the health workforce to use PPE conservatively where possible.\nThe Australian Government is:\n\nworking with local industry to increase local production of PPE\nworking with international suppliers\nallocating PPE as we receive them\n\nUntil we have enough for everyone, our priority is to ensure staff in\nfrontline health services likely to come into contact with people with\nCOVID-19 have PPE. This includes:\n\npublic hospitals\ngeneral practices\ncommunity pharmacies\nother settings where people are most likely to present with COVID-19\naged care providers (if there is an outbreak)\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest278","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nAccessing PPE\nPrimary Health Networks\n(PHN) can provide masks and respirators from the National Medical\nStockpile to:\n\ngeneral practitioners (GPs)\nAboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Health Services\ncommunity pharmacies\n\nPHNs can provide masks to allied health professionals in some circumstances.\nAllied health professionals may be eligible if:\n\nthe masks are for staff to use\nthere is no commercial supply available\nthey are working in higher-risk clinical areas, and with higher risk vulnerable patients\n\nPHNs will also consider whether the allied health professional can adjust how\nthey practice to reduce risk.\nFor information about PPE standards, read regulation of PPE and\nCOVID-19 on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website.\nRead more about how we manage the limited supply of\nPPE.\nEligibility for surgical masks from PHNs\nPHNs will provide surgical masks to GPs and ACCHOs if they have a\ndemonstrated need. This includes:\n\nthere is no local supply available commercially\nthe people coming to your practice are more likely to have been exposed to COVID-19\nyour practice has an unusual number of patients who have respiratory symptoms\n\nPHNs will provide surgical masks to community pharmacies if they meet\nboth of the criteria below:\n\nthere is no local supply available commercially\nstaff have significant contact with people who have fever and respiratory symptoms\n\nEligibility for respirators from PHNs\nPHNs will provide respirators to GPs and ACCHOs who:\n\nneed to assess suspected COVID-19 cases\ndo not have respiratory clinics or emergency departments nearby\n\nThese practices must have:\n\nisolation facilities and other appropriate infrastructure\nstaff who are trained in using PPE\na pandemic plan\n\nYou must use respirators with other PPE (gowns, gloves and eye protection).\nRequesting masks and respirators from PHNs\nWhen you contact your PHN to make a request, explain how you meet the\neligibility requirements.\nFor the contact details of your PHN, use the PHN map\nlocator.\nIf you\u2019re eligible\nGenerally, PHNs will provide:\n\n2 boxes of 50 surgical masks to each practice\n1 box of 50 surgical masks to each community pharmacy\n\nDepending on stock levels, they may give you more. They will consider the size\nof your practice or other demonstrated need.\nYou can give these surgical masks to:\n\nyour staff to use for their protection\npatients and customers who may have COVID-19\npatients and customers who have a confirmed case of COVID-19\n\nWe have supplied PHNs with a small number of respirators. They will conserve\nthese stocks as far as possible.\nYou must not sell these masks or respirators as commercial stock."}
{"_id":"Australiatest279","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nHow to use PPE\nWear the following PPE when caring for someone with suspected or confirmed\nCOVID-19:\n\nlong-sleeved gown\nsurgical mask\nface shield, goggles or safety glasses\ndisposable non-sterile gloves\n\nUse a P2\/N95 respirator instead of a surgical mask for:\n\nfrequent close contact with patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nprocedures that generate aerosols\n\nFit-check your P2\/N95 respirator with each use.\nAfter the consultation or patient contact, remove your PPE. Perform hand\nhygiene after each individual PPE item is removed.\nWhen removing PPE, do not touch the front of any item. Perform hand hygiene if\nyou think contamination has occurred at any point.\nYou should also use PPE to protect yourself when cleaning or\ndisinfecting.\nFor more detail, see:\n\nguidance on the use of PPE in hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak\nCOVID-19 information for paramedics and ambulance first responders, including use of PPE\nwearing PPE for allied health professionals video\nthe use of face masks and respirators in the context of COVID-19\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest280","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nWhy use PPE?\nPPE protects the wearer from infection. Proper use helps keep health workers\nsafe and stops the spread of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"Australiatest281","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nWho should use PPE\nYou do not always have to use PPE when providing treatment or care.\nUse PPE if you:\n\ncare for someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19\nassess or collect specimens from people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nhave significant contact with people who have fever or respiratory symptoms that suggest COVID- 19\n\nGive surgical masks to patients to wear straight away if they:\n\nare under quarantine or investigation for COVID-19\nare suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19\nhave fever or respiratory symptoms\n\nIf you do not have the appropriate PPE to assess patients or collect\nspecimens, refer the person to a collection centre, a GP respiratory\nclinic\nor emergency department.\nAged care workers should see using and getting PPE in aged\ncare, use of surgical masks and how to protect\nyourself and others."}
{"_id":"Australiatest282","title":"","text":"Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health workforce during COVID-19\nInforming patients about PPE\nWhen communicating with patients, explain:\n\nyou do not always need to wear PPE if you are both well\nif you wear a mask or other PPE it is for their and your protection\n\nIf people in your practice wear PPE, you may want to provide signage near the\nentrance advising this is to protect patients and staff.\nIf you are a health practitioner providing in-home care, let the patient know\nin advance that you may wear a mask or other PPE when visiting their home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest283","title":"","text":"Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHouseholds\nAustralians should check their state or territory government\nrestrictions to find out\nmore about the restrictions in place where they live. As states and\nterritories move through the steps in the 3\u2013step framework for a COVIDSafe\nAustralia, restrictions will reduce.\nIf you are allowed to have visitors at home, you still need to maintain 1.5\nmetres between people from different households. Keeping visitors to a minimum\nwill help to reduce the spread of the virus throughout the community.\nIf someone in your household is sick with cold or flu symptoms, you should:\n\ncare for the sick person in a single room, if possible\nkeep the number of carers to a minimum\nkeep the door to the sick person\u2019s room closed. If possible, keep a window open\nwear a surgical mask when you are in the same room as the sick person. The sick person should also wear a mask when other people are in the same room\nprotect at-risk family members by keeping them away from the sick person. If possible, find them somewhere else to live while the family member is sick\nseek medical advice and have them tested for COVID-19\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest284","title":"","text":"Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIn schools\nIf your child is sick, they must not go to school or childcare. You must keep\nthem at home and away from others.\nTo reduce the spread of viruses or germs in schools students and staff should\ncontinue to practise good hygiene.\nThe Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has issued\nupdated advice on reducing the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in\nschools.\nThe AHPPC also issued a statement on risk management for re-opening boarding\nschools and school-based residential colleges.\nFor more information on school\noperations, visit the\nDepartment of Education, Skills and Employment website."}
{"_id":"Australiatest285","title":"","text":"Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAt work\nYou should work from home if it works for you and your employer. If you cannot\nwork from home and you are sick, you must not attend your workplace. You must\nstay at home and away from others.\nAll workplaces must develop a COVID-19 plan in line with:\n\nthe National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) online planning tool\nthe Safe Work Australia National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles\n\nSafe Work Australia has resources for workplaces including information about\nworkers\u2019 rights.\nThe Department of Education, Skills and Employment\nwebsite also has information for students,\nparents, education providers, job seekers and employers.\nTo protect yourself, your co-workers and your customers:\n\nstop shaking hands to greet others\navoid non-essential meetings. If needed, hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call\nput off large meetings to a later date\nhold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible\npromote good hand, sneeze and cough hygiene\nprovide alcohol-based hand rub for all staff\neat lunch at your desk or outside rather than in the lunch room\nregularly clean and disinfect surfaces that many people touch\nopen windows or adjust air conditioning for more ventilation\nlimit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace\navoid non-essential travel\npromote strict hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest286","title":"","text":"Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nKeep your distance\nOne way to slow the spread of viruses, such as coronavirus, is physical\ndistancing.\nThe more space between you and others, the harder it is for the virus to\nspread.\nAs states and territories ease restrictions, it is\nimportant everyone continues to practise physical distancing.\n0:30  Read transcript\nCoronavirus is most likely to spread from person to person when we come into\nclose contact with one another.\nWe can all help stop the spread by keeping our distance.\nThis means do not shake hands, or exchange physical greetings, and wherever\npossible, stay at least 1.5 metres away from others.\nIt's also really important to practise good hygiene, especially after being in\npublic places.\nTogether we can help stop the spread and stay healthy.\nVisit health.gov.au to learn more.\nAuthorised by the Australian Government, Canberra."}
{"_id":"Australiatest287","title":"","text":"Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIn public\nPhysical distancing in public means people:\n\nkeep 1.5 metres away from others wherever possible\navoid physical greetings such as handshaking, hugs and kisses\nuse tap and go instead of cash where possible\npractise extra care if you are using public transport \u2013 read the guidelines (PDF, 165 KB).\navoid crowds \u2013 if you see a crowded space do not enter\navoid large public gatherings\npractise good hygiene\nstay at home if you have any cold or flu symptoms. Seek medical advice and get tested for COVID-19\n\nSee important information on restrictions on public gatherings.\nSee requirements in your state or territory."}
{"_id":"Australiatest288","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nIdentifying symptoms\nMonitor the health of people in your care and watch out for symptoms of\nCOVID-19. Keep in mind:\n\nolder people may not always have a fever\nolder people may also have increased confusion, worsening chronic conditions of the lungs, or loss of appetite\n\nBe especially alert when caring for people with dementia or a cognitive\nimpairment. They may not be able to tell you about potential symptoms or\nexpress pain or discomfort."}
{"_id":"Australiatest289","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nWhen you must not work\nIf you are an aged care worker, do not go to work if you have\n\nreturned from overseas in the past 14 days\ntravelled in the past 14 days as a cruise ship passenger or crew member\nbeen in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19\na fever\na symptom, even a minor symptom, of respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion)\n\nLet your employer know you need to quarantine at home.\nIf you are a residential aged care worker, you should also only work if you\nhave had a flu shot. Exemptions apply in some states and territories.\nTo find out more, read the restrictions on entry into and visitors to aged\ncare facilities fact sheet."}
{"_id":"Australiatest290","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nHow to stop the spread\nTo help slow the spread of COVID-19, practise good hygiene and\nphysical distancing and follow the limits on public\ngatherings.\nFor more on how you can protect yourself and those in your care, complete the\n30-minute COVID-19 infection control training.\nPersonal protective equipment (PPE)\nWear appropriate PPE (gown, mask, protective eyewear and gloves) if you:\n\nwill be exposed to body fluids or very contaminated surfaces\nare caring for someone confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19\n\nRemove your PPE before leaving the room or the person\u2019s home. Wash or sanitise\nyour hands straight after removing PPE.\nFor more about using PPE:\n\nread the PPE for the health workforce during COVID-19 page\nprint out the when to use PPE in aged care flowchart\nwatch our wearing PPE in aged care video\n\nGetting PPE\nAged care providers can request PPE by emailing agedcareCOVIDPPE [at]\nhealth.gov.au\nWe assess requests and ask for more information if needed. If your request is\nsuccessful, state and territory governments will distribute the agreed PPE to\nyou.\nWe prioritise aged care providers with a confirmed case of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"Australiatest291","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nManaging COVID-19 in home care\nGovernment-funded aged care providers of in-home care must minimise infection-\nrelated risks. This includes organisations that provide:\n\nHome Care Packages\nCommonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services\nsome grant-funded services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program\n\nTo meet the Aged Care Quality\nStandards, you must\nimplement standard and transmission\u2011based precautions to prevent and control\ninfection.\nFor advice on preparing equipment and staff, cleaning, working with your care\nrecipients and more, read our COVID-19 guide for home care\nproviders.\nFor advice on flu vaccinations, support for home care recipients, workers with\nvisa work restrictions and more, read our COVID-19 factsheet for in-home care\nworkers.\nOlder people and their families and carers can read our it\u2019s ok to have home\ncare fact sheet."}
{"_id":"Australiatest292","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nGetting tested\nIt\u2019s important to detect COVID-19 in health and aged care workers as early as\npossible.\nYou are eligible for COVID-19 testing if you are an aged care worker and\ndevelop fever or respiratory symptoms.\nYour doctor will confirm whether you need to be tested and will arrange for\nthe test.\nAged and residential care facilities are high-risk settings. Staff (and\nresidents) will also be tested if there are 2 or more people with fever and\nrespiratory symptoms in the setting."}
{"_id":"Australiatest293","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nManaging COVID-19 in residential aged care\nResidential aged care facilities are legally responsible for infection\nprevention and control under the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Quality\nStandards.\nYou must:\n\nmanage visitor and entry restrictions, including for new and returning residents\nmonitor the health of your staff\nprevent and control infections\nput up signs and remind visitors of the steps they need to take to help protect residents, including their flu vaccination\nensure all visitors comply with the Aged Care Visitor Access Code\nmanage any COVID-19 outbreaks and follow the COVID-19 outbreak guidelines\n\nFor more advice, read our COVID-19 factsheet for residential aged care\nworkers.\nResidents and their families and carers can read our COVID-19 advice for\npeople in aged care facilities."}
{"_id":"Australiatest294","title":"","text":"Providing aged care services during COVID-19\nSupport for care recipients\nSome older people may feel more alone during the pandemic. They may:\n\nhave less contact with friends and relatives\nfeel isolated from their culture and heritage\nhave less contact with the outside world because some shops and activities have temporarily closed\n\nTo support older people, let them know about:\n\nthe Community Visitors Scheme for residential aged care and home care recipients \u2014 regular visits or contact from volunteers can help older people feel less isolated\nHead to Health \u2014 this website provides information about mental health and digital support\n\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings. It includes\ntraining specific to aged care.\nOther training modules include:\n\npersonal safety\nfamilies and visitors \u2013 residential care\nfamilies and visitors \u2013 in-home care\nCOVID-19 and aged care\noutbreak management procedures\npersonal protective equipment\nlaundry\nif you suspect a person has COVID-19\n\nThese modules take 5 to 10 minutes each. You will receive an acknowledgement\nof completion certificate for each module.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our COVID-19 resources for aged care\nservices.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nVisit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission\u2019s COVID-19\npage for\nmore resources including an overview of their compliance approach during the\npandemic.\nWebinars\nView our:\n\nwebinars on the COVID-19 response for the health and aged care sector\nwebinars for the aged care sector\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest295","title":"","text":"Providing health care face to face during COVID-19\nInformation for patients\nFor more information for patients on accessing health care and medicines, see:\n\ngetting medicines\naccessing health services\nelectronic prescribing\nconsumer fact sheet on telehealth services at MBS Online\nHome Medicines Service \u2013 information for consumers (for vulnerable people)\n\nMore resources for the general public are available at our coronavirus\n(COVID-19) resources collection."}
{"_id":"Australiatest296","title":"","text":"Providing health care face to face during COVID-19\nWhen to provide care face to face\nHealth professionals can provide health care remotely through\ntelehealth. They can also\nprescribe medicines remotely and have\nthem home delivered to patients by their pharmacist.\nBut health care professionals and care workers can still provide care face to\nface. This includes:\n\ngeneral practitioners and other specialists\npharmacists\nother primary care and allied health practitioners\nclinicians and health care professionals working in acute, secondary and tertiary care\nnurses and midwives\naged care workers and disability support workers\nproviders of mental health services, including psychologists, counsellors, mental health workers\nparamedics and ambulance first responders\n\nWhere a patient or client receives care depends on their circumstances. In\nsome cases, providing care face to face is the only option.\n\nSome people need to receive care in their own home \u2014 such as under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or Home Care Packages Program.\nPeople living in a residential aged care facility or disability service still need day-to-day care and regular access to health professionals.\nSome health conditions require a physical examination.\nSome people can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to use phone or video services.\nSome services can only be delivered face to face.\n\nWhen delivering care face to face, health professionals and care workers must\ntake steps to protect themselves and their patients from COVID-19. This\nincludes good hygiene practices and the use of\npersonal protective equipment (PPE)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest297","title":"","text":"Providing health care face to face during COVID-19\nHow to protect yourself and your patients\nHealth care workers and carers should take infection prevention and control\nprecautions when caring for patients face to face.\nIf you are a health care worker or aged care worker, you should complete a\n30-minute online training module. This\nwill help you understand the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and how to keep everyone safe.\nTo protect yourself and those in your care, especially those at risk of severe\ndisease:\n\npractise and encourage good hand hygiene \u2014 wash hands before and after putting on PPE or contact with the patient\nassess the patient\u2019s risk of COVID-19 before face-to-face contact occurs, and then use PPE as appropriate for the risk and setting\nprovide your patient with a surgical mask to wear if he or she is in quarantine from being exposed to COVID-19, or has respiratory symptoms \nfollow physical distancing guidance, maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres from the patient where possible\nregularly clean the environment and equipment\n\nImmediately let your employer know if you:\n\nthink you came into contact with someone who has COVID-19 without using appropriate PPE\nhave symptoms of a respiratory illness, even if they are mild\n\nIn these circumstances, seek medical assessment and advice about COVID-19\ntesting. Stop providing care face to face until you have been cleared to\nreturn to work. Read about when you can and can\u2019t work.\nParamedics and ambulance first responders\nParamedics and ambulance first responders who are assessing and treating\npatients in isolation or quarantine should:\n\ntake contact and droplet precautions for routine care of patients\ntake contact and airborne precautions when performing aerosol generating procedures, including intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)\nnotify the receiving hospital\nput vehicle ventilation in both compartments on non-recirculated mode during transport\nuse rear exhaust fan, if there is one, to draw air away from the cab, toward the back end of the vehicle\nbe aware of specific guidelines relating to your jurisdiction\n\nRead more information for paramedics and ambulance first responders about\ntreating COVID-19 patients.\nLife-threatening situations\nWhen providing clinical care in life-threatening situations, such as CPR, to a\npatient with suspected COVID-19, protect yourself by:\n\nusing appropriate PPE for the procedures, ensuring careful donning and doffing\nperforming good hand hygiene\nimmediately notifying your employer if you didn\u2019t use appropriate PPE or you think a breach in PPE has occurred\n\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our resources for health professionals on providing health care during\nCOVID-19.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWebinars\nStay up to date with our webinars on the coronavirus (COVID-19) response for\nthe health and aged care sector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest298","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nHome delivery for medicines\nThe Home Medicines\nService\nis a temporary program paying a fee per delivery to Australian pharmacies for\nhome delivery to vulnerable people of:\n\nPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications\nRepatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines\n\nPharmacists can find out more about patient eligibility criteria and how to\ntake part at the Pharmacy Programs\nAdministrator site.\nFor patients who do not meet the program\u2019s criteria for a vulnerable person,\npharmacies may charge a home delivery fee.\nPharmacies should advise patients at the time of receipt of the prescription\nfrom the dispenser or the patient if they are not able to provide a home\ndelivery service."}
{"_id":"Australiatest299","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nTelehealth services \nThe Australian Government has added a number of temporary Medicare\nitems to help health care practitioners deliver telehealth services via\nphone or video conferencing.\nTelehealth services will help protect health care professionals, their staff\nand patients from unnecessary risk of infection.\nThese measures will be in place until 30 September 2020. The Government\nwill consider extending beyond 30 September 2020 if the Australian Health\nProtection Principal Committee (AHPPC) recommends it."}
{"_id":"Australiatest300","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nWho can provide telehealth services\nTelehealth bulk billing for GPs\nFrom 6 April 2020, it is a legislative requirement that the new telehealth\nservice must be bulk billed by GPs and other medical practitioners (OMP \u2013\npractitioners not vocationally recognised as GPs, providing non-referred\nservices). This is only for:\n\nCommonwealth concession card holders\nchildren under 16 years old\npeople who are more vulnerable to COVID-19\n\nA person who is more vulnerable to COVID-19 is someone who:\n\nis required to isolate or quarantine according to Australian Health Protection Principal Committee guidance\nis at least 70 years old\nidentifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and is at least 50 years old\nis pregnant\nis the parent of a child aged under 12 months\nis being treated for a chronic health condition\nis of any age and has suppressed immunity\nmeets the national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection\n\nHealth care providers may apply their usual billing practices to the\ntelehealth items for patients who do not fit the above criteria."}
{"_id":"Australiatest301","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nHow to provide prescriptions and prescription medication via telehealth\nWe are working with clinical software providers to upgrade prescribing and\ndispensing software so it supports electronic prescribing. We expect this to be available from May\n2020.\nFor now, at a telehealth consultation, a prescriber can prescribe medication\nby writing a paper prescription and providing it to the patient (for example,\nby post). If this is not practical, a prescriber can instead turn the\nprescription into an \u2018image-based prescription\u2019. This is a digital image of\nthe paper prescription, which can then be sent by the prescriber to the\npatient\u2019s preferred pharmacy.\nThe Commonwealth has changed legislation to temporarily allow prescribers to\ncreate a digital image of the patient\u2019s prescription to support supply of\ntheir medicines. This interim arrangement supports telehealth before\nelectronic prescribing becomes available.\nSee our guide on how to write a prescription for your patient during a\ntelehealth consultation.\nPharmacists can dispense medications and make Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme\n(PBS) claims from the digital image of the prescription sent through by the\nprescriber.\nUnder the temporary arrangement, patients do not need to sign to acknowledge\nreceipt of supply if it is not practical for them to do so. The pharmacist may\nsign on behalf of the patient, unless it is not practical for them to do so.\nIf the prescriber has authorised repeats, the pharmacist may create a repeat\nauthorisation and attach it to a print out of the digital image of the\nprescription. This must be held in the pharmacy for subsequent supply of the\nmedication.\nSee our guide for pharmacists on how to dispense an image-based prescription\nsent from a prescriber.\nFor image-based prescriptions, prescribers must keep the paper prescription\nfor 2 years (for audit and compliance purposes). Pharmacists must keep the\ndigital image of the prescription for 2 years.\nMedicines in Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix D in the Poisons Standard are\nnot part of this interim arrangement, unless specifically permitted by\nrelevant state or territory rules. Supply these medicines according to your\nstate and territory legislation.\nWhile the vast majority of health care providers do the right thing, please\nreport any fraudulent and inappropriate practice against Medicare and the\nPBS."}
{"_id":"Australiatest302","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nInformation for patients\nIf patients are seeking further information on how to access telehealth and\nprescriptions from home, please see the following guides:\n\nAccessing health services during COVID-19 restrictions\nGetting medicines during COVID-19 restrictions\nPrescriptions via telehealth \u2013 a guide for patients\nConsumer fact sheet on telehealth services at MBS Online\nHome Medicines Service \u2013 information for consumers (for vulnerable people)\n\nMore resources for the general public are available at our coronavirus\n(COVID-19) resources collection.\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our resources for health professionals on providing health care during\nCOVID-19.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWebinars\nStay up to date with our webinars on the coronavirus (COVID-19) response for\nthe health and aged care sector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest303","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nHow to provide health services remotely\nVideoconferencing is the preferred way to do a telehealth consultation.\nHowever, you can offer telephone services if video is not available.\nYou do not need specific equipment to provide Medicare-compliant telehealth\nservices. Make sure your chosen telecommunications solution meets your\nclinical requirements and satisfies privacy laws. See the Australian Cyber\nSecurity Centre for advice on how to select a web conferencing\nsolution.\nFor guidance on how to run a telehealth consultation about COVID-19, see our\nflow chart on telehealth and consultations in GP respiratory\nclinics."}
{"_id":"Australiatest304","title":"","text":"Providing health care remotely during COVID-19\nWho can provide telehealth services\nA range of health care providers can now provide telehealth services to\npatients. These include:\n\ngeneral practitioners (GPs)\nspecialists\nallied health providers\nmental health professionals\nnurse practitioners\n\nMBS Online has a series of COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services fact\nsheets. This includes lists of the types of health care professionals who can\nprovide telehealth services and the relevant MBS item numbers."}
{"_id":"Australiatest305","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReturning to your community\nIf you have completed your 14 day quarantine period without developing\nsymptoms you will be able to leave quarantine. You should follow the same\nadvice that applies to the rest of the community in your state or territory.\nYou must continue to practise physical distancing, and good\nhygiene.\nIf you become unwell and have any cold or flu like symptoms return home and\ncontact your doctor."}
{"_id":"Australiatest306","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSteps you need to take while in quarantine\nWhen you must quarantine you must go straight to your home, hotel room or\nother accommodation. You cannot stop anywhere, not even to buy food, medicine\nor groceries. Where possible, use personal transport such as your car.\nYou must in quarantine for the entire 14 days to stop the spread of the virus.\nThis is because you may be in the incubation period (the time between getting\nthe virus showing symptoms). If you leave quarantine before the end of 14 days\nyou may face criminal charges or a fine.\nQuarantine means you:\n\nmust not leave your home\/hotel except \nin an emergency \nto obtain essential medical care\n\n\nmust not go into public places including work and shops\nmust not let anyone into your home\/hotel room unless they \nusually lives with you\nare entering to provide medical care\nare entering for an emergency\n\n\n\nIf you live in a house, you may go into your garden or courtyard. You can go\nonto your balcony if you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel.\nIf you are in a hotel you must avoid contact with other guests and staff.\nMonitor symptoms\nIf you develop cold or flu like symptoms in quarantine you should phone your\ndoctor or the healthdirect hotline. They\ncan tell you how to get a test for COVID-19.\nIf you are having serious symptoms you should call 000 straight away. This\nincludes shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or chest pressure or pain.\nTell the ambulance staff you are in quarantine and may have coronavirus.\nIf you live alone, a friend or family member can ring you to check that you\nare OK.\nIf you develop symptoms and test positive for coronavirus you will enter\nisolation. The people living with you now become close contacts and must go\ninto quarantine."}
{"_id":"Australiatest307","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat is quarantine?\u00a0\nQuarantine is when you are well but may have been in contact with someone with\nCOVID-19. If this happens they will be required to isolate from other people\nto prevent the spread of the virus. The quarantine period is 14 days from when\nyou may have been in contact with the virus.\nQuarantine is different to isolation and physical\ndistancing."}
{"_id":"Australiatest308","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSupport services\nThere are a range of support services available to help you. You can do the\nfollowing:\n\nVisit Head to Health for links to trusted Australian mental health online and phone supports, resources and treatment options. This useful website also has online programs and forums, as well as a range of digital information resources.\nContact your local state and territory health departments.\n\nNational Coronavirus Helpline\nCall this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or\nhelp with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a\nweek.\n1800 020 080\nView contact\nTranslating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)\nTIS National is for people who do not speak English and for agencies and\nbusinesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.\n131 450 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS\nNational)\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest309","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to get food and medication\nYou can get food and medication while in quarantine by doing one of the\nfollowing:\n\nAsk friends or family members you don\u2019t live with to get food and medication to leave at your door. If you need a prescription filled arrange this with your usual pharmacist or GP. You can then let your friend or family member know where to go to collect the medication.\nArrange a food delivery service. Have all food left outside your house. Do not let any delivery person into your home.\nIf you need a prescription filled you can arrange for your doctor to send your prescription to your pharmacy. They can then deliver it to your house. Read more about getting medicines and accessing health services.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest310","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWho must go into quarantine\nIf a public health authority directs you to, you must go into a mandatory\n14-day period of quarantine. During this time they will monitor you.\nYou will need to go into quarantine if you:\n\nhave returned home from overseas\nhave been in contact with someone who has confirmed or is likely to have COVID-19\nare entering certain remote areas in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory (unless exempt)\nare entering a state that has a required quarantine period\n\nIf you remain well after 14 days you will be able to leave quarantine. If you\ndevelop symptoms during this time you will need a test for COVID-19. Even if\nyou test negative you must stay in quarantine for the full 14 days.\nIf you test positive you will need to go into isolation. Anyone\nwho has been in your household is a close contact and must then go into\nquarantine."}
{"_id":"Australiatest311","title":"","text":"Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)\nLiving with other people while in quarantine\nIf you are well, others you live with don\u2019t need to quarantine unless they\nalso meet the criteria. You should limit your contact with them as much as\npossible by:\n\nstaying in your own room\nusing a separate bathroom, if you can\nstaying at least 1.5 metres away from others\navoiding common areas and wearing a mask when moving through these areas\nwearing a mask when in the same room as others\nnot sharing a room with people, especially people at risk of severe disease (this includes elderly people and people with heart, lung, or kidney conditions and diabetes)\npractising good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes\navoiding sharing household items\nfrequently cleaning the house, especially things people touch often, like door handles\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest312","title":"","text":"Racism has no place in Australia\nRacism has no place in Australia\nTranslating and Interpreting Service\nIf you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,\ndon\u2019t put up with it; report it.\nThe Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting\nservice for people who do not speak English. The majority of TIS National\nservices are free to non-English speakers.\n\nPhone: 131 450\nVisit: www.tisnational.gov.au\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest313","title":"","text":"Racism has no place in Australia\nRacism has no place in Australia\nPolice assistance\nIf you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,\ndon\u2019t put up with it; report it.\n\nIf you are threatened with violence or violently attacked, contact the police.\nGet to a safe location as soon as possible.\nIn an emergency or life threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for police.\nIf you require police assistance, but there is no immediate danger, call the Police Assistance Line (131 444).\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest314","title":"","text":"Racism has no place in Australia\nRacism has no place in Australia\nCounselling and Mental Health Wellbeing\nIf you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,\ndon\u2019t put up with it; report it.\nA new 24\/7 support service specifically designed to help people through the\nCOVID-19 pandemic is available free of charge to all Australians.\nThe support service can be accessed through the website\nhttps:\/\/coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au\/\nFor personal crisis and mental health support services you can contact Beyond\nBlue on 1800 512 348 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.\nKids Helpline is a free service for young people aged 5 to 25. Kids, teens and\nyoung adults can call 1800 551 800 at any time."}
{"_id":"Australiatest315","title":"","text":"Racism has no place in Australia\nRacism has no place in Australia\nNational Information Service\nIf you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,\ndon\u2019t put up with it; report it.\nThe Australian Human Rights Commission\u2019s National Information Service (NIS)\nprovides information and referrals for individuals, organisations and\nemployers about a range of human rights and discrimination issues. This\nservice is free and confidential.\nThe NIS can:\n\ngive you information about your rights and responsibilities under federal human rights and anti-discrimination law\ndiscuss whether you may be able to make a complaint to the Commission or how the law might apply to your situation\ngive you information about how to make a complaint, respond to a complaint or deal with specific discrimination issues\nrefer you to another organisation that may be able to help you\n\nPlease note that the NIS is unable to provide legal advice.\nYou can contact the NIS by:\n\nPhone: 1300 656 419 or 02 9284 9888\nEmail: infoservice@humanrights.gov.au\nFax: 02 9284 9611\nNational Relay Service: 1300 555 727 (Speak and Listen) or internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest316","title":"","text":"Racism has no place in Australia\nRacism has no place in Australia\nRacial hatred and the Australian Human Rights Commission\nIf you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,\ndon\u2019t put up with it; report it.\nIn Australia it is against the law to do something in public based on the\nrace, colour, national or ethnic origin of a person or group of people which\nis likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate.\nExamples of racial hatred may include:\n\nracially offensive material on the internet, including eforums, blogs, social networking sites and video sharing sites\nracially offensive comments or images in a newspaper, magazine or other publication such as a leaflet or flyer\nracially offensive speeches at a public rally\nracially abusive comments in a public place, such as a shop, workplace, park, on public transport or at school\nracially abusive comments at sporting events by players, spectators, coaches or officials.\n\nThe law aims to strike a balance between the right to communicate freely\n(\u2018freedom of speech\u2019) and the right to live free from racial hatred. In some\ncircumstances actions may not be against the law if they are \u201cdone reasonably\nand in good faith\u201d.\nIf you experience racial hatred you can make a complaint to the Australian\nHuman Rights Commission. The complaint process is simple, free and flexible.\nTo lodge a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, visit\nwww.humanrights.gov.au\/complaints."}
{"_id":"Australiatest317","title":"","text":"Retirees\nReduced drawdowns\nSuperannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and\nsimilar products are being reduced by 50 per cent for the 2019-20 and 2020-21\nincome years.\nThis is designed to ease pressure on retirees to sell investment assets in the\ncurrent economic climate.\nYour minimum drawdown allowance will vary depending on your age.\nFor those under 65 the minimum drawdown halves from 4 per cent to 2 per cent.\nFor those aged 74 to 79 it halves from 6 per cent to 3 per cent. For those\naged 95 and over it drops from 14 to 7 per cent."}
{"_id":"Australiatest318","title":"","text":"Retirees\nDeeming rates\nThe Government is also reducing both the upper and lower social security\ndeeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5\npercentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020.\nThe change reflects the low interest rate environment, reducing the income\ndeemed to have been earned from interest on investments and savings allowing\nfor an increase in social security payments .\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest319","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a temporary visa\nI have a Visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)\nUnder Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a visitor visa or\nETA. You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.\nIf you have a \u2018no further stay condition\u2019 attached to your visa, you will need\nto apply to have this waived before you make any visa application.\nIf you cannot depart Australia as planned, check your permitted stay period,\nvisa expiry date and visa conditions to make sure you remain lawful in\nAustralia.\nYou can check your visa details in\nVEVO, the myVEVO\napp,\nin your visa grant letter or your\nImmiAccount. You can check your ETA\nexpiry and conditions through our Check an ETA\nservice.\nWhen you apply for a new visa, you may be granted a bridging visa that will\nkeep you lawful in Australia until a decision is made on your visa\napplication.\nIf your visa has already expired, see My visa has expired."}
{"_id":"Australiatest320","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Bridging visa E\nThis temporary visa allows you to stay in Australia while you:\n\nmake arrangements to leave\nfinalise your immigration matter\nwait for an immigration decision.\n\nWorking rights\nYou may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa\nconditions.\nYou can check by:\n\nusing the VEVO service, or\naccessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.\n\nExpiring Bridging visas\nIf you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply\nfor another visa.\nStatus Resolution Service\nThe Status Resolution Service (SRS) program can provide you with temporary\nsupport.\nYou may be eligible for support if you are:\n\nwithout a visa and living in Australia\nan illegal maritime arrival (IMA) and have lodged a valid Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) application\na non-IMA and have lodged a valid protection visa application\na holder of a Bridging Visa E (BVE)\nfacing significant barriers that are impacting on your ability to resolve your immigration status.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest321","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Bridging visa A, B or C\nWorking rights\nBridging visas A, B and C allow you to stay in Australia after your current\nvisa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.\nYou may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa\nconditions.\nYou can check by:\n\nusing the VEVO service, or\naccessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.\n\nIf you are in a difficult financial situation and your Bridging visa does not\nlet you work, or has restrictions on working, you can apply for a Bridging\nvisa A that lets you work. However, you will need to\nshow that you are in a difficult financial situation.\nIf you do not meet the requirements for work, and you are still eligible for a\nBridging visa, we will grant you a new Bridging visa with the same conditions\nthat were on your previous Bridging visa.\nYou will not be granted a new Bridging visa that lets you work if:\n\nyour current Bridging visa A was granted to you because you have applied for judicial review of the decision made on your original visa application, or\nyou have applied for a protection visa.\n\nSee: Information on how to apply."}
{"_id":"Australiatest322","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Working Holiday Maker visa\nI work in a non-critical sector for COVID-19\nWorking Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. However, if you have completed\nthree or six months of work in Australia, you may be able to apply for a\nsecond or third Working Holiday Maker visa.\nSee specified work conditions for more information.\nIf you have not completed the three or six months of specified work required\nto apply for a second, or third Working Holiday visa because of COVID-19 \u2014\nand you are not working in a critical sector, you should apply for another\nvisa to remain lawful until you\u2019re able to return to your home country.\nTo be granted a new visa, you must meet the requirements for that visa,\nincluding any age limits, English language, health and character requirements.\nVisa condition 8547 \u2014 six month work limitation with one employer\nWorking Holiday Makers can do any kind of work during their stay in Australia,\nbut this is generally limited to six months\u2019 work with any one employer,\nunless the Department has given permission to work with the same employer for\nlonger than six months.\nIn some situations Working Holiday Makers have permission from the Department\nto work for the same employer for longer than six months, where the work is:\n\nin different locations and work in any one location does not exceed six months\nin plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia\nin certain industries in northern Australia only\nassisting bushfire recovery efforts.\n\nIn any other circumstance, you need to request\npermission\nto work with the same employer for longer than six months."}
{"_id":"Australiatest323","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a temporary visa\nVisa conditions\nNo work condition\nVisitor visa and ETA holders are not permitted to work in Australia.\nVisa stay period\nThe stay period on an existing visa cannot be extended. Your visa will cease\nif you are still in Australia at the end of your permitted stay period. If you\ncannot depart Australia within the permitted stay period on your visa, you\nshould apply for a further visa before the date on which your visa ceases.\nIf you departed and returned to Australia on a round-trip cruise, this may not\nbe considered as a departure from Australia for the purposes of your permitted\nstay period. Please check the information provided to you by your cruise ship\ncompany.\nNo further stay condition (includes 8503, 8534 and 8535)\nIf you hold a visa with condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 and cannot depart\nAustralia as planned, you cannot apply for most other visas in Australia\nunless the condition is waived. You can request to waive this\ncondition if\nyour visa will expire in less than four weeks. If your request is approved,\nyou should make a new visa application before your current visa expires.\nCondition 8531 (must not remain in Australia beyond the period of stay\npermitted by the visa)\nIf you hold a visa with condition 8531 and cannot depart Australia as planned,\nyou should apply for a further visa before the date on which your visa ceases.\nIf you are also subject to condition 8503, you will need to request a waiver\nof this condition first.\nWe understand some people cannot leave Australia as planned due to travel\nrestrictions, and we will take this into account for any future visa or\nsponsorship applications.\nCondition 8558 (must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any\n18 month period)\nIf you hold a visa with condition 8558 and cannot depart Australia as planned,\nyour visa will cease if you stay in Australia for 12 consecutive months at\na time.\nIf you have been in Australia for 12 cumulative months in an 18 month\nperiod, your visa will still remain valid until the visa expiry date.\nYou should apply for a further visa if your visa will expire before you can\ndepart Australia. If you are also subject to condition 8503, you will need to\nrequest a waiver of this condition first.\nVisa processing arrangements\nIf you need to apply for a new visa to stay in Australia, you can still\nexplore your visa options and make a visa application at\nImmiAccount. We encourage applicants\nto apply online wherever possible, as these applications will be processed\nfaster.\nSome services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by\nCOVID-19 and a range of services we rely on (such as medical checks and\nbiometric collection) are increasingly unavailable. Applicants will be given\nadditional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.\nWe will take the service disruptions into account when considering your visa\napplication.\nYou do not need to contact us to ask for more time to complete these checks."}
{"_id":"Australiatest324","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Student visa\nCan I extend my Student visa?\nUnder Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a Student visa.\nYou need to apply for a new visa if:\n\nyou cannot return to your home country and your visa is expiring\nyou need more time in Australia to complete your course.\n\nYou should apply for a new Student visa six weeks before your existing Student\nvisa expires. There is no need to provide evidence of impacts of COVID-19 with\nyour Student visa application.\nIf your study in Australia is ending, you can apply for a Visitor visa\n(subclass 600). You need to do this before your Student visa expires.\nMore information on the Visitor visa.\nSome services relating to the visa application process may be impacted and a\nrange of services are becoming unavailable. This includes panel doctors who\nundertake medical checks, English language testing facilities and biometric\ncollection. While these services are unavailable, many applicants cannot meet\nvisa requirements. Students will be given additional time to complete checks\nand provide the requested information.\nImportantly though, making a new application before the current visa expires\nwill give you a bridging visa to remain lawful while all requirements are met.\nAustralian study requirements\nThe Department of Home Affairs does not regulate mode of study requirements.\nYou should contact your education provider.\nPlease refer to the Joint TEQSA and ASQA statement relating to flexible\ndelivery.\nFor the exceptions as a result of the travel restrictions, see the National\nCode requirements for affected tertiary students to undertake online\nstudy.\nNotifying the Department\nYou do not need to notify the Department if you return home, or your study\nsituation changes.\nYour visa remains valid until you lodge another visa application, or your visa\nexpires. The status of your visa will remain unchanged if you return home or\ndefer your studies.\nStudents experiencing financial difficulties\nYou are encouraged to rely on family support, part-time work where available\nand your own savings to sustain yourself in Australia.\nIf you are unable to support yourself, you should make arrangements to return\nto your usual country of residence, noting that it is a condition of all\nStudent visas that holders have access to funds to support themselves for the\nduration of their stay in Australia.\nStudents who have been in Australia longer than 12 months who find themselves\nin financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation.\nThe Government will continue to engage with the international education sector\nwhich is providing some financial support for international students facing\nhardship."}
{"_id":"Australiatest325","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme\nSubclass 403 visa holders in the Pacific Labour Scheme\nYou can apply for another subclass 403 visa in the Pacific Labour\nScheme where you and your employer\nare endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to participate in\nthe scheme. This visa will allow you to stay lawfully in Australia, and\ncontinue working, if you wish to do so, or until you can return to your home\ncountry."}
{"_id":"Australiatest326","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nMy visa has expired\nExpired inside 28 days\nIf your visa has expired, you need to apply for a Bridging visa E\n(BVE)\nimmediately in order to become lawful. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets\nyou remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.\nIf you want to stay lawfully in Australia, you must apply for a new visa. Your\ncircumstances will determine your visa options and what you must do to remain\nlawful. Depending on how long ago your visa expired, you may face restrictions\non applying for further visas while you are in Australia.\nSome services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by\nCOVID-19 and a range of services we rely on (such as medical checks and\nbiometric collection) are increasingly unavailable. Applicants will be given\nadditional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.\nExpired over 28 days ago\nIf your visa expired more than 28 days ago, please contact the Status\nResolution Service (SRS) for assistance to resolve your immigration\nstatus."}
{"_id":"Australiatest327","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme\nSubclass 403 visa holders in the Seasonal Worker Program\nYour visa cannot be extended. However, the Australian Government has\nintroduced new measures for those working in critical sectors in response to\nCOVID-19.\nYou may be eligible for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408 Australian\nGovernment Endorsed Event (AGEE)\nstream)\nvisa during the COVID-19 pandemic, if:\n\nyour visa is about to expire\nyour visa has already expired\nyou can\u2019t leave Australia\nyou are working in a critical sector, like health, aged care or agriculture.\n\nThis visa will allow you to stay lawfully in Australia, and continue working,\nif you wish to do so, or until you can return to your home country. Seasonal\nWorker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme arrangements, including those\nrelating to employers, will be carried over to the new visa arrangements,\ncontinuing the link with the agricultural sector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest328","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme\nVisa conditions: 8503 (No Further Stay) and 8577 (Changing Employers)\nFor the subclass 403 visa in the Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour\nScheme, condition 8577 means you are normally only allowed to work for one\nSponsor\/Approved Employer, unless the Department of Home Affairs gives you\npermission to change.\nDuring the COVID-19 period, you will be able to move between Sponsors\/Approved\nEmployers. If you need to move between Sponsors\/Approved Employers, your\nemployer must contact:\n\nthe Department of Education, Skills and Employment, if you are a Seasonal Worker\nthe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, if you are working in the Pacific Labour Scheme.\n\nUnder these temporary arrangements, employers are still required to abide by\nall relevant Australian workplace laws and you will continue to have the same\nrights under Australian workplace law as all other employees.\nFor the subclass 403 in the Seasonal Worker stream, during the COVID-19\nperiod, the condition 8503 (No Further Stay) attached to your visa will be\nautomatically waived to allow you to apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass\n408 Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream)\nvisa.\nYou will not need to apply for a waiver of condition 8503."}
{"_id":"Australiatest329","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) or Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)\nTemporary Skill Shortage and subclass 457 visa holders who have been stood\ndown, but not laid off, will maintain a valid visa and businesses will have\nthe opportunity to extend your visa as per normal arrangements.\nBusinesses will be able to reduce your hours without you being in breach of\nyour visa conditions or the business being in breach of their employer\nobligations.\nIf you have been laid off and are currently unemployed, you should find\nanother employer within 60 days or make arrangements to leave Australia, where\nthis is possible.\nIf you cannot return to your home country, you need to maintain a valid visa\nand follow Australia\u2019s health advice where necessary.\nHolders of temporary work visas currently employed in critical sectors, like\nhealth, aged care or agriculture, may also be eligible for a COVID-19\npandemic Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed\nAgreement Event (AGEE) stream\nvisa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest330","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Student visa\nLatest updates\/media releases\n\nBoosting health and disability worker numbers during the coronavirus\nCoronavirus and temporary visa holders\nAustralia\u2019s major supermarkets will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees to help keep shelves stocked.\nInternational students ready to fill critical staff shortages in aged care.\n\nThe Government is taking a flexible approach in relation to student visa\nconditions where COVID-19 restrictions have prevented conditions being met,\nsuch as attendance at class or use of online learning.\nIf your study in Australia is ending, and you are unable to depart Australia,\nyou can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You need to do this before\nyour Student visa expires.\nIf your course is \u2018out of session\u2019\nYou can work unlimited hours if your course is considered \u2018out of session\u2019.\nCourses are considered \u2018out of session\u2019 during scheduled course breaks or if a\nstudent has finished their course as scheduled.\nIf you are studying a masters by research or a doctorate course\nIf you have commenced studying a masters by research or a doctorate course,\nyou may work unlimited hours.\nIf your course has been deferred\nYou can work over 40 hours per fortnight if your course has been deferred.\nTemporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders\nCertain student visa holders are temporarily permitted to work more than 40\nhours per fortnight to support the supply of essential goods and services for\nAustralians if they are:\n\nemployed in the health sector, enrolled in a health related course (such as nursing or medicine) and are directed by a health official to assist in the effort against COVID-19\nemployed by registered supermarkets (this temporary measure will cease on 1 May 2020 for supermarkets)\nemployed in aged care by an Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider\nemployed by a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider.\n\nSee Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa\nholders."}
{"_id":"Australiatest331","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Working Holiday Maker visa\nI work in a critical sector for COVID-19 (Agriculture, Food processing, Health care,\u00a0Aged care, Disability care or Child care)\nWorking Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. However, if you have completed\nthree or six months of specified work in Australia, you may be able to\napply for a second or third Working Holiday Maker visa.\nThe Australian Government has introduced new measures in response to COVID-19.\nWorking holiday makers who are employed in critical sectors including\nagriculture, health, aged and disability care and childcare will be exempt\nfrom the six month work limitation with one employer.\nWorking holiday makers employed in critical sectors who haven\u2019t completed the\n3 or 6 months of specified work required to apply for a second or third\nWorking Holiday Maker visa, and are unable to return to their home country can\napply for COVID-19 pandemic Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) Australian\nGovernment Endorsed Agreement Event (AGEE) stream\nvisa\nand will not incur a visa application charge. This visa will allow you to\nremain lawfully in Australia, and continue working, should you wish to do so,\nuntil it is safe and practicable for you to return to your home country.\nTo be granted a new visa, you must meet the requirements for that visa,\nincluding any age limits, English language, health and character requirements.\nVisa condition 8547 \u2014 six month work limitation with one employer\nWorking Holiday Makers can do any kind of work during their stay in Australia,\nbut this is generally limited to six months\u2019 work with any one employer,\nunless the Department has given permission to work with the same employer for\nlonger than six months.\nWorking Holiday Makers working in critical sectors, like health, aged care or\nagriculture have permission from the Department to work for the same employer\nfor longer than six months, on the grounds of exceptional, unforeseen\ncircumstances.\nOther situations where Working Holiday Makers have permission from the\nDepartment to work for the same employer for longer than six months, include\nwhere the work is:\n\nin different locations and work in any one location does not exceed six months\nin plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia\nin certain industries in northern Australia only\nassisting bushfire recovery efforts.\n\nIn any other circumstance, you need to request\npermission\nto work with the same employer for longer than 6 months."}
{"_id":"Australiatest332","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Bridging visa A, B or C\nExpiring Bridging visas\nBridging visas A, B and C allow you to stay in Australia after your current\nvisa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.\nIf you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply\nfor another visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest333","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a Special Category visa\nNew Zealanders and Australians have arrangements whereby we can each stay and\nwork in each other\u2019s country."}
{"_id":"Australiatest334","title":"","text":"Staying in Australia\nI have a permanent visa\nPermanent Resident (PR) visa holders can remain in Australia indefinitely but\nif you intend to leave Australia and come back, you need to check the travel\nfacility period on your permanent visa (usually a five-year period).\nYou can check by:\n\nusing the VEVO service, or\naccessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.\n\nIf you enter Australia on a temporary visa when the travel facility on your\npermanent visa has expired, this will have an adverse impact on you. See\n'Resident Return visa' for details."}
{"_id":"Australiatest335","title":"","text":"Support for Australian households\nWorking from home and energy use\n\nIf you're concerned about your health and safety when working from home, COMCARE has detailed advice.\nThe Australian Cyber Security Centre has advice on sound cyber security practices. \nTips on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams and phishing emails is available from Stay Smart Online. \nThe Australian Taxation Office has issued new advice for people working from home at this time.\n\nThese tips can help you save energy working from home. Detailed information on\nhow to save energy is available for\nhouseholds and\nbusinesses.\nHeating and cooling\n\nAround 40% of home energy use can go on heating and cooling. Close off rooms not in use. Set your heating between 18\u00b0C and 20\u00b0C and your cooling between 25\u00b0C and 27\u00b0C.\nFor every degree you increase heating and cooling, you increase energy use between 5% and 10%.\nDress comfortably. You may need to look professional from the waist up for virtual meetings, but working from home means you can dress for the season.\n\nComputers\n\nSet your monitor to switch off\/sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity.\nReduce screen brightness to the lowest, visibly comfortable setting.\nSwitch off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you\u2019re not using them as they use a substantial amount of power by constantly searching for a signal.\nClose any applications you\u2019re not using.\nEnsure air vents on computer towers and laptops are kept clear and away from objects.\nDon\u2019t use active or animated screensavers.\nUnplug any USB devices (like mice, keyboards, speakers and flash drives) when not in use.\nSwitch off when you\u2019ve finished using your device, or set a timer.\nIf purchasing new equipment, look for the Energy Rating Label on all computer monitors\u2014the more stars the better.\nLaptops, ultrabooks and notebooks use less energy than desktop computers and can be battery-operated for extended periods.\n\nMobile phones\n\nSwitch off chargers at the wall once charging is complete, and avoid charging overnight if you can. \nReduce screen brightness and turn off live (animated) wallpapers to reduce battery drain.\nSwitch off Bluetooth and GPS when you\u2019re not using them as they use a substantial amount of power by constantly searching for signal.\nUse aeroplane mode where applicable.\nShorten the amount of time for the screen to turn off automatically\u2014try 30 seconds.\nDelete unwanted apps. The more applications your smartphone has, the faster the power will drain.\nSet your notification alerts to check at 30 minute intervals (or longer) and close applications when you don\u2019t need them. This can also make a big difference to your data usage.\n\nOffice equipment\n\nTurn off your printer, copier, scanner and multi-function devices when you're not using them.\n\u2018Think before you print\u2019 and opt for a printer that prints on both sides of the paper\u2014saving both time and resources.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest336","title":"","text":"Support for Australian households\nBilling and payment help\n\nIf you or your business are having trouble paying your bill you should call your electricity or gas provider. Their phone number is on your bill.\nAsk about what hardship support they can offer you. They have staff trained to assist.\nAsk to go on a payment plan, to pay your bill over a longer time or make small regular payments.\nStay on the plan to protect yourself from disconnection, interest payments and late fees.\nAsk if there are government concessions or rebates to help you at home or at work.\n\nAsk your current retailer if they can offer you a better deal. If they can\u2019t\ngive you more help you can switch providers to save. We step you through how\nto do this using free comparator sites on our Find the best energy\ndeal page.\nAsk your retailer if you are on all of the concessions you may be entitled to.\nYou can also check for all of the government rebates and\nassistance in your state or territory.\nIf your energy bill seems wrong, your retailer must review it if requested.\nIf you're still not satisfied, contact the energy ombudsman in your state or\nterritory. An ombudsman is a free and independent dispute resolution service.\nTheir numbers are listed below.\nIf you receive a disconnection notice from your retailer, contact them\nimmediately to discuss your options. You should not be disconnected during a\nprotected period, such as a weekend or public holiday. People registered as\ndepending on a life-support system have further protections from\ndisconnection.\nSome states and territories and some energy retailers have announced a pause\non disconnections during the COVID-19 emergency."}
{"_id":"Australiatest337","title":"","text":"Supporting the Flow of Credit\nAustralian Prudential Regulation Authority - Ensuring banks are well placed to lend\nThe Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced temporary\nchanges to its expectations regarding bank capital ratios. The changes will\nsupport banks\u2019 lending to customers, particularly if they wish to take\nadvantage of the new facility being offered by the RBA.\n\nAustralian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest338","title":"","text":"Supporting the Flow of Credit\nSupport for non-ADI and smaller ADI lenders in the securitisation market\nThe Government is providing the Australian Office of Financial Management\n(AOFM) with $15 billion to invest in structured finance markets used by\nsmaller lenders, including non-Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (non-\nADIs) and smaller Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs). This support\nwill be provided by making direct investments in primary market\nsecuritisations by these lenders and in warehouse facilities.\n\nAustralian Office of Financial Management\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest339","title":"","text":"Supporting the Flow of Credit\nSupport for immediate cash flow needs for SMEs\nUnder the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, the Government will provide a guarantee of 50 per cent to SME lenders\nto support new short-term unsecured loans to SMEs. The Scheme will guarantee\nup to $40 billion of new lending. This will provide businesses with funding to\nmeet cash flow needs, by further enhancing lenders\u2019 willingness and ability to\nprovide credit. This will assist otherwise viable businesses across the\neconomy who are facing significant challenges due to disrupted cash flow to\nmeet existing obligations."}
{"_id":"Australiatest340","title":"","text":"Supporting the Flow of Credit\nReserve Bank of Australia \u2013 Supporting the flow and reducing the cost of credit\nThe Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a package on 19 March 2020 that\nwill put downward pressure on borrowing costs for households and businesses.\nThis will help mitigate the adverse consequences of the Coronavirus on\nbusinesses and support their day-to-day trading operations. The RBA is\nsupporting small businesses as a particular priority.\nThe RBA announced a term funding facility for the banking system. Banks will\nhave access to at least $90 billion in funding at a fixed interest rate of\n0.25 per cent. This will reinforce the benefits of a low cash rate by reducing\nfunding costs for banks, which in turn will help reduce interest rates for\nborrowers. To encourage lending to businesses, the facility offers additional\nlow-cost funding to banks if they expand their business lending, with\nparticular incentives applying to new loans to SMEs.\nIn addition, the RBA announced a further easing in monetary policy by reducing\nthe cash rate to 0.25 per cent. It is also extending and complementing the\ninterest rate cut by taking active steps to target a 0.25 per cent yield on\n3-year Australian Government Securities.\n\nReserve Bank of Australia\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest341","title":"","text":"Supporting the Flow of Credit\nQuick and efficient access to credit for small business\nThe Government is cutting red tape by providing a temporary exemption from\nresponsible lending obligations for lenders providing credit to existing small\nbusiness customers. This reform will help small businesses get access to\ncredit quickly and efficiently."}
{"_id":"Australiatest342","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBoosting cash flow for employers\nTiming of additional payment\nThe additional payment will be applied to a limited number of activity\nstatement lodgments. We will deliver the payment as a credit to the entity\nupon lodgment of their activity statements. If this places the entity in a\nrefund position, we will deliver the refund within 14 days.\nQuarterly lodgers will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the\nquarters ending June 2020 and September 2020. Each additional payment will be\nequal to half of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payment\n(up to a total of $50,000).\nMonthly lodgers will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the\nJune 2020, July 2020, August 2020 and September 2020 lodgments. Each\nadditional payment will be equal to a quarter of their total initial Boosting\nCash Flow for Employers payment (up to a total of $50,000)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest343","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nTemporary early release of superannuation\nHow to apply\nIf you are eligible for this new ground of early release, you can apply\nthrough ATO online services in myGovExternal\nLink. You will\nneed to certify that you meet the eligibility criteria.\nIf you are a member of an APRA fund, we will process your application and then\nissue you with a determination. We will also provide a copy of this\ndetermination to your superannuation fund which will advise them to release\nyour superannuation payment. Your fund will then make the payment to you,\nwithout you needing to apply to them directly.\nIf you are a member of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), you can\napply through myGov from mid-April. We will issue you with a determination\nadvising of your eligibility to release an amount. When your SMSF receives the\ndetermination from you, they will be authorised to make the payment.\nFor more information on eligibility and how to apply, go to COVID-19 early\nrelease of super."}
{"_id":"Australiatest344","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBacking business incentive\nThe government is introducing a time limited 15-month investment incentive to\nsupport business investment and economic growth over the short-term, by\naccelerating depreciation deductions.\nA deduction of 50% of the cost of an eligible asset on installation will\napply, with existing depreciation rules applying to the balance of the asset\u2019s\ncost.\nEligibility\nEligible businesses are businesses with aggregated turnover below $500\nmillion.\nEligible assets are new assets that can be depreciated under Division 40 of\nthe Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (that is, plant, equipment and specified\nintangible assets, such as patents). This does not apply to second-hand\nDivision 40 assets, or buildings and other capital works depreciable under\nDivision 43.\nTiming\nThis applies to assets acquired after announcement and first used or installed\nby 30 June 2021."}
{"_id":"Australiatest345","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nJobKeeper Payment\nUnder the temporary JobKeeper Payment, businesses significantly impacted by\nthe COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak will be able to access a subsidy\nfrom the government of $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months.\nThis will allow them to keep paying their employees."}
{"_id":"Australiatest346","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBoosting cash flow for employers\nTiming of Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments\nThe Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payment will be applied to a limited\nnumber of activity statement lodgments. We will deliver the payment as a\ncredit to the entity upon lodgment of their activity statements. If this\nplaces the entity in a refund position, we will deliver the refund within 14\ndays.\nQuarterly lodgers will be eligible to receive the first payments for the\nquarters ending March 2020 and June 2020.\nMonthly lodgers will be eligible to receive the first payments for the March\n2020, April 2020, May 2020 and June 2020 lodgments. To provide a similar\ntreatment to quarterly lodgers, the payment for monthly lodgers will be\ncalculated at three times the rate (300%) in the March 2020 activity\nstatement.\nThe minimum payment will be applied to the entities\u2019 first lodgment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest347","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nTemporary early release of superannuation\nTiming\nYou can apply for early release of your superannuation between 20 April and 24\nSeptember 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest348","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nJobKeeper Payment\nPayment process\nThe JobKeeper Payment will assist employers to continue operating by\nsubsidising all or part of the employee's income. We will make the payments to\nthe employer on a monthly basis (in arrears).\nEligible employers will be paid $1,500 per fortnight per eligible\nemployee.\nEligible employees will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight,\nbefore tax. Employers are able to top-up the payment.\n\nEmployees will receive $1,500 per fortnight (before tax) if they were \nemployed on 1 March 2020\nceased employment with their employer due to the effects of COVID-19\nre-engaged by the same eligible employer. \n\n\n\nWhere employers participate in the scheme, their employees will receive the\npayment as follows:\n\nIf an employee's income is normally $1,500 or more per fortnight (before tax) they will continue to receive their regular income according to their usual workplace arrangements.\nIf an employee's income is less than $1,500 per fortnight (before tax), their employer must pay their employee $1,500 per fortnight (before tax).\nIf an employee has been stood down , their employer must pay their employee $1,500 per fortnight (before tax).\n\nIt will be up to the employer to decide whether to pay superannuation on any\nadditional wage paid because of the JobKeeper Payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest349","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBoosting cash flow for employers\nEligibility for Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments\nSmall and medium sized business entities and NFPs with aggregated annual\nturnover under $50 million and that employ workers will be eligible.\nEligibility will generally be based on prior year turnover.\nWe will deliver the payment as an automatic credit in the activity statement\nsystem from 28 April 2020 upon employers lodging eligible upcoming activity\nstatements.\nEligible employers that withhold tax to the ATO on their employees\u2019 salary and\nwages will receive a payment equal to 100% of the amount withheld, up to a\nmaximum payment of $50,000.\nEligible employers that pay salary and wages will receive a minimum payment of\n$10,000, even if they are not required to withhold tax.\nThe payments will only be available to active eligible employers established\nbefore 12 March 2020. However, charities that are registered with the\nAustralian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission will be eligible\nregardless of when they were registered, subject to meeting other eligibility\nrequirements. This recognises that new charities may be established in\nresponse to COVID-19."}
{"_id":"Australiatest350","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nEnhancing the instant asset write-off\nThe government is increasing the instant asset write-off (IAWO) threshold from\n$30,000 to $150,000 and expanding access to include businesses with aggregated\nannual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million).\nTiming\nThis proposal applies from 12 March 2020 until 30 June 2020, for new or\nsecond-hand assets first used, or installed ready for use in this timeframe."}
{"_id":"Australiatest351","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nTemporary early release of superannuation\nEligibility\nCitizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand\nTo be eligible for early release, citizens and permanent resident of Australia\nand New Zealand must be in one of the following circumstances :\n\nYou are unemployed.\nYou are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments), special benefit or farm household allowance.\nOn or after 1 January 2020, either \nyou were made redundant\nyour working hours were reduced by 20% or more\nyou were a sole trader and your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20% or more.\n\n\n\nTemporary residents\nTo be eligible for early release of super, temporary residents must be in\none of the following circumstances :\n\nYou hold a student visa that you have held for 12 months or more and you are unable to meet immediate living expenses.\nYou are a temporary skilled work visa holder whose working hours have been reduced to zero, however you remain engaged with your employer.\nYou are a temporary resident visa holder (excluding student or skilled worker visas) and you are unable to meet immediate living expenses.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest352","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nJobKeeper Payment\nTiming\nThe subsidy will apply from 30 March 2020.\nBusinesses will be able to register their interest in participating in the scheme from 30 March 2020.\nThe first payments will be received by employers in the first week of May."}
{"_id":"Australiatest353","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nJobKeeper Payment\nEligibility\n\nEmployers\nSelf-employed individuals\nEmployees\n\nEmployers\nEmployers (including not-for-profits) will be eligible for the subsidy if:\n\ntheir business has a turnover of less than $1 billion and their turnover will be reduced by more than 30% compared to a similar period (of at least a month) last year\ntheir business has a turnover of $1 billion or more and their turnover will be reduced by more than 50% compared to a similar period (of at least a month).\n\nBusinesses subject to the Major Bank LevyExternal\nLink\nare not eligible for the subsidy.\nEmployers will need to:\n\napply to us\nprovide supporting information demonstrating a downturn in their business\nreport the number of eligible employees employed by the business on a monthly basis.\n\nEligible employers will receive the payment for each eligible employee that:\n\nwas on their books on 1 March 2020\ncontinues to be engaged by that employer.\n\nSelf-employed individuals\nSelf-employed individuals will be eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment if\ntheir turnover has reduced (or is expected to reduce) by 30% compared to a\nsimilar period (of at least a month)\nSelf-employed individuals will need to:\n\napply to us\nprovide supporting information demonstrating a downturn in their business\n\nEmployees\nEligible employees include:\n\nfull-time, part-time or long-term casuals (with their employer on a regular basis for at least 12 months) as at 1 March 2020\nstood down employees of eligible employers on 1 March 2020\nstood down employees re-engaged by a business that was their employer on 1 March 2020\n\nWhere employees have multiple employers:\n\nOnly one employer will be eligible to receive the payment.\nThe employee will need to notify their primary employer to claim the JobKeeker Payment on their behalf.\nThe employee's claiming of the tax-free threshold will, in most cases, be sufficient evidence that the employer is the employee\u2019s primary employer.To be eligible, employees must be either an:\nan Australian citizen\nthe holder of a permanent visa\na Protected Special Category Visa Holder\na non-protected Special Category Visa Holder who has been residing continually in Australia for 10 years or more\na Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder.\n\nIf an employee has applied for support though Services Australia and the\nemployer will be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, the employee will need to\nadvise Services Australia of their new income."}
{"_id":"Australiatest354","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nTemporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown rates\nThe government is temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown\nrequirements for account-based pensions and similar products by 50% for\n2019\u201320 and 2020\u201321. This measure will benefit retirees holding these products\nby reducing the need to sell investment assets to fund minimum drawdown\nrequirements.\nThe government is also reducing both the upper and lower social security\ndeeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5\npercentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest355","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nTemporary early release of superannuation\nIndividuals financially affected by COVID-19 may be able to access some of\ntheir superannuation early. They will not need to:\n\npay tax on amounts released\ninclude it in their tax return.\n\nEligible Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents can apply\nonline through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 30\nJune 2020. They can also access up to a further $10,000 between 1 July 2020\nand 24 September 2020.\nAccessing your super early:\n\nwill affect your super balance\nmay affect your future retirement income.\n\nYou should consider seeking financial advice before applying for early release\nof super. Services Australia's Financial Information ServiceExternal\nLink can provide free , confidential financial\ninformation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest356","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBoosting cash flow for employers\nAs announced on 22 March, the government is providing up to $100,000 to\neligible small and medium sized businesses and not-for-profits (including\ncharities) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. These\npayments will help business and not-for-profit cash flow so they can keep\noperating, pay their bills and retain staff.\nSmall and medium sized business entities with aggregated annual turnover under\n$50 million and that employ workers are eligible. Not-for-profit entities\n(NFPs), including charities, with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million\nand that employ workers will now also be eligible. This will support\nemployment activities at a time where NFPs are facing increasing demand for\nservices.\nUnder the enhanced scheme, employers will receive a payment equal to 100% of\ntheir salary and wages withheld (up from 50%), with a:\n\nminimum payment of $10,000\nmaximum payment of $50,000.\n\nAn additional payment is also being introduced in the July \u2013 October 2020\nperiod. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the\ntotal of all the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments they have received.\nThis means that eligible entities will receive at least $20,000, up to a total\nof $100,000 under both payments. This additional payment continues cash flow\nsupport over a longer period:\n\nincreasing confidence\nhelping employers to retain staff\nhelping entities to keep operating.\n\nThe cash flow boost provides a tax-free payment to employers. We will\nautomatically calculate it."}
{"_id":"Australiatest357","title":"","text":"The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus\nBoosting cash flow for employers\nEligibility for additional payment\nTo qualify for the additional payment, the entity must continue to be active.\nMonthly activity statement lodgers\nFor monthly activity statement lodgers, the additional payments will be\ndelivered as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will\nbe equal to a quarter of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers\npayment following the lodgment of their June 2020, July 2020, August 2020 and\nSeptember 2020 activity statements (up to a total of $50,000).\nQuarterly activity statement lodgers\nFor quarterly activity statement lodgers the additional payments will be\ndelivered as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will\nbe equal to half of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers\npayment following the lodgment of their June 2020 and September 2020 activity\nstatements (up to a total of $50,000)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest358","title":"","text":"Transiting Australia\nI am a New Zealander or Pacific Islander transiting to Australia\nIf you are a New Zealander, citizen of a Pacific Island Forum country, Timor\nLeste citizen or resident of New Caledonia or French Polynesia transiting\nthough Australia on your way to or from New Zealand or a Pacific Island Forum\nCountry, you do not need a transit exemption if you have booked a\nconnecting flight to depart Australia within 72 hours of your arriving flight.\nDue to domestic travel restrictions, your outbound connecting flight must be\ndeparting from the same airport in Australia as your arrival flight, unless an\nexemption has been granted.\nIf your connecting flight means you will spend longer than 72 hours, you are\nnot considered to be transiting Australia and will need toapply\nonline to the Commissioner of the ABF for an\nexemption from the travel restrictions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest359","title":"","text":"Transiting Australia\nTransiting Australia\nForeign nationals transiting through Australia to another country don\u2019t need\nto apply for an exemption to travel restrictions if they are booked on a\nconnecting flight from the same airport and they are not going to leave the\nairport. If you plan to leave the airport before boarding your connecting\nflight, you will need to apply to the Commissioner of the ABF for a travel\nexemption. You can apply online ."}
{"_id":"Australiatest360","title":"","text":"Transiting Australia\nTransit quarantine arrangements\nIf you cannot remain in the airport before your connecting flight departs, you\nwill need a valid visa, or be eligible to TWOV, and you must follow the\nquarantine and isolation requirements in the state or territory that you have\narrived in. You must do this, even if you have an exemption from the ABF\nCommissioner.\nState and territory authorities will consider exemptions to the mandatory 14\nday quarantine\nperiod on a case by\ncase basis. To find out more about how quarantine works in your state or\nterritory, or to ask about someone you know who has been quarantined, contact\nyour state or territory government health\ndepartment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest361","title":"","text":"Transiting Australia\nTransit visa requirements\nTo transit through Australia, you must either hold a valid visa or be from an\neligible country to Transit Without a Visa\n(TWOV).\nIf you don\u2019t have a visa or are not eligible to TWOV that allows you lawful\nentry into Australia, you can apply for a Transit visa (subclass\n771) which allows you to transit through Australia for up to\n72 hours while you wait for your onwards flight. This visa doesn\u2019t allow you\nto stay in Australia longer. If you need to stay longer, you should apply for\na different visa.\nEligible New Zealand citizens can transit through Australia on a Special\nCategory visa (Subclass 444)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest362","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTreatment\nThere is no treatment for COVID-19. Medical care can treat most of the\nsymptoms.\nCOVID-19 is caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.\nSome reports suggest certain drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, can be used\nto treat COVID-19. The Therapeutic Goods\nAdministration has not approved hydroxychloroquine,\nor any other drug, for treating COVID-19, in Australia\nWe are supporting research to find effective treatments for the\nvirus. There is no approved vaccine for COVID-19, but global\nefforts to develop a vaccine continue.\nLimits on medications\nMany Australians need medication to manage a health condition. Medication\nshortages can threaten lives.\nTo make sure everyone has access to the medications they need, pharmacies must\nlimit sales of some prescription and over the counter medications.\nLearn more about limits on prescribing\nhydroxychloroquine and limits on other prescription and\nover-the-counter medications."}
{"_id":"Australiatest363","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow it spreads\nThe virus can spread from person to person through:\n\nclose contact with an infectious person (including in the 48 hours before they had symptoms)\ncontact with droplets from an infected person\u2019s cough or sneeze\ntouching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face\n\nCOVID-19 is a new disease, so there is no existing immunity in our community.\nThis means that COVID-19 could spread widely and quickly.\nSee how to protect yourself and others."}
{"_id":"Australiatest364","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSymptoms\nSymptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people\nwill recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly. People with\ncoronavirus may experience symptoms such as:\n\nfever\nrespiratory symptoms \ncoughing\nsore throat\nshortness of breath\n\n\n\nOther symptoms can include runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains,\nnausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste,\nloss of appetite and fatigue.\nTo stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory\ninfection are encouraged to get tested.\nIf you are concerned you may have COVID-19:\n\nuse the symptom checker\nsee how to seek medical attention\nsee more about testing\n\nhealthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker\nAnswer questions about your symptoms to see if you need to seek medical help\nor get tested. This tool is available online at any time.\nIf you do not have any symptoms, you should still protect yourself and\nothers."}
{"_id":"Australiatest365","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat is COVID-19\nCoronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections.\nThese can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.\nCOVID-19 is a disease caused by a new form of coronavirus. It was first\nreported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.\nOther coronaviruses include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome\n(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory\nSyndrome (SARS)."}
{"_id":"Australiatest366","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to seek medical attention\nIf you are sick and think you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek medical advice.\nIf you want to talk to someone about your symptoms, call the National\nCoronavirus Helpline for advice.\nNational Coronavirus Helpline\nCall this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or\nhelp with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a\nweek.\n1800 020 080\nView contact\nTo seek medical help from a doctor or hospital, call ahead of time to book an\nappointment.\nYou will be asked to take precautions when you attend for treatment. Follow\nthe instructions you are given.\nIf you have a mask, wear it to protect others. Stay at least 1.5 metres away\nfrom other people. Cover your coughs or sneezes with your elbow.\nTell the doctor about:\n\nyour symptoms\nany travel history\nany recent contact you have had with someone who has COVID-19\n\nGP respiratory clinics\nFind out below if there is a GP respiratory clinic near you and how to\nregister for an appointment :\n\nAustralian Capital Territory\nNew South Wales\nNorthern Territory\nQueensland \nSouth Australia\nTasmania\nVictoria\nWestern Australia\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest367","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWho is most at risk\nIn Australia, the people most at risk of getting the virus are:\n\ntravellers who have recently been overseas\nthose who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19\npeople in correctional and detention facilities\npeople in group residential settings\n\nPeople who are, or are more likely to be, at higher risk of serious illness if\nthey get the virus are:\n\nAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions\npeople 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions\npeople 70 years and older\npeople with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems\npeople in aged care facilities\npeople with a disability\n\nAt this stage the risk to children and babies, and the role children play in\nthe transmission of COVID-19, is not clear. However, there has so far been a\nlow rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases among children, relative to the broader\npopulation.\nThere is limited evidence at this time regarding the risk in pregnant women.\nSee our advice for people at risk."}
{"_id":"Australiatest368","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTesting\nThe criteria for having a test for COVID-19 are updated regularly as new\nevidence becomes available. Testing diagnoses patients with COVID-19 and also\nhelps health authorities monitor and track the spread of COVID-19.\nPeople with mild symptoms can still spread the virus. To help stop the\nresurgence and spread of COVID-19, anyone with symptoms of an acute\nrespiratory infection should get tested.\nThe symptoms include:\n\nfever\nrespiratory symptoms \ncoughing\nsore throat\nshortness of breath\n\n\n\nIf you have one or more of these symptoms, even mildly, it is important you\nget tested as soon as possible. Early diagnosis means you can take steps to\navoid spreading the virus to someone else.\nIf you have other symptoms that may occur with COVID-19 you should seek advice\nfrom your doctor or from healthdirect\nabout whether you should get tested.\nAs the situation changes, states and territories may adjust their testing\ncriteria based on local needs. For latest information check your state or\nterritory health website.\nTesting is even more important if you have symptoms and any of the following\napply to you:\n\nyou have returned from overseas in the past 14 days\nyou travelled on a cruise ship (either passenger or crew) in the 14 days before developing symptoms\nyou have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days\nyou are a health care, aged care or residential care worker or staff member with direct patient contact\nyou have lived in or travelled through an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit\n\nPeople in high-risk settings will be regularly monitored to ensure symptoms\nare identified early. Rapid response plans will be activated if someone in\nthose settings develops a fever or respiratory symptoms. People who have\nrecovered from COVID-19 need to be tested before they can go into high risk\nsettings.\nHigh-risk settings include:\n\naged and residential care facilities\ndetention centres or correctional facilities\nboarding schools\nmilitary group residences and other closed settings, such as Navy ships or live-in accommodation\nrural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities\n\nWhere to get tested\nYou can:\n\ncontact your doctor and they will arrange the test\nattend a respiratory or fever clinic\n\nRespiratory or fever clinics are dedicated health centres around the country\nfocusing on testing people with acute respiratory infection symptoms\nFind the respiratory\/fever clinic nearest to you. Your state or territory\nmay have extra clinics where you can get tested. You can find them through\nyour state or territory health website.\nIf your symptoms are serious, you should seek urgent medical attention. If\npossible, call ahead so the medical facility can prepare.\nIf it is a medical emergency, please call 000.\nThe Department of Health regularly reviews these criteria.\nAfter testing\nIt may take a day or two for your test results to come back.\nIf you have serious symptoms you will be kept in hospital and isolated from\nother patients to prevent the virus spreading.\nIf your doctor says you are well enough to go home while you wait for your\ntest results, you should:\n\nisolate at home\nprotect yourself and others\n\nFor questions about testing or patient welfare, call the National Coronavirus\nHelpline.\nNational Coronavirus Helpline\nCall this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or\nhelp with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a\nweek.\n1800 020 080\nView contact"}
{"_id":"Australiatest369","title":"","text":"What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTemperature checks\u00a0\nA temperature check is when a monitoring device, such as a contactless\nthermometer or thermal imaging, checks whether someone has a fever. In places\nlike hospitals and aged care facilities, temperature checks may be useful as\nan extra precaution to protect vulnerable people. Some places might test\nvisitors as well as workers.\nTemperature checks are not as useful in other settings. People with COVID-19\ndon\u2019t always develop fever, or they might have a fever from another illness.\nSome medications reduce fever.\nIf you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones, stay home and get\ntested for COVID-19. This is an important part of our 3-step framework for a\nCOVIDSafe Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest370","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nWhen should staff not come to work?\nAll staff, whether or not they have patient contact, should not come to work\nif they:\n\nhave a fever\nhave a symptom, even a minor symptom, of respiratory illness, such as a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion\n\nStaff should quarantine after:\n\nreturning from overseas in the past 14 days\nbeing a cruise ship passenger or crew who travelled in the past 14 days\nbeing in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19\n\nStaff should isolate:\n\nwhile waiting for the result of a COVID-19 test\nafter testing positive for COVID-19\n\nIf you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones, stay home and get tested for COVID-19. This is an important part of our\n3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia. Discuss whether you might be able to\nwork from home."}
{"_id":"Australiatest371","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nEmployer responsibilities\nAs an employer, you should brief all staff on how to prevent the spread of\nCOVID-19. This includes your\ncontract staff and domestic and cleaning staff.\nIf one of your staff members has tested positive for COVID-19, you need to\nfollow the health advice from the National Coronavirus\nHelpline on 1800 020\n080 or state or territory helpline.\nYou also need to:\n\nsupport employee personal hygiene\nmake sure the workplace is thoroughly cleaned\npromote physical distancing, where this does not prevent care\nadhere to the limits on public gatherings, noting that this does not apply to staff meetings\nsupport your employees\u2019 mental health\nprovide information to workers in residential age care facilities\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest372","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nAhpra pandemic response\nAustralian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency\n(Ahpra) have established a pandemic response sub-\nregister for up to 12 months (or less if the pandemic subsides) to\nhelp with fast tracking the return to the workforce of experienced and\nqualified health practitioners.\nPractitioners included are:\n\nmedical practitioners\nnurses\nmidwives\npharmacists\ndiagnostic radiographers\nphysiotherapists\npsychologists\n\nMore information is available for\nemployers and\npractitioners."}
{"_id":"Australiatest373","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nTemperature checks in the workplace\nTemperature checks of workers and visitors may be useful as an added\nprecaution in high-risk places such as hospitals and aged care facilities.\nThis helps protect the vulnerable people in those settings.\nBut temperature checks aren\u2019t always an accurate way of knowing whether\nsomeone has COVID-19. This is because:\n\npeople with COVID-19 don\u2019t always have a fever\nvarious other medical conditions or infection can cause a fever, not just COVID-19\nfever can go up and down during an infection or after taking medication\u2014it might be down at the time of the check\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest374","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nAccessing payments when staff cannot go to work\nStaff who are eligible for personal (\u2018sick\u2019) leave can claim this if they are\nunwell, or need to isolate.\nIf other staff are unable to work financial support is available. Find out\nwhat they may be eligible for and how they can\napply."}
{"_id":"Australiatest375","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nWhen should staff be tested for COVID-19?\nHealth care or aged care employees are at greater risk of exposure to\nconfirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus. It\u2019s important to detect COVID-19\nearly to protect both staff and those they come into contact including\npatients, clients and care recipients.\nStaff should be tested for COVID-19 if they develop fever or respiratory\nsymptoms.\nTheir doctor will confirm if they need to be tested and will arrange for the\ntest.\nStaff should stay home in isolation until they receive their results.\nAs aged and residential care facilities are high-risk-settings, residents and\nstaff will be also be tested if there are 2 or more people with fever and\nrespiratory symptoms in the setting.\nCOVID-19 test results\nIf the result is negative , the employee should remain at home until they\nare well enough to return to work.\nIf the result is positive , ask your staff member to follow the advice of\ntheir doctor and isolate themselves in their home or in a hospital until they\nare well.\nRead more information on\ntesting."}
{"_id":"Australiatest376","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nWhen other responsibilities may apply\nAdditional responsibilities may apply when your organisation:\n\nsupports patients face to face\nsupports patients remotely\nprovides aged care\n\nOnline training\nA 30-minute online module \u2014 COVID-19 infection control\ntraining \u2014 is\navailable for care workers across all health care settings.\nThis training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training\npartner Aspen Medical.\nRegister now\nPublications and fact sheets\nSee our resources on working arrangements for health and aged care workers\nduring COVID-19.\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged\ncare providers, pathology providers and health care\nmanagers\nA collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care\nproviders, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWebinars\nView our webinars on the COVID-19 response for the health and aged care\nsector."}
{"_id":"Australiatest377","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nFlu vaccination\nThe annual influenza (flu) vaccine for 2020 is now available.\nWe strongly encourage health care workers to get the flu vaccine every year.\nThe flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, but if anyone becomes ill\nwith both influenza and COVID-19 this can be very serious.\nAged care workers and all people entering aged care\nfacilities are required to be\nvaccinated.\nStaff may experience fever as a side effect of the\nflu vaccination. As fever is also a symptom of COVID-19, we recommend that\nstaff with fever be tested as a precaution."}
{"_id":"Australiatest378","title":"","text":"Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19\nWhen can staff come to work?\nHealth care providers rely on their workforce for the delivery of a range of\nhospital, aged care and allied health services. This ensures that Australians\nreceive the health care they need to stay well and maximise quality of life.\nStaff can still go to work if they have directly cared for confirmed cases\nwhile using personal protective equipment (PPE) properly.\nWhere vulnerable workers undertake\nessential work a risk assessment must be undertaken. Risk needs to be assessed\nand mitigated, taking into account the worker, the workplace and the work.\nThis should be conducted with your local Public Health Unit.\nWhere possible vulnerable people should be redeployed to non-care based roles.\nWhere risk cannot be appropriately mitigated, employers and employees should\nconsider alternate arrangements to accommodate a workplace absence."}
{"_id":"Australiatest379","title":"","text":"Working from home during COVID-19\nCalculating running expenses\nThere are three ways you can choose to calculate your additional running\nexpenses:\n\nshortcut method \u2500 claim a rate of 80 cents per work hour for all additional running expenses\nfixed rate method \u2500 claim all of these\na rate of 52 cents per work hour for heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning and the decline in value of office furniture\nthe work-related portion of your actual costs of phone and internet expenses, computer consumables, stationery\nthe work-related portion of the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device.\n\n\nactual cost method \u2500 claim the actual work-related portion of all your running expenses, which you need to calculate on a reasonable basis.\n\nFor more information on how to calculate and claim a deduction under the\nactual cost method or fixed rate method see Home office\nexpenses."}
{"_id":"Australiatest380","title":"","text":"Working from home during COVID-19\nClaiming a deduction\nTo claim a deduction for working from home, all of the following must\napply:\n\nYou must have spent the money.\nThe expense must be directly related to earning your income.\nYou must have a record to prove it.\n\nThis means you can't claim a deduction for items provided by your\nemployer, or if you have been reimbursed for the expense.\nIf you are not reimbursed by your employer, but instead receive an allowance\nfrom them to cover your expenses when you work from home, you:\n\nmust include this allowance as income in your tax return\ncan claim a deduction as outlined on this page.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest381","title":"","text":"Working from home during COVID-19\nExpenses you can claim\nIf you work from home, you will be able to claim a deduction for the\nadditional running expenses you incur. These include:\n\nelectricity expenses associated with heating, cooling and lighting the area from which you are working and running items you are using for work\ncleaning costs for a dedicated work area\nphone and internet expenses\ncomputer consumables (for example, printer paper and ink) and stationery\nhome office equipment, including computers, printers, phones, furniture and furnishings \u2013 you can claim either the\nfull cost of items up to $300\ndecline in value for items over $300.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest382","title":"","text":"Working from home during COVID-19\nShortcut method\nYou can claim a deduction of 80 cents for each hour you work from home due to\nCOVID-19 as long as you are:\n\nworking from home to fulfil your employment duties and not just carrying out minimal tasks such as occasionally checking emails or taking calls\nincurring additional deductible running expenses as a result of working from home.\n\nYou do not have to have a separate or dedicated area of your home set aside\nfor working, such as a private study.\nThe shortcut method rate covers all deductible running expenses, including:\n\nelectricity for lighting, cooling or heating and running electronic items used for work (for example your computer), and gas heating expenses\nthe decline in value and repair of capital items, such as home office furniture and furnishings\ncleaning expenses\nyour phone costs, including the decline in value of the handset\nyour internet costs\ncomputer consumables, such as printer ink\nstationery\nthe decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device.\n\nYou do not have to incur all of these expenses, but you must have incurred\nadditional expenses in some of those categories as a result of working from\nhome due to COVID-19.\nIf you use the shortcut method to claim a deduction for your additional\nrunning expenses, you cannot claim a further deduction for any of the expenses\nlisted above.\nYou must keep a record of the number of hours you have worked from home as a\nresult of COVID-19. Examples are timesheets, diary notes or rosters.\nIf you use the shortcut method to claim a deduction and you lodge your 2019\u201320\ntax return through myGov or a tax agent, you must include the note \u2018 COVID-\nhourly rate\u2019 in your tax return."}
{"_id":"Australiatest383","title":"","text":"Working from home during COVID-19\nExpenses you can\u2019t claim\nIf you are working from home only due to COVID-19, you can't claim:\n\noccupancy expenses such as mortgage interest, rent and rates\nthe cost of coffee, tea, milk and other general household items your employer may otherwise have provided you with at work.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest384","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nWedding cancellations\nMy wedding has been cancelled or reduced in size. Am I entitled to a refund of the deposit I\u2019ve paid separately to other vendors for products or services I no longer need, such as my florist, photographer, live band, car hire company, etc.?\n\nYou should first approach the provider of each service to see if they are prepared to offer a refund or other remedy, such as credit note or voucher.\nWhether you are entitled to refund of your deposit will depend on the terms and conditions of your booking with each vendor.\nYou may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest385","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nI\u2019ve paid for a subscription service to receive sporting service \u2013 what are my rights?\n\nMajor sporting codes in Australia and overseas have cancelled, suspended or postponed their seasons in response to COVID-19, and this means that many popular live sports are currently not available on subscription service platforms.\nIf you signed up with a subscription service to receive live sports, and these live sports are no longer available, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, and will not continue to be charged for your subscription while the services cannot be provided.\nUnder the Australian Consumer Law, businesses should not take payments for services when they know they are unable to supply those services, or will only be able to supply materially different services.\nIf you are not receiving what you signed up for, including concerns about any replacement services (e.g. a \u2018movies\u2019 package in substitute for live sports), you may be entitled to certain remedies under the consumer guarantees.\nYou should contact your subscription service provider to see if they are prepared to offer a change of plan or other remedy.\nIf you have not been able to resolve things directly with your service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest386","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nLocal sporting clubs or associations\u00a0\nWhat if the season is cancelled?\n\nIf your sporting club or association\u2019s season has been cancelled, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher for a future season, in most circumstances.\nIf the season is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.\nYou should check for a cancellation policy under your membership terms and conditions, and contact the state or national body directly to see if you are entitled to full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.\nIf you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your membership, the state or national body is not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.\nYou may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.\nYou should contact your club directly if you believe you are entitled to a refund or other remedy, such as a credit voucher to use in a future season. Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages the state and national bodies, and clubs and associations, to treat consumers fairly and consider appropriate mechanisms to provide refunds or credit notes to consumers.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest387","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTravel cancellations and changes\nMy flight, cruise or tour has been cancelled. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nIf your travel is cancelled the ACCC expects that consumers will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher, in most circumstances. In some cases, consumers will have the right to receive a refund, rather than a credit note or voucher. For example, you may be entitled to a refund under the terms and conditions of your ticket.\nIf you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your ticket, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.\nSimilarly, if you were previously told by a business that you would receive a refund for your cancelled travel, the business is not permitted to later deny you the promised refund.\nDepending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.\nTravel cancellations due to government restrictions do impact your rights under the consumer guarantee provisions of the Australian Consumer Law. However, you may have other remedies, including potential rights to a refund, outside of the consumer guarantees, as explained above.\nYou should check your terms and conditions, and any previous communications with the business, and contact the business directly to request a remedy. This may be a refund or credit note or voucher, depending on your circumstances.\nIf you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.\nState and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.\nThe ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly in these exceptional circumstances.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest388","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nGym memberships\nWhat if I have made an upfront payment that covers the closure period?\n\nIf you\u2019ve made an upfront payment that covers the period of the closure then the ACCC expects you will receive a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher. However, if the service has been suspended due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights to a refund under the consumer guarantees. You should look at the terms and conditions of your contract and any cancellation policy announced by the business, and get in touch with them directly. You may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest389","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nLocal sporting clubs or associations\u00a0\nWhat if the season resumes, but is shortened?\n\nIf your sporting club or association announces that the 2020 season will be resuming, but will be shortened or altered, you may still be entitled to a remedy such as a partial refund, credit note or voucher where the value of the service has been reduced.\nHowever, whether you are entitled to a remedy will depend on the particular circumstances of the revised season, any applicable terms and conditions of your membership, and what you receive in exchange for your membership fees. For example, funds paid toward uniform, equipment or insurance costs may be non-refundable given they cover the duration of the season or registration, irrespective of the season length.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest390","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nWedding cancellations\nI\u2019ve purchased my wedding dress online from overseas and I\u2019m worried it won\u2019t be delivered. Can I cancel my order and get a refund?\n\nIf a supplier has accepted payment for your wedding dress, they must supply it to you by the date they have indicated or, if no time was specified, within a reasonable timeframe.\nYou should first contact your supplier to ask whether the dress is still able to be delivered and, if so, when you can expect to receive it.\nIf the business advises that your dress can no longer be supplied, then the ACCC expects you will receive a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher.\nThe ACCC understands that many businesses are struggling to manage supply delays at this point in time due to circumstances outside their control. We urge consumers to remain patient and anticipate that it may take longer than usual for goods to be supplied.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest391","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nEvent cancellations\nI bought tickets for an event that has been cancelled. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nIf your event is cancelled the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher, in most circumstances.\nIf the event is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.\nFor example, you may be entitled to a refund under the terms and conditions of your ticket.\nIf you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your ticket, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.\nDepending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.\nYou should contact the business directly to request a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher.\nIf you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.\nState and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest392","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nWedding cancellations\nMy venue has cancelled my booking. Am I entitled to a refund of my deposit?\n\nIf your wedding is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.\nFor example, you may be entitled to a refund of your deposit under the terms and conditions of your booking.\nYou should contact the venue directly to request a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note to postpone your wedding to a later date.\nIf you had a right to a refund under the terms and conditions at the time you made your booking, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.\nIf you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.\nDepending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.\nFor example, you may have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.\nState and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.\nThe ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly in these exceptional circumstances.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest393","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nEvent cancellations\nI bought tickets to an event that has been cancelled. Am I entitled to compensation for related travel or accommodation expenses booked separately?\n\nYou should first approach your travel or accommodation provider to see if they are prepared to offer a replacement service, refund or voucher.\nYou should also check whether you are covered under any travel insurance policy.\nYou may be entitled to compensation for these expenses under the Australian Consumer Law but this will depend on the specific circumstances. This is unlikely to be the case where the event is cancelled due to government restrictions.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest394","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nMaterial changes to services\nDo I need to keep paying for this changed service?\n\nWhere there have been changes to the service being provided, the ACCC expects that the business will clearly communicate these changes to its customers.\nYour rights in relation to a changed service will depend on whether the change is a material change or whether the change has a minimal effect on the business\u2019 ability to provide the service originally contracted for.\nWhere the change is a material change, you may wish to still continue with the service. However, if you do not wish to continue, the ACCC expects that business will not charge you for the changed service where you have advised the business that you do not wish to proceed with the changed service.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest395","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nGym memberships\nCan my gym charge me a membership \u2018freeze\u2019 or \u2018holding\u2019 fee for the period they are closed?\n\nMembership \u2018freeze\u2019 or \u2018holding\u2019 fees may be charged by gyms when customers elect to pause their membership, if this is permitted by the terms and conditions.\nGiven many memberships are being paused due to the government restrictions preventing gyms from operating, rather than customers requesting a pause, the ACCC expects that gyms will not charge membership \u2018freeze\u2019 or \u2018holding\u2019 fees.\nThe ACCC also expects that gyms will refund any such holding fees incorrectly charged since the government restrictions came into effect.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest396","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTravel cancellations and changes\nMy flight, cruise or tour service has been cancelled. Am I entitled to compensation for related expenses booked separately, such as accommodation?\n\nYou should first approach the provider of the related service to see if they are prepared to offer a refund, replacement service or voucher.\nYou should also check whether you are covered under any travel insurance policy.\nYou may be entitled to compensation for these expenses under the Australian Consumer Law but this will depend on the specific circumstances. This is unlikely to be the case where the travel is cancelled due to government restrictions.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest397","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nI have a gift card, or have paid for a series of services in advance, and the business has gone under.\n\nIf a business has become insolvent, you may become an \u2018unsecured creditor\u2019 if you have: \nbought or received a gift card and have not used it\nbeen issued with a credit note\npaid in advance for products or services.\n\n\nIf the business continues to trade under control of an external administrator, you may still receive products or services that you paid for, and\/or still be able to use gift cards or credit notes. However, the business may also refuse to accept gift cards or credits as a form of payment.\nWhether and how the business will honour specific transactions will be announced by the external administrator. You should follow the directions given by the administrator for these transactions. For example, the administrator may honour gift cards by requiring an additional dollar be spent for every dollar used on the gift card.\nIf the business ceases trading, consumers will generally become unsecured creditors. You will need to register with the external administrator as an ordinary unsecured creditor to seek to recover your money. The insolvency process will determine whether you receive any payment at all. The Corporations Act 2001 regulates the order in which external administrators and liquidators repay money owed by a company to secured and unsecured creditors.\nPlease see our guidance on when a business goes bust for further information.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest398","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nLocal sporting clubs or associations\u00a0\nDo I have to continue paying my membership or registration fees?\n\nIf you make regular instalments or payments, the Australian Consumer Law prohibits businesses from taking payments for goods or services when there are reasonable grounds to believe the services won\u2019t be supplied. So you do not have to continue to make regular payments to your club or association while services have ceased.\nAlternatively, if you wish to continue to financially support your local club during this time, you could continue making payments as a gesture of goodwill, or request that your regular payments be credited towards a future season.\nIf payments have been already been deducted then you should contact the club or association to see if you can have the payments refunded.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest399","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nA business that has possession of my item as collateral for a cash loan has temporarily closed.\n\nIf a business has possession of your item as collateral for a cash loan, you should first check the terms and conditions of your contract.\nIf a business has possession of your item as collateral for a cash loan and you have not yet repaid the loan, you are generally not entitled to have the item returned until you make all repayments according to the terms and conditions of the loan.\nIf you have repaid your loan, the ACCC expects you will not be required to continue paying interest on the loan while it is in the business\u2019s possession and they are temporarily closed. The ACCC also expects the business will use reasonable endeavours to return the item to you. This could include providing a way for you to collect the item in person, or delivering the item to you where appropriate.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest400","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nI have goods on lay-by, or have paid for a series of services in advance, and the business is temporarily closed.\n\nYou can cancel your lay-by agreement at any time before you receive the products. If you cancel the lay-by, the business must refund your deposit and all other amounts you\u2019ve paid except any applicable termination fee.\nYou should check the terms and conditions of your lay-by agreement before contacting the business to cancel your lay-by.\nIf you wish to retain your lay-by for when the business resumes trade, the terms and conditions of your lay-by agreement continue to apply.\nHowever, the ACCC expects businesses to treat consumers fairly, and not terminate the lay-by agreement during the closure period if consumers can\u2019t make scheduled payments in the circumstances.\nIf you have paid for services in advance, the business may still be able to supply the services when it reopens. If this is the case, the ACCC expects the business to extend the validity period of the pre-payments to allow for the period the business was unable to provide the services.\nIf you make regular payments by subscription or otherwise for services which are not being provided because the business has temporarily closed, these payments should not continue to be deducted by the business.\nIf you would prefer to have your pre-payments refunded, you will need to check the terms and conditions of your pre-payment agreement and speak to the business to check what they may be prepared to offer.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest401","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nI have a faulty product but the business\u2019s physical stores are temporarily closed.\n\nUnder the Australian Consumer Law, you are entitled to a remedy if your product fails to meet a consumer guarantee. These consumer guarantee rights continue to apply even where a business\u2019s physical stores are temporarily closed.\nIf you have purchased a faulty product, you may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. The remedy you\u2019re entitled to will depend on whether you have a major or minor problem with a product.\nYou are not entitled to a consumer guarantee remedy if you have simply changed your mind, found it cheaper somewhere else, decided you did not like the purchase, or had no use for it.\nIn most cases, you can choose to seek a remedy from the retailer you purchased it from, or directly from the manufacturer.\nYou are generally responsible for returning the product if it can be posted or easily returned.\nHowever, where a product is too large, too heavy or too difficult to remove, the business is responsible for paying the shipping costs or collecting the product within a reasonable time of being notified of the problem.\nYou should contact the retailer or manufacturer directly to discuss the options available to return your faulty product, and to obtain a repair, replacement or refund.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages businesses to implement appropriate mechanisms to assist consumers seeking to return faulty products.\nPlease see our guidance for further information on repairs, replacements and refunds.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest402","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTravel cancellations and changes\nMy travel booking has not yet been cancelled, even though it seems unlikely that restrictions will be lifted by then. Can I cancel now?\n\nMany travel service providers have short-term COVID-19 policies allowing for credits or refunds which do not apply to bookings after a certain date, as the travel service provider does not yet have certainty as to whether future travel will be cancelled. In many cases, these dates have subsequently been extended as travel restrictions remain in place, and travel service providers cancel further services.\nIf you cancel your booking before your travel service is cancelled, this could be classified as a 'change of mind' cancellation and this could limit your ability to obtain a refund or a credit.\nIf you are concerned about this, the ACCC recommends that you contact the business you made your booking with to ask: \nhow far out from your travel date will the business confirm the cancellation of your travel, if it is to be cancelled\nhow its cancellation policy will apply if travel restrictions are still in place at the date of your booking and your travel is cancelled\nwhat remedies may be available to you if you cancel now as compared to what remedies may be available to you if you wait until the service provider cancels.\n\n\nDepending on your circumstances, it may be in your interests to wait for further updates from your travel service provider before taking any steps to cancel your travel and seek a remedy.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest403","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nMy telecommunications service is no longer working well.\n\nIf you are spending increased time in your home, including working from home, you might find that your current mobile or internet plan is no longer suitable, particularly if there are a number of people using the same service in your home.\nThere are many different mobile and internet services available, from entry level with minimal inclusions to high level plans which might include more data, phone calls and other content.\nIf your needs have changed, contact your service provider and see if they have a better plan for you, or see what other providers might be able to offer you.\nPlans also change over time so if you haven\u2019t compared your existing mobile or internet plan with what\u2019s currently available for a while this might a good time to get a better deal.\nIt is also worth noting that some mobile and internet service providers are increasing data allowance packages for customers.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest404","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nA business that has possession of my item for repair or alteration has temporarily closed.\n\nIf a business has possession of your item for repair or alteration, you should first check the terms and conditions of your contract with the service provider to see when you are entitled to get the item back.\nYou may also have rights under the Australian Consumer Law. The consumer guarantees provide that services such as repairs and alterations must be delivered in a reasonable time when there is no agreed end date.\nIf the service has not yet been provided by the business and is unlikely to be delivered in a reasonable time, you may be entitled to cancel the contract, have any money already paid refunded to you, and the item returned \u2014 although this position will be different if the business is prevented from supplying services as a direct result of Government restrictions.\nIf the service has been already been provided by the business, you may be required to complete payment of any unpaid amounts before being entitled to get the item back.\nThe ACCC expects that, given the exceptional circumstances, once you have fully paid for the service, the business should make reasonable endeavours to return your item to you, even if its physical stores are temporarily closed. This could include providing a way for you to collect the item in person, or delivering the item to you where appropriate.\nYou should contact the business directly to discuss options for the return of your item.\nDepending on your circumstances, you may also have rights under common law, contract or state bailment legislation.\nState and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest405","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nProduct price increases\nCan businesses increase prices for certain products that are in heightened demand due to COVID-19 (for example, face masks)?\n\nThe ACCC cannot prevent or take action to stop excessive pricing, as it has no role in setting prices.\nIn some limited circumstances excessive pricing may be unconscionable, for example where the product is critical to the health or safety of vulnerable consumers.\nIf a business makes misleading claims about the reason for price increases, it will be breaching the Australian Consumer Law.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest406","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nWith more users online, my internet service isn\u2019t working as well as it should (e.g. slower speed, interrupted service) \u2013 what are my rights?\n\nThe quality of internet services in Australia may be affected by increased consumer demand. There are steps you can take to maximise the performance of your home internet service.\nIf you are not receiving the internet service you signed up for, you may also be entitled to certain remedies under consumer guarantees.\nYou should contact your provider in the first instance if you have issues with your internet service.\nInternet service providers might address your concerns in various ways, for example by offering additional \u2018free\u2019 features like unlimited data during the crisis, or a change of plan.\nIf you have not been able to resolve the problem with your service provider, you can lodge a complaint with theTelecommunications Industry Ombudsman.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest407","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nWedding cancellations\nI took out wedding insurance, but I\u2019ve been told it doesn\u2019t cover me for cancellations due to COVID-19. What can I do?\n\nYou should first contact your insurer to check whether you are covered for your wedding cancellation under your wedding or event insurance policy.\nIf you disagree with your insurer\u2019s decision you should discuss your complaint with them and explain what you would like the outcome to be. As part of the insurer\u2019s Internal Dispute Resolution they will have a certain number of days to respond to your dispute.\nIf your dispute remains unresolved, you can contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) for assistance. The AFCA Significant Event Hotline (1800 337 444) provides priority service for those financially impacted by COVID-19 and wish to make a complaint about financial products or services.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest408","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nThird-party booking sites\nI have booked a service or experience through a third-party booking site, but the service or experience has been cancelled by the provider. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nIf a business has cancelled the service or experience you have booked with them through a third-party booking site, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher, from the third-party booking site.\nIn some cases, you may have the right to receive a refund, rather than a credit note or voucher, as you may be entitled to a refund under the terms and conditions of purchase or booking through the third-party booking site.\nIf you had a right to a refund under the terms and conditions at the time you made your purchase from the third-party booking site, the booking site is not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.\nWhere the service or experience has been cancelled by the provider due to government restrictions, you are unlikely to have a right to a refund from the booking site under the consumer guarantee provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.\nYou should check your terms and conditions and contact the third-party booking site directly to request a remedy. This may be a refund or credit note or voucher, depending on your circumstances.\nIf you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiry date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.\nState and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation.\nConsumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under other laws, such as the law that applies to frustration of contract.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest409","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nWedding cancellations\nI want to return my (un-worn) wedding dress, shoes, bridesmaids\u2019 dresses etc. because I no longer need them. Am I entitled to a refund for these items?\n\nYou are not entitled to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law if you wish to return wedding items that you have purchased but no longer require.\nUnder the Australian Consumer Law, you are only entitled to a remedy if your product fails to meet a consumer guarantee. The remedy you\u2019re entitled to will depend on whether you have a major or minor problem with the product.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest410","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nCan I still move to the NBN?\n\nIf you have not already moved to the NBN, you may wish to consider making the move now to boost your download or upload broadband speeds.\nIf you are considering making the move, we would encourage you to shop around for a suitable RSP and plan that meets your needs and budget. We also recommend that you review the tips for consumers on our Moving to the NBN page.\nYou might find that some RSPs are not taking orders for new services due to having limited call centre staff during the COVID-19 crisis, however many RSPs are still accepting NBN orders either online or over the phone.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest411","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nMy deadline to switch over to the NBN is after the COVID-19 crisis began \u2013 will my existing home broadband and voice services still be disconnected if I don\u2019t make the switch?\n\nUnless you are already on the NBN, you will likely have been notified of a deadline by which to switch to the NBN or risk having your broadband or voice services disconnected; this has now been put on hold, so don\u2019t worry.\nFor example, Telstra and Optus have ceased mandatory disconnections of services that have remained on their networks beyond their switchover deadline.\nIf your notified deadline falls after the COVID-19 crisis commenced, and you do not switch over to the NBN within that time, you will receive an extension. Your existing service provider will give you a new deadline when it has been decided.\nSimilarly, if you have placed an NBN order within the deadline but it is taking longer to activate your service, your current services will not be subject to mandatory disconnection until your NBN service is connected.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest412","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nGym memberships\nWhat if the payments have already been deducted?\n\nIf payments have been deducted then you should contact the business to have the payments refunded.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest413","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nGym memberships\nDo I have to continue making regular payments?\n\nThe Australian Consumer Law prohibits businesses from taking payments for goods or services when there are reasonable grounds to believe the services won\u2019t be supplied. This applies whether or not your contract allows you to suspend payments. So you do not have to continue to make regular payments while services have ceased.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest414","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nLocal sporting clubs or associations\u00a0\nMy club\u2019s season hasn\u2019t started, but I no longer wish to participate due to health or safety concerns about COVID-19. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nIf you decide you no longer wish to participate in a sporting league due to concerns about COVID-19, this may be treated as a \u2018change of mind\u2019. You should contact the state or national body to see if you are entitled to a remedy such as a full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.\nIf you have a health condition that means you are at higher risk, you should contact your sporting club or association to see if they will offer you a refund or a voucher to use at a later date.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest415","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nEvent cancellations\nI bought tickets for an event but no longer wish to attend due to concerns about COVID-19. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nIf you no longer wish to attend an event due to concerns about COVID-19, this may be treated as a 'change of mind'. You should contact the event organiser to see if you are entitled to a remedy such as full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.\nIf you have a health condition that means you are at higher risk, you should contact the event organiser to see if they will offer you a refund or a voucher for a later date.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly, including by offering refunds as a goodwill gesture where appropriate.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest416","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nLocal sporting clubs or associations\u00a0\nI have paid a registration or membership fee up front but the season has been suspended. Am I entitled to a refund?\n\nYour rights to a refund under the consumer guarantees may not apply if the activity has stopped due to government restrictions.\nYou should check for a cancellation policy under your membership terms and conditions, and contact the state or national body directly to see if you are entitled to a full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.\nThe ACCC expects that you will be offered a refund or a credit note or voucher for the period that the season is suspended. If you receive a credit note or voucher, this should be applied when the 2020 season recommences, or a future season if the 2020 season remains cancelled.\nThe ACCC encourages state and national bodies, and clubs and associations, to treat consumers fairly in these circumstances and to consider appropriate mechanisms to provide refunds or other remedies such as credit notes or vouchers to consumers.\nConsumers should also be mindful that the impact of COVID-19 is significant for smaller clubs and associations.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest417","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nBusiness closures\nI have a gift card which is about to expire while the business is temporarily closed.\n\nThe ACCC expects all businesses to honour and extend gift card expiry dates to cover any period that the card was unable to be used due to the business's closure.\nIf you have a gift card which will expire while a business is in hibernation, you may wish to contact the business directly to negotiate an alternative arrangement.\nMany businesses are continuing to trade in some capacity, so you may still be able to use your gift card or voucher even if the business\u2019s physical stores are closed.\nHowever, if you are unable to use your gift card or voucher because of the terms and conditions the business has placed on it (for example, a gift card that can only be used in a physical store where the business is trading in an online capacity only during the COVID-19 restrictions), the ACCC expects the business to provide you with some form of remedy, such as: \nreimbursement of the amount remaining on the gift card or voucher\nextending the expiry period of the gift card or voucher to give it an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher\namending the terms and conditions on the gift card or voucher to enable you to use it online.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest418","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTravel cancellations and changes\nI wish to cancel my travel booking due to health and safety concerns about COVID-19. What are my rights in this situation?\n\nIf you no longer wish to travel due to concerns about COVID-19, this may be treated as a 'change of mind'.\nYou should contact the provider to see if you are entitled to a remedy such as full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.\nIf you have a health condition that means you are at higher risk you should contact the provider to see if they will offer you a refund or a voucher for a later date.\nGiven the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest419","title":"","text":"COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers\nTelecommunication services\nI don\u2019t get full access to the same quality of service provided by my streaming platform or video content provider (e.g. there are limits to ultra-high definition content) \u2013 what are my rights?\n\nSome video on demand providers have reduced their streaming quality to help manage the total demand on broadband networks during the COVID-19 crisis. This may result in the quality of some streamed video not being as sharp.\nThe reduction in quality may not be very noticeable, so we urge consumers to try to be patient with any temporary disruptions to quality.\nIf you still have concerns, you can seek further information from your provider and discuss potential remedies, including, for example, a change of plan if you are on a subscription service.\nIf you are on a subscription service and believe you are not receiving the service what you signed up for, you may be entitled to certain remedies under the consumer guarantees, depending on your circumstances.\nIf you have not been able to resolve things directly with your service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest420","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDo I have to do anything to get it?\nNo. If you are in receipt of an eligible income support payment, you will\nautomatically receive the Coronavirus Supplement."}
{"_id":"Australiatest421","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nIs the Coronavirus Supplement taxable?\nYes."}
{"_id":"Australiatest422","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat is the Coronavirus Supplement?\nThe Coronavirus Supplement is a temporary fortnightly payment that will be\nprovided to recipients of JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Sickness\nAllowance, Farm Household Allowance, Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Partner\nAllowance, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) and Austudy."}
{"_id":"Australiatest423","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill I receive multiple Economic Support payments and if so, when?\nServices Australia and the Department of Veterans' Affairs will automatically\ndeliver payments to eligible recipients with the first payment from 31 March\n2020 and the second payment from 13 July 2020. A person can be eligible to\nreceive both the first and second support payment, however, they will only\nreceive $750 once in each round of payments, even if they receive more than\none qualifying payment or card."}
{"_id":"Australiatest424","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill the Coronavirus Supplement go onto my Cashless Debit Card?\nIf you are in receipt of an eligible income support payment and you are a\nCashless Debit Card participant, the Coronavirus Supplement will be treated\nthe same as your regular payments. The Coronavirus Supplement will go onto\nyour Cashless Debit Card using the same payment split that you currently\nreceive. That is, 80 per cent of the whole income support payment will be\nplaced onto your Cashless Debit Card and the remaining 20 per cent will be\nplaced into your regular bank account."}
{"_id":"Australiatest425","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDoes the Economic Support Payment go onto the Cashless Debit Card?\nIf you are in receipt of an eligible income support payment and you are a\nCashless Debit Card participant, the full $750 will be placed onto your\nCashless Debit Card. This is the same for other lump-sum payments. This will\napply for both rounds of payments."}
{"_id":"Australiatest426","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDoes the Economic Support Payment go into my Income Management account?\nIf you are in receipt of an eligible income support payment and you are an\nIncome Management participant, the full $750 will be placed into your Income\nManagement account. This is the same for other lump-sum payments. This will\napply for both rounds of payments."}
{"_id":"Australiatest427","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nMy claim for a qualifying payment or card has not yet been processed. Will I still get the Economic Support Payment?\nIf you have lodged a claim for one of the qualifying payments or concession\ncards between 12 March 2020 and 13 April 2020, and the claim is subsequently\ngranted from a date on or before that period, you will receive the payment.\nThis will also apply for the second round of payments. So if you have lodged a\nclaim for one of the qualifying payments or concession on 10 July 2020, and\nthe claim is subsequently granted from a date on or before that date, you will\nreceive the payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest428","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDo people have to wait until 27 April 2020 to apply for a payment?\nPeople can apply for a payment as soon as they need it.\nThe expanded eligibility and qualification criteria came into effect from 25\nMarch 2020.\nIf a person qualifies for a payment before 25 March 2020 and has to serve a\nwaiting period (other than the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period), they\nwill receive a payment back to the date of their claim once the waiting period\nis suspended.\nRecent migrants will be able to have their Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting\nPeriod waived from 25 March 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest429","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill I get paid the Economic Support payment if I receive Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum?\nYes. Recipients who claim Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum after the end of\nthe financial year will be eligible for the payment if they are eligible for\nFamily Tax Benefit in the 2019-20 and\/or 2020-21 financial year and will\nreceive the Economic Support payment as part of their lump sum payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest430","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill I get paid the Economic Support payment if I'm a part rate Age Pensioner?\nYes. You will receive the full $750."}
{"_id":"Australiatest431","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill the Coronavirus Supplement go into my Income Management account?\nIf you are in receipt of an eligible income support payment and you are an\nIncome Management participant, the Coronavirus Supplement will be treated the\nsame as your regular payments. The same payment split that you currently\nreceive for your whole payment will still apply. The percentage that is placed\nin your Income Management account will depend on which Income Management\nmeasure you have been placed on."}
{"_id":"Australiatest432","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhen will I start receiving the additional $550 per fortnight?\nThe Coronavirus Supplement commences on 27 April 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest433","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow much is the Coronavirus Supplement?\nThe temporary Coronavirus Supplement is $550 per fortnight to new and existing\neligible income support recipients, in addition to their regular payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest434","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat is the Economic Support Payment?\nThe Government is providing two separate $750 payments to social security,\nveteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card\nholders. The first Economic Support Payment is for people who are receiving a\nqualifying payment or card between 12 March 2020 and 13 April 2020\n(inclusive), and was paid to majority of recipients by 17 April 2020. The\nsecond Economic Support Payment is for people receiving a qualifying payment\nor card on 10 July 2020 so long as they do not receive the Coronavirus\nSupplement with their payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest435","title":"","text":"Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDo I have to do anything to get the Economic Support Payment?\nNo, you will automatically get the $750 if you are eligible. You will only get\none payment, even if you get more than one qualifying payment or card. Where\nServices Australia does not have bank details, they will contact eligible\nrecipients to get these details."}
{"_id":"Australiatest436","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nDo both parents\/carers need to be essential workers to be given priority access?\nNo. As long as one parent is an essential worker their child\/ren should be\nprioritised for care."}
{"_id":"Australiatest437","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat happens to the payments if my service has or is about to transfer ownership?\nIf a service\u2019s ownership has changed since 2 March 2020, the new owner of the\nservice would be eligible for payments from the date of transfer, provided a\ntransfer of ownership process has been completed, including change of bank\naccount details."}
{"_id":"Australiatest438","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWill I still receive payments if my service is directed to close due to COVID-19?\nServices are still eligible to receive payments where a health agency or state\nor territory regulatory authority has directed a provider to close a service\ndue to COVID-19 related reasons. The department may ask the provider for\nevidence to support the service\u2019s claim that it has been directed to close.\nA provider cannot make the decision to close the service and still be eligible\nfor the payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest439","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nIs there any extra support for families to help them find an early childhood education and care service during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYes. A national toll free helpline has been set up to assist parents and\ncarers to find an early childhood education and care service during the\nCOVID-19 pandemic. Families can call the helpline on 1800 291 041 from 9:00 am\nto 5:00 pm (AEST), Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays).\nHelpline operators will provide advice for families about early childhood\neducation and care services available in their area during the pandemic.\nFamilies, including essential workers and those with vulnerable children, can\nalso search for early childhood education and child care services online using\nStarting Blocks or Child Care\nFinder.\nThe Australian Children\u2019s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is\ndelivering the helpline on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment\nand Skills. For more information, visit ACECQA."}
{"_id":"Australiatest440","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nWho is included as an employee?\u00a0\nAn employee is any person currently engaged by your service, including\neducators, administration staff, support staff, and cooks."}
{"_id":"Australiatest441","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nHow do I apply for additional funding?\nProviders seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment amount\nshould complete an online form and outline their circumstances.\nThe form is available at\ndese.gov.au\/covid-19\/childcare.\nProviders will be notified of the decision in writing.\nProviders must tell the department if their income goes up due to receiving\nextra state or government assistance. Please provide details regarding this\nadditional support to\nECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au and put\nthe relevant application ID number in the email subject header.\nIn Home Care (IHC) providers, or large providers (those with 50 or more\nservices), should email\nECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au to\nrequest a service-level spreadsheet to complete. This streamlined process is\navailable to IHC and large providers even if not all services are eligible for\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments."}
{"_id":"Australiatest442","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nHow long will it take to assess my application for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment?\nAs each application is assessed on a case by case basis, we are unable to\nprovide an estimated processing time.\nWe will endeavour to assess all applications as quickly as possible. Providing\na complete application with supporting evidence and all your correct ID and\nreference numbers will assist in processing your application efficiently.\nBefore lodging your application we encourage you to:\n\nconsider the tips in this FAQ document about completing your application\nmonitor the DESE website for information about upcoming webinars that will provide additional information about completing your application\ncarefully check all identity and registration numbers provided; and\nensure you have uploaded evidence to support any statements in relation to any direction or advice to close by a health agency or state regulatory body, eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment, and any increase in the number of children attending that service and\/or increase in the number of hours of care.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest443","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nWhat do you mean by paid and employed?\u00a0\nA staff member who was \u2018paid\u2019 is any employee who received payment, including\nthose who were on leave but still received wages from your service. To be\n\u2018employed\u2019, a staff member must still be engaged by your service as an\nemployee as at 18 May 2020, however, does not need to be currently working."}
{"_id":"Australiatest444","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nI am an educator and I have questions about how the new Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package will work for me, who should I speak to?\nAll educators should talk to their providers in the first instance. Providers\nare working hard in collaboration with peak bodies to understand how to\nadminister the new arrangements. The first payments were processed in the week\ncommencing 6 April 2020. A final Child Care Subsidy payment was also made in\nthis week."}
{"_id":"Australiatest445","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nCan Family Day Care and In Home Care services still access the Community Child Care Fund?\nFor providers currently receiving a Community Child Care Fund grant there will\nbe no change to this agreement. The Prime Minister's announcement of the Early\nChildhood Education and Care Relief Package relates to the Child Care Subsidy\nand Additional Child Care Subsidy under the previous system. Applications for\nCCCF Special Circumstances Grant Opportunity previously lodged with the\ndepartment for COVID-19 related matters are currently being considered. This\ngrant opportunity closed on 3 April 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest446","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWill my enrolments automatically cease because I am not submitting session reports?\nNo. Children enrolled on 5 April 2020 will still be enrolled once the Early\nChildhood Education and Care Relief Package payment period is over.\nProviders should encourage families who have withdrawn from their service to\nre-enrol. By families staying enrolled, they will keep their Child Care\nSubsidy eligibility so the subsidies will flow again once the Early Childhood\nEducation and Care Relief Package payments cease."}
{"_id":"Australiatest447","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nWhat do you mean by \u2018full-time equivalent employees\u2019?\u00a0\nThe department will use a full-time equivalent (FTE) amount of 38 hours to\ncalculate both your eligibility for this Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment and the amount of the payment. If you choose to apply,\nyou will be asked to provide the number of hours for which your staff were\npaid during the reference fortnight. The department will calculate the FTE\nhours based on this information and the evidence you provide."}
{"_id":"Australiatest448","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nHave Family Day Care and In Home Care educators been told to continue working despite isolation and social distancing rules?\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care educators who have implemented health and\nsafety measures in accordance with the relevant health advice may not be able\nto continue offering care to the same number of children as they did under the\nChild Care Package.\nIn designing the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, the\nGovernment listened to the concerns of peak industry organisations for the\nearly childhood education and care sector.\nThe department continues to work with peak bodies to address issues as they\narise."}
{"_id":"Australiatest449","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nDo services have to accept new enrolments and increased attendance where parents request it?\nServices are required to prioritise care to children of essential workers,\nvulnerable and disadvantaged children and children with existing enrolments as\npart of the conditions of the Relief Package. Where services choose to accept\nnew enrolments and increase attendance where parents request it, they are able\nto apply for Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments to meet the\ndemand for child care up to their service\u2019s full capacity taking into account\nstaff, resources and health and safety issues.\nFamilies and services can report concerns about services not adhering with the\nconditions of the Relief Package to the department by phoning 1800 664 231 or\nby emailing tipoffline@dese.gov.au. For\nexample, if a family believes a service has capacity to provide more care but\nis electing not to do so, or that a service is not prioritising essential\nworkers in offering that care, they can and are contacting this line."}
{"_id":"Australiatest450","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nWho is eligible for additional funding?\nProviders\/services can apply for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary\nPayment in limited circumstances based on the number of children in\nattendance. These include but are not limited to the following:\n\n\nInsufficient reference period or increase in demand\n\n\nservices were not operating during the reference period\n\nthe number of attendances during the reference period is significantly and demonstratively lower than the current number of attendances at the service from 6 April 2020 onwards\n\na service experiences a significantly higher demand for child care for children of essential workers and\/or vulnerable and disadvantaged children during the period 6 April 2020 to 28 June 2020.\n\n\nJobKeeper ineligibility\n\n\nproviders that are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, including non-government schools, large charities\/not for profit organisations, but excluding state and local government services\n\nFamily Day Care (FDC) and In Home Care (IHC) educators that were providing care in the reference period that are not eligible for JobKeeper, but who have registered for an Australian Business Number (ABN) by 1 June 2020.\nservices, excluding state and local government services, that have 30 per cent or more full-time equivalent current employees* who are not eligible for JobKeeper Payment and where the provider or service has not applied for or received another Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment for these employees.\n\n*current employees means those employed by the provider during the reference period and from 18 May 2020 onwards.\nIn recognition of the higher costs associated with IHC sessions of care,\nproviders will be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary\nPayment of 20 per cent of the weekly payment calculated on the reference\nfortnight base rate. This payment will be made from 18 May 2020. IHC providers\ndo not need to apply for this payment as it will be made automatically."}
{"_id":"Australiatest451","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nCompliance measures\nWhat compliance measures will be in place for the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments?\nThe department will continue regular compliance monitoring including provider\ndebt recovery actions.\nFamilies and services can report concerns about services adhering with the\nconditions of the payments to the department by phoning: 1800 664 231 or\nemailing: tipoffline@dese.gov.au.\nProviders found not to be following the requirements of Family Assistance Law,\nincluding the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, may have\npayments cancelled and\/or have a debt notice issued."}
{"_id":"Australiatest452","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWhat is the child care absence policy in response to COVID-19?\nWhether a child is ill or not, including where a child does not attend care as\npart of the family\u2019s own precautionary measure against potential contact with\nCOVID-19, Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can be paid for up to 62 absence days per\nchild, for the 2019\u201320 financial year, without the need for families to\nprovide documentation.\nOnce a child\u2019s 62 initial absences have been used, if more absences are\nrequired for COVID-19 related reasons, CCS can be paid for additional absences\nclaimed without the need for medical evidence.\nAbsences will not be counted during the Early Childhood Education and Care\nRelief Package period (commencing 6 April 2020) as session reports will not be\nsubmitted."}
{"_id":"Australiatest453","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat is the new child care payment under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package?\nThe new payment under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package is\na payment to support child care services (including Centre Based Day Care,\nFamily Day Care, Outside School Hours Care and In Home Care) to remain open.\nDue to the impact of COVID-19, the early childhood education and care sector\nhas reported significant decreases in attendance. These payments will ensure\nservices can remain open, and families who need it can access care.\nWeekly payments will be approximately 50 per cent of services' fee revenue or\n50 per cent of the existing hourly rate cap, whichever is lower, for sessions\nof care in the fortnight preceding 2 March 2020 (i.e. Monday 17 February 2020\nthrough to 28 February 2020).\nThe payments for services providing vacation care only will be calculated on\nthe equivalent of the average weekly amount for the vacation period between\nTerm 3 and Term 4 in 2019 (September-October school holidays).\nThe payments are made in lieu of any Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child\nCare Subsidy.\nReceiving these payments does not preclude your service from accessing other\nGovernment initiatives to support businesses."}
{"_id":"Australiatest454","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 health advice for providers and services\nWho will inform our early childhood education and care service if it is required to close?\nClosures are a decision that will be made, and advised, by state and territory\ngovernments. Usually this is their health department, but it may come from the\nstate regulatory authority.\nServices directed to shut down because of COVID-19 should follow standard\nprocesses for activating a period of local\nemergency.\nIf you close your early childhood education and care service, either\nvoluntarily or as directed by a state or territory regulatory or health\nauthority on public health advice or for other valid health and safety\nreasons, you must notify your state regulatory authority within 24 hours."}
{"_id":"Australiatest455","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nWhen applying for Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment, what is satisfactory evidence to support my claim for increased demand? \nEvidence must:\n\nbe provided for a fortnight of data and it must be after the reference period, and\nbe for care already provided\u2013future bookings are not acceptable evidence; and\ninclude detail of number of children cared for and hours charged in that fortnight and clearly supports the number of hours you have provided in your application. (While casual absences may be included e.g. a child is ill on Wednesday but attends all other sessions that week, long term absences related to children enrolled but not currently attending your service should not be included in the calculations used to complete your application, or in the evidence provided.)\n\nYou should be able to generate this data using your existing software. Below\nare two examples of how it may be presented. Reports from your software may\nlook different and the reports below are examples only. Please remove or black\nout any personal information, including names, prior to submitting.\nExample 1\nMy Centre Name\nProvider CRN: 123456789T Service CRN: 987654321X\nAttendances from 13\/04\/2020 \u2013 26\/04\/2020\nExample 2\nMy Centre Name\nProvider CRN: 123456789T Service CRN: 987654321X\nAttendances from 13\/04\/2020 \u2013 26\/04\/2020"}
{"_id":"Australiatest456","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nWhat about educators who want to change services as they are uncomfortable with the support they are currently receiving?\nAs is normally the case, Family Day Care and In Home Care educators are still\nable to move between services \u2013 there are no restrictions on movement."}
{"_id":"Australiatest457","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nSome of my staff are ineligible for JobKeeper. Can I get additional support to assist me in paying my staff wages?\u00a0\nServices that have a high number of staff ineligible for JobKeeper payments\nmay be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment under\nthe Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package. This payment is\ndesigned to assist services to provide care to children of essential workers\nand vulnerable and disadvantaged children, as well as meet increased demand\nfor care."}
{"_id":"Australiatest458","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nHow should services treat new enrolments at their centre?\u00a0\nProviders should continue to enter into a Complying Written Arrangement with\nparents who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy and record the child\u2019s\nstart date (the day that the parent confirms their agreement to the\narrangement) in their third party software or the Provider Entry Point (PEP).\nAn enrolment notice should be submitted in the provider\u2019s third party software\nor the PEP within seven days of entering into a Complying Written Arrangement\nwith the family."}
{"_id":"Australiatest459","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 health advice for providers and services\nIs it safe for my service to stay open?\nContinuing essential services such as child care\u2013while it is safe to do so\u2013is\ncrucial to enabling parents, including health care professionals, to continue\nto work and support the broader community during these uncertain times. It\nalso reduces the reliance on alternative care arrangements such as\ngrandparents or elderly relatives who are typically at higher risk of\nCOVID-19.\nEarly childhood education and care services should follow the advice from\ntheir state or territory governments on matters related to COVID-19. Their\nadvice and directions are informed by the expert medical advice of Australia\u2019s\nChief Medical Officer and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee\n(AHPPC).\nThe current clear advice of health officials is that services should continue\nto remain open unless otherwise directed, with risk mitigation measures as\noutlined in the AHPPC statement below.\nRead the statement from the AHPPC about COVID-19 in children and early childhood education and\ncare."}
{"_id":"Australiatest460","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 health advice for providers and services\nWhat about physical distancing?\u00a0\nThe Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) have reviewed the\nphysical distancing requirements for early childhood education and care\nservices and determined that the \u2018venue density rule\u2019 of no more than one\nperson per four square metres is not appropriate or practical in early\nchildhood education and care services, nor is maintaining 1.5m between\nchildren. Read the statement from the\nAHPPC.\nSafe Work Australia (SWA) have also updated their advice for services,\nexplaining that children are not to be included in any calculations of four\nsquare metres per person, however employers are reminded these principles\nshould be adhered to for adults in services, including visitors. Read the\nstatement from SWA."}
{"_id":"Australiatest461","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nAre there different Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payment arrangements for Family Day Care or In Home Care providers?\nNo. Unless otherwise notified by the department, the payments will be paid as\na lump sum on a weekly basis at the provider\/service level. Consistent with\nthe previous arrangements for the Child Care Subsidy, payments will not be\nmade to educators.\nApproved providers are responsible for the administration of the payment\nincluding decisions on how to apply payment amounts to individual educators.\nApproved providers as business owners should explore options to support their\nbusiness model and their educators. Further information is available on the\naustralia.gov.au website."}
{"_id":"Australiatest462","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat is the calculation method for payments under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package?\nThe payment will be based on a reference fortnight, and calculated as 50 per\ncent of the lesser of:\n\nthe hourly fee for the session of care; or\nthe relevant Child Care Subsidy hourly rate cap.\n\nThe reference fortnight is as follows:\n\nFor an Outside School Hours Care Service that provides only vacation care\u2013the fortnight starting on the first Monday of the school holidays between school Term 3 and Term 4 in 2019 in the state or territory in which the service is located.\nFor all other services, it is\u00ad the fortnight starting 17 February 2020.\nWhere a service charged fees for only one week of care during the fortnight starting\n17 February 2020, or in the school holidays between Terms 3 and 4 in 2019, the\namount will be calculated on the week in which care occurred and the amount\ndoubled.\n\nExample\nA Centre Based Day Care (CBDC) service charges $100 for a 10 hour session of\ncare. Therefore, their hourly fee is $10 per hour ($100 \u00f7 10 = $10). As $10 is\nless than the CBDC hourly rate cap of $11.98, $10 is the amount used.\nOn the fortnight starting 17 February 2020, the CBDC service had 20 children\nattending the service. Each child attended 10 sessions of care for the\nfortnight (or five per week) and were charged $100 for a ten hour session\n(meaning the hourly fee was $10). For that fortnight, the service\u2019s total fees\ncharged were $20,000 (or $10,000 per week).\nThe payment this service will receive is worked out below:\n\nthe hourly payment is $5 ($10 x 50% = $5)\n$5 hourly payment x 10 hour session = $50 payment per session\n$50 x 20 children x 5 sessions per week = $5,000 paid per week.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest463","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhat conditions must be met by services to receive payments?\nThe service must meet a number of conditions to continue to receive these\npayments.\nThese conditions include:\n\nthat the service remains open and provides sessions of care to at least one child, unless closed on public health advice or advice of a state regulatory authority for COVID-19 health and safety reasons \nfamilies and carers are not charged fees relating to sessions of care provided to children during the period the service receives the payments \npriority of access is given to children of essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children; and previously enrolled children; and\nthe service must comply with all other Family Assistance Law and National Law obligations.\n\nAdditionally, services must not increase these fees for the duration of the\nRelief Package, and must not add any new fees that were not listed in a\nfamily\u2019s Complying Written Agreement prior to 6 April 2020.\nIt should be noted that Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\npayments are discretionary payments under Family Assistance Law, and failure\nto comply with the conditions can result in the payments being reduced or\nsuspended."}
{"_id":"Australiatest464","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWill the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments be an \u2018opt-in\u2019 measure or are all services required to participate?\nProviders can choose to opt out of receiving the Early Childhood Education and\nCare Relief Package payments for one or more of their services. The service\/s\nfor which the provider has opted out, will not receive payments under the\nmeasure or Child Care Subsidy\/Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.\nProviders will need to give notice of the voluntary suspension of Child Care\nSubsidy approval for any of its services. Providers can do this by writing to\ntheir state assessment team and providing the following information:\n\nthe full legal name and trading name of the provider\nthe unique provider approval number\nfor each service for which the provider requests a suspension\u2013the unique service approval number\nthe reasons why the provider is requesting a suspension\nthe desired period of the suspension\nthe name and contact details for the provider\u2019s representative in respect of the request.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest465","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nCan I change my service offering under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package in relation to meals, nappies or late fees?\u00a0\nThe intent of the weekly payments is to enable access to free child care for\nfamilies of the priority groups like essential workers, during the COVID-19\ncrisis. The weekly payments should be the full amount a provider\/service will\nreceive, unless they apply for and meet the criteria for an Exceptional\nCircumstance Supplementary Payment. Also noting that the Relief Package is\ncomplementary to other Government business support payments, like the\nJobKeeper Payment a provider may receive.\nWhile providers\/services receive payments under the Relief Package, they\nshould not be changing their service offer and\/or increasing or adding new\nadministrative fees.\nA provider\u2019s usual service offering generally includes consumable items such\nas meals, wipes, or art supplies as part of the cost of providing a session of\ncare. For example, if nappies were included as part of the session fee your\nservice usually provided, nappies should continue to be provided without any\nextra cost to families.\nSome services also charge administrative fees. These fees do not form part of\nthe session of care fee that a family\u2019s Child Care Subsidy was calculated on,\nmeaning that services can continue to charge administrative fees, for example,\nlate pick-up fees. However, services are not to increase these fees for the\nduration of the Relief Package or add new ones that were not listed in a\nfamily\u2019s Complying Written Agreement.\nA condition of a provider\/service receiving payments under the Relief Package\nis that all services continue to meet the provider obligations under Family\nAssistance Law and there are to be no fees charged for care provided.\nThe department can take compliance action against services not meeting the\nconditions of the payments. Information about such practices can be directed\nto the department\u2019s tip off line 1800 664 231 or emailing\ntipoffline@dese.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest466","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nAre Relief Package payments available to services that were temporarily closed or not yet open during the reference periods?\nServices in this situation will need to apply for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment. Unless the other criteria for an Exceptional\nCircumstance Supplementary Payment are met, the payment a new service would\nreceive is the lower of 50 per cent of fee revenue or 50 per cent of the\nhourly rate cap for the enrolments during the period of operation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest467","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nI have already charged families the gap fee for care provided on or after 23 March 2020. Can I give them a refund?\nIt is a business decision for each service whether or not they choose to\ncharge families a gap fee, or in this case refund the gap fee for children\nabsent from care due to COVID-19. From 23 March 2020 there is no legal\nobligation for services to charge gap fees for children absent from care, up\nto and including 5 April 2020 to the remainder of the 2019\u201320 financial year."}
{"_id":"Australiatest468","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nWhat if a Family Day Care\u00a0or In Home Care\u00a0service has already applied for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment because their (sole trader contractor) educators are not eligible for\u00a0the JobKeeper Payment?\nIf a Family Day Care or In Home Care service has already made an application\nthrough the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment process the\ndepartment will be in contact with them shortly to request further information\nabout those educators (sole trader contractors) who are not eligible for the\nJobKeeper Payment. Confirmation and evidence will be sought that all relevant\neducators have applied for an ABN before any additional payment can be\nassessed."}
{"_id":"Australiatest469","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWill immunisation requirements for children continue?\nYes. All Child Care Subsidy (CCS) eligibility requirements will continue in\nplace, and all approved providers and services must continue to comply with\nFamily Assistance Law and National Law requirements. This includes the\nrequirement under the CCS for children to meet the Childhood schedule on the\nDepartment of Health\u2019s National Immunisation Program\nSchedule, be on a suitable\ncatch up schedule in line with the Department of Health\u2019s current Australian\nImmunisation Handbook, or have\nan approved medical\nexemption recorded on the Australian Immunisation\nRegister.\nFor all care types except In Home Care, families with children who do not meet\nthe CCS immunisation requirements can attend child care services being\nsupported by payments under the Relief Package where permitted to do so under\nstate or territory regulations. These children must be enrolled under a\nRelevant Arrangement or Organisation Arrangement.\nFor families using In Home Care, all children attending an In Home Care\nservice must be CCS eligible. Children who do not meet the CCS immunisation\nrequirements cannot attend In Home Care child care services."}
{"_id":"Australiatest470","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat about children who were full fee paying previously?\nChildren previously paying full fees will have been accounted for in the base\npayment calculation and can continue to attend at no charge. However, you can\ntell us about these children if you apply for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment, noting that services should prioritise care to children\nof essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and children with\nexisting enrolments."}
{"_id":"Australiatest471","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhat can I do if my service is refusing care for my child?\nThe Government is relying on services to provide care to as many children as\nthey can, giving priority to essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged\nchildren and previously enrolled children.\nHowever, each service is dealing with new circumstances and having to\nreconsider available staff, health and other business challenges. This means\neach service has to make decisions on its own capacity to offer care, based on\nthese new considerations.\nWhile repeated, serious breaches of conditions of the Relief Package may\nresult in a service losing access to payments under the Relief Package, the\nsignificant impact of COVID-19 on operating arrangements will mean some\nservices will not be able to continue to offer the same care to all families.\nWhere services have increased demand and feel they cannot afford to meet it\nbased on current levels of support, an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary\nPayment is available. This means if a service has more children attending now\nthan it had during the reference period it can apply to receive a higher\npayment.\nIf you are an essential worker with need for increased care hours, and have\nbeen refused by your service, you can contact the department\u2019s tip off line on\n1800 664 231 or emailing\ntipoffline@dese.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest472","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nHow do I stay up to date on the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package?\nAs we navigate COVID-19, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment is\nengaging directly with both providers and services more often. Many contact\ndetails are out of date, resulting in providers and services missing out on\nimportant information.\nThe department encourages providers to update both their provider and each\nservice\u2019s contact details in the Child Care Subsidy System, particularly email\naddresses. The provider and service email addresses could be the same, but\nboth may need updating.\nYou can update your details via the Provider Entry Point\n(PEP).\nGuidance is available in the task card How to View and Update Organisation\nDetails in the PEP.\nAlternatively, you can update your details via your third party software.\nPlease contact your software provider if you need assistance updating your\ndetails via a third party software program.\nPlease also make sure that you have subscribed to receive communications\nfrom the\nDepartment of Education, Skills and Employment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest473","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nAs a Family Day Care\u00a0service, are we allowed to charge our educators the fees that keep our service running?\nAny type of internal fee arrangement between a Family Day Care service and an\neducator is a commercial business arrangement. The Government does not\nregulate or intervene on matters between educators and services. As part of\nbroader messaging around the COVID-19 response the Prime Minister has appealed\nto all businesses to look at their rate of fees and charges and see if they\ncan reduce them in recognition of the unprecedented times being experienced."}
{"_id":"Australiatest474","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nHow will the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments affect families on Additional Child Care Subsidy?\nThe Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments will be made\ninstead of the usual Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Additional Child Care\nSubsidy (ACCS) payments.\nIf the family\u2019s current ACCS determination continues past the end of the Early\nChildhood Education and Care Relief Package payment period, they will return\nto their ACCS entitlement. This will be the case for most families receiving\nACCS (grandparent).\nTo ensure that ACCS (child wellbeing) continues to flow when the system\nreturns to normal, if a family\u2019s ACCS (child wellbeing) determination expires\nduring the period, services will need to apply for a new determination. We\nencourage providers to submit determinations prior to the resumption of the\nregular system to avoid any gaps in ACCS (child wellbeing). If a family\u2019s CCS\ncancels during the payment period they will need to reapply for CCS (and be\nassessed as eligible) for a service to receive ACCS (child wellbeing) payments\nwhen regular payments resume.\nIf a family has submitted an application for ACCS (temporary financial\nhardship) their eligibility will be assessed and payment made up to 5 April\n2020.\nIf a person\u2019s ACCS (transition to work) eligibility expires during the Relief\nPackage period or the person requests to cease the ACCS (transition to work),\nthey will need to apply for ACCS (transition to work) if they meet the\neligibility criteria for the payment to recommence on 28 June 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest475","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nCan In Home Care be used by families whose children are unable to go to school or access their regular child care arrangements due to COVID-19?\nIn Home Care (IHC) is a specific type of care that is targeted to families who\nmeet the IHC eligibility criteria.\nRisk of COVID-19 infection, or an early childhood education and care service\nor school closing because of COVID-19, would not by itself be a valid reason\nto access IHC. However, critical workers may be able to access IHC and should\ncontact the relevant IHC Support\nAgency within their state or\nterritory to discuss their requirements."}
{"_id":"Australiatest476","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhat if I am working from home?\nCare should still be made available where parents or carers are working from\nhome noting that priority of access must be given to children of essential\nworkers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and previously enrolled\nchildren."}
{"_id":"Australiatest477","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWhat if I need to amend a session report for a session of care prior to 6 April 2020?\nAfter 28 June 2020, providers will be able to submit sessions of care for\nperiods prior to 6 April 2020, and to make resubmissions to correct already\nsubmitted sessions.\nThese submissions and resubmissions will be monitored to ensure providers\nremain compliant with legislation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest478","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nAre Family Day Care and In Home Care educators being asked to take a 50 per cent pay cut?\nNo, Relief Package payments to providers are based on the lower of 50 per cent\nof service fee revenue or 50 per cent of the Child Care Subsidy hourly rate\ncap, based on the fortnight before 2 March 2020.\nHowever, educators may also be eligible for the fortnightly JobKeeper Payment\nto cover their wage.\nIf a Family Day Care or In Home Care educator is not eligible for the\nJobKeeper Payment then they may be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest479","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nHow do we respond to families who had previously taken their children out of care for health and safety reasons who now wish to return their child to care?\nUnder the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, services must\nprioritise care to children of essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged\nchildren, and children who were previously enrolled.\nWhere services choose to accept new enrolments and increase attendance where\nparents request it, they are able to apply for Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payments, where the current level of attendance is higher than\nthe reference period, to meet the demand for child care up to their service\u2019s\nfull capacity."}
{"_id":"Australiatest480","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nMy service is currently experiencing higher hours of attendance than during the reference fortnight and I have had to employ additional staff. Can I receive a higher Exceptional Circumstance\u00a0Supplementary Payment?\u00a0\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments made on the basis of JobKeeper\nineligibility are designed to allow services to continue to pay the staff who\nworked during the reference fortnight. Services who are currently experiencing\nhigher hours of attendance may be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment on the basis of higher demand. Applications for this\npayment can be made through the form."}
{"_id":"Australiatest481","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWhat if a child is absent on their last day of enrolment?\nIf an enrolment ends on or prior to 5 April 2020, and the child is absent on\nthe last day, normal absence rules apply. That is, if a family has confirmed\ntheir child\u2019s last day at a service, but that child does not attend their last\nbooked session(s) of care, no Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will be paid for any\ndays after the child\u2019s last physical attendance at the service.\nIf absences are reported in the above circumstances and CCS has been\npreviously paid, these amounts will be recovered from the service once the\nenrolment ceases.\nIf a child is absent on their last day of enrolment in the period between 6\nApril 2020 and 28 June 2020, the CCS amount which has been paid to the service\nwill not be recovered from the service or the family.\nFor example, if the child ceases their enrolment on 8 April 2020, and has been\nabsent for the two weeks immediately prior to this date, the CCS amount which\nhas been paid to the service over the period up to 8 April 2020, will not be\nrecovered from the service or the family."}
{"_id":"Australiatest482","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nCommunity Child Care Fund\nI have already submitted a Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances Grant Opportunity application prior to when the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package was announced. What happens next?\nApplications that were received on or before 9:00 am on 3 April 2020 are being\nconsidered. The outcomes for these applications will be announced as soon as\npossible."}
{"_id":"Australiatest483","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nMy service is eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment on the basis of ineligibility for JobKeeper. How do I apply?\nServices seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment should\ncomplete an online form.\nAs part of the application form, you will need to upload a completed payment\nspreadsheet. This is what the department will use to calculate your\neligibility and payments. You may choose to complete the\nspreadsheet before beginning the online\napplication form to give you more time to compile and check your responses.\nThis spreadsheet records the hours for which staff were paid during the\nreference period (17 February to 1 March 2020). In completing this\nspreadsheet, you will also need to confirm these staff were still employed as\nat 18 May 2020 and declare where you are eligible for JobKeeper for this staff\nmember.\nBefore submitting your application, you are legally required to obtain\npermission from all employees who worked during the reference period to\nprovide their personal information to the Australian Government Department of\nEducation, Skills, and Employment, the Australian Taxation Office, and\nServices Australia. You will need to keep records of this permission."}
{"_id":"Australiatest484","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nHow will I receive the payment?\nThe payment will be paid into your child care service bank account. This is\nthe same bank account that Child Care Subsidy is currently paid into."}
{"_id":"Australiatest485","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nMy Centre Based Day Care service is not eligible for\u00a0the JobKeeper Payment. Am I eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment? \nThe Government has expanded the categories of providers that may apply for the\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment. These include some providers\nthat are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, including non-government\nschools, large charities\/not-for-profit organisations, and services that have\n30 per cent or more full-time equivalent current employees that are not\neligible for JobKeeper. State and local government run and not-for-profit\nproviders are not eligible to apply.\nServices associated with non-government schools should now be receiving a\nweekly Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment as well as a separate\npayment to cover the period from 6 April. If you are a service associated with\na non-government school that is not eligible for JobKeeper and you have not\nreceived an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment, you should contact\nthe department at\nECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au.\nLarge charities\/not-for-profit organisations should have now been contacted by\nthe department to confirm JobKeeper ineligibility. Once confirmed you should\nreceive a weekly Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment as well as a\nseparate payment to cover the period from 6 April.\nServices that have 30 per cent or more full-time equivalent current employees\nthat are not eligible for JobKeeper must apply to the department."}
{"_id":"Australiatest486","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWhat is the out of pocket fee waiver?\nOrdinarily, when Child Care Subsidy operates, providers are required to\nrecover the out of pocket fees from families, even if the child is absent from\ncare. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the sector has reported significant\ndecreases in attendance. To support families and the sector, for the period 23\nMarch to 5 April 2020, providers were able to waive out of pocket fees for\nfamilies where a service remained open, but children were absent."}
{"_id":"Australiatest487","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhere can I find COVID-19 information on preschool and kindergarten?\nPreschool is primarily a state and territory responsibility and preschool\nsystems vary across jurisdictions. Because of this, preschool-related\ninformation in the context of COVID-19 is provided at a state and territory\nlevel. More information for families and parents of preschool and kindergarten\nchildren is available at Universal Access to Early Childhood\nEducation."}
{"_id":"Australiatest488","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhat are the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments?\nThe payments under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\nsupport child care services (including Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care,\nOutside School Hours Care and In Home Care). Due to the impact of COVID-19,\nthe early childhood education and care sector has reported significant\ndecreases in attendance and enrolments. These payments will ensure services\ncan remain open, and families who need it can access care.\nThe payments are made in lieu of any Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child\nCare Subsidy."}
{"_id":"Australiatest489","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nWhat should I expect when commencing a new enrolment?\nThe process for families to enrol their child in a child care service has not\nchanged with the introduction of the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief\nPackage payments.\nYour child care provider will help you to enrol your child under the care\narrangement that best suits your circumstances. For the majority of families\nthere are three types of care arrangements available:\n\nComplying Written Arrangement\u2013for families who intend to receive Child Care Subsidy or Additional Child Care Subsidy once the Relief Package payments cease. \nRelevant Arrangement\u2013for families who would otherwise not be eligible for Child Care Subsidy or Additional Child Care Subsidy.\nOrganisation Arrangement\u2013if a third party pays your child care fees.\n\nTo help your provider enrol your child, it is particularly important you\nprovide the correct Customer Reference Number (CRN) and date of birth for both\nyourself and your child.\nFor any kind of arrangement, your child care provider will submit an enrolment\nnotice, and you will receive a notice from Services Australia requesting you\nreview and check the enrolment details.\nThis can be done in your Centrelink Online account through\nmyGov or the Centrelink Express Plus mobile app."}
{"_id":"Australiatest490","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat do I have to do to receive the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payment?\nIn order to receive the payment you must:\n\nremain open and provide sessions of care to at least one child, unless closed on public health advice or advice by a State Regulatory Authority for COVID-19 health and safety reasons\nensure families are not charged a fee, including an out of pocket or gap fee for sessions of care provided\ncontinue and prioritise care to essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children and previously enrolled children\ncontinue to record attendance of children\nwhere children enrol at a service who otherwise would be considered \u2018at risk\u2019 for the purposes of Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (child wellbeing), services are required to make a referral to an appropriate support agency as per the existing ACCS (child wellbeing) referral requirements\ncomply with all other provider obligations including the National Quality Framework and other relevant conditions of approval under Family Assistance Law.\n\nYou do not need to apply. Payments will be made automatically on a weekly\nbasis unless otherwise notified by the department."}
{"_id":"Australiatest491","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nWhat tips are there for completing the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment application?\u00a0\nWithin the first four weeks of operation of the Relief Package, services can\nonly be assessed as eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary\nPayment once. After the first four weeks, arrangements will be reviewed and\nany changes will be communicated to providers. Where a service\u2019s application\nis rejected due to inaccurate or incomplete information the service can\nreapply within the four weeks. Services are encouraged to read the supporting\ninformation and the examples provided at relevant questions when completing an\napplication.\nIf your application is inaccurate or incomplete it will be rejected and you\nwill need to reapply to be considered for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment. Common reasons for rejection include:\nInvalid applications\nWhere there are errors in critical identification or registration details the\ndepartment is unable to process the application. Invalid applications will be\nrejected and services will need to reapply to be considered for an Exceptional\nCircumstance Supplementary Payment.\nCommon errors include:\n\nProvider Customer Reference Number (CRN) and Service CRN used are the same, are not linked OR are entered incorrectly.\nPRODA ID used does not belong to the person completing the application OR has been entered incorrectly. The PRODA ID must be the ID of the person with management and control who is completing the application.\nBusiness or service registration IDs used have not been able to be verified.\n\nInsufficient evidence\nApplications that do not include enough evidence to support the claim will not\nbe approved and services will need to reapply to be considered for an\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment.\nCommon errors include:\n\nnot attaching evidence \nevidence that is not linked to attendance\nevidence that is not linked to hours of care provided in current period\nevidence is about future demand not current hours of care; or\nclaims for more children attending than are currently enrolled at a service.\n\nAll services must continue to record attendance for the children in their\ncare. If a service is doing this through their third party software, the\nreports from this software can be used as evidence. This would show the\nenrolment IDs, attended hours and session hours.\nWhen preparing supporting documents, personal information including names and\ndates of birth must be redacted. Multiple attachments can be provided in a zip\nfile.\nIncorrect information\nWhere a service finds they have made a mistake on an application after it has\nbeen submitted, this cannot be corrected without submitting a new application.\nCorrections lodged via email cannot be considered.\nCommon errors include:\n\nCurrent number of children entered as a fortnightly figure rather than weekly.\nCurrent number of children taken from enrolment numbers not attendances.\nCurrent hours of care reflected as weekly figures rather than fortnightly.\nCurrent hours of care reflected as the difference between previous and current hours rather than total new hours of care.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest492","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nCan families who have children enrolled under a Relevant or Organisational Arrangement attend a service receiving payments under the Relief Package for free?\nYes, for the duration of the Relief Package."}
{"_id":"Australiatest493","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nHow much will services receive under this Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment?\u00a0\nPayments will be calculated on a case by case basis and will depend on the\nnumbers of full-time equivalent staff ineligible for JobKeeper who are still\nemployed by the service."}
{"_id":"Australiatest494","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nCan I apply for multiple services at the same time?\u00a0\nFor this Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment, an individual\napplication must be submitted for each service. Applications cannot be made at\nthe provider level. At this stage, there is no separate process for providers\nwith multiple services."}
{"_id":"Australiatest495","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nCan I ask for a different reference period for my payments to be based on?\u00a0\nNo, but a service can seek Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments in\nexceptional circumstances."}
{"_id":"Australiatest496","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nHow will payments be made?\u00a0\nIf approved, payments will be made to your service\u2019s nominated bank account as\npart of your weekly Relief Package payment. A one-off payment may also be made\nwith payments backdated to 18 May 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest497","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nThe 50 per cent calculation is derived from a two week period, but paid weekly. Is the first week payment derived from the 1st sample week and the second week payment derived from 2nd sample week, or is it averaged for the sample fortnight and split out for the weekly payment?\nThe reference fortnight is as follows:\n\nFor an Outside School Hours Care Service (OSHC) that provides only vacation care\u2013the fortnight starting on the first Monday of the school holidays between school Term 3 and Term 4 in 2019 in the state or territory in which the service is located.\nFor all other services\u2013the fortnight starting 17 February 2020.\nNote: where a service charged fees for only part of the fortnight starting 17 February 2020, or in the school holidays between Terms 3 and 4 in 2019, an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment will be made in accordance with these rules.\n\nFor example\n\nAn OSHC service that operates in New South Wales provides only vacation care. Therefore, their reference period is 30 September 2019 to 13 October 2019.\n\nFor example\n\nAn OSHC service provides both vacation care and before and after school care. Their reference period is from 17 February 2020 to 1 March 2020.\n\nFor example\n\nAn OSHC service operating in New South Wales providing only vacation care, charged fees for one week in the school holiday period between Terms 3 and 4 in 2019. However, the reference fortnight for the service does not change, meaning that the base weekly amount for the provider of the service that is calculated under the Rules, would be effectively half of the amount it would be if the service had operated for the full reference fortnight, instead of only one week. However, the provider of the service will receive an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment to adjust for the week.\n\nThe payment amount will be determined based on the total fees charged by the\nservice during a reference fortnight and the reference hourly fee (up to\nhourly rate cap) for a session of care.\nFor example\nOn the fortnight starting 17 February 2020, a Centre Based Day Care service\n(CBDC) had 20 children attending the service. Each child attended 10 sessions\nof care for the fortnight (or five per week) and were charged $100 for a 10\nhour session (meaning the hourly fee was $10). This example assumes that all\nof the children were charged the same amount for the same session lengths. For\nthat fortnight, the service\u2019s total fees charged were $20,000 (or $10,000 per\nweek).\nThe payment this service will receive is worked out below:\n\nthe service\u2019s hourly reference fee is $10 (because it is lower than the CBDC hourly rate cap)\n$10 hourly fee x 50 per cent = $5 paid per hour\n$5 x 10 hour session = $50 paid per session\n$50 x 20 children x 5 sessions per week = $5,000 paid per week.\n\nFor example:\nOn the fortnight starting 17 February 2020, a CBDC service had 20 children\nattending the service. Each child attended 10 sessions of care per fortnight\n(or five per week) and was charged $130 for a 10 hour session (meaning the\nhourly fee was $13). This example assumes that all of the children were\ncharged the same amount for the same session lengths. For that fortnight, the\nservice\u2019s total fees charged were $26,000 (or $13,000 per week).\nThe payment is worked out below:\n\nthe service\u2019s hourly reference fee is $11.98 (because their hourly fee is above the CBDC hourly rate cap at $13)\n$11.98 x 50 per cent = $5.99 paid in business continuity per hour\n$5.99 x 10 hour session = $59.90 paid in business continuity per session\n$59.90 x 20 children x 5 sessions per week = $5,990 paid to the service per week.\n\nThe reference fortnight is as follows:\n\nFor an OSHC service that provides only vacation care\u2013the fortnight starting on the first Monday of the school holidays between school Term 3 and Term 4 in 2019 in the state or territory in which the service is located.\nFor all other services\u2013the fortnight starting 17 February 2020.\nNote: where a service charged fees for only one week of care during the fortnight starting 17 February 2020, or in the school holidays between Terms 3 and 4 in 2019, an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment will made in accordance with these rules.\n\nFor example:\n\nAn OSHC service that operates in New South Wales provides only vacation care. Therefore, their reference period is 30 September 2019 to 13 October 2019.\n\nFor example:\n\nAn OSHC service provides both vacation care and before and after school care. Their reference period is from 17 February 2020 to 1 March 2020.\n\nFor example:\n\nAn OSHC service operating in New South Wales providing only vacation care, charged fees for one week in the school holiday period between Terms 3 and 4 in 2019. However, the reference fortnight for the service does not change, meaning that the base weekly amount for the provider of the service that is calculated under the Rules would be effectively half of the amount it would be if the service had operated for the full reference fortnight, instead of only one week. However, the provider of the service will receive an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment to adjust for the week.\n\nThe reference hourly fee for a session is 50 per cent of the lower of:\n\nthe hourly fee for the session; or\nthe relevant Child Care Subsidy hourly rate cap.\n\nFor example:\n\na CBDC service charges $100 for a 10 hour session of care. Therefore, their hourly fee is $10 per hour ($100 \u00f7 10 = $10)\nThe CBDC hourly rate cap is $11.98\nThe reference hourly fee is the hourly fee ($10) because it is lower\n50 per cent of the hourly session fee is $5 ($10 x 50 per cent = $5).\n\nFor example:\n\na CBDC service charges $130 for a 10 hour session of care. Therefore, their hourly fee is $13 per hour ($130 \u00f7 10 = $13)\nThe CBDC hourly rate cap is $11.98\nThe reference hourly fee is the CBDC hourly rate cap ($11.98) because it is lower\n50 per cent of the hourly reference fee is $5.99 ($11.98 x 50 per cent = $5.99).\n\n*[OSHC]: Outside School Hours Care"}
{"_id":"Australiatest498","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nAm I still expected to record\/store the attendance information of children at my service (for example 'in and out times')?\nYes, you must still record the attendance information, such as in and out\ntimes, for children that attend your service. This can either be stored\nelectronically, or by other means. You must also give families statements of\nsessions of care provided."}
{"_id":"Australiatest499","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nWhat evidence do I need to provide?\u00a0\nYou will need to provide a copy of your Payroll for the reference fortnight,\nthe two weeks from the 17 February to 1 March 2020. This will need to show the\nnames of all the staff who were paid, their hours worked, their Payroll ID,\nand Tax File Number. All other information including actual wages, should be\nredacted.\nYou will need to confirm which employees who were paid during the reference\nfortnight, are still employed and are eligible for JobKeeper for your service.\nThe department may verify the information you provide with data from the\nAustralian Taxation Office and Services Australia.\nProviding false information may result in the imposition of sanctions,\nincluding cancellation of service's approval, as well as civil penalties and\ncriminal prosecution."}
{"_id":"Australiatest500","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nCan Family Day Care and In Home Care providers apply for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment for their educators who are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment because they didn\u2019t have an ABN?\u00a0\nProviders of Family Day Care (FDC) and In Home Care (IHC) services, who are\nnot run by state or local government, may apply for Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payments on behalf of contracted sole trader educators.\nTo be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment, the\nfollowing conditions must be met:\n\neducators must be currently contracted to the service and have provided care during the reference period\neducators must not have had an ABN on 12 March 2020 (those educators with an ABN should apply individually for JobKeeper payments)\nthese educators must have applied for an ABN by 1 June 2020; and\nonly one provider can apply on behalf of each educator (even if they work for more than one service).\n\nIn an application on behalf of contracted sole trader educators, providers\nwill be required to supply either:\n\nthe educator\u2019s ABN, or \nthe date of the educator\u2019s application for an ABN and the Australian Taxation Office receipt number.\n\nApplications without this information cannot be considered.\nProviders of FDC and IHC services receiving this Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment must pass on the payment in full to their eligible\neducators.\nInformation collected for the purposes of calculating the amount of\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment will be shared with the\nAustralian Taxation Office and Services Australia for verification checking."}
{"_id":"Australiatest501","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInclusion Support Program\nMy service receives funding from the Inclusion Support Program to support the inclusion of children with additional needs. Can Inclusion Development Fund payments still be claimed through the Inclusion Support Portal?\u00a0\nFor care provided from 6 April 2020 services should claim all Inclusion\nDevelopment Fund (IDF) claims hours as \u2018non face-to-face\u2019 hours, including the\nactual attendance of the case child and approved non face-to-face hours.\nThe department has changed the Inclusion Support Portal to notionally increase\nthe \u2018Additional non face-to-face hours\u2019 for each case to allow services to\nclaim IDF payments without the attendance records in the Child Care Subsidy\nSystem.\nNote that this is a system change to facilitate payments only. There is no\nchange to the actual allowable non face-to-face hours in each case. Services\nare only eligible for IDF for the hours of actual attendance and the approved\nnumber of non face-to-face hours as set out in their funding letter, per\nSection 11.1.1 of the Inclusion Support Program Guidelines.\nIf services receive an error when claiming they should contact the IDF Manager\nat idfm@ku.com.au.\nServices will still need to record attendance and these will be checked by the\ndepartment to verify IDF claims.\nServices can continue to submit new applications for Inclusion Support Program\nfunding under the updated ISP Guidelines that were published on 30 March 2020.\nThis IDF payment mechanism is expected to be in place for the duration of the\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package arrangements.\nFor more information on ISP visit education.gov.au\/inclusion-support-program-\nisp.\n*[ISP]: Indigenous Support Program"}
{"_id":"Australiatest502","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nFamily Day Care and In Home Care\nCan we receive more than the 50 per cent Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package?\u00a0\nFamily Day Care (FDC) and In Home Care (IHC) services are already coping with\na surge in enrolments as essential workers have sought flexible child care\noptions for their preschool-aged children and their primary school-aged\nchildren who are no longer going to school.\nAdditionally, in recognition of the higher costs associated with IHC sessions\nof care, providers will be eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment of 20 per cent of the weekly payment calculated on the\nreference fortnight base rate. This payment will be made from 18 May 2020. IHC\nproviders do not need to apply for this payment as it will be made\nautomatically.\nWhere a service is providing additional care compared to the reference period\nthey can apply to receive the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment.\nThe form is available at\ndese.gov.au\/covid-19\/childhood.\nIHC providers, or large providers (those with 50 or more services), should\nemail ECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au to\nrequest a service-level spreadsheet to complete. This streamlined process is\navailable to IHC and large providers even if not all services are eligible for\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments.\nProviders who receive this Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment must\ntell the department if their income goes up for any reason. This includes if\nyou have access to additional state or local government assistance. Please\nprovide details regarding this additional support to\nECECreliefpayment@dese.gov.au and put\nthe relevant application ID number in the email subject header.\nIf a FDC\/IHC service has already made an application through the exceptional\ncircumstance process, the department will be in contact with them shortly to\nrequest further information about those educators (sole trader contractors)\nwho are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. Confirmation and evidence will\nbe sought that all relevant educators have applied for an ABN before any\nadditional payment can be assessed."}
{"_id":"Australiatest503","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nCan families who do not meet the Child Care Subsidy residency requirements enrol their children to attend a service receiving payments under the Relief Package?\nYes. Families who do not meet the Child Care Subsidy residency requirements\ncan be enrolled under a Relevant Arrangement or Organisation Arrangement\nenrolment while payments under the Relief Package are being made, noting\nhowever priority for child care places is to be given to essential workers,\nvulnerable and disadvantaged children and previously enrolled children."}
{"_id":"Australiatest504","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nWill Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments be backdated? \nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments based on demand will be\nbackdated to the beginning of a relevant four-week period. The first four-week\nperiod commenced on 6 April 2020.\nThe four-week periods are:\n\nPeriod 1 \u2013 6 April 2020 to 3 May 2020\nPeriod 2 \u2013 4 May 2020 to 31 May 2020\nPeriod 3 \u2013 1 June 2020 to 28 June 2020.\n\nFor example:\nA provider applying on 20 April 2020, that seeks the Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment to be backdated will receive the higher rate from 6\nApril 2020.\nOR\nA service which applies on 22 May 2020, may have their Exceptional\nCircumstance Supplementary Payment backdated to the second four-week period\nwhich commences on 4 May 2020.\nNote: where applicable, adjustments will be made for those providers who have\nalready received an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment for\nincreased attendance in the first four-week period and are now eligible for\nmonies for week 1 of the period.\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments will be backdated until the\ncommencement of the Relief Package on 6 April 2020:\n\nto support providers that are operated by non-government schools and large charities\/not-for-profit organisations that are not eligible for JobKeeper Payment\n\nOR\n\nto providers of Family Day Care and In Home Care services, on behalf of their (sole trader contractor) educators who are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment\n\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments made to services who have more\nthan 30 per cent of full-time equivalent employees who are ineligible for\nJobKeeper will be backdated to 18 May 2020."}
{"_id":"Australiatest505","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nCan services operated by state, territory or local governments whose educators are not eligible for\u00a0the JobKeeper Payment, receive increased payments?\nNo, these services are not eligible to apply for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment on the basis of JobKeeper ineligibility. However, they\nare able to apply for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment where\nthere is an increase in demand, where evidenced by an increase in the number\nof children attending or hours of care provided, when compared to the\nreference period."}
{"_id":"Australiatest506","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nExceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment \u2013 JobKeeper ineligibility \u2013 information for providers and services\nHow do I know if I am eligible for an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment?\u00a0\nServices may be eligible to receive this Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief\nPackage if 30 per cent or more of their employees are ineligible for\nJobKeeper. Employees that are ineligible for JobKeeper are often casual\nemployees who work short shifts. For this reason, the department will use a\nfull-time equivalent amount of 38 hours to calculate both the 30 per cent and\nthe amount of the payment.\nThese employees must have been paid during the reference period (17 February\nto 1 March 2020) and still be employed by the service.\nIn addition to these criteria, services must:\n\nCurrently be open and providing sessions of care to at least one child\nNot be part of a state or local government; and\nNot be eligible or receiving any other Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment on the basis of JobKeeper ineligibility.\n\nService types that may be eligible for other Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payments on the basis of JobKeeper ineligibility include: Family\nDay Care and In Home Care services with a sole trader model, and services that\nare part of a non-government school, tertiary institution, and charity or not\nfor profit organisation that is ineligible for JobKeeper."}
{"_id":"Australiatest507","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u2014information for providers and services\nHow does an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment\u00a0affect my JobKeeper application?\nFor a provider this payment and the base payment under the Relief Package are\nnot considered as revenue for GST purposes. This means providers will be able\nto show they satisfy the decline in income test for the purposes of the\nJobKeeper Payment provided they do not have income from other sources, such as\nbeing part of a larger entity like a non-government school or a not-for-profit\norganisation.\nWhere some of this revenue is then passed on to Family Day Care and In Home\nCare educators (based on contractual arrangements between the service and the\neducator) these monies are considered as revenue for GST purposes. As the\neducator is unlikely to receive more than 50 per cent of their fee revenue\nfrom the provider, they should be able to satisfy the decline in income test\nfor the JobKeeper Payment."}
{"_id":"Australiatest508","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nEarly Childhood Education and Care Relief Package\u2013information for providers and services\nWhat do I need to do if my service has to temporarily close or has reopened?\u00a0\nIf your service is required to temporarily close for any reason you must\nreport the closure and re-opening. Failure to report a re-opening may impact\nyour Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payments. You must\nreport your service closure and re-opening in a timely manner, clearly stating\nthe reason for the closure to the following authorities within 24 hours:\n\nyour state or territory regulatory authority; and\nthe Department of Education, Skills and Employment in your state or territory (contact details below).\n\nContact details for state and territory offices\n\nNew South Wales & Australian Capital Territory CCSAssessments-NSWACT@dese.gov.au\nVictoria CCSAssessments-VIC@dese.gov.au\nQueensland CCSAssessments-QLD@dese.gov.au\nWestern Australia CCSAssessments-WA@dese.gov.au\nSouth Australia ChildcareSA@dese.gov.au\nTasmania ChildcareTasmania@dese.gov.au\nNorthern Territory ChildcareNT@dese.gov.au\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest509","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nWhat if my service\u2019s levels of attendance have not decreased?\nThe Australian Government is committed to ensuring that families, especially\nemergency and essential workers, can work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and\nthat disadvantaged and vulnerable children are safe and receiving care.\nThe Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package has been developed to\nassist such families and to respond to concerns from the vast majority of the\nchild care sector that falling child care attendance was threatening the\nviability of the sector.\nThose child care providers who do not experience any significant reduction in\nenrolments and attendance are able to apply for an Exceptional Circumstance\nSupplementary Payment under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief\nPackage."}
{"_id":"Australiatest510","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nInformation for families\nCan my service change their service offering in relation to meals, nappies or late fees?\nThe intent of the weekly payments is to enable access to free child care for\nfamilies of the priority groups like essential workers, during the COVID-19\ncrisis.\nWhile services receive payments under the Relief Package, they should not be\nchanging their service offer and\/or increasing or adding new administrative\nfees.\nThe usual service offering generally includes consumable items such as meals,\nwipes, or art supplies as part of the cost of providing a session of care. For\nexample, if nappies were included as part of the session fee your service\nusually provided, nappies should continue to be provided without any extra\ncost to families.\nSome services also charge administrative fees. These fees do not form part of\nthe session of care fee that a family\u2019s Child Care Subsidy was calculated on,\nmeaning that services can continue to charge administrative fees, for example,\nlate pick-up fees. However, services are not to increase these fees for the\nduration of the Relief Package or add new ones that were not listed in a\nfamily\u2019s Complying Written Agreement.\nThe department can take compliance action against services not meeting the\nconditions of the payments. Information about such practices can be directed\nto the department\u2019s tip off line 1800 664 231 or emailing\ntipoffline@dese.gov.au."}
{"_id":"Australiatest511","title":"","text":"Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions\nChild Enrolments, Attendance and Absences\nDo both parents\/carers need to be essential workers to be given priority access?\nNo. As long as one parent is an essential worker that would suffice."}
{"_id":"Australiatest512","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nIf your visa has expired, or is about to expire you should consider returning\nto your home country as quickly as possible if you are able to, particularly\nif you do not have family support.\nTemporary visa holders who are unable to support themselves over the next six\nmonths are strongly encouraged to return home and to make arrangements as\nquickly as possible to do so.\nIf you cannot depart Australia, you need to apply for a Bridging visa in order\nto regularise your visa status. You will be expected to depart Australia when\ntravel restrictions are lifted."}
{"_id":"Australiatest513","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nCan I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa if I have a no further stay condition attached to my visa?\nIf you hold a subclass 403 visa in the Seasonal Worker Programme stream,\nduring the COVID-19 period, the condition 8503 (No Further Stay) attached to\nyour visa will be automatically waived to allow you to apply for the COVID-19\nAGEE stream of the subclass 408. You will not need to apply for a waiver of\ncondition 8503.\nIf you hold any other temporary visa with condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 and\ncannot depart Australia as planned, you cannot apply for most other visas in\nAustralia unless the condition is waived. You can request to waive this\ncondition if\nyour visa will expire in less than 28 days. If your request is approved, you\nshould make a new visa application before your current visa expires."}
{"_id":"Australiatest514","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nI had to leave Australia and I couldn\u2019t complete my specified work due to COVID-19. My visa is likely to cease before I can come back to Australia, can the validity be extended?\nIt is not possible to extend your WHM visa. If you wish to return to Australia\nin the future, you will need to apply and meet the requirements for an\nappropriate visa. Depending on your circumstances, you may not meet the\nrequirements for another WHM visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest515","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nEmployers\nDue to the COVID-19 border restrictions, seasonal workers and pacific labour scheme participants are unable to travel to Australia at present. What other options are available to access workers to address labour needs?\nIn response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government has\nannounced temporary measures to assist temporary visa holders currently in\nAustralia, including Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme\nparticipants, who are unable to currently return to their home country, to\nextend their stay in Australia, and enable flexibility in changing approved\nemployers where required.\nUnder these temporary measures, current approved employers may wish to employ\nSeasonal Worker Programme or Pacific Labour Scheme participants who have\nfinished employment with their current approved employer, but who are unable\nto return to their home country.\nApproved employers, like any employer, may also wish to employ Temporary\nActivity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream\nvisa holders\n\nThis visa will have a nil visa application charge (VAC) for the COVID-19 pandemic event. \nEmployer sponsorship arrangements similar to the Seasonal Worker Programme will also apply to the subclass 408 visa.\n\nThese temporary measures are not intended to prevent the recruitment of\nAustralians to undertake this work. Before seeking access to seasonal workers\nunder the Seasonal Worker Programme, approved employers must first try to\nrecruit Australians.\nWhere Australian workers are unavailable, employers can also seek seasonal\nlabour through the Working Holiday Maker program. Working Holiday Makers who\nare working in critical sectors (i.e. agriculture, food processing, health\ncare, aged care, disability care or child care) will be exempt from the six\nmonth work limitation with one employer and eligible for a Temporary Activity\n(subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.\nEmployers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace\nlaws. Overseas workers have the same rights under Australian workplace law as\nall other employees.\nThese temporary measures will be in place for a timeframe that allows relevant\ncritical industries to bridge the gap between their immediate needs and the\ntime to recruit, train and on-board Australians. The Department of Home\nAffairs is working with the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to\nensure Australians are prioritised for future job opportunities."}
{"_id":"Australiatest516","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nI am a Bridging visa holder in Australia and my substantive application is pending a decision. What does this mean for my Bridging visa?\nYour Bridging visa will keep you lawfully in Australia until a decision has\nbeen made on your substantive visa application. If your substantive visa is\nnot granted, and you are unable to depart Australia, you will need to apply\nfor a further Bridging visa to keep you lawful."}
{"_id":"Australiatest517","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nI have applied for my second or third WHM visa. Can I keep working while I am waiting for a decision on my application?\nWhile your new application is being processed, a bridging visa will come into\neffect which generally carries the same conditions as your previous visa,\nincluding work rights. You and your employer can check Visa Entitlement\nVerification Online (VEVO) at any time to confirm your work rights."}
{"_id":"Australiatest518","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nEmployer sponsored temporary work visas\nI have lost my job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what are my options?\nThose who are laid off (that is, they are unemployed) should find another\nemployer within 60 days or make arrangements to depart Australia, where this\nis possible."}
{"_id":"Australiatest519","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nNew Zealand 444 Special Category Visa (SCV)\nWhat is a protected New Zealand citizen?\nA person is a protected SCV New Zealand citizen holder if they fall within one\nof the following groups:\n\nin Australia on 26 February 2001\nin Australia for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before this date\nassessed as a protected SCV by Services Australia holder before 26 February 2004.\n\nMore information and advice on protected SCV holders can be found at the\nServices Australia\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"Australiatest520","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nSeasonal Worker Programme visa holders\nDo I need to meet quarantine requirements? I have only travelled between states\/territories?\u00a0\nYes \u2013 all visa holders must adhere to all COVID-19 health measures, including\nsocial distancing and self-isolation.\nState and Territory governments are responsible for arrangements for safe\naccommodation of temporary visa holders working in agriculture to manage the\nspread of COVID-19. This includes quarantine and self-isolation requirements.\nVisa holders must follow all instructions provided by the State or Territory\nin which they are working."}
{"_id":"Australiatest521","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow do I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nApply online via the Department of Home Affairs online lodgment portal\nImmiAccount.\nYou will need to complete the \u2018Temporary Activity Visa (408)\u2019 online form and\nto select \u201cAustralian government endorsed events\u201d from the Activity Type\ndropdown menu on page 2 of the application form.\nYou can select the \u2018COVID-19 Pandemic event\u2019 in the Event details section of\nthe application form.\nThe COVID-19 Pandemic event visa application is VAC Free. You will be required\nto select \u2018YES\u2019 to the Visa application charge concession question on page 2\nand then select \u2018NIL VAC\u2019."}
{"_id":"Australiatest522","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nHow will students be assured they will not jeopardise their visa?\nWritten advice will be provided to approved employers setting out the\ntemporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders.\nSupermarkets must register with the Department of Home Affairs to be given\naccess to the temporary relaxation of working hours for existing workers. A\nlist of registered businesses is\npublished on the Department\u2019s website.\nAged Care service providers should refer to the correspondence provided to\nthem by the Department of Health for further details."}
{"_id":"Australiatest523","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWho can access early superannuation and under what circumstances?\nTemporary Visa category : Bridging\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Student\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Held a student visa for 12 months or more and unable to\nmeeting immediate living expenses $10,000 in 2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Temporary Protection\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Subclass 444\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unemployed, eligible to receive certain social security\npayments or farm household allowance payments, those that have been made\nredundant or had their hours reduced and sole traders suffering a significant\nreduction in turnover $10,000 in 2019-20 and further $10,000 in 2020-21  \nTemporary Visa category : Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment)\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Remains employed and unable to meet immediate living\nexpenses $10,000 in 2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Temporary Resident (Other Employment)\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Visitor\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Working Holiday Maker\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  \nTemporary Visa category : Investor Retirement\/Retirement\nEarly access to superannuation : Yes\nEligibility criteria : Unemployed, eligible to receive certain social security\npayments or farm household allowance payments, those that have been made\nredundant or had their hours reduced and sole traders suffering a significant\nreduction in turnover $10,000 in 2019-20 and further $10,000 in 2020-21  \nTemporary Visa category : Other temporary\nEarly access to superannuation :\nEligibility criteria : Unable to meet immediate living expenses $10,000 in\n2019-20  "}
{"_id":"Australiatest524","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nEmployers\nI am not an approved employer under the Seasonal Worker Programme or Pacific Labour Scheme. Can I employ seasonal workers or pacific labour scheme participants during this COVID-19 period?\nCurrently, only organisations approved by the Australian Government can\nrecruit seasonal workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme. Information\nabout the Seasonal Worker Programme is available on the Department of\nEducation, Skills and Employment\nwebsite.\nWhere Australian workers are unavailable, employers can seek seasonal labour\nthrough the Working Holiday Maker program. Working Holiday Makers who are\nworking in critical sectors (i.e. agriculture, food processing, health care,\naged care, disability care or child care) will be exempt from the six month\nwork limitation with one employer and eligible for a Temporary Activity\n(subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream."}
{"_id":"Australiatest525","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary Visa Holders\nThe Australian Government is committed to protecting the health of\nAustralians, supporting businesses and jobs and securing food supply while we\ncombat the COVID-19 virus. The livelihood of Australians who become unemployed\nas the economic impacts deepen is paramount to the Government.\nThe Government is making a number of changes to temporary visa holder\narrangements during the coronavirus crisis in order to protect the health of\nour community, safeguard job opportunities for Australians, support critical\nindustries, and assist with the rapid recovery post the virus.\nThe priority of Government during this period is public health. All temporary\nvisa holders should follow public health advice in respect to COVID-19.\nIt is important that temporary visa holders retain a lawful status wherever\npossible. Whatever a person\u2019s visa status, there is no barrier to engaging\nwith our health system if they are sick.\nTemporary visa holders who are unable to support themselves are strongly\nencouraged to return to their countries.\nWhere this is not possible, most temporary visa holders who have worked in\nAustralia will now be able to access some of their Australian superannuation:\n\nIn most cases, access to superannuation will be up to a maximum amount of $10,000 tax-free during 2019-20. \nFurther information is available on the Australian Taxation Office website.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest526","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nDue to COVID-19, I couldn\u2019t complete the specified work I need to apply for my second or third WHM visa. Can I extend my visa to give me more time to look for work?\nIf you have not completed the three or six months of specified work required\nto apply for a second or third WHM visa, you should apply for another visa to\nremain lawfully in Australia until you are able to depart.\nIf you are working in the agricultural sector and are unable to return to your\nhome country, you can apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408)\nAustralian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa. This also applies to\nthose working in other critical sectors such as food processing, health care,\naged care, disability care and child care.\nThis visa will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia, and continue\nworking, should you wish to do so, until you can return to your home country.\nIf you are applying for the visa to work or continue working in a critical\nsector you must have evidence from your employer that you have ongoing work\nthat an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot do.\nWork undertaken on a subclass 408 visa does not count as specified work for\nthe purpose of applying for a second or third WHM visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest527","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nNew Zealand 444 Special Category Visa (SCV)\nNew Zealanders and Australians have reciprocal arrangements whereby we can\neach stay and work in each other\u2019s country.\nThere are over 670,000 New Zealand citizens in Australia on a TY444 visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest528","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nPacific Labour Scheme visa holders\nMy work contract has ended, my visa is about to expire and I am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I extend my current visa to stay in Australia?\nIt is possible to apply for a new Temporary Work (International Relations)\n(subclass 403) visa in the Pacific Labour stream in Australia, where you and\nyour employer are endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to\nparticipate in the scheme.\nThe application can be made online via the Department of Home Affairs online\nlodgement portal, ImmiAccount.\nYou must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be\neligible to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a\ndecision is made on your visa application."}
{"_id":"Australiatest529","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nWhat type of work can students undertake under these arrangements?\nThe temporary arrangements only apply to student visa holders working in\nsupermarkets or aged care providers, as well as student nurses who are\nsupporting health efforts against COVID-19 as directed by health officials."}
{"_id":"Australiatest530","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nI am a Bridging visa holder. Am I able to work?\nYou might be allowed to work in Australia depending on the conditions of your\nBridging visa. Your grant letter will tell you about these conditions. See if\nyou have work restrictions by using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online\nService (VEVO).\nIf your Bridging visa does not let you work, or has restrictions on working,\nyou can apply for another Bridging visa that lets you work. This is only\navailable in some circumstances and you will usually have to demonstrate that\nyou are in financial hardship.\nBridging visa holders who have been able to work while in Australia and cannot\nmeet their immediate living expenses can access up to $10,000 of their\nAustralian superannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial year."}
{"_id":"Australiatest531","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nAs a WHM working in the agricultural sector, can I keep working for the same employer for longer than six months?\nYes. WHMs working in the agricultural sector are already taken to have\npermission from the Department to work for longer than six months with the\nsame employer.\nFurther information is available on the Department of Home Affairs\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"Australiatest532","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary Visa Holders\nVisitor Visa Holders\nUnder Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a visitor visa or\nETA. You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.\nIf you have a \u2018no further stay condition\u2019 attached to your visa, you will need\nto apply to have this waived before you make any visa application.\nIf you cannot depart Australia as planned, check your permitted stay period,\nvisa expiry date and visa conditions to make sure you remain lawful in\nAustralia.\nYou can check your visa details in\nVEVO, the myVEVO\napp,\nin your visa grant letter or your\nImmiAccount. You can check your ETA\nexpiry and conditions through our Check an ETA\nservice.\nWhen you apply for a new visa, you may be granted a bridging visa that will\nkeep you lawful in Australia until a decision is made on your visa\napplication.\nIf your visa has already expired, see My visa has\nexpired."}
{"_id":"Australiatest533","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat else do I have to do to be granted a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nYou must maintain adequate health insurance during your stay in Australia.\nThis means you may need to arrange health insurance for your stay in Australia\nif you haven\u2019t already got it.\nYou are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in\nAustralia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.\nYou must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted\nthis visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment,\nincluding transport.\nSee what we consider adequate health insurance for visa\nholders.\nSee more about health insurance for overseas\nvisitors."}
{"_id":"Australiatest534","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nEmployer sponsored temporary work visas\nI am a Temporary Skill Shortage visa holder - what should I do if I have be stood down or my hours are reduced?\nTemporary Skill Shortage visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid\noff, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the\nopportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements.\nBusinesses will also be able to reduce the hours of the visa holder without\nthe person being in breach of their visa conditions or the business being in\nbreach of their employer obligations."}
{"_id":"Australiatest535","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nI am a Bridging visa holder but need some temporary support. Is there any available?\nStatus Resolution Support Services (SRSS) provides support for certain non-\ncitizens who are in the Australian community temporarily while their\nimmigration status is being determined. The SRSS program provides short-term,\ntailored support to individuals who are unable to support themselves while\nthey engage with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve their immigration\nstatus. It is not an ongoing welfare entitlement.\nPeople who are actively engaged with the Department to resolve their\nimmigration status and need assistance to overcome barriers to that\nresolution, may be eligible to be provided with short term support in order to\nresolve that barrier.\nIndividuals on a bridging visa with work rights, and who have the capacity to\nwork, are expected to support themselves while their immigration status is\nbeing resolved.\nDuring the COVID-19 period, applications for support under SRSS will be\nassessed on a case-by-case basis."}
{"_id":"Australiatest536","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nI have applied for my second or third WHM visa. Can I keep working while I am waiting for a decision on my application?\nWhile your new application is being processed, a bridging visa will come into\neffect which generally carries the same conditions as your previous visa,\nincluding in relation to work rights. You and your employer can check Visa\nEntitlement Verification Online (VEVO) at any time to confirm your work\nrights."}
{"_id":"Australiatest537","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow long will it take to process my COVID-19 Pandemic event visa application?\nThe Department is prioritising the processing of applications for people\nworking in critical sectors. Other applications may take longer to finalise.\nYou should submit as much evidence to support your application as possible.\nWhen you lodge a valid application for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa, you\nwill be granted a bridging visa which generally carries the same conditions as\nyour previous visa, including any work rights. If your current visa expires,\nthe bridging visa will maintain your lawful status in Australia until your\nCOVID-19 Pandemic event visa application is finalised.\nYou can check Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) at any time to\nconfirm your visa status and conditions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest538","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nDo I need a letter of endorsement to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nIf you are applying for the visa to work or continue working in a critical\nsector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care,\ndisability care or childcare) you must provide evidence of your ongoing\nemployment, which:\n\nconfirms the dates of your employment\nconfirms which critical sector (such as agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or childcare) you are working in and\nprovides evidence that an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident cannot fill the position.\n\nEvidence could include payslips, a contract and\/or a letter from your\nemployer.\nDoctors and Nurses with an offer of employment in the health care sector must\nprovide evidence of their medical qualifications, and a letter of offer of\nemployment from a hospital or clinic.\nIf you are a temporary visa holder with no other visa options and you are\nunable to depart Australia, you must attach a statement that tells us why you\ncannot apply for another type of visa, why you are not able to depart\nAustralia before your current visa expires, and what actions you are taking to\ntry to arrange your departure as soon as travel restrictions are lifted and\/or\nflight availability resumes."}
{"_id":"Australiatest539","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nI am a Bridging Visa holder and want to depart Australia. What should I do?\nThe Department\u2019s Status Resolution Service can assist eligible individuals\nwishing to depart from Australia (where this is currently possible). The\nDepartment contracts the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and\nSerco (Homeward) as service providers to facilitate its voluntary return and\nreintegration programs.\nReturns assistance may be available and may provide an eligible recipient with\none, or any combination of assistance, including:\n\nindependent returns counselling\nplane ticket\nassistance to obtain travel documents\nreception assistance in country of return\ntravel assistance to final destination\n\nTo be considered eligible for returns assistance, you must:\n\nbe a non-citizen;\nnot hold a visa that permits re-entry to Australia;\nelect to voluntarily return to a country-of-origin or a country where you have a right of entry and stay; and\ndemonstrate you are unable to self-fund their return.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest540","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow long will my visa be valid for?\nThe validity period on the visa will vary depending on the individual\ncircumstances following these general principles:\n\nApplicants who have been on the Seasonal Worker Program or Working Holiday Maker program and are working in critical sectors will be granted a visa for up to 12 months.\nApplicants working in critical sectors will be granted a visa for up to 12 months.\nAll other applicants will be granted a visa for up to six months with the validity period dependant on the individual circumstances such as when they may be able to return home.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest541","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nI had to leave Australia and I couldn\u2019t complete my specified work due to COVID-19. My visa is likely to cease before I can come back to Australia. Can the validity be extended?\nIt is not possible to extend the validity your WHM visa. If you wish to return\nto Australia in the future, you will need to apply and meet the requirements\nfor an appropriate visa. Depending on your circumstances, you may not meet the\nrequirements for another WHM visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest542","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow do I know if my visa has been granted with work rights?\nPeople who are working in critical sectors will be given permission to work on\ntheir COVID-19 Pandemic event visa. All other people holding this visa will\nnot have permission to work.\nPermission to work is managed through mandatory condition 8107. Workers in\ncritical sectors who indicate their work activities in their visa application\nwill be given permission to engage in those work activities when the COVID 19\nPandemic event visa is granted.\nPeople applying for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa as a last resort to\nremain lawfully in Australia until their departure will not be granted\npermission to work.\nUnder condition 8107 a person who is granted a subclass 408 visa for the\npurpose of remaining lawfully in Australia until they are able to return home\nand who then work, would be engaging in an activity that is inconsistent with\nthe purpose of the visa grant. Consequently, action could be taken to cancel\nthat visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest543","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nEmployers\nDue to the COVID-19 border restrictions, WHMs are unable to travel to Australia at present. What other options are available to access workers to address labour needs?\nIn response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government has\nannounced temporary measures to assist temporary visa holders currently in\nAustralia, including WHMs, who are currently unable to return to their home\ncountry, to extend their stay in Australia. WHMs are already able to work for\nthe same employer in the agricultural sector for up to 12 months, instead of\nthe usual six month limitation for other sectors. They can apply for a further\nWHM visa if they have undertaken specified work for three months on their\nfirst WHM visa or six months on their second WHM visa.\nIf a WHM working in the agricultural sector is not eligible for a further visa\nand is unable to return to their home country, they can apply for the\nTemporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE)\nvisa to continue working in the agricultural sector. This also applies to\nthose working in other critical sectors such as food processing, health care,\naged care, disability care or child care.\nEmployers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace\nlaws and should first try to employ Australians. Overseas workers have the\nsame rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees"}
{"_id":"Australiatest544","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nWhat is the Government doing to support industries that rely on Working Holiday Makers?\nTo support the critical sectors of agriculture, food processing, health care,\naged care, disability care and child care, the Government is providing\nflexible arrangements for Working Holiday Makers (WHMs).\nWHMs working in these critical sectors will be exempt from the six month work\nlimitation with one employer and will also be eligible for a further visa to\ncontinue working in these sectors if their current visa is due to expire in\nthe next six months.\nIf a WHM is working in the critical sectors but is not eligible for a further\nvisa and is unable to return to their home country, they can apply for a\nTemporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE)\nstream visa.\nWHMs who are applying for this visa to work or continue working in a critical\nsector must have evidence from their employer that they have ongoing work that\nan Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot do.\nEmployers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace\nlaws. Overseas workers have the same rights under Australian workplace law as\nall other employees."}
{"_id":"Australiatest545","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nWhat services are available to assist me?\n\nIf you cannot resolve your visa status, the Department of Home Affairs' Status Resolution Service (SRS) can help.\nSRS officers can explain your visa options and tell you how decisions you make now can affect your options later on. They can also help you plan your departure from Australia, and refer you to other services where necessary.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest546","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nCan I extend my current visa to stay in Australia if I am unable to return to my home country?\nYou can apply for a further WHM visa if you have undertaken specified work for\nthree months on your first WHM visa or six months on your second WHM visa.\nThe following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass\n417 (Working Holiday) visa holders:\n\nplant and animal cultivation in regional Australia\nfishing and pearling in regional Australia\ntree farming and felling in regional Australia\nmining in regional Australia\nconstruction in regional Australia and\nbushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31 July 2019.\n\nThe following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass\n462 (Work and Holiday) visa holders:\n\nplant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia\nfishing and pearling in northern Australia only\ntree farming and felling in northern Australia only\ntourism and hospitality in northern Australia only\nconstruction in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia and\nbushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31 July 2019.\n\nYou must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be\neligible to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a\ndecision is made on your visa application.\nIf you are granted a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government\nEndorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa, work undertaken on this visa does not\ncount as specified work for the purpose of applying for a second or third WHM\nvisa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest547","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nSeasonal Worker Programme visa holders\nI am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I work for another employer while I wait to return home?\nYes. During the COVID-19 period, workers currently in Australia under the\nSeasonal Worker and Pacific Labour schemes will be exempt from the requirement\nto work for a single employer and be able to move between approved employers.\nThis will allow flexibility and continued support for the agriculture sector\nin meeting seasonal workforce demands.\nWorkers and employers are required to advise the Department of Home Affairs\nand Department of Education, Skills and Employment about any change in\napproved employer, as per existing arrangements."}
{"_id":"Australiatest548","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nCan I count work in COVID-19 critical sectors already considered \u2018specified work\u2019 (e.g. plant and animal cultivation), for the purpose of applying for a second or third WHM visa?\nYes. Existing arrangements for specified work will remain in place.\nHowever, the Australian Government has announced temporary measures to assist\nWHMs working in the agricultural sector who are not eligible to apply for a\nfurther WHM visa.\nWHMs working in the agricultural sector, who are unable to return to their\nhome country can apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian\nGovernment Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa. This also applies to those\nworking in other critical sectors such as food processing, health care, aged\ncare, disability care and child care. This visa will allow you to remain\nlawfully in Australia, and continue working, should you wish to do so, until\nyou can return to your home country.\nIf you are applying for this visa to work or continue working in a critical\nsector, you must have evidence from your employer that you have ongoing work\nthat an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot do.\nWork undertaken on a subclass 408 visa does not count as specified work for\nthe purpose of applying for a second or third WHM visa.\nFurther information is available on the Department of Home Affairs\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"Australiatest549","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow long will my COVID-19 Pandemic event visa be valid for?\nIf you are employed in a critical sector such as agriculture, food processing,\nhealth care, aged care, disability care, and childcare you may be granted a\nvisa that allows you to stay for up to 12 months.\nIf you have been in Australia under the Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific\nLabour Scheme and are continuing your work in agriculture or another critical\nsector you may be granted a visa allowing you to stay for up to 12 months.\nIf you are not working in a critical sector, you may be granted a visa that\nallows you to stay for up to six months to ensure you remain lawful while you\nare unable to travel home from Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest550","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nI am applying for the visa as a last resort and the application form is asking for my employer details, however I am not employed. What can I do?\nFrom 22 April 2020, an improved ImmiAccount application form will be available\nfor those applicants who are applying as a visa of last resort for the\nCOVID-19 AGEE stream of the subclass 408 visa. The question regarding employer\ndetails will remain for those who are applying on the basis of their work in a\ncritical sector. Working Holiday Makers working in the Agricultural sector,\nfor example, will need to have prearranged employment if they need to apply\nfor the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest551","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nCan I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa if I am not working in a critical sector?\nIf you are not working in a critical sector, you can only apply for the\nCOVID-19 Pandemic event visa if you have no other visa options available to\nyou."}
{"_id":"Australiatest552","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nWhat is the Government doing to support student visa holders?\nThe Government is taking a flexible approach in relation to student visa\nconditions where COVID-19 and associated travel restrictions have prevented\nconditions being met, such as attendance at class or use of online learning.\nThe Government has temporarily relaxed the enforcement of the 40 hour work\nlimitation for the following critical sectors:\n\nInternational students who are existing workers in major supermarkets to help get stock on shelves due to high demand (implemented 7 March).\nInternational students who are existing workers in the aged care sector are able to work more than 40 hours a fortnight (implemented on 18 March 2020).\n\nStudent visa holders who are enrolled in nursing can undertake work to help\nand support the health effort against COVID-19 as directed by health\nofficials."}
{"_id":"Australiatest553","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nCan I work on a COVID-19 AGEE Pandemic event visa?\nPermission to work will be limited to people working in a critical sector such\nas agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care, and\nchildcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nThese sectors may be updated from time to time in response to needs identified\nduring the\nCOVID-19 period. While holding a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa, you are only\npermitted to work in critical sectors."}
{"_id":"Australiatest554","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nPacific Labour Scheme visa holders\nI am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I work for another employer while I wait to return home?\nYes. During the COVID-19 period, workers currently in Australia under the\nPacific Labour Scheme will be exempt from the requirement to work for a single\nemployer and be able to move between approved employers. This will allow\nflexibility and continued support for the agriculture sector in meeting\nseasonal workforce demands. Workers and employers are required to advise the\nDepartment of Home Affairs and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about\nany change in approved employer, as per existing arrangements."}
{"_id":"Australiatest555","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nI am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I extend my current visa to stay in Australia?\nYou can apply for a further WHM visa if you have undertaken specified work for\nthree months on your first WHM visa or six months on your second WHM visa.\nThe following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass\n417 (Working Holiday) visa holders:\n\nplant and animal cultivation in regional Australia; o fishing and pearling in regional Australia\ntree farming and felling in regional Australia\nmining in regional Australia\nconstruction in regional Australia and\nbushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31July 2019.\n\nThe following industries and areas are approved as specified work for subclass\n462 (Work and Holiday) visa holders:\n\nplant and animal cultivation in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia\nfishing and pearling in northern Australia only\ntree farming and felling in northern Australia only\ntourism and hospitality in northern Australia only\nconstruction in northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia and\nbushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, carried out after 31July 2019.\n\nYou must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You may be\neligible to be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a\ndecision is made on your visa application.\nIf you are granted a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government\nEndorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa, work undertaken on this visa does not\ncount as specified work for the purpose of applying for a second or third WHM\nvisa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest556","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWill I have to do a medical examination to get the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nYou and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our\nhealth requirement. This means you may need to undergo a health check."}
{"_id":"Australiatest557","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nDue to COVID-19, I couldn\u2019t complete the specified work I need to apply for my second or third WHM visa. Can I extend my visa to give me more time to look for work?\nIf you have not completed the 3 or 6 months of specified work required to\napply for a second or third WHM visa, you should apply for another visa to\nremain lawfully in Australia until you are able to depart.\nIf you are working in the agriculture, food processing, health care, aged\ncare, disability care or child care sectors, you are not eligible for a\nfurther visa and you are unable to return to your home country, you can apply\nfor the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event\n(AGEE) stream visa. This visa will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia,\nand continue working until you can return to your home country."}
{"_id":"Australiatest558","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nHow much does the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa cost?\nThere is no Visa Application Charge for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa and\nno subsequent temporary application charge.\nTo not be charged for this visa you will be required to select \u2018YES\u2019 to the\nVisa application charge concession question on page 2 and then select \u2018NIL\nVAC\u2019.\nYou might have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and\nbiometrics."}
{"_id":"Australiatest559","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nI am unable to support myself in Australia, what can I do?\nIf you are unable to support yourself, you should make arrangements to return\nto your usual country of residence, noting that it is a condition of all\nstudent visas that holders have access to funds to support themselves for the\nduration of their stay in Australia.\nIf you have held a student visa for 12 months or longer and cannot meet your\nimmediate living expenses, you can access up to $10,000 of your Australian\nsuperannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial year.\nThe Government will continue to engage with the international education sector\nwhich is providing some financial support for international students facing\nhardship."}
{"_id":"Australiatest560","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nI am on a bridging visa. Can I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nTemporary visa holders, including bridging visa holders can apply for the\nCOVID-19 Pandemic event visa if they meet all of the eligibility criteria.\nBridging visa holders who have a s.48 bar and\/or who have not held a\nsubstantive temporary visa in the 28 days prior to application will not be\nable to apply."}
{"_id":"Australiatest561","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nAre these arrangements limited to students?\nStudent visa holders are already permitted to work in Australia with a usual\nlimitation of 40 hours per fortnight. In light of the current circumstances,\nthese arrangements respond to needs raised by sectors having regard to the\ncritical role that student visa holders play in their workforce to deliver\nessential goods and services to the Australian community."}
{"_id":"Australiatest562","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nAgriculture is a critical sector that supplies essential goods to all\nAustralians.\nTo support our agriculture sector, the Government has announced temporary visa\nmeasures to help with the continuity of essential goods and services in\nresponse to COVID-19.\nThe Government will apply flexible arrangements to allow critical workers,\nincluding Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme participants and\nWorking Holiday Makers, to extend their stay in Australia.\nThese temporary arrangements will allow critical workers to remain in\nAustralia, continue to support the agriculture sector, and stabilise the\nworkforce in this critical sector\nSeasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme workers will have visa\nconditions temporarily relaxed and given options to extend their stay in\nAustralia for a defined period to support the agriculture sector.\n\n\nSeasonal Worker Programme workers with visas due to expire will be able to apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.\n\n\nPacific Labour Scheme workers with visas due to expire can apply for a new Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Pacific Labour scheme stream visa.\n\n\nWorkers currently in Australia under these programs will also be exempt from the requirement to work for a single employer and be able to move between approved employers, allowing flexibility and continued support for the agriculture sector in meeting seasonal workforce demands.\n\n\nSeasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme arrangements, including those relating to employers, will be carried over to the new visa arrangements, continuing the link with the agricultural sector.\n\n\nIn addition, Working Holiday Makers who are working in critical sectors (i.e.\nagriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care or child\ncare) will be exempt from the six month work limitation with one employer and\neligible for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa in the Australian\nGovernment Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream."}
{"_id":"Australiatest563","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nWorking Holiday Maker visa holders\nI am overseas. Can I be granted a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) visa (COVID-19 pandemic event)?\nThe COVID-19 pandemic event visa can only be granted to people already in\nAustralia who have ongoing work in a critical sector, who are not eligible for\na further visa and who are unable to return to their home country due to\nCOVID-19 border restrictions."}
{"_id":"Australiatest564","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nWho is eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa?\nThe COVID-19 Pandemic event visa is available to people who are:\n\nin Australia\nare unable to depart Australia due to COVID-19\nhave 28 days or less remaining on their current visa or where their last temporary visa has expired less than 28 days ago\nare not eligible for any other visa based on their intended activities or\nhave evidence from their employer that they have ongoing work in a critical sector and that an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident cannot fill the position.\n"}
{"_id":"Australiatest565","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSeasonal Workers\nThere are around 8,000 Seasonal and Pacific workers in Australia.\nSeasonal and Pacific workers whose visas are expiring can apply for a further\nvisa to allow them to stay in Australia and support the agriculture sector,\nsubject to Labour Market testing. This is consistent with the principle that\nvisa settings should not displace job opportunities for Australians.\nSeasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour scheme workers, as well as Working\nHoliday Makers and other visa holders working in agriculture, will be able to\nextend their stay in Australia to support the agriculture sector:\n\nSeasonal Worker Programme workers with visas due to expire will be able to apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa in the Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream.\nPacific Labour Scheme workers with visas due to expire can apply for a new Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Pacific Labour scheme stream visa.\n\nWorkers currently in Australia under these programs will also be exempt from\nthe requirement to work for a single employer and be able to move between\napproved employers, allowing flexibility and continued support for the\nagriculture sector in meeting seasonal workforce demands.\nSeasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme arrangements, including\nthose relating to employers, will be carried over to the new visa\narrangements, continuing the link with the agricultural sector.\nSeasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour scheme workers who cannot meet\ntheir immediate living expenses can access up to $10,000 of their Australian\nsuperannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial year.\nMore information about these temporary arrangements is available on the\nDepartment\u2019s website."}
{"_id":"Australiatest566","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary visa measures supporting the agriculture sector\nSeasonal Worker Programme visa holders\nI am unable to return to my home country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Can I extend my current visa to stay in Australia?\nIt is not possible to extend your visa or apply for a new Temporary Work\n(International Relations) (subclass 403) Seasonal Worker Programme stream\nvisa, but you must apply for a different visa before your current visa\nexpires.\nThe Australian Government has announced temporary measures to assist temporary\nvisa holders in Australia working in the agricultural sector, who are\ncurrently unable to return to their home country, to extend their stay in\nAustralia.\nYou can apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government\nEndorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa (from 00:00 AEDT on 4 April 2020). This visa\nwill not have a visa application charge (VAC) during the COVID-19 pandemic\nevent. Employer arrangements similar to the Seasonal Worker Programme will\nalso apply to the subclass 408 visa. This visa will allow you to remain\nlawfully in Australia, and continue working, should you wish to do so, until\nyou can return to your home country. Further information is available on the\nDepartment of Home Affairs\nwebsite.\nYou may be eligible to be granted a bridging visa that will allow you to\nremain lawfully in Australia until a decision is made on your visa\napplication."}
{"_id":"Australiatest567","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhen can I apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nYou should only apply for this visa is you are unable to depart Australia,\nyour temporary visa expires in less than 28 days (or did not expire more than\n28 days ago) and you have no other visa options available to you."}
{"_id":"Australiatest568","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nNew Zealand 444 Special Category Visa (SCV)\nWhat should I do if I am unable to support myself in Australia and am not eligible for one of the above payments?\nUnder recently announced measures, New Zealand citizens and permanent\nresidents can access up to $10,000 of their Australian superannuation tax-free\nin 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21.\nIf you are unable to support yourself, are not eligible for any of the above\npayments, and unable to find any employment, you should consider returning to\nNew Zealand."}
{"_id":"Australiatest569","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nI am on a WHM visa and am unable to support myself in Australia, what can I do?\nIf you are unable to support yourself, you should make arrangements to return\nhome.\nIf you cannot meet your immediate living expenses, you can access up to\n$10,000 of your Australian superannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial\nyear."}
{"_id":"Australiatest570","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nI am on a Temporary visa and I have a job offer to work in a critical sector. Can I apply for the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa?\nIf you have evidence from your employer that you have ongoing work in a\ncritical sector (i.e. agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care,\ndisability care or child care) that an Australian citizen or permanent\nresident cannot do, you may be eligible for the Temporary Activity (subclass\n408) Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream visa."}
{"_id":"Australiatest571","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nInternational students\nHow will employers access this temporary measure?\nThe Department of Home Affairs has set up a form for supermarkets to request\naccess to these temporary arrangements.\nThe form \u201cEmployer request relating to relaxation of enforcement of student\nvisa working hours\u201d is available online.\nEmployers are still required to abide by all relevant Australian workplace\nlaws. Overseas workers, including international students, have the same rights\nunder Australian workplace law as all other employees.\nAll aged care approved providers or Commonwealth funded aged care service\nproviders that have been issued with a RACS ID or a NAPS ID have been given\naccess to the temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders.\nThese aged care providers should refer to the correspondence provided to them\nby the Department of Health for further details.\u200b"}
{"_id":"Australiatest572","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nTo respond to COVID-19, the government has introduced flexible and temporary\nvisa arrangements that support Australia\u2019s public health measures.\nThe Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event\n(AGEE) stream visa (COVID-19 Pandemic event visa) is being utilised to manage\nthe extraordinary circumstances that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic\nevent. The measure is temporary in nature, will be subject to ongoing review\nand will be wound back appropriately in line with the end of the pandemic."}
{"_id":"Australiatest573","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nVisa of last resort\nOther temporary visa holders may apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa\nonly where there is no other visa option and it is not possible to leave\nAustralia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow you to remain lawfully\nin Australia until it is safe and practical for you to return to your home\ncountry."}
{"_id":"Australiatest574","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nTemporary Visa Holders\nWhat can I do if I cannot return to my home country?\nIf you cannot return to your home country, you need to maintain a valid visa\nand engage with the health system when necessary.\nVisitor visa holders should apply for a new visa before their current visa\nexpires to maintain their lawful status.\nIf a visitor has a \u201cNo Further Stay\u201d condition on their visa (including 8503,\n8534 or 8535) and less than two months validity remaining, they can request a\nwaiver of this condition to allow them to lodge a new visa application.\nFor information on extending a stay in Australia if you are unable to depart,\nsee Staying in Australia.\nIf you have worked in Australia and cannot meet your immediate living\nexpenses, you can access up to $10,000 of your Australian superannuation tax-\nfree in the 2019-20 financial year."}
{"_id":"Australiatest575","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nWorking in critical sectors\nWorking holiday makers working in critical sectors such as agriculture, food\nprocessing, health care, aged care, disability care and childcare who are not\neligible for any other visa and are unable to return to their home country can\napply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa.\nSeasonal Worker Programme visa holders with visas due to expire within 28 days\nare also able to apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa.\nOther temporary visa holders whose visas are about to expire, have no other\nvisa options, are unable to return to their home country and who are working\nin critical sectors may apply for the COVID-19 Pandemic event visa. Evidence\nof this work will need to be submitted with the application."}
{"_id":"Australiatest576","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nBridging visa holders with ongoing matters at Merits or Judicial Review?\nYour Bridging visa will keep you lawfully in Australia until the review\ndecision has been finalised. If your substantive visa is not granted, and you\nare unable to depart Australia, you will need to apply for a further Bridging\nvisa to keep you lawful."}
{"_id":"Australiatest577","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nI am overseas. Can I be granted a COVID-19 Pandemic event visa?\nThe COVID-19 Pandemic event visa can only be granted to people in Australia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest578","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nBridging visa holders\nMy Bridging visa expires on a specific date. What should I do?\nIf your Bridging visa specifies a validity date, and you are unable to depart\nAustralia, you should apply for a further Bridging visa before it expires."}
{"_id":"Australiatest579","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 Pandemic - Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream of the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat are the critical sectors?\nThe Government is making announcements about critical sectors. Currently the\ncritical sectors are agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care,\ndisability care and childcare. These sectors will be subject to ongoing review\nwith new sectors being added if required, or removed if the Australian labour\nmarket is fulfilling the need."}
{"_id":"Australiatest580","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nEmployer sponsored temporary work visas\nI can\u2019t find another employer what should I do?\nThose visa holders who have been laid off due to coronavirus and who cannot\nfind another employer to sponsor them, should make arrangements to depart\nAustralia."}
{"_id":"Australiatest581","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWorking holiday makers\nCan I count work in a COVID-19 critical sector, like health care, as \u2018specified work\u2019 for the purpose of applying for a second or third WHM visa?\nNo. Existing arrangements for specified work will remain in place but the\nAustralian Government has announced temporary measures to assist WHMs working\nin critical sectors who are not eligible to apply for a further visa.\nIf you are working in the agriculture, food processing, health care, aged\ncare, disability care or child care sectors, you are not eligible for a\nfurther visa and you are unable to return to your home country, you can apply\nfor the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Event\n(AGEE) stream visa. This visa will allow you to remain lawfully in Australia\nand continue working until you can return to your home country.\nIf you are applying for this visa to work or continue working in a critical\nsector, you must have evidence from your employer that you have ongoing work\nthat an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot do.\nFurther information is available on the Department's\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"Australiatest582","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nNew Zealand 444 Special Category Visa (SCV)\nAm I able to access any support in Australia?\nIf you are a protected SCV New Zealand citizen and meet other eligibility\nrequirements, you will be eligible for all welfare payments, including the Job\nSeeker and Job Keeper payments.\nIf you are not a protected SCV New Zealand citizen and you hold a TY444 visa,\nyou will still be eligible for the Job Keeper payments through your employer."}
{"_id":"Australiatest583","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nEmployer sponsored temporary work visas\nWhat can I do if I cannot return to my home country?\nIf you cannot return to your home country, you need to maintain a valid visa\nand engage with the health system when necessary.\nWhere you have been stood down by your employer or had your hours reduced but\nremain employed, you can access up to $10,000 of your Australian\nsuperannuation tax-free in the 2019-20 financial year.\nFor information on extending a stay in Australia if you are unable to depart,\nsee Staying in Australia."}
{"_id":"CDCtest0","title":"","text":"Symptoms of Coronavirus\nWatch for symptoms\nPeople with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported \u2013 ranging from\nmild symptoms to severe illness.\nSymptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with\nthese symptoms may have COVID-19:\n\nCough\nShortness of breath or difficulty breathing\nFever\nChills\nMuscle pain\nSore throat\nNew loss of taste or smell\n\nThis list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been\nreported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or\ndiarrhea.\nCaring for yourself or others\n\nHow to protect yourself\nHow to care for someone who is sick\nWhat to do if you are sick\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest1","title":"","text":"Testing for COVID-19\nWho should be tested\nTo learn if you have a current infection, viral tests are used. But not\neveryone needs this test.\n\nMost people will have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care and may not need to be tested.\nCDC has guidance for who should be tested, but decisions about testing are made by state and local health departments or healthcare providers.\nIf you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.\nYou can also visit your state or local health department\u2019s website to look for the latest local information on testing.\nAlthough supplies of tests are increasing, it may still be difficult to find a place to get tested.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest2","title":"","text":"Testing for COVID-19\nResults\n\nIf you test positive for COVID-19 by a viral test , know what protective steps to take if you are sick or caring for someone.\nIf you test negative for COVID-19 by a viral test , you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. However, that does not mean you will not get sick. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing.\n\n**** If you test positive or negative for COVID-19, no matter the type of\ntest, you still should take preventive measures to protect yourself and\nothers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest3","title":"","text":"Test for Current Infection\nHow to decide if you should get a viral test\nNot everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. Here is some information that\nmight help you make decisions about getting a viral test.\n\nMost people have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. They may not need to be tested.\nAt this time, there is no treatment specifically approved for people who have COVID-19.\n\nCDC has guidance for who\nshould be tested, but decisions about testing are made by state and local\nhealth departments or healthcare providers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest4","title":"","text":"Test for Current Infection\nHow to get a viral test\nCOVID-19 testing differs by location. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and\nwant to get tested, call your healthcare provider first. You can also visit\nyour\nstate\nor local health\ndepartment\u2019s website to look for the latest local information on testing.\nAlthough supplies of tests are increasing, it may still be difficult to find\na place to get tested.\nThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two viral tests\nthat let you collect either a nasal swab or a saliva\nsample at home. However, you will still need to send your sample to a\nlaboratory for analysis."}
{"_id":"CDCtest5","title":"","text":"Test for Current Infection\nWhat to do after a viral test\nTo get your test result, please check with the group that performed your test,\nsuch as your healthcare provider or your health department. Check the CDC\nwebsite to locate your health department\ninformation.\nHow long it will take to get your test results back depends on the test used.\n\nIf you test positive for COVID-19, know what protective steps to take If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone.\nIf you test negative for COVID-19, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. However, that does not mean you will not get sick. It is possible that you were very early in your infection when your sample was collected and that you could test positive later. Or you could be exposed later and then develop illness. In other words, a negative test result does not mean you won\u2019t get sick later. This means you could still spread the virus.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest6","title":"","text":"Test for Past Infection\nHow to get an antibody test\nCheck with your healthcare provider to see if they offer antibody tests.\nIf you test positive\n\nA positive test result shows you have antibodies that likely resulted from an infection with SARS-CoV-2, or possibly a related coronavirus.\nIt\u2019s unclear if those antibodies can provide protection (immunity) against getting infected again. This means that we do not know at this time if antibodies make you immune to the virus.\nIf you have no symptoms, you likely do not have an active infection and no additional follow-up is needed.\nIf you have symptoms and meet other guidelines for testing, you would need another type of test called a nucleic acid test, or viral test. This test uses respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside your nose, to confirm COVID-19. An antibody test cannot tell if you are currently sick with COVID-19.\nIt\u2019s possible you might test positive for antibodies and you might not have or have ever had symptoms of COVID-19. This is known as having an asymptomatic infection, or an infection without symptoms.\n\nIf you test negative\n\nIf you test negative for COVID-19 antibodies, you probably did not have a previous infection that has gotten better. However, you could have a current infection. It\u2019s possible you could still get sick if you have been exposed to the virus recently, since antibodies don\u2019t show up for 1 to 3 weeks after infection. This means you could still spread the virus.\nSome people may take even longer to develop antibodies, and some people may not develop antibodies.\nIf you have symptoms and meet other guidelines for testing, you would need another type of test called a nucleic acid test, or viral test. This test uses respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside your nose, to confirm COVID-19. An antibody test cannot tell if you are currently sick with COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest7","title":"","text":"Test for Past Infection\nCDC\u2019s work in antibody testing\nCDC is evaluating commercial tests\nCDC is evaluating the performance of commercially manufactured antibody tests\nin collaboration with other government agencies. FDA has authorized emergency\nuse of several antibody tests.\nFor more information:\n\n\nFDA Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19\n\n\nInsight into FDA\u2019s Revised Policy on Antibody Tests: Prioritizing Access and Accuracy\n\n\nCDC is conductingserologic surveillance\nCDC is looking at data from antibody\ntests to estimate the total\nnumber of people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the United States.\nCDC is also using antibody testing to learn more about how the body\u2019s immune\nsystem responds to the virus and to explore how the virus spreads among people\nexposed to it. The information CDC is looking at comes from many groups,\nincluding blood donors and household contacts of people who had symptoms and\nwere diagnosed with COVID-19.\nCDC is supporting state, local, tribal and territorial laboratory\ncapacity."}
{"_id":"CDCtest8","title":"","text":"How COVID-19 Spreads\nPerson-to-person spread\nThe virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.\n\nBetween people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).\nThrough respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.\nThese droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.\nCOVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest9","title":"","text":"How COVID-19 Spreads\nThe virus spreads easily between people\nHow easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are\nhighly contagious, like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily.\nAnother factor is whether the spread is sustained, which means it goes from\nperson-to-person without stopping.\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading very easily and sustainably\nbetween people. Information from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic suggest that\nthis virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as\nefficiently as measles, which is highly contagious."}
{"_id":"CDCtest10","title":"","text":"How COVID-19 Spreads\nThe virus does not spread easily in other ways\nCOVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads. It\nmay be possible for COVID-19 to spread in other ways, but these are not\nthought to be the main ways the virus spreads.\n\nFrom touching surfaces or objects. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.\nFrom animals to people. At this time, the risk of COVID-19 spreading from animals to people is considered to be low. Learn about COVID-19 and pets and other animals.\nFrom people to animals. It appears that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals in some situations. CDC is aware of a small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Learn what you should do if you have pets.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest11","title":"","text":"How COVID-19 Spreads\nProtect yourself and others\nThe best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.\nYou can take steps to slow the spread.\n\nMaintain good social distance (about 6 feet). This is very important in preventing the spread of COVID-19.\nWash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\nRoutinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.\n\nLearn more about what you can do to protect yourself and\nothers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest12","title":"","text":"How to Protect Yourself & Others\nKnow how it spreads\n\nThere is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).\nThe best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.\nThe virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. \nBetween people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).\nThrough respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.\nThese droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.\nSome recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.\n\n\n\nWash your hands often\n\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.\nIf soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.\n\nAvoid close contact\n\nAvoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.\nPut distance between yourself and other people outside of your home. \nRemember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.\nStay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms\u2019 length) from other people.\nDo not gather in groups.\nStay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.\nKeeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.\n\n\n\nCover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others\n\nYou could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.\nEveryone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. \nCloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.\n\n\nThe cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.\nDo NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.\nContinue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.\n\nCover coughs and sneezes\n\nIf you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.\nThrow used tissues in the trash.\nImmediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\n\n\nHandwashing tipsHand Hygiene in\nHealthcare Settings"}
{"_id":"CDCtest13","title":"","text":"When to wear gloves\nWhen cleaning\nWhen you are routinely cleaning and disinfecting your\nhome.\n\nFollow precautions listed on the disinfectant product label, which may include- \nwearing gloves (reusable or disposable) and\nhaving good ventilation by turning on a fan or opening a window to get fresh air into the room you\u2019re cleaning.\n\n\nWash your hands after you have removed the gloves.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest14","title":"","text":"When to wear gloves\nWhen caring for someone who is sick\nIf you are providing care to someone who is sick at home or in another non-\nhealthcare setting\n\nUse disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting the area around the person who is sick or other surfaces that may be frequently touched in the home.\nUse disposable gloves when touching or having contact with blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine.\nAfter using disposable gloves, throw them out in a lined trash can. Do not disinfect or reuse the gloves.\nWash your hands after you have removed the gloves.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest15","title":"","text":"When to wear gloves\nWhen gloves aren\u2019t needed\nWearing gloves outside of these instances (for example, when using a shopping\ncart or using an ATM) will not necessarily protect you from getting COVID-19\nand may still lead to the spread of germs. The best way to protect yourself\nfrom germs when running errands and after going out is to regularly wash your\nhands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least\n60% alcohol."}
{"_id":"CDCtest16","title":"","text":"When to wear gloves\nOther ways to protect yourself\nCOVID-19 is a respiratory virus and is mainly spread through droplets created\nwhen a person who is infected coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can protect\nyourself by keeping social distance (at least 6 feet) from others and washing your\nhands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or using a hand sanitizer with at\nleast 60% alcohol) at key times, and\npracticing everyday preventive actions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest17","title":"","text":"Social Distancing\nWhat is social distancing?\nSocial distancing, also called \u201cphysical distancing,\u201d means keeping space\nbetween yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or\nphysical distancing:\n\nStay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms\u2019 length) from other people\nDo not gather in groups\nStay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings\n\nIn addition to everyday steps to prevent\nCOVID-19,\nkeeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid\nbeing exposed to this virus and slowing its spread locally and across the\ncountry and world.\nLimit close contact with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor\nspaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it\nis important to stay away from others when possible, even if you\u2014or they\u2014have\nno symptoms. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at\nhigher risk __ for severe illness from COVID-19.\nMany people have personal circumstances or situations that present challenges\nwith practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please\nsee the following guidance for additional recommendations and considerations\nfor:\n\nHouseholds Living in Close Quarters: How to Protect Those Who Are Most Vulnerable\nLiving in Shared Housing\nPeople with Disabilities\nPeople Experiencing Homelessness\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest18","title":"","text":"Social Distancing\nWhy practice social distancing?\nCOVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6\nfeet) for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs,\nsneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the\nair and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be\ninhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected\nbut do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.\nIt may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or\nobject that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or\neyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.\nCOVID-19 can live for hours or days on a surface, depending on factors such as\nsunlight, humidity, and the type of surface. Social distancing helps limit\nopportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and infected\npeople outside the home.\nAlthough the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can\nget and spread COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread and\nprotecting themselves, their family, and their community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest19","title":"","text":"Social Distancing\nTips for social distancing\n\nFollow guidance from authorities where you live.\nIf you need to shop for food or medicine at the grocery store or pharmacy, stay at least 6 feet away from others. Also consider other options: \nUse mail-order for medications, if possible.\nConsider a grocery delivery service.\n\n\nCover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others, including when you have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store. \nCloth face coverings should NOT be placed on children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.\nKeep at least 6 feet between yourself and others, even when you wear a face covering.\n\n\nAvoid gatherings of any size outside your household, such as a friend\u2019s house, parks, restaurants, shops, or any other place. This advice applies to people of any age, including teens and younger adults. Children should not have in-person playdates while school is out. To help maintain social connections while social distancing, learn tips to keep children healthy while school\u2019s out.\nWork from home when possible. See additional information for critical infrastructure workforce from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).\nAvoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis, if possible.\nIf you are a student or parent, talk to your school about options for digital\/distance learning.\n\nStay connected while staying away. It is very important to stay in touch\nwith friends and family that don\u2019t live in your home. Call, video chat, or\nstay connected using social media. Everyone reacts differently to stressful\nsituations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can\nbe difficult. Read tips for stress and coping."}
{"_id":"CDCtest20","title":"","text":"What to Do If You Are Sick\nSteps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick\nIf you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have\nCOVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to\nhelp protect other people in your home and community.\nStay home except to get medical care\n\nStay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.\nTake care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.\nStay in touch with your doctor . Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.\nAvoid public transportation , ride-sharing, or taxis.\n\nSeparate yourself from other people\nAs much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people\nand pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you\nneed to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a\ncloth face covering.\n\nAdditional guidance is available for those living in close quarters and shared housing.\nSee COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets.\n\nMonitor your symptoms\n\nSymptoms of COVID-19 fever, cough, or other symptoms.\nFollow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.\n\nCall ahead before visiting your doctor\n\nCall ahead. Many medical visits for routine care are being postponed or done by phone or telemedicine.\nIf you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your doctor\u2019s office, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.\n\nIf you are sick wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth\n\n\nYou should wear acloth face covering, over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home)\n\n\nYou don\u2019t need to wear the cloth face covering if you are alone. If you can\u2019t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.\n\n\nCloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the covering without help.\n\n\nNote: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved\nfor healthcare workers and some first responders. You may need to make a cloth\nface covering using a scarf or bandana.\nCover your coughs and sneezes\n\nCover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.\nThrow away used tissues in a lined trash can.\nImmediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\n\nClean your hands often\n\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.\nUse hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.\nSoap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty.\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.\nHandwashing Tips\n\nAvoid sharing personal household items\n\nDo not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home.\nWash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and water or put in the dishwasher.\n\nClean all \u201chigh-touch\u201d surfaces everyday\n\nClean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your \u201csick room\u201d and bathroom; wear disposable gloves. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but you should clean your bedroom and bathroom, if possible.\n\nIf a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick person\u2019s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver\/other person should wear a mask and disposable gloves prior to cleaning. They should wait as long as possible after the person who is sick has used the bathroom before coming in to clean and use the bathroom.\n\n\nClean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.\n\n\nUse household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant.\n\n\n\nBe sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs are killed. Many also recommend precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.\nMost EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A full list of disinfectants can be found here.\nComplete Disinfection Guidance\n\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest21","title":"","text":"Caring for Someone Sick at Home\nProtect yourself when caring for someone who is sick\nLimit contact\nCOVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet)\nthrough respiratory droplets, created when someone talks, coughs or sneezes.\n\nThe caregiver , when possible, should not be someone who is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\nUse a separate bedroom and bathroom. If possible, have the person who is sick stay in their own \u201csick room\u201d or area and away from others. If possible, have the person who is sick use a separate bathroom.\nShared space: If you have to share space, make sure the room has good air flow. \nOpen the window and turn on a fan (if possible) to increase air circulation.\nImproving ventilation helps remove respiratory droplets from the air.\n\n\nAvoid having visitors. Avoid having any unnecessary visitors, especially visits by people who are at higher risk for severe illness.\n\nEat in separate rooms or areas\n\nStay separated: The person who is sick should eat (or be fed) in their room, if possible.\nWash dishes and utensils using gloves and hot water: Handle any dishes, cups\/glasses, or silverware used by the person who is sick with gloves. Wash them with soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.\nClean hands after taking off gloves or handling used items.\n\nAvoid sharing personal items\n\nDo not share: Do not share dishes, cups\/glasses, silverware, towels, bedding, or electronics (like a cell phone) with the person who is sick.\n\nWhen to wear a cloth face cover or gloves\n\n\nSick person:\n\nThe person who is sick should wear a cloth face covering when they are around other people at home and out (including before they enter a doctor\u2019s office).\nThe cloth face covering helps prevent a person who is sick from spreading the virus to others. It keeps respiratory droplets contained and from reaching other people.\nCloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is not able to remove the covering without help.\n\n\n\nCaregiver:\n\nWear gloves when you touch or have contact with the sick person\u2019s blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine. Throw out gloves into a lined trash can and wash hands right away.\nThe caregiver should ask the sick person to put on a cloth face covering before entering the room.\nThe caregiver may also wear a cloth face covering when caring for a person who is sick. \nTo prevent getting sick, make sure you practice everyday preventive actions: clean hands often; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces.\n\n\n\nNote : During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved\nfor healthcare workers and some first responders. You may need to make a cloth\nface covering using a scarf or bandana. Learn more\nhere.\nClean your hands often\n\nWash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Tell everyone in the home to do the same, especially after being near the person who is sick.\nHand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.\nHands off: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.\n\nHandwashing tips\nClean and then disinfect\nAround the house\n\nClean and disinfect \u201chigh-touch\u201d surfaces and items every day: This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics.\nClean the area or item with soap and water if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant. \nBe sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes to kill germs. Many also recommend wearing gloves, making sure you have good air flow, and wiping or rinsing off the product after use.\nMost household disinfectants should be effective. A list of EPA-registered disinfectants can be found here .\nTo clean electronics , follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products. If those directions are not available, use alcohol-based wipes or spray containing at least 70% alcohol.\nLearn morehere\n\n\n\nBedroom and Bathroom\n\nIf you are using a separate bedroom and bathroom : Only clean the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the sick person. \nIf they feel up to it, the person who is sick can clean their own space. Give the person who is sick personal cleaning supplies such as tissues, paper towels, cleaners, and EPA-registered disinfectants.\n\n\nIf sharing a bathroom : The person who is sick should clean and then disinfect after each use. If this is not possible, wear a mask and wait as long as possible after the sick person has used the bathroom before coming in to clean and use the bathroom.\n\nWash and dry laundry\n\nDo not shake dirty laundry.\nWear disposable gloves while handling dirty laundry.\nDirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people\u2019s items.\nWash items according to the label instructions. Use the warmest water setting you can.\nRemove gloves, and wash hands right away.\nDry laundry, on hot if possible, completely.\nWash hands after putting clothes in the dryer.\nClean and disinfect clothes hampers. Wash hands afterwards.\n\nUse lined trash can\n\nPlace used disposable gloves and other contaminated items in a lined trash can.\nUse gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands afterwards.\nPlace all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and other contaminated items in a lined trash can.\nIf possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the person who is sick.\n\nTrack your own health\n\nCaregivers and close contacts should monitor their health for COVID-19 symptoms. \nSymptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath but other symptoms may be present as well. Trouble breathing is a more serious warning sign that you need medical attention.\n\n\n\nUse CDC\u2019s self-checker tool to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care.\n\n\nIf you are having trouble breathing, call 911.\n\nCall your doctor or emergency room and tell them your symptoms before going in. They will tell you what to do.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest22","title":"","text":"Caring for Someone Sick at Home\nHow to discontinue home isolation\nPeople with COVID-19 who have stayed home (home isolated) can leave home\nunder the following conditions**:\n\n\nIf they have not had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened:\n\n\n\n\nThey have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)\nAND\n\n\nother symptoms have improved (for example, symptoms of cough or shortness of breath have improved)\nAND\n\n\nat least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared\n\n\n\n\nIf they have had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened: \n\n\nThey no longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)\nAND\n\n\nother symptoms have improved (for example, symptoms of cough or shortness of breath have improved)\nAND\n\n\nthey have received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Their doctor will follow CDC guidelines.\n\n\n\n\nPeople who DID NOT have COVID-19 symptoms, but tested positive and have\nstayed home (home isolated) can leave home under the following conditions**:\n\n\nIf they have not had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these two things have happened: \n\n\nAt least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive test\nAND\n\n\nthey continue to have no symptoms (no cough or shortness of breath) since the test.\n\n\n\n\nIf they have had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after: \n\nThey have received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Their doctor will follow CDC guidelines.\n\n\n\nNote: if they develop symptoms, follow guidance above for people with COVID19\nsymptoms.\nFor ALL people\n\nWhen leaving the home, keep a distance of 6 feet from others and wear a cloth face covering when around other people.\n\nIn all cases, follow the guidance of your doctor and local health\ndepartment.** The decision to stop home isolation should be made in\nconsultation with their healthcare provider and state and local health\ndepartments. Some people, for example those with conditions that weaken their\nimmune system, might\ncontinue to shed virus even after they recover.\nFind more information on when to end home\nisolation."}
{"_id":"CDCtest23","title":"","text":"Quarantine and Isolation\nHow are quarantine and isolation similar?\nBoth quarantine and isolation:\n\ninvolve separation of people to protect the public\nhelp limit further spread of COVID-19\ncan be done voluntarily or be required by health authorities\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest24","title":"","text":"Quarantine and Isolation\nHow do I know if I need to be in isolation or quarantine?\nIf you\u2026\nSteps to take\u2026\nIf you\u2026\nIf you live in a community where COVID-19 is or might be spreading (currently,\nthat is virtually everywhere in the United States)\nSteps to take\u2026\nWatch Your Health\nBe alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, orother\nsymptoms of\nCOVID-19.\n\nTake your temperature if symptoms develop.\nPractice social distancing. Maintain 6 feet of distance from others, and stay out of crowded places.\nFollow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.\n\nIf you\u2026\nIf you feel healthy but:\n\nRecently had close contact with a person with COVID-19\n\nSteps to take\u2026\nStay Home and Monitor Your Health\n(Quarantine)\n\nStay home until 14 days after your last exposure.\nCheck your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19.\nIf possible, stay away from people who are at higher-risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.\n\nIf you\u2026\nIf you:\n\nHave been diagnosed with COVID-19, or\nAre waiting for test results, or\nHave cough, fever, or shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19\n\nSteps to take\u2026\nIsolate Yourself from Others\n(Isolation)\n\nStay home.\nIf you live with others, stay in a specific \u201csick room\u201d or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available.\nRead important information about caring for yourself or someone else who is sick, including when it\u2019s safe to end home isolation.\n\nIf you\u2026\nIf you:\n\nRecently traveled from somewhere outside the United States or on a cruise ship or river boat\n\nSteps to take\u2026\nFollow CDC Guidance for:\n\nreturning from international travel returning from cruise ship or river voyages\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest25","title":"","text":"Households Living in Close Quarters\nThis guidance is intended for people living together in close quarters, such\nas people who share a small apartment, or for people who live in the same\nhousehold with large or extended families.\nOlder adults (65 and older) and people of any age who have serious underlying\nmedical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from coronavirus\ndisease 2019 (COVID-19). The following information is aimed to help you\nprotect those who are most vulnerable in your household.\nEveryone should limit risks\nIf your household includes one or more vulnerable individuals then all\nfamily members should act as if they, themselves, are at higher risk\n.More information on steps and actions to take if at higher\nrisk.\nLimit errands\nFamily members should leave only when absolutely necessary. Essential\nerrands include going to the grocery store, pharmacy, or medical\nappointments that cannot be delayed (e.g., infants or individuals with serious\nhealth conditions in need of aid).\nIf you must leave the house, please do the following:\n\nChoose one or two family members who are not at a higher risk to run the essential errands.\nWear a cloth face covering, avoid crowds, practice social distancing, and follow these recommended tips for running errands.\n\nDon\u2019t use public transportation, such as the train or bus, during this period if possible.\nIf you must use public transportation:\n\nMaintain a 6-foot distance from other passengers as much as possible.\nAvoid touching high-touch surfaces such as handrails, and wash hands or use hand sanitizers as soon as possible after leaving.\nDon\u2019t ride in a car with members of different households. If that\u2019s not possible: \nLimit close contact and create space between others in the vehicle.\nImprove air flow in the car by opening the window or placing air conditioning on non-recirculation mode.\nWash your hands immediately after you return home.\nMaintain as much physical distance as possible with those at higher risk in the home. For example, avoid hugging, kissing, or sharing food or drinks.\n\n\n\nVulnerable members should avoid caring for children and those who are sick\nAdults 65 years and older and people who have serious medical conditions\nshould avoid caring for the children in their household, if possible. If people at\nhigher risk must care for the children in their household, the children in\ntheir care should not have contact with individuals outside the household.\nMembers of the household who are at high risk should also avoid taking care of\nsick people of any age who are sick.\nSeparate a household member who is sick\nProvide a separate bedroom and bathroom for the person who is sick, if\npossible. If you cannot provide a separate room and bathroom, try to separate\nthem from other household members as much as possible. Keep people at higher\nrisk separated from anyone who is sick.\n\nIf possible, have only one person in the household take care of the person who is sick. This caregiver should be someone who is not at higher risk for severe illness and should minimize contact with other people in the household. \nIdentify a different caregiver for other members of the household who require help with cleaning, bathing, or other daily tasks.\n\n\n\nIf possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other family or household members.\n\n\nIf you need to share a bedroom with someone who is sick, make sure the room has good air flow.\n\n\n\nOpen the window and turn on a fan to bring in and circulate fresh air if possible.\n\n\n\n\nMaintain at least 6 feet between beds if possible.\nSleep head to toe.\nPut a curtain around or place other physical divider (e.g., shower curtain, room screen divider, large cardboard poster board, quilt, or large bedspread) to separate the ill person\u2019s bed.\n\n\n\nIf you need to share a bathroom with someone who is sick, the person who is sick should clean and disinfect the frequently touched surfaces in the bathroom after each use. If this is not possible, the person who does the cleaning should:\n\n\n\nOpen outside doors and windows before entering and use ventilating fans to increase air circulation in the area.\nWait as long as possible before entering the room to clean and disinfect or to use the bathroom.\n\n\n\nIf you are sick, do not help prepare food. Also, eat separately from the family.\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest26","title":"","text":"Living in Shared Housing\nPeople at-risk\n\nKeep up-to-date lists of medical conditions and medications, and periodically check to ensure you have a sufficient supply of your prescription and over-the-counter medications.\nContact your healthcare provider to ask about getting extra necessary medications to have on hand for a longer period of time, or to consider using a mail-order option for medications.\nBe aware of serious symptoms of if you have underlying conditions, of COVID-19 symptoms, and know who to ask for help or when to call 911.\nExtra steps to take if you are at-risk .\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest27","title":"","text":"Living in Shared Housing\nKnow where to get information\n\nMake sure you know how your facility is going to communicate COVID-19 information to you; email, websites, hotlines, automated text messaging, newsletters, and flyers to help communicate information on.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest28","title":"","text":"Living in Shared Housing\nThe facility\n\nCOVID-19 prevention supplies should be provided in common areas, such as soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol, tissues, trash baskets, and, if possible, cloth face coverings that are washed or discarded after each use.\nNon-essential volunteers and visitors in shared areas should be limited or avoided.\nStaff should avoid entering residents\u2019 rooms or living quarters unless it is necessary. Staff should use virtual communications and check ins (phone or video chat), as appropriate.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest29","title":"","text":"Living in Shared Housing\nCommon spaces\nBe flexible, rules may change in common areas. Maintain 6 feet of social\n(physical) distance between yourself and everyone that you do\nnot live with. This may mean there will be alternatives to activities,\ncancelled activities, or closed areas. If you see people in areas that are\nsmall, like stairwells and elevators, consider going one at a time. Here are\nsome examples of how the rules in common spaces may change:\nShared kitchens, dining rooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms\n\nAccess should be available, but the number of people should be restricted so that everyone can stay at least 6 feet apart from one another.\nPeople who are sick, their roommates, and those who have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should eat or be fed in their room, if possible.\nDo not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils. Non-disposable food service items used should be handled with gloves and washed with dish soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.\nGuidelines for doing laundry such as washing instructions and handling of dirty laundry should be posted.\nSinks could be an infection source and should avoid placing toothbrushes directly on counter surfaces. Totes can be used for personal items so they do not touch the bathroom countertop.\n\nRecreational areas such as activity rooms, exercise rooms, pools, and hot\ntubs\n\nConsider closing or restricting the number of people allowed in at one time to ensure everyone can stay at least 6 feet apart, except for essential activities only, such as water therapy.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest30","title":"","text":"Living in Shared Housing\nIf a resident has or thinks they have COVID-19\nAdministrators\nResidents are not required to notify administrators if they think they may or\nhave a confirmed case of COVID-19. If administrators do receive information\nthat someone in your facility has COVID-19, they should work with the local\nhealth department to notify\nanyone in the building who may have been exposed (had close contact with the\nsick person) while maintaining the confidentiality of the sick person as\nrequired by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, if applicable, the\nHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).\n\n\nIf possible, designate a separate bathroom for residents with COVID-19 symptoms.\n\n\n\nConsider reducing cleaning frequency in bedrooms and bathrooms dedicated to persons with COVID-19 symptoms to as-needed cleaning (e.g., soiled items and surfaces) to avoid unnecessary contact with the ill persons.\n\n\nFull guidance for administrator guidance\n\nSick person and close contacts\nThe sick person, their roommates, and close contacts need to self-isolate \u2013\nlimit their use of shared spaces as much as possible. They should:\n\nWear a cloth face covering when it is necessary to be in shared spaces.\nAvoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.\nWhat to do if you are sick\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest31","title":"","text":"Running Essential Errands\nShopping for food and other household essentials\nStay home if sick\n\nAvoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.\n\nOrder online or use curbside pickup\n\nOrder food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).\nOnly visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.\n\nProtect yourself while shopping\n\nStay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.\nCover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.\nWhen you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).\nIf you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.\nDisinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nIf possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.\n\nUse hand sanitizer\n\nAfter leaving the store, use hand sanitizer.\n\nAt home\n\n\nWhen you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.\n\n\nFollow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging play a significant role in spreading the virus in the United States.\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest32","title":"","text":"Running Essential Errands\nAccepting deliveries and takeout orders\nLimit in person contact if possible\n\nPay online or on the phone when you order (if possible).\nAccept deliveries without in-person contact whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.\n\nWash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting\nmail\n\nAfter receiving your delivery or bringing home your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.\nAfter collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest33","title":"","text":"Running Essential Errands\nBanking\nBank online whenever possible\n\nIf you must visit the bank, use the drive-through ATM if one is available. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe, if available, before you use it.\nWhen you are done, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.\nFDIC: Receiving IRS Economic Impact Payments\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest34","title":"","text":"Running Essential Errands\nGetting gasoline\nUse disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons before you touch them\n\nUse disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available).\nAfter fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest35","title":"","text":"Running Essential Errands\nGoing to the doctor or getting medicine\nTalk to your doctor online, by phone, or e-mail\n\nUse telemedicine, if available, or communicate with your doctor or nurse by phone or e-mail.\nTalk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgently needed.\n\nIf you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others\n\nIf you think you have COVID-19, notify the doctor or healthcare provider before your visit and follow their instructions.\nCover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nStay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.\nWhen paying, use touchless payment methods if possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying with card, cash, or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.\n\nLimit in-person visits to the pharmacy\n\nPlan to order and pick up all your prescriptions at the same time.\nIf possible, call prescription orders in ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the prescription is ready), mail-order, or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medicine.\nCheck with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest36","title":"","text":"Coping with Stress\nEveryone reacts differently to stressful situations\nHow you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that\nmake you different from other people, and the community you live in.\nPeople who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:\n\nOlder people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\nChildren and teens.\nPeople who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors, other health care providers, and first responders.\nPeople who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest37","title":"","text":"Coping with Stress\nTake care of yourself and your community\nTaking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with\nstress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community\nstronger.\nWays to cope with stress\n\nTake breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories , including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.\nTake care of your body. \nTake deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.\nTry to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.\nExercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.\nAvoid alcohol and drugs.\n\n\nMake time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.\nConnect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.\n\nKnow the facts to help reduce stress\nUnderstanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can make an\noutbreak less stressful.\nLearn and share the facts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of\nrumors. When you\nshare accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less\nstressed, make a connection with them, and help stop\nstigma.\nTake care of your mental health\nCall your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily\nactivities for several days in a row.\nPeople with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with\ntheir treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Additional\ninformation can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services\nAdministration (SAMHSA) Disaster\nPreparedness page.\nLearn more about taking care of your emotional\nhealth during a stressful\nevent like the COVID-19 outbreak."}
{"_id":"CDCtest38","title":"","text":"Coping with Stress\nFor people at higher risk for serious illness\nPeople at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults, and people with\nunderlying health conditions are also at increased risk of stress due to\nCOVID-19. Special considerations include:\n\nOlder adults and people with disabilities are at increased risk for having mental health concerns, such as depression.\nMental health problems can present as physical complaints (such as headaches or stomachaches) or cognitive problems (such as having trouble concentrating).\nDoctors may be more likely to miss mental health concerns among: \nPeople with disabilities due to a focus on treating underlying health conditions, compared to people without disabilities.\nOlder adults because depression can be mistaken for a normal part of aging.\n\n\n\nCommon reactions to COVID-19\n\nConcern about protecting oneself from the virus because they are at higher risk of serious illness.\nConcern that regular medical care or community services may be disrupted due to facility closures or reductions in services and public transport closure.\nFeeling socially isolated , especially if they live alone or are in a community setting that is not allowing visitors because of the outbreak.\nGuilt if loved ones help them with activities of daily living.\nIncreased levels of distress if they: \nHave mental health concerns before the outbreak, such as depression.\nLive in lower-income households or have language barriers.\nExperience stigma because of age, race or ethnicity, disability, or perceived likelihood of spreading COVID-19.\n\n\n\nSupport your loved ones\nCheck in with your loved ones often. Virtual communication can help you\nand your loved ones feel less lonely and isolated. Consider connecting with\nloved ones by:\n\nTelephone.\nEmail.\nMailing letters or cards.\nText messages.\nVideo chat.\nSocial media.\n\nHelp keep your loved ones safe.\n\nKnow what medications your loved one is taking. Try to help them have a 4-week supply of prescription and over the counter medications, and see if you can help them have extra on hand.\nMonitor other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.\nStock up on non-perishable food (canned foods, dried beans, pasta) to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores.\nIf you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation and speak with facility administrators or staff over the phone. Ask about the health of the other residents frequently and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.\n\nTake care of your own emotional health. Caring for a loved one can take an\nemotional toll, especially during an outbreak like COVID-19. There are ways to\nsupport yourself.\nStay home if you are sick. Do not visit family or friends who are at\ngreater risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Use virtual communication to\nkeep in touch to support your loved one and keep them safe.\nWhat health care providers can do\n\nHelp connect people with family and loved ones to help lower distress and feelings of social isolation.\nLet older adults and people with disabilities know it is common for people to feel distressed during a crisis. Remind them that asking for and accepting help is a sign of strength.\nHave a procedure and referrals ready for anyone who shows severe distress or expresses a desire to hurt him- or herself or someone else.\nSee SAMHSA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Information.\n\nWhat communities can do\nCommunity preparedness planning for COVID-19 should include older adults and\npeople with disabilities, and the organizations that support them in their\ncommunities, to ensure their needs are taken into consideration.\n\nMany of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on services and supports provided in their homes or in the community to maintain their health and independence.\nLong-term care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19. See guidance for long-term care facilities and nursing homes.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest39","title":"","text":"Coping with Stress\nFor people coming out of quarantine\nIt can be stressful to be separated from others if a healthcare provider\nthinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19, even if you do not get sick.\nEveryone feels differently after coming out of quarantine.\nEmotional reactions to coming out of quarantine may include:\n\nMixed emotions, including relief after quarantine.\nFear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.\nStress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.\nSadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious.\nGuilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine.\nOther emotional or mental health changes.\n\nChildren may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone\nthey know, has been released from quarantine."}
{"_id":"CDCtest40","title":"","text":"Coping with Stress\nFor responders\nResponding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you, and you may\nexperience secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress is stress\nreactions and symptoms resulting from exposure to another individual\u2019s\ntraumatic experiences, rather than from exposure directly to a traumatic\nevent.\nThere are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress reactions:\n\nAcknowledge that secondary traumatic stress can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.\nLearn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).\nAllow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.\nCreate a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.\nTake a break from media coverage of COVID-19.\nAsk for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.\n\nLearn more tips for taking care of\nyourself during emergency\nresponse.\nGet more information about stress management for first responders from the\nDisaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest41","title":"","text":"Helping Children Cope\nWatch for behavior changes in your child\nNot all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common\nchanges to watch for include:\n\nExcessive crying or irritation in younger children.\nReturning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).\nExcessive worry or sadness.\nUnhealthy eating or sleeping habits.\nIrritability and \u201cacting out\u201d behaviors in teens.\nPoor school performance or avoiding school.\nDifficulty with attention and concentration.\nAvoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.\nUnexplained headaches or body pain.\nUse of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest42","title":"","text":"Helping Children Cope\nWays to support your child\n\nTalk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak.\nAnswer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.\nReassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.\nLimit your family\u2019s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.\nTry to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.\nBe a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.\n\nLearn more about caring for children during the COVID-19 outbreak and helping\nchildren cope with\nemergencies."}
{"_id":"CDCtest43","title":"","text":"Reducing Stigma\nCommunicators and public health officials can help counter stigma during\nthe COVID-19 response.\n\nMaintain privacy and confidentiality of those seeking healthcare and those who may be part of any contact investigation.\nQuickly communicate the risk or lack of risk from associations with products, people, and places.\nRaise awareness about COVID-19 without increasing fear.\nShare accurate information about how the virus spreads.\nSpeak out against negative behaviors, including negative statements on social media about groups of people, or exclusion of people who pose no risk from regular activities.\nBe cautious about the images that are shared. Make sure they do not reinforce stereotypes.\nEngage with stigmatized groups in person and through media channels including news media and social media.\nThank healthcare workers and responders. People who have traveled to areas where the COVID-19 outbreak is happening to help have performed a valuable service to everyone by helping make sure this disease does not spread further.\nShare the need for social support for people who have returned from China or are worried about friends or relatives in the affected region.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest44","title":"","text":"For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19\nHow doctors will care for your child\nDoctors may do certain tests to look for inflammation or other signs of\ndisease. These tests might include:\n\nBlood tests\nChest x-ray\nHeart ultrasound (echocardiogram)\nAbdominal ultrasound\n\nDoctors may provide supportive care for symptoms (medicine and\/or fluids to\nmake your child feel better) and may use various medicines to treat\ninflammation. Most children who become ill with MIS-C will need to be treated\nin the hospital. Some will need to be treated in the pediatric intensive care\nunit (ICU).\nParents or caregivers who have concerns about their child\u2019s health, including\nconcerns about COVID-19 or MIS-C, should call a pediatrician or other\nhealthcare provider immediately. Healthcare providers can follow CDC\nrecommendations to\nkeep children and their parents or caregivers safe if an in-person visit is\nneeded."}
{"_id":"CDCtest45","title":"","text":"For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19\nWhat we don\u2019t know about MIS-C\nCDC is still learning about MIS-C and how it affects children, so we don\u2019t\nknow why some children have gotten sick with MIS-C and others have not. We\nalso do not know if children with certain health conditions are more likely to\nget MIS-C. These are among the many questions CDC is working to try to\nunderstand.\nAll CDC recommendations are based on the best data and science available at\nthe time, and we will update them as we learn more."}
{"_id":"CDCtest46","title":"","text":"For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19\nWhat CDC is doing to learn more\nCDC has a team dedicated to investigate MIS-C and gather and communicate\ninformation quickly to healthcare providers, parents and caregivers, as well\nas state and local health departments. The team is working with U.S. and\ninternational scientists, healthcare providers, and other partners to learn\nmore about this new syndrome. They are learning about how often it happens and\nwho is likely to get it, creating a system to track cases, and providing\nguidance to parents and healthcare providers.\nSome of the specific actions CDC has taken:\n\nReleased a Health Advisory on May 14, 2020, through the Health Alert Network. In this advisory, CDC alerted healthcare providers about MIS-C, issued the case definition that it developed with the Council of State, Tribal, and Territorial Epidemiologists, and recommended that healthcare providers report suspected cases of MIS-C to local, state, or territorial health departments. The information the clinicians and health departments provide will help us understand this new condition and how common it is.\nCollaborated with public health agencies around the world to share information and knowledge about cases of MIS-C in other countries.\nSent a field team to New York, the first state to report cases of MIS-C, to help health officials investigate the cases.\nSet up a method for state and local health departments to report cases of MIS-C .\nAsked clinical research and surveillance networks at children\u2019s hospitals that we work with to collect data on cases of MIS-C.\nBegan communicating information about what we know, what we don\u2019t know, and what we are doing to learn more to support healthcare providers, parents, and caregivers.\nCollaborated with other federal agencies, clinical, and professional societies.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest47","title":"","text":"Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak\nWatch your child for any signs of COVID-19 illness\nCOVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick\nwith COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a\nfever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have\ngotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who\nget it have had more serious problems.\nCDC and partners are investigating cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome\nin children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 and\nmultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children\n(MIS-C)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest48","title":"","text":"Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak\nKeep children healthy\nTeach and reinforce everyday preventive actions\n\nParents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Explain that hand washing can keep them healthy and stop the virus from spreading to others.\nBe a good role model\u2014if you wash your hands often, they\u2019re more likely to do the same.\nMake handwashing a family activity.\nLearn more about what you can do to protect children.\n\nHelp your child stay active\n\nEncourage your child to play outdoors\u2014it\u2019s great for physical and mental health. Take a walk with your child or go on a bike ride.\nUse indoor activity breaks (like stretch breaks or dance breaks) throughout the day to help your child stay healthy and focused.\n\nHelp your child stay socially connected\n\nReach out to friends and family via phone or video chats.\nWrite cards or letters to family members they may not be able to visit.\nSome schools and non-profits, such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, have resources for social and emotional learning. Check to see if your school has tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of your child.\n\nAsk about school meal services\nCheck with your school on plans to continue meal services during the school\ndismissal. Many schools are keeping school facilities open to allow families\nto pick up meals or are providing grab-and-go meals at a central location."}
{"_id":"CDCtest49","title":"","text":"Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak\nHelp your child cope with stress\nWatch for signs of stress or behavior changes\nNot all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common\nchanges to watch for include:\n\nExcessive worry or sadness\nUnhealthy eating habits\nUnhealthy sleeping habits\nDifficulty with attention and concentration\n\nSupport your child\n\nParents can find more information about supporting their children during a COVID-19 outbreak on CDC\u2019s Stress and Coping page.\nTalk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.\nLearn more about common reactions that children may have and how you can help children cope with emergencies.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest50","title":"","text":"Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Children\nWatch your child for any signs of COVID-19 illness\nCOVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick\nwith COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a\nfever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have\ngotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who\nget it have had more serious problems.\nCDC and partners are investigating cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome\nin children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 and\nmultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children\n(MIS-C)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest51","title":"","text":"Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Children\nTake steps to protect children and others\nHelp stop the spread of COVID-19 by doing the same things everyone should do\nto stay healthy. Teach your children to do the same.\n\nClean hands often using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.\nAvoid people who are sick (coughing and sneezing).\nPut distance between your children and other people outside of your home. Keep children at least 6 feet from other people.\nChildren 2 years and older should wear acloth face covering over their nose and mouth when in public settings where it\u2019s difficult to practice social distancing. This is an additional public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) the other everyday preventive actions listed above.\nClean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (like tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, and sinks).\nLaunder items including washable plush toys as needed. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people\u2019s items.\n\nYou can find additional information on preventing COVID-19 at How to Protect\nYourself and at Preventing COVID-19 Spread in\nCommunities.\nAdditional information on how COVID-19 is spread is available at How COVID-19\nSpreads."}
{"_id":"CDCtest52","title":"","text":"Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Children\nLimit time with other children\nIf children meet in groups, it can put everyone at risk. Children can pass\nthis virus onto others who may be at higher risk, including older adults and\npeople who have serious underlying medical\nconditions.\nPractice social distancing\nThe key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 is to limit contact as much as\npossible. While school is out, children should not have in-person playdates\nwith children from other households. If children are playing outside their own\nhomes, it is essential that they remain 6 feet from anyone who is not in their\nown household.\nTo help children maintain social connections while social distancing, help\nyour children have supervised phone calls or video chats with their friends.\nClean hands often\nMake sure children practice everyday preventive\nbehaviors, such as washing their hands often with soap and water\nfor at least 20 seconds. This is especially important if you have been in a\npublic place.\nChange travel plans\nRevise travel plans if they included non-essential travel."}
{"_id":"CDCtest53","title":"","text":"Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Children\nLimit time with people at highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19\nOlder adults and people who have serious underlying medical\nconditions are at highest risk of severe illness\nfrom COVID-19.\n\nIf others in your home are at particularly high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, consider extra precautions to separate your child from those people.\nIf you are unable to stay home with your child while school is out, carefully consider who might be best positioned to provide child care. If someone at higher risk for COVID-19 will be providing care (older adult, such as a grandparent or someone with a chronic medical condition), limit your children\u2019s contact with other people.\nConsider postponing visits or trip to see older family members and grandparents. Connect virtually or by writing letters and sending via mail.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest54","title":"","text":"Help Children Learn at Home\nCreate a flexible schedule and routine for learning at home\n\nHave consistent bedtimes and get up at the same time, Monday through Friday.\nStructure the day for learning, free time, healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity.\nAllow flexibility in the schedule\u2014it\u2019s okay to adapt based on your day.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest55","title":"","text":"Help Children Learn at Home\nLook for ways to make learning fun\n\nHave hands-on activities, like puzzles, painting, drawing, and making things.\nIndependent play can also be used in place of structured learning. Encourage children to build a fort from sheets or practice counting by stacking blocks.\nPractice handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is a great way to connect and limit face-to-face contact.\nStart a journal with your child to document this time and discuss the shared experience.\nUse audiobooks or see if your local library is hosting virtual or live-streamed reading events.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest56","title":"","text":"Help Children Learn at Home\nAsk about school meal services\nCheck with your school on plans to continue meal services during the school\ndismissal. Many schools are keeping school facilities open to allow families\nto pick up meals or are providing grab-and-go meals at a central location."}
{"_id":"CDCtest57","title":"","text":"Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019\nTips for talking to children\n\nRemain calm. Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.\nReassure children that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.\nMake yourself available to listen and to talk. Let children know they can come to you when they have questions.\nAvoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.\nPay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online. Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.\nProvide information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child. Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.\nTeach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs. Remind children to wash their hands frequently and stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick. Also, remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.\nIf school is open, discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest58","title":"","text":"Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019\nFacts about COVID-19 to discuss with children\nTry to keep information simple and remind them that health are working hard to\nkeep everyone safe and healthy.\nWhat is COVID-19?\n\nCOVID-19 is the short name for \u201ccoronavirus disease 2019.\u201d It is a new virus. Scientists and doctors are still learning about it.\nRecently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors are trying to learn more so they can help people who get sick.\nDoctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.\n\nWhat can I do so that I don\u2019t get COVID-19?\nYou can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the\nspread of COVID-19.\nWhat happens if you get sick with COVID-19?\n\nCOVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems.\nIf you do get sick, it doesn\u2019t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What\u2019s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home will help get you any help that you need.\n\n[1] Developed by the National Association of School Nurses and the National\nAssociation of School Psychologists. Also available in Spanish [PDF \u2013 5\npages]"}
{"_id":"CDCtest59","title":"","text":"Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families\nGrieving the loss of a loved one\nGrief is a normal response to losing someone important to you. When a loved\none dies, it is important for friends and family to be able to share stories\nand memories of the person and how they influenced their lives. Because of the\nCOVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, \u201cstay at home orders,\u201d and limits to\ngatherings have affected the ability of friends and family to come together in\nperson and grieve in typical ways. This is true regardless of whether the\nperson\u2019s death was due to COVID-19 or some other cause.\nFortunately, most people understand that hosting gatherings now could be\ndangerous to those who would want to participate. Family and friends are\nfinding alternate ways to connect, support each other, and grieve after their\nloss. They understand the need to possibly plan for additional memorial\nservices when COVID-19-related restrictions are lifted.\nTake actions to help you cope with the loss of a loved one\nGrief is a universal emotion, but no two people experience grief in exactly\nthe same way. Some actions you can take to help you cope with feelings of\ngrief while practicing social distancing and honoring your loved one include:\n\nInvite people to call you, or host conference calls with family members and friends to stay connected.\nAsk family and friends to share stories and pictures with you via phone, video chat, email, text message, photo sharing apps, social media, or mailed letters.\nCreate a virtual memory book, blog, or webpage to remember your loved one, and ask family and friends to contribute their memories and stories.\nCoordinate a date and time for family and friends to honor your loved one by reciting a selected poem, spiritual reading, or prayer from within their own households. Some cultures practice a prolonged mourning period with multiple observances, so hosting virtual events now and in-person events later may be in keeping with these practices.\nSeek spiritual support from faith-based organizations, including religious leaders and congregations, if applicable. People who are not part of a faith tradition or religious community can seek support from other trusted community leaders and friends.\nUse grief counseling services, support groups, or hotlines, especially those that can be offered over the phone or online, or seek support from a mental healthcare provider.\nRead books about grief and loss. If you have children, read age-appropriate books with them and talk with them about how they are feeling.\nTake part in an activity that has significance to you and the loved one you have lost, such as planting flowers or a tree or preparing a favorite meal, in memory of your loved one.\nReview additional information from CDC on loss and grief, and ways to cope with stress and anxiety.\n\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the family and close friends of a person who\ndied of COVID-19 may experience stigma, such as people avoiding them or\nrejecting them. Stigma hurts everyone by creating fear or anger toward other\npeople. Some people may avoid contact with you, your family members, and\nfriends when they would normally reach out to you. You can help stop stigma\nrelated to COVID-19 by knowing the\nfacts and sharing them with extended family, friends, and others in your\ncommunity.\nPractice social distancing while making funeral arrangements\n\nConsider having virtual or phone meetings instead of in-person meetings with funeral home staff, cemetery staff, clergy or officiants, and others to plan funeral arrangements.\nIf you need to meet in person, follow everyday preventive actions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, such as wearing a cloth face covering, social distancing, washing your hands often, and covering coughs and sneezes.\nDo not attend in-person meetings if you are sick, might have been exposed to COVID-19, or have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.\n\nDiscuss options for making changes to traditional funeral plans\n\nDiscuss your cultural or religious traditions and the funeral wishes of the deceased, if applicable, with family members and the people you are working with (funeral home staff, clergy, or officiants). \nIdentify any potential concerns and determine options to make changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Preserve traditional practices when it is possible to safely do so, and identify whether modified or new practices could satisfy the needs and values of you and your loved one.\n\n\nConsider whether it would be acceptable to hold modified funeral arrangements by limiting attendance to a small number of immediate family members and friends shortly after the time of death. Consider holding additional memorial services in the future when social distancing guidelines are less restrictive. \nWhen you are making decisions about who should attend, consider how emotionally difficult social distancing practices might be for attendees (such as keeping at least 6 feet apart and not hugging other attendees who do not live in their household).\n\n\nAsk the people you are working with (funeral home staff, clergy, or officiant) about resources they may be able to provide, such as: \nVirtual funeral services, visitations, and memorial tributes by online video streaming or recorded video. Consider potential issues with virtual attendees\u2019 access to technology and high-speed internet, as well as how any technological difficulties during the service could impact the event.\nOnline guestbooks or memory books that invite people to share stories, notes of condolence, or photos.\nAssistance with sharing details about the plan for funeral services and visitations with extended family and friends, including how to compassionately communicate any changes to traditional practices and the reasons they are necessary.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest60","title":"","text":"Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families\nHolding funeral services and visitations\nFamilial and cultural expectations might put pressure on you and others to\nparticipate in or hold or schedule funeral services and visitations. During\nthe COVID-19 pandemic, those expectations may need to be relaxed to protect\nthe safety of those who would have participated. People continue to get\nexposed to COVID-19 at funeral\nservices ; the people\ngiving it to others were not feeling sick at the time and did not know they\nwere carrying or spreading COVID-19.\nConsider the following modifications to funeral services and visitations to\nhelp prevent the spread of COVID-19. These modifications are recommended for\nevents held in any setting, including funeral homes, cemetery facilities,\nplaces of worship, private homes, and other venues.\nLimit the attendees to a small number of immediate family and close\nfriends\n\nFollow the guidelines from state and local officials and state and local health departments.\nThose who are sick, have a household member or other close contact who is sick, or are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should not attend in person.\nConsider limiting the number of people from different areas of the country or any areas with significant spread of COVID-19.\nConsider offering other ways for family and friends to participate, such as by phone or online (live or recorded).\n\nPractice social distancing and everyday preventive actions\n\nConsider holding services and gatherings in a large, well-ventilated area or outdoors, as circumstances and traditions allow.\nSpace out seating for attendees who do not live in the same household to at least six feet apart.\nAttendees who do not live in the same household should stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart and wear a cloth face covering when interacting with people who do not live in their household.\nPeople who have been living in the same household can comfort each other in typical ways such as hugging, holding hands, and sitting next to each other.\nAttendees should nod, bow, or wave instead of holding or shaking hands, hugging, or kissing anyone who does not live in their household.\nAll attendees should follow everyday preventive actions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, such as washing your hands often and covering coughs and sneezes.\n\nConsider changing traditional rituals or practices\nDiscuss with the funeral home director, clergy or officiant, and your family\nany potential changes that might be necessary to protect all of the\nparticipants and attendees. Consider options for modified or new practices\nthat would be acceptable to you and your family and friends, such as:\n\nHolding a graveside-only service.\nChanging or removing funeral practices that involve close contact or sharing things among members of different households, such as: \nSharing a car or limousine ride between the church and cemetery.\nProviding food and beverages for attendees after the service.\n\n\nChanging religious rituals in consultation with clergy and other religious leaders.\n\nIf some traditions, such as certain religious rituals, sharing rides to the\ngravesite, or having food and beverages, are considered essential to you and\nyour family and friends, consider modifying them.\n\nLimit sharing of items, such as worship aids, prayer books, and other items shared or passed by clergy and attendees during religious rituals.\nGroup household members together inside the vehicle. Avoid having non-household members sharing vehicles to travel between locations during the services; if necessary, increase ventilation by opening windows or using the air conditioner on non-recirculating mode.\nHave pre-packaged meal boxes or bags for each attendee instead of a buffet or family-style meal.\n\nIn some cultures, bringing food or gifts to grieving family members is an\nimportant way to express care and concern. During the COVID-19 pandemic,\nconsider expressing care in ways that do not involve personal interactions.\nConsider delivering food or gifts to grieving family members in ways that keep\npeople at least 6 feet apart, mailing care packages, or giving families gift\ncards for food delivery services.\nAvoid touching the deceased person\u2019s body before preparation\nThere are many different cultural traditions involved in the bereavement\nprocess, including some that involve touching the deceased person\u2019s body\nbefore preparation. Though we are still learning more about how COVID-19\nspreads, it may be possible that you could get COVID-19 by touching the body\nof a deceased person who had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 prior to the body\nbeing prepared for viewing. After the body has been prepared for viewing,\nthere may be less of a chance of the virus spreading from certain types of\ntouching, such as holding the hand or hugging.\nTake steps to protect yourself, such as:\n\nAvoid touching, hugging, or kissing the body of a deceased person who had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 before and during body preparation, especially if you or a member of your household are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.\nWash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after any contact with the body. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\n\nTake precautions with rituals that involve touching the deceased person\u2019s\nbody\nIf the deceased person had confirmed or suspected COVID-19, avoid kissing,\nwashing, or shrouding the body before, during, and after the body has been\nprepared, if possible. Take precautions if participating in these activities\nis part of important religious or cultural practices.\n\nWork with your cultural and religious leaders and funeral home staff to identify how to reduce exposure as much as possible.\nPeople at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and members of their household should not be involved in these activities.\nPeople conducting these activities should wear disposable gloves (nitrile, latex, or rubber). Additional protective equipment may also be required, such as disposable and waterproof isolation gowns, face shields or goggles, and facemasks (e.g., if splashing of fluids is expected).\nFollowing preparation of the body, safely remove gloves (and other protective equipment, if used) and throw them away. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Shower as soon as possible.\nIf you did not wear an isolation gown while preparing the body, wash your clothes in the warmest setting possible and dry them completely.\n\nIf removing personal possessions (such as wedding rings) from the body or casket, clean and disinfect the items and wash hands right away.\n\n\nGuidance on funeral and burial services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\n\nGuidance on if your family member died from COVID-19 while overseas\nIf the deceased person had confirmed or suspected COVID-19, follow CDC guidelines to clean and disinfect the home and any items that will be removed from the home\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest61","title":"","text":"People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness\nCOVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk\nfactors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and\nclinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious\nunderlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness\nfrom COVID-19.\nBased on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19\nare:\n\nPeople 65 years and older\nPeople who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility\n\nPeople of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not\nwell controlled, including:\n\nPeople with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma\nPeople who have serious heart conditions\nPeople who are immunocompromised \nMany conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications\n\n\nPeople with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)\nPeople with diabetes\nPeople with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis\nPeople with liver disease\n\nOlder AdultsAt Risk For Severe IllnessPeople with Liver\nDisease\nPeople with AsthmaPeople with HIVPeople Who Are\nImmunocompromised"}
{"_id":"CDCtest62","title":"","text":"Older Adults\nSteps to Reduce Risk of Getting Sick\nThere are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting sick.\n\nStay home if possible.\nWash your hands often.\nKeep space between yourself and others (stay 6 feet away, which is about two arm lengths).\nWhat You Can Do \nHow to Protect Yourself\n\nSymptoms\nSymptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.\nSymptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Watch for fever, cough, and\nshortness of breath. Watch for symptoms. \nDevelop a Care Plan\nA care plan summarizes your health conditions, medications, healthcare\nproviders, emergency contacts, and end-of-life care options (for example,\nadvance directives). Complete your care plan in consultation with your doctor,\nand if needed, with help from a family member or home nurse aide.\nA care plan can have benefits beyond the current pandemic. You can update your\ncare plan every year, or any time you have a change in your health or\nmedications. Care plans can help reduce emergency room visits and\nhospitalizations, and improve overall medical management for people with a\nchronic health condition, resulting in better quality of life.\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, having a care plan is an important part of\nemergency preparedness.\n\nGuidance on how to develop your emergency preparedness care plan.\nDownload a fillable care plan form [5 pages]\nSerious Illness Care Program COVID-19 Response Toolkit\n\nSenior Living Facilities\nPeople with loved ones in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other\ntypes of senior living facilities may be understandably concerned about their\nloved one\u2019s risk of illness from COVID-19.\nTo protect these vulnerable friends and family members, CDC has advised that\nlong-term care facilities\n\nrestrict visitors,\nregularly check healthcare workers and residents for fevers and symptoms, and\nlimit activities within the facility to keep residents safe.\n\nOlder Adults are at Higher Risk\nSee below for estimated percent of adults with confirmed COVID-19 reported in\nthe U.S: | Adults 65 \u2013 84 | Adults 85+\n---|---|---\nHospitalizations | 31-59% | 31-70%\nAdmission to intensive care | 11-31% | 6-29%\nDeaths | 4-11% | 10-27%"}
{"_id":"CDCtest63","title":"","text":"People with Moderate to Severe Asthma\nRisk of Severe Illness from COVID-19\nPeople with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very\nsick from COVID-19. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat,\nlungs), cause an asthma attack, and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute\nrespiratory disease."}
{"_id":"CDCtest64","title":"","text":"People with Moderate to Severe Asthma\nTreatment\nThere is currently no specific treatment for or vaccine to prevent COVID-19.\nThe best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest65","title":"","text":"People with Moderate to Severe Asthma\nPrepare for COVID-19\n\nStock up on supplies.\nTake everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.\nWhen you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick.\nClean your hands often by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.\nAvoid crowds and people who are sick.\nAvoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.\nDuring a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.\nIf someone in your home is sick, have them stay away from the rest of the household to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in your home.\nAvoid sharing personal household items such as cups and towels.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest66","title":"","text":"People with Moderate to Severe Asthma\nFollow your Asthma Action Plan\n\nKeep your asthma under control by following your asthma action plan.\nContinue your current medications, including any inhalers with steroids in them (\u201csteroids\u201d is another word for corticosteroids).\nDon\u2019t stop any medications or change your asthma treatment plan without talking to your healthcare provider.\nDiscuss any concerns about your treatment with your healthcare provider.\nTalk to your healthcare provider, insurer, and pharmacist about creating an emergency supply of prescription medications, such as asthma inhalers. Make sure that you have 30 days of non-prescription medications and supplies on hand too in case you need to stay home for a long time.\nKnow how to use your inhaler.\nAvoid your asthma triggers.\nAs more cases of COVID-19 are discovered and our communities take action to combat the spread of disease, it is natural for some people to feel concerned or stressed. Strong emotions can trigger an asthma attack. Take steps to help yourself cope with stress and anxiety.\n\nFor information on administering asthma medication in schools, visit K-12\nSchools and Child Care Programs."}
{"_id":"CDCtest67","title":"","text":"People with Moderate to Severe Asthma\nClean and disinfect things you or your family touch frequently\n\nIf possible, have someone who doesn\u2019t have asthma do the cleaning and disinfecting. When they use cleaning and disinfecting products, have them: \nMake sure that people with asthma are not in the room.\nMinimize use of disinfectants that can cause an asthma attack.\nOpen windows or doors and use a fan that blows air outdoors.\nClean and disinfect surfaces like phones, remotes, tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks daily.\nAlways follow the instructions on the product label.\nSpray or pour spray products onto a cleaning cloth or paper towel instead of spraying the product directly onto the cleaning surface (if the product label allows).\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest68","title":"","text":"If You Are Immunocompromised, Protect Yourself From COVID-19\nRisk of Severe Illness from COVID- 19\nPeople with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of getting severely\nsick from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They may also remain\ninfectious for a longer period of time than others with COVID-19, but we\ncannot confirm this until we learn more about this new virus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest69","title":"","text":"If You Are Immunocompromised, Protect Yourself From COVID-19\nPrevent COVID-19\nIf you are immunocompromised, the best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid\nbeing exposed to this virus. For details, see CDC\u2019s advice for what you can\ndo to prepare for COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and\nothers.\n\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. \nIf soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.\n\n\nAvoid leaving home as much as possible and practice social distancing. \nIf you must leave home, avoid other people as much as possible by practicing social distancing. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet (2 meters) between you and people outside your household.\nAvoid large gatherings or places where people congregate.\nHave supplies, food, and medicine delivered to your home.\n\n\nCover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others to protect other people in case you are infected, and ask others to do the same. \nRemember, do NOT place cloth face coverings on children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance.\n\n\nClean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest70","title":"","text":"If You Are Immunocompromised, Protect Yourself From COVID-19\nSteps You Can Take to Protect Your Health\n\nContinue your regular treatment plan. Don\u2019t stop any medications or treatments without talking to your doctor. \nDiscuss any concerns about your treatment with your doctor.\nKeep your regularly scheduled medical appointments. \nTalk to your doctor about steps they are taking to reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the office.\nUse telehealth services whenever possible if recommended by your doctor.\nEnsure that you are getting necessary tests prescribed by your doctor.\nSeek urgent medical care if you are feeling unwell.\n\n\nTalk to your doctor, insurer, and pharmacist about getting an emergency supply of prescription medications. Make sure you have at least 30 days of prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and supplies on hand in case you need or want to stay home for several weeks. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to receive your medications by mail.\nTake steps to care for your emotional health. Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions. It is natural to feel concerned or stressed about COVID-19. Learn more about stress and coping with anxiety here. Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.\nIf you are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others: \nCall 911 if you feel like you want to harm yourself or others\nVisit the Disaster Distress Helpline, call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746\nVisit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224\nVisit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 and TTY or text 1-800-799-4889\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest71","title":"","text":"If You Are Immunocompromised, Protect Yourself From COVID-19\nTreatment of COVID-19\n\nAt this time, there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for COVID-19. There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Treatment is currently aimed at relieving symptoms, and for hospitalized patients, supporting vital organ function during severe illness.\n\nAdditional Information for Specific Conditions & Risk Factors\nIf you have cancer or have survived cancer\nIf you have cancer now or had cancer in the past, you might need to take\nspecial steps to protect your health:\n\nChemotherapy is an important tool to treat cancer. Although some types of chemotherapy can weaken the immune system, cancer patients and survivors should continue to take their chemotherapy as directed by their doctor.\nDo not change your cancer treatment plan without discussing it with your doctor.\nWatch out for fever. Take your temperature any time you feel warm, flushed, chilled, very fatigued, or not well. Call your doctor right away if you have a temperature of 100.4\u00baF (38\u00baC) or higher.\nKnow the signs and symptoms of infection . Infection during the course of cancer treatment can be very serious. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the signs and symptoms of an infection.\n\n\nFind out from your doctor when your white blood cell count is likely to the be the lowest, since this is when you\u2019re most at risk for infection. \nIf you have to go to the emergency room, tell the person checking you in that you are a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. Fever during chemotherapy treatment is a medical emergency and you should be seen quickly.\n\n\nDiscuss any concerns about your chemotherapy or other cancer treatments with your oncologist and primary healthcare provider.\nLearn more about Types of Cancer, Risk Factors and Screening for Cancer and Preventing Infections while undergoing treatment for cancer.\n\nIf you have had a bone marrow transplant, solid organ transplant, or stem\ncells for cancer treatment\nIf you take medications that weaken your immune system, called\nimmunosuppressant medications:\n\nDo not change or stop taking medicines without talking to your doctor. Stopping or changing medicine can cause serious health problems.\n\nIf you were born with immune deficiencies\nSome people are born with or develop immune deficiencies due to genetics.\nExamples include common variable immune deficiency, selective IgA deficiency,\nsevere combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and\ncomplement deficiencies.\n\nIf you take medicines to help boost your immune system, do not change or stop them without talking to your doctor.\n\nIf you have HIV\nThe risk of serious illness from COVID-19 for people with HIV is not yet\nknown. If you have HIV and a low CD4 cell count or are not on HIV treatment,\nyou might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\n\nDo not change or stop taking medicines without talking to your doctor. Stopping or changing medicine can cause serious health problems.\nFor more details, see CDC\u2019s Information about COVID for people with HIV.\n\nIf you are using oral or intravenous corticosteroids or other medicines\nthat lower your immune system\u2019s response\nSome medical conditions are treated with medications that can weaken the\nimmune system; these medicines are called immunosuppressants. Common medical\nconditions that are sometimes treated with immunosuppressants include\nrheumatoid arthritis,\nlupus, and inflammatory bowel disease.\n\nDo not change or stop taking medicines without talking to your doctor. Stopping or changing medicine can cause serious health problems.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest72","title":"","text":"People with Disabilities\nDisability Groups and Risk\nIf you have one of the disability types listed below, you might be at\nincreased risk of becoming infected or having unrecognized illness. You should\ndiscuss your risk of illness with your healthcare provider.\n\nPeople who have limited mobility or who cannot avoid coming into close contact with others who may be infected, such as direct support providers and family members\nPeople who have trouble understanding information or practicing preventive measures, such as hand washing and social distancing\nPeople who may not be able to communicate symptoms of illness\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest73","title":"","text":"People with Disabilities\nProtect Yourself\nIf you or someone you care for are at higher\nrisk of getting very sick from COVID-19, take steps to prevent\ngetting sick. In\naddition to practicing everyday preventive actions, people with disabilities\nwho have direct support providers can help protect themselves from respiratory\nillness in the following ways:\n\nAsk your direct support provider if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19\nTell your direct service provider to \nWash their hands when they enter your home and before and after touching you (e.g., dressing, bathing\/showering, transferring, toileting, feeding), handling tissues, or when changing linens or doing laundry. Learn more about proper handwashing.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (e.g., counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, bedside tables), and equipment such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, oxygen tanks and tubing, communication boards and other assistive devices. Refer to CDC\u2019s General Recommendations for Routine Cleaning and Disinfections of Households.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest74","title":"","text":"People with Disabilities\nPrepare\nThere are some additional things people with disabilities can do to prepare\nduring the COVID-19 outbreak:\n\nPlan what you will do if you or your direct support provider gets sick. Create a contact list of family, friends, neighbors and local service agencies that can provide support in case you or your direct support provider becomes ill or unavailable.\nPlan at least two ways of communicating from home and work that can be used rapidly in an emergency (e.g., landline phone, cell phone, text-messaging, email). Write down this information and keep it with you.\nHave enough household items and groceries so that you will be comfortable staying home for a few weeks, at least a 30-day supply of over the counter and prescription medicines and any medical equipment or supplies that you might need. Some health plans allow for a 90-day refill on prescription medications. Consider discussing this option with your healthcare provider. Make a photocopy of prescriptions, as this may help in obtaining medications in an emergency situation.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest75","title":"","text":"People with Disabilities\nAbout COVID-19\n\nCoronavirus disease is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. For more information go to CDC\u2019s Fact Sheet- What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).\nRisk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19, such as healthcare workers, direct support providers, and household members. Other people at higher risk for infection are those who live or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest76","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nHow people experiencing homelessness can protect themselves\nMany of the recommendations to prevent\nCOVID-19 may be\ndifficult for a person experiencing homelessness to do. Although it may not be\npossible to avoid certain crowded locations (such as shelters), people who are\nhomeless should:\n\nTry to avoid other crowded public settings and public transportation.\nIf possible, use take-away options for food.\nMaintain a distance of 6 feet (about two arms\u2019 length) from other people.\nWash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible, and cover their coughs and sneezes.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest77","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nIf people experiencing homelessness have symptoms\nAny person experiencing homelessness with symptoms consistent with COVID-19\n ( fever, cough, or\nshortness of breath ) should alert their service providers (such as case\nmanagers, shelter staff, and other care providers). These staff will help the\nindividual understand how to isolate themselves and identify options for\nmedical care as needed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest78","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nHow to get tested for COVID-19\nIf they meet criteria for testing, people experiencing homelessness will\naccess COVID-19 testing through a healthcare provider.\nLocal public health and healthcare facilities need to determine the best\nlocation for this testing in coordination with homeless healthcare clinics and\nstreet medicine clinics."}
{"_id":"CDCtest79","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nAnyone sick with COVID-19 should stay isolated\nThose with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should stay in a place where they\ncan best be isolated from other people to prevent spreading the infection.\nLocal health departments, housing authorities, homeless service systems, and\nhealthcare facilities should plan to identify locations to isolate those with\nknown or suspected COVID-19 until they meet the criteria to end\nisolation.\nIsolation housing could be units designated by local authorities or shelters\ndetermined to have capacity to sufficiently isolate these people. If no other\noptions are available, homeless service providers should plan for how they can\nhelp people isolate themselves while efforts are underway to provide\nadditional support."}
{"_id":"CDCtest80","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nDonations of food and clothing to homeless service providers\nHomeless service providers can accept donations of food and clothing\nduring community spread of COVID-19, but general infection control\nprecautions should be taken. Request that donors not donate if they are\nsick.\n\nSet up donation drop-off points to encourage social distancing between shelter workers and those donating.\nLaunder donated clothing, sheets, towels, or other fabrics on high heat settings, and disinfect items that are nonporous, such as items made of plastic.\nFood donations should be shelf-stable, and shelter staff should take usual food-related infection prevention precautions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest81","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nSymptom screening of clients at homeless shelters\nHomeless shelters can screen clients for\nsymptoms of respiratory infections.\nClients who have symptoms may or may not have COVID-19. Make sure they have a\nseparate place they can safely stay within the shelter or at an alternate site\nin coordination with local health authorities. An on-site nurse or other\nclinical staff can help with clinical assessments.\n\nProvide anyone who presents with symptoms with a cloth face covering.\nFacilitate access to non-urgent medical care as needed.\nUse standard facility procedures to determine whether a client needs immediate medical attention. Emergency signs include: \nTrouble breathing\nPersistent pain or pressure in the chest\nNew confusion or inability to arouse\nBluish lips or face\n\n\n\nNotify the designated medical facility and personnel to transfer clients that\nthe client might have COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest82","title":"","text":"People Experiencing Homelessness\nKeeping open homeless shelters and encampments\nHomeless shelters serve a critical function in our communities. Shelters\nshould stay open unless homeless service providers, health departments, and\nhousing authorities have determined together that a shelter needs to close.\nConnecting people to stable housing should continue to be a priority.\n\nHowever, if individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living in encampments to remain where they are.\nEncourage people living in encampments to increase space between people and provide hygiene resources.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest83","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nCloth face coverings for children, parents, and other caregivers\nCDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that\ncovers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. B ecause\nof the danger of suffocation, do NOT put cloth face coverings on babies or\nchildren younger than 2 years****. Cloth face coverings should also not be\nworn by anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, can\u2019t move, or is\notherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.\nParents and other caregivers should keep in mind that wearing a cloth face\ncovering is not a substitute for social distancing, frequent hand washing, or\nother everyday preventive actions \u2013 please wear your cloth face covering in\naddition to practicing other prevention steps. A cloth face covering is not\nintended to protect you, the wearer, but it may prevent you from spreading the\nvirus to others. This would be especially important if you are infected but do\nnot have symptoms of COVID-19. Please remember that medical face masks and N95\nrespirators are reserved for healthcare personnel and other first responders."}
{"_id":"CDCtest84","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nRisk of COVID-19 during pregnancy\nBased on what we know about COVID-19, we believe pregnant people appear to\nhave the same risk of COVID-19 as adults who are not pregnant. However, much\nremains unknown. We do know that pregnant people have had a higher risk of\nsevere illness when infected with viruses that are similar to COVID-19, as\nwell as other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.\nWe also know that pregnant people have changes in their bodies that may\nincrease their risk of some infections. Therefore, if you are pregnant, it is\nalways important for you to try to protect yourself from illnesses whenever\npossible."}
{"_id":"CDCtest85","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nRisks to the pregnancy and to the baby\nMuch is still unknown about the risks of COVID-19 to the pregnancy and to the\nbaby.\n\nMother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 during pregnancy is unlikely. However, after birth, a newborn can be infected after being in close contact with an infected person, including the baby\u2019s mother or other caregivers.\nA small number of babies have tested positive for the virus shortly after birth, according to limited published reports. However, it is unknown if these babies got the virus before, during, or after birth.\nA small number of other problems, such as preterm birth, have been reported in babies born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 late in their pregnancy. However, we do not know if these problems were related to the virus.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest86","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nPrenatal and postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic\nIt is important to take care of yourself and your baby during pregnancy and\nafter delivery.\nDo not skip your prenatal care appointments or postpartum appointments. If\nyou are concerned about attending your appointment due to COVID-19, talk to\nyour healthcare provider.\n\nAsk your healthcare provider how they are taking steps to separate healthy patients from those who may be sick.\nSome healthcare providers might choose to cancel or postpone some visits. Others may switch certain appointments to telemedicine visits, which are appointments over the phone or video. These decisions will be based on the circumstances in your community as well as your individual care plan.\nCall your healthcare provider if you have an urgent medical question.\nIn case of emergency, call 911 or go to your local emergency department. If you are not driving, call the emergency department on the way to explain that you are pregnant and have an emergency. They should have an infection prevention plan to protect you from getting COVID-19 if you need emergency care. Do not delay getting emergency care because of COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest87","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nVaccines during pregnancy and the COVID-19 pandemic\nAlthough there is no vaccine available to protect against the virus that\ncauses COVID-19, routine vaccines are an important part of protecting your\nhealth. Receiving some vaccines during pregnancy, such as the influenza (flu)\nand Tdap vaccines, can help protect you and your baby. If you are pregnant,\nyou should continue to receive your recommended vaccines. Talk with your\nhealthcare provider about visits for vaccines during pregnancy."}
{"_id":"CDCtest88","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nDelivery locations during the COVID-19 pandemic\nDelivering your baby is always safest under the supervision of trained\nhealthcare professionals. If you have questions about the best place to\ndeliver your baby, discuss them with your healthcare provider."}
{"_id":"CDCtest89","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nBreastfeeding if you have COVID-19\n\nBreast milk provides protection against many illnesses and is the best source of nutrition for most infants. Learn more about breastfeeding.\nYou, along with your family and healthcare providers, should decide whether and how to start or continue breastfeeding.\nWe do not know for sure if mothers with COVID-19 can spread the virus to babies in their breast milk, but the limited data available suggest this is not likely.\nIf you have COVID-19 and choose to breastfeed: \nWear a cloth face covering while breastfeeding and wash your hands before each feeding.\n\n\nIf you have COVID-19 and choose to express breast milk: \nUse a dedicated breast pump.\nWear a cloth face covering during expression and wash your hands before touching any pump or bottle parts and before expressing breast milk.\nFollow recommendations for proper pump cleaning [Espa\u00f1ol] after each use, cleaning all parts that come into contact with breast milk.\nIf possible, expressed breast milk should be fed to the infant by a healthy caregiver who does not have COVID-19, is not at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and is living in the same home.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest90","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nCOVID-19 and children\nThere is much more to be learned about how this disease affects children.\nWhile some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, most illnesses\nhave been among adults. Some reports suggest that infants under 1 year old and\nthose with underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk of serious\nillness from COVID-19 than other children.\n\nChildren with COVID-19 generally have mild, cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported in some children.\nChildren with certain underlying medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, or weak immune systems, might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Call your child\u2019s healthcare provider if you are worried about your child\u2019s health or if your child has symptoms of COVID-19.\nIn case of emergency, call 911 or go to your local emergency department. Emergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect you and your child from getting COVID-19 if your child needs emergency care. Do not delay getting emergency care for your child because of COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest91","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nFace shields for newborns and infants\nPlastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended. There\nare no data supporting the use of infant face shields for protection against\nCOVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses. An infant face shield could increase\nthe risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or\naccidental suffocation and strangulation. Infants, including newborns, move\nfrequently, which could increase the possibility of their nose and mouth\nbecoming blocked by the plastic face shield or foam components. The baby\u2019s\nmovement could also cause the face shield to become displaced, resulting in\nstrangulation from the strap.\nInformation for how to protect newborns from becoming sick with COVID-19 while\nin the hospital can be found in CDC\u2019s Considerations for Inpatient Obstetrics\nHealthcare Settings. Additional information on how to protect yourself\nand others,\nincluding newborns and infants, from COVID-19 illness is also available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest92","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nSafe sleep for infants during the COVID-19 pandemic\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of infants may experience increased\nstress and fatigue that could affect their infants\u2019 sleep practices. Safe\nsleep is an important part of keeping infants healthy, including during the\nCOVID-19 pandemic. If you have an infant, you can help reduce your baby\u2019s risk\nof sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths by doing\nthe following:\n\nPlace your baby on his or her back for all sleep times \u2013 naps and at night.\nUse a firm, flat sleep surface, such as a mattress in a crib, covered by a fitted sheet.\nHave the baby share your room but not your bed. Your baby should not sleep on an adult bed, cot, air mattress, or couch, or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.\nKeep soft bedding such as blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and soft toys out of your baby\u2019s sleep area.\nDo not cover your baby\u2019s head or allow your baby to get too hot. Signs your baby may be getting too hot include if he or she is sweating or if his or her chest feels hot.\nDo not smoke or allow anyone to smoke around your baby.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest93","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nWell visits and routine vaccine visits for children during the COVID-19\npandemic\nRoutine well child visits and vaccine visits are still important during the\nCOVID-19 pandemic.\nNewborn visits. Ideally, newborn visits should be done in person so that\nyour pediatric healthcare provider can check your baby\u2019s growth and feeding,\ncheck your baby for jaundice, make sure your baby\u2019s newborn screening tests\nwere done, and get any repeat or follow-up testing, if necessary. At the\nnewborn visit, your pediatric healthcare provider will also check how you and\nyour baby are doing overall. Newborn screening tests include a bloodspot,\nhearing test, and test for critical congenital heart\ndefects. Learn more about newborn\nscreening tests.\nWell child visits. Your pediatric healthcare provider will check your\nchild\u2019s development at well child visits. You can track your child\u2019s\ndevelopmental milestones with CDC\u2019s free Milestone Tracker\napp.\nVaccine visits. Vaccines are an important part of keeping your child\nhealthy, especially if your child is under 2 years old. Vaccines help provide\nimmunity before being exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.\nAlthough there is not yet a vaccine to help protect against COVID-19, vaccines\nfor illnesses such as measles, influenza (flu), whooping cough (pertussis),\nand other infectious diseases are important for your child\u2019s health. This will\nhelp to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases among young children\nduring the COVID-19 pandemic.\nAsk your healthcare provider how they are taking steps to separate healthy\npatients from those who may be sick. Some health care providers may choose to\ndelay visits like well child checks and routine vaccine visits. These\ndecisions will be based on circumstances in your community and your child\u2019s\nindividual care plan. Call your provider\u2019s office to ask about any upcoming\nappointments or about when your child\u2019s vaccinations are due."}
{"_id":"CDCtest94","title":"","text":"If You Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children\nCoping with stress\nPandemics can be stressful for everyone. Fear and anxiety about a disease can\nbe overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children.\nCoping successfully with stress will make you, the people you care about,\nand your community stronger.\nTalk with your children about the pandemic. It is important to try to stay\ncalm and to give children information that is truthful and appropriate for\ntheir ages and developmental levels. Children respond differently to\nstressful situations than adults. CDC offers resources to help you talk with your children\nabout COVID-19.\nDepression during and after pregnancy is common and can be treated. Postpartum\ndepression is depression that can happen after having a baby. If you think you\nmay be experiencing depression, seek treatment from your health care provider\nas soon as possible. Find more information on depression during and after\npregnancy.\nPregnant people and parents caring for young children may be experiencing\nincreased stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC offers resources to help\nwith Stress and Coping."}
{"_id":"CDCtest95","title":"","text":"COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups\nFactors that influence racial and ethnic minority group health\nHealth differences between racial and ethnic groups are often due to economic\nand social conditions that are more common among some racial and ethnic\nminorities than whites. In public health emergencies, these conditions can\nalso isolate people from the resources they need to prepare for and respond to\noutbreaks.1,13, 14\nLiving conditions\nFor many people in racial and ethnic minority groups, living conditions may\ncontribute to underlying health conditions and make it difficult to follow\nsteps to prevent getting sick with COVID-19 or to seek treatment if they do\nget sick.\n\nMembers of racial and ethnic minorities may be more likely to live in densely populated areas because of institutional racism in the form of residential housing segregation. People living in densely populated areas may find it more difficult to practice prevention measures such as social distancing.\nResearch also suggests that racial residential segregation is a fundamental cause of health disparities. For example, racial residential segregation is linked with a variety of adverse health outcomes and underlying health conditions.2-5 These underlying conditions can also increase the likelihood of severe illness from COVID-19.\nMany members of racial and ethnic minorities live in neighborhoods that are further from grocery stores and medical facilities , making it more difficult to receive care if sick and stock up on supplies that would allow them to stay home.\nMulti-generational households , which may be more common among some racial and ethnic minority families6, may find it difficult to take precautions to protect older family members or isolate those who are sick, if space in the household is limited.\nRacial and ethnic minority groups are over-represented in jails, prisons, and detention centers , which have specific risks due to congregate living, shared food service, and more.\n\nWork circumstances\nThe types of work and policies in the work environments where people in some\nracial and ethnic groups are overrepresented can also contribute to their risk\nfor getting sick with COVID-19. Examples include:\n\nCritical workers: The risk of infection may be greater for workers in essential industries who continue to work outside the home despite outbreaks in their communities, including some people who may need to continue working in these jobs because of their economic circumstances. \nNearly a quarter of employed Hispanic and Black or African American workers are employed in service industry jobs compared to 16% of non-Hispanic whites.\nHispanic workers account for 17% of total employment but constitute 53% of agricultural workers; Black or African Americans make up 12% of all employed workers, but account for 30% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.7\n\n\nA lack of paid sick leave: Workers without paid sick leave might be more likely to continue to work even when they are sick for any reason. This can increase workers exposure to other workers who may have COVID-19, or, in turn, expose others them if they themselves have COVID-19. Hispanic workers have lower rates of access to paid leave than white non-Hispanic workers.8\n\nUnderlying health conditions and lower access to care\nExisting health disparities, such as poorer underlying health and barriers to\ngetting health care, might make members of many racial and ethnic minority\ngroups especially vulnerable in public health emergencies like outbreaks of\nCOVID-19.\n\nNot having health insurance: Compared to whites, Hispanics are almost 3 times as likely to be uninsured, and African Americans are almost twice as likely to be uninsured.9 In all age groups, blacks were more likely than whites to report not being able to see a doctor in the past year because of cost.10\nInadequate access is also driven by a long-standing distrust of the health care system, language barriers, and financial implications associated with missing work to receive care.\nS erious underlying medical conditions : Compared to whites, black Americans experience higher death rates, and higher prevalence rates of chronic conditions.10\nStigma and systemic inequalities may undermine prevention efforts, increase levels of chronic and toxic stress, and ultimately sustain health and health care disparities.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest96","title":"","text":"COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups\nWhat can be done\nHistory shows that severe illness and death rates tend to be higher for racial\nand ethnic minority groups during public health emergencies.12 Addressing the\nneeds of vulnerable populations in emergencies includes improving day-to-day\nlife and harnessing the strengths of these groups. Shared faith, family, and\ncultural institutions are common sources of social support. These institutions\ncan empower and encourage individuals and communities to take actions to\nprevent the spread of COVID-19, care for those who become sick, and help\ncommunity members cope with\nstress. For example, families,\nchurches and other groups in affected populations can help their communities\nface an epidemic by consulting CDC guidance documents for their organization\ntype.\nThe federal government is undertaking the following:\n\nCollecting data to monitor and track disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the number of COVID-19 cases, complications, and deaths to share broadly and inform decisions on how to effectively address observed disparities. These data will be translated into information to improve the clinical management of patients, allocation of resources, and targeted public health information. Supporting partnerships between scientific researchers, professional organizations, community organizations, and community members to address their need for information to prevent COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority communities.\nProviding clinical guidance and guidance to support actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools, workplaces and community settings, including those serving racial and ethnic minorities.\n\nPublic health professionals can do the following:\n\nEnsure that communications about COVID-19 and its impact on different population groups is frequent, clear, transparent, and credible.\nWork with other sectors , such as faith and community education, business, transportation, and housing organizations, to share information and implement strategies to address social and economic barriers to implementing steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.\nLink more people among racial and ethnic minority groups to healthcare services for serious underlying medical conditions \u2014 for example, services to help them obtain necessary medications, follow treatment plans, or get testing and treatment if they have COVID-19 symptoms.\nProvide information forhealthcare professionals and health systems to understand cultural differences among patients and how patients interact with providers and the healthcare system. The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (The National CLAS Standards) aim to improve health care quality and advance health equity by establishing a framework for organizations to serve the nation\u2019s increasingly diverse communities.\nUse evidence-based strategies to reduce health disparities. Those most vulnerable before an emergency are also the most vulnerable during and after an emergency.\n\nCommunity organizations can do the following:\n\nPrepare community health workers in underserved racial and ethnic minority communities to educate and link people to free or low-cost services.\nPrioritize resources for clinics, private practices, and other organizations that serve minority populations.\nLeverage effective health promotion programs in community, work, school, and home settings to disseminate recommendations and information about COVID-19.\nWork across sectors to connect people with services, such as grocery delivery or temporary housing, that help them practice social distancing. Connect people to healthcare providers and resources to help them get medications they may need.\nTo prevent the spread of COVID-19, promote precautions to protect individuals in your community, including the correct use of cloth face coverings and equip communities with supplies to make them.\nHelp combat the spread of rumors and misinformation by providing credible information from official sources.\n\nLearn more about what community organizations\ncan do.\nHealthcare systems and healthcare providers can do the following:\n\n\nImplement standardized protocols in accordance with CDC guidance and quality improvement initiatives, especially in facilities that serve large minority populations.\n\n\nIdentify and address implicit bias that could hinder patient-provider interactions and communication.11\n\n\nProvide medical interpretation services for patients who need them.\n\nWork with communities and healthcare professional organizations to reduce cultural barriers to care.\nConnect patients with community resources that can help older adults and people with underlying conditions adhere to their care plans, including help getting extra supplies and medications they need and reminders for them to take their medicines.\nLearn about social and economic conditions that may put some patients at higher risk for getting sick with COVID-19 than others \u2014 for example, conditions that make it harder for some people to take steps to prevent infection.\nPromote a trusting relationship by encouraging patients to call and ask questions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest97","title":"","text":"What You Can Do\nWhat others can do\nCommunity support\nCommunity preparedness planning for\nCOVID-19 should include older\nadults and people with disabilities , and the organizations that support\nthem in their communities, to ensure their needs are taken into consideration.\nMany of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on services\nand supports provided in their homes or in the community to maintain their\nhealth and independence.\nLong-term care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction\nand spread of COVID-19. See guidance for long-term care\nfacilities.\nFamily and caregiver support\n\nKnow what medications your loved one is taking and see if you can help them have extra on hand.\nMonitor food and other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.\nStock up on non-perishable food to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores.\nIf you care for a loved one living in a care facility , monitor the situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.\nLearn more about caring for someone sick at home\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest98","title":"","text":"COVID-19 and Animals\nRisk of animals spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to people\nSome coronaviruses that infect animals can sometimes be spread to humans and\nthen spread between people, but this is rare. This is what happened with the\nvirus that caused the current outbreak of COVID-19. However, we do not know\nthe exact source of this virus. Public health officials and partners are\nworking hard to identify the source of COVID-19. The first infections were\nlinked to a live animal market, but the virus is now spreading from person to\nperson.\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through\nrespiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking. Recent studies show\nthat people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role\nin the spread of COVID-19. At this time, there is no evidence that animals\nplay a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on\nthe limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading\nCOVID-19 to people is considered to be low."}
{"_id":"CDCtest99","title":"","text":"COVID-19 and Animals\nRisk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to animals\nWe are still learning about this virus, but we know it is primarily spreading\nfrom person-to-person and it appears that it can spread from people to animals\nin some situations.\nThe first\ncase in the United States of an animal testing positive for the virus\nthat causes COVID-19 was a tiger with a respiratory illness at a zoo in New\nYork City. Samples from this tiger were collected and tested after several\nlions and tigers at the zoo showed signs of respiratory illness. Public health\nofficials believe these large cats became sick after being exposed to a zoo\nemployee who was infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. This\ninvestigation is ongoing.\nCDC is working with human and animal health partners to monitor this situation\nand will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. Further\nstudies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be\naffected by COVID-19.\nFor more information, visit CDC\u2019s If You Have\nPets and Healthy Pets,\nHealthy People website."}
{"_id":"CDCtest100","title":"","text":"If You Have Pets\nRisk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to pets\nWe are still learning about the virus that causes COVID-19, but it appears\nthat it can spread from people to animals in some situations.\nCDC is aware of a small number of pets, including dogs and cats,\nreported to be\ninfected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with\npeople with COVID-19. Only a few of the pets reported to be positive showed\nsigns of illness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest101","title":"","text":"If You Have Pets\nWhat to do if you own pets\nUntil we learn more about how this virus affects animals, treat pets as you\nwould other human family members to protect them from a possible infection.\n\nDo not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.\nKeep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.\nWalk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people and animals.\nAvoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.\n\nThere is a small number of animals around the world reported to be infected\nwith the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after having contact with a person\nwith COVID-19. Talk to your veterinarian if your pet gets sick or if you have\nany concerns about your pet\u2019s health."}
{"_id":"CDCtest102","title":"","text":"If You Have Pets\nProtect pets if you are sick\nIf you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), you\nshould restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would\nwith people. Until we know more about this virus, people sick with COVID-19\nshould avoid contact with pets and other animals.\n\nWhen possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick.\nAvoid contact with your pet including, petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding.\nIf you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.\n\nIf you are sick with COVID-19 and your pet becomes sick, do not take your\npet to the veterinary clinic yourself. Call your veterinarian and let them\nknow you have been sick with COVID-19. Some veterinarians may offer\ntelemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets. Your\nveterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet\u2019s\ntreatment and care.\nFor more information visit: What to Do if You are\nSick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest103","title":"","text":"If You Have Pets\nStay healthy around animals\nIn the United States, there is no evidence that animals are playing a\nsignificant role in the spread of COVID-19. Based on the limited information\navailable to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is\nconsidered to be low. However, because all animals can carry germs that can\nmake people sick, it\u2019s always a good idea to practice healthy\nhabits around pets and\nother animals.\n\nWash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies.\nPractice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly.\nTalk to your veterinarian if you have questions about your pet\u2019s health.\nBe aware that children 5 years of age and younger, people with weakened immune systems, and people 65 years of age and older are more likely to get sick from germs some animals can carry.\n\nFor more information, visit CDC\u2019s COVID-19 and\nAnimals, and Healthy\nPets, Healthy People website."}
{"_id":"CDCtest104","title":"","text":"What to Do if Your Pet Tests Positive for the Virus that Causes COVID-19\nIf your pet is tested for COVID-19 and is confirmed to be infected\nDepending on how sick your pet is, your veterinarian may recommend that your\npet be isolated at home, instead of staying in the hospital. Some pets did not\nshow any signs of illness, but those pets that did get sick all had mild\ndisease that could be taken care of at home.\nIf your veterinarian recommends home isolation and you are able to care for\nyour pet at home, follow this advice to protect yourself and others."}
{"_id":"CDCtest105","title":"","text":"What to Do if Your Pet Tests Positive for the Virus that Causes COVID-19\nWhat to do if your pet gets sick\n\nKeep your pet at home, except to get medical care \nTalk with your veterinarian regularly. Call before you take your pet to the veterinary clinic. Be sure to alert your veterinarian if your pet has trouble breathing, or if you think it is an emergency.\nWhile most pets appear to show only mild symptoms or no symptoms, we are still learning about how they are affected by the virus. Even if your pet appears to be feeling better, avoid the following activities until your veterinarian determines that it is safe for your pet to do so or your pet has met the guidance to end their isolation: \nVisits to veterinary hospitals, without calling the veterinarian first\nVisits to human healthcare facilities or schools\nVisits to parks (including dog parks), markets, or other gatherings such as festivals\nVisits to the groomer, including mobile grooming salons\nVisits to pet daycares or boarding facilities\nOther outings such as playdates, hikes, or visiting other homes, with or without pets\nUsing dog walkers or pet-sitters that live outside your home\n\n\n\nSeparate your pet from other people and pets in your home\n\n\nHave the pet stay in a designated \u201csick room\u201d (such as a laundry room or extra bathroom) if possible, or otherwise be separated from people and other animals. This is the same way a person with COVID-19 would separate from others in their household.\n\n\nAvoid contact with the pet as much as possible, including, petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding.\n\nIf possible, provide a separate litterbox or bathroom area from other pets.\n\nDOGS: If you have a private backyard where your dog can go to the bathroom, do\nnot take them for walks. If you must walk your dog, limit it to bathroom\nbreaks only, stay close to your home, and keep your pet at least 6 feet away\nfrom other pets and people. Do not let other people touch or interact with\nyour dog.\nCATS: Cats should be kept inside. Do not allow cats that have tested positive\nfor the virus that causes COVID-19 to roam outside.\nCLEANING UP: There is no evidence to suggest that waste from infected pets\nneeds any additional disinfection. Wear gloves when cleaning up after your\npet, and place fecal material or litterbox waste in a sealed bag before\ndisposing. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after\ncleaning up after your pet.\n\n\nProvide bedding, bowls or containers, treats, and toys that are separate from those used by other people or animals in the household.\n\n\n\nDisinfect bowls, toys, and other animal care items with an EPA-registered disinfectant and rinse thoroughly with clean water afterwards.\nSoft items like towels, blankets, and other bedding, can be safely laundered and reused. Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an ill animal can be washed with other items.\n\n\n\nMonitor your pet\u2019s symptoms\nIt is important to keep track of your pet\u2019s symptoms during home isolation. If\nyou think your pet has new symptoms or is getting worse, call your\nveterinarian.\nPets sick with COVID-19 may have:\n\nFever\nCoughing\nDifficulty breathing or shortness of breath\nLethargy (unusual laziness or sluggish)\nSneezing\nRunny nose\nEye discharge\nVomiting\nDiarrhea\n\nFollow all care instructions from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may\nhave you keep a written log of your pet\u2019s symptoms.\nIf your pet develops new symptoms or seems to be getting worse, including\ntrouble breathing, you should call your veterinarian right away. Your\nveterinarian may be able to advise you over the phone or may tell you to bring\nyour pet to their clinic or go to another clinic that can better care for your\npet.\nProtect yourself when caring for a sick pet\n\nFollow similar recommended precautions as for people caring for an infected person at home.\nIf you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, another household member should care for the pet, if possible.\nPeople should wear a cloth face covering and gloves in the same room or area as the sick pet. \nAnimals should not wear a cloth face covering or mask. Do not try to put a cloth face covering on your pet.\n\n\nUse gloves when handling the pet\u2019s dishes, toys, or bedding and when picking up feces (poop). Throw out gloves and place waste material or litterbox waste in a sealed bag before throwing away in a trashcan lined with a trash bag. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after cleaning up after your pet.\nClean your hands regularly throughout the day. \nWash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each Make sure everyone in the home does the same, especially after touching the sick pet or handling their dishes, toys, or bedding.\nHand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.\n\n\nClean and then disinfect: \nFollow cleaning and disinfecting recommendations found on CDC\u2019s Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home\nDo not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products not intended or approved for use on animals. There is no evidence that viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread to people or other animals from the skin, fur, or hair of pets. Using chemical disinfectants on your pet could make them very sick or kill them.\n\n\n\nWhen it is safe for your pet to be around others: ending home isolation\n\n\nFollow your veterinarian\u2019s advice for when it is safe for your pet to be around other people and animals. Some pets may need follow-up testing to see if they are still positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. If the animal is not being monitored by a veterinarian or public health official, owners should keep them isolated until:\n\n\n\n\nAt least 72 hours since their clinical signs of illness have resolved without the use of medications intended to relieve symptoms;\nAND\n\n\nAt least 14 days have passed since their clinical signs first appeared.\n\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest106","title":"","text":"Coronavirus in the United States\u00e2\u0080\u0094Considerations for Travelers\nIf You Travel\nProtect yourself and others during your trip:\n\nClean your hands often. \nWash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.\nIf soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nAvoid close contact with others. \nKeep 6 feet of physical distance from others.\n\n\nWear a cloth face covering in public.\nCover coughs and sneezes.\nPick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest107","title":"","text":"Coronavirus in the United States\u00e2\u0080\u0094Considerations for Travelers\nConsiderations for Types of Travel\nTravel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. We don\u2019t\nknow if one type of travel is safer than others; however, airports, bus\nstations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be\nexposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces. These are also places where\nit can be hard to social distance (keep 6 feet apart from other people).\nConsider the following risks for getting or spreading COVID-19, depending on\nhow you travel:\n\nAir travel: Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.\nBus or train travel: Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others.\nCar travel: Making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces.\nRV travel: You may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest108","title":"","text":"Coronavirus in the United States\u00e2\u0080\u0094Considerations for Travelers\nAnticipate Travel Needs\n\nBring enough of your medicine to last you for the entire trip.\nPack enough alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and keep it within easy to reach.\nBring a cloth face covering to wear in public places.\nPrepare food and water for your trip. Pack non-perishable food in case restaurants and stores are closed.\nIf you are considering cleaning your travel lodgings, see CDC\u2019s guidance on how to clean and disinfect.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest109","title":"","text":"Coronavirus in the United States\u00e2\u0080\u0094Considerations for Travelers\nState and Local Travel Restrictions\nFollow state and local travel restrictions. For up-to-date information and\ntravel guidance, check the state or local health\ndepartment\nwhere you are, along your route, and at your planned destination. While you\nare traveling, it is possible a state or local government may put into place\ntravel restrictions, such as stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, mandated\nquarantines upon arrival, or even state border closures. Plan to keep checking\nfor updates as you travel."}
{"_id":"CDCtest110","title":"","text":"Coronavirus in the United States\u00e2\u0080\u0094Considerations for Travelers\nFrequently Asked Questions\nIs it safe to travel to visit family or friends?\nTravel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Before you\ntravel, learn if coronavirus is spreading in your local area or in any of the\nplaces you are going. Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if\nyou or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from\nCOVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra\nprecautions.\nIs it safe to travel to campgrounds\/go camping?\nGoing camping at a time when much of the United States is experiencing\ncommunity spread of COVID-19 can pose a risk to you if you come in close\ncontact with others or share public facilities (like restrooms or picnic\nareas) at campsites or along the trails. Exposure may be especially unsafe if\nyou are more likely to get very ill from\nCOVID-19 and are planning to be in remote areas, without easy access to\nmedical care. Also be aware that many local, state, and national public parks\nhave been temporarily closed due to COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest111","title":"","text":"CDC\u00e2\u0080\u0099s role in helping cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic\nOutbreaks of infectious diseases can happen on cruise ships because people\nspend time close together and with travelers from many countries. Disease can\nspread between ships when crew members from a ship with an outbreak transfer\nto other ships. Infected people may also travel on cruise ships between\ncountries. For these reasons, outbreaks of COVID-19 on cruise ships pose a\nrisk for rapid spread of disease beyond the voyage and into communities across\nthe globe.\nBecause of the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high risk\nof COVID-19 spread on cruise ships, the US government issued a No Sail Order\nfor cruise ships in waters subject to US jurisdiction and has advised US\ntravelers to defer all cruise\ntravel.\nThe No Sail Order is published in the Federal\nRegister.\nCDC continues to work to control COVID-19 on cruise ships at sea while also\nprotecting against further introduction and spread of COVID-19 into\ncommunities. The COVID-19 pandemic is constantly evolving, and aggressive\nefforts are needed to contain the spread. CDC will continue to evaluate and\nupdate our recommendations as the situation evolves.\nWhat is the No Sail Order?\nIn response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and the increased risk of\nspread of COVID-19 on cruise ships, CDC published the first industry-wide No\nSail Order on March 14 to\nprevent, among other things, new passengers from boarding cruise ships. CDC\nextended its No Sail Order, effective April 15, 2020, to continue to suspend\nall cruise ship operations in waters subject to US jurisdiction. Among other\nthings, cruise lines are required to develop comprehensive plans to prevent,\ndetect, respond to, and contain COVID-19 on their cruise ships to protect the\nhealth and safety of both passengers and crew.\nHow long is the No Sail Order in effect?\nThe extended Order is in effect until one of the following occurs:\n\nThe Secretary of Health and Human Services declares that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency, or\nThe CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or\n100 days have passed from April 15, the date the extended order was published in the Federal Register and went into effect. 100 days from April 15 is July 24.\n\nWhy did CDC extend the No Sail Order?\nThe No Sail Order was extended to protect the public, cruise ship passengers,\ncruise ship crews, and other industry workers. By restricting cruise ship\npassenger operations, the Order helps achieve several public health goals:\n\nPrevents further spread of COVID-19 into and within the United States\nPreserves critical federal, state, and local resources that are needed to respond to COVID-19\nPreserves critical healthcare, emergency, and port resources\n\nWhat cruise ships does the No Sail Order cover?\nThe No Sail Order applies to all cruise ships, which it defines as commercial\npassenger ships with the capacity to carry more than 250 people and where an\novernight stay onboard by passengers or crew is anticipated. The Order applies\nto all cruise ships operating, or seeking to operate, in waters subject to US\njurisdiction, including those that have previously voluntarily suspended\noperations. It does not apply to cargo ships.\nWhat does the No Sail Order mean for my upcoming trip?\nPassengers who plan to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line\ncompanies directly for further information.\nOn March 17, 2020, CDC issued a Level 3 travel health\nnotice\nwith a clear recommendation to avoid all cruise travel due to ongoing spread\nof COVID-19 and the increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious\ndiseases on cruise ships. The No Sail Order suspends all cruise ship\noperations in waters subject to US jurisdiction.\nWhat is CDC doing to help cruise ships with crew still on board?\nWe are currently in a phase of the pandemic where it is necessary to implement\nstrict measures to control the spread of COVID-19. Just as the American public\nhas a role to play in practicing social distancing, cruise lines have a role\nto play in properly caring for their crew, including making sure they can\npractice social distancing, isolating them if they are sick, and quarantining\nthem if they have been exposed to COVID-19.\nCDC is committed to the safety and well-being of crew members while onboard\nand as they disembark. CDC is allowing crew members to disembark from cruise\nships in U.S. waters and return home if cruise lines submit a signed\nattestation stating that they\nhave complied with requirements to safely disembark their crew members. Crew\nmembers who remain onboard and want to disembark should contact their cruise\nship or cruise line about meeting CDC requirements for safe disembarkation and\ntransport. A list of disembarkations that CDC has approved is available\nhere.\nCrew members on ships in or intending to be in US waters who have questions\nabout the process for disembarkation or who have concerns about what their\nship is doing to prevent COVID-19 onboard can share their questions or\nconcerns with CDC by sending an email to\neocevent431@cdc.gov.\nCruise ships have medical facilities on board that can provide medical care to\nsick crew members as needed. As part of their cruise ship plans, cruise lines\nshould make sure they have enough medical staff, equipment, supplies, and\nother resources to provide care for sick people on board. They also need a\nplan to transfer sick crew members to a hospital on land if they need medical\ncare that the ship\u2019s medical facility can\u2019t provide.\nCDC and federal partners are monitoring ships with crew only, and we are\nworking with the cruise companies and local and state health departments to\nensure that seriously ill crew members can get medical assistance on land if\nthe ship can\u2019t provide it. CDC remains committed to humanitarian medical\nevacuation for people in need of lifesaving support. Emergency medical\nevacuations do not require CDC approval.\nWhat is CDC doing to help cruise ships with passengers still on board?\nA small number of passengers are still aboard cruise ships in and around US\nwaters. These passengers are awaiting repatriation to their home countries.\nCDC is working with partners as part of the Unified Command, including Coast\nGuard, Customs and Border Protection, port authorities, local and state health\ndepartments, and Department of State, along with cruise lines, to help\nremaining cruise ship passengers get home as quickly and safely as possible.\nThese are cruise ships that had international voyages with U.S. ports, and\ntherefore are under CDC jurisdiction. International voyages without U.S. ports\nof call are not under CDC jurisdiction and not included.\nInternational cruise voyages with U.S. domestic ports of call have been\nsuspended since March 14, 2020, under CDC\u2019s No Sail\nOrder. Therefore, this chart is available\nfor historical purposes but is no longer being updated.\nCruise Ships Affected by COVID-19 Ship name | Voyage Start Date | Voyage End\nDate\n---|---|---\nCarnival Freedom | 8-Mar | 15-Mar\nCarnival Imagination | 5-Mar | 8-Mar\nCarnival Valor | 29-Feb | 5-Mar\nCarnival Valor | 5-Mar | 9-Mar\nCarnival Valor | 9-Mar | 14-Mar\nCarnival Vista | 15-Feb | 22-Feb\nCarnival Vista | 29-Feb | 7-Mar\nCelebrity Eclipse | 2-Mar | 30-Mar\nCelebrity Infinity | 5-Mar | 9-Mar\nCelebrity Reflection | 13-Mar | 17-Mar\nCelebrity Summit | 29-Feb | 7-Mar\nCoral Princess | 5-Mar | 4-Apr\nCrown Princess | 6-Mar | 16-Mar\nDisney Wonder | 28-Feb | 2-Mar\nDisney Wonder | 6-Mar | 20-Mar\nGrand Princess | 11-Feb | 21-Feb\nGrand Princess | 21-Feb | 7-Mar\nHolland America Zaandam | 7-Mar | 2-Apr\nMSC Armonia | 2-Mar | 9-Mar\nMSC Meraviglia | 1-Mar | 8-Mar\nNorwegian Bliss | 1-Mar | 8-Mar\nNorwegian Bliss | 8-Mar | 15-Mar\nNorwegian Breakaway | 29-Feb | 7-Mar\nNorwegian Breakaway | 7-Mar | 14-Mar\nNorwegian Encore | 8-Mar | 15-Mar\nOceania Riviera | 26-Feb | 11-Mar\nRCCL Explorer of Seas | 8-Mar | 15-Mar\nRCCL Liberty of the Seas | 15-Mar | 29-Mar\nRCCL Majesty of the Seas | 29-Feb | 7-Mar\nRCCL Rhapsody of the Seas | 7-Mar | 14-Mar\nRCCL Oasis of the Seas | 8-Mar | 15-Mar\nRCCL Symphony of the Seas* | 7-Mar | 14-Mar  \n*CDC was notified about COVID-19-positive travelers who had symptoms while on\nboard these ships.\nFor all other ships, CDC was notified about travelers who had symptoms and\ntested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days after disembarking. Since these\ntravelers\u2019 symptoms began after the voyage, the traveler might have contracted\nCOVID-19 during the voyage; however, other sources of transmission after the\nvoyage cannot be ruled out."}
{"_id":"CDCtest112","title":"","text":"Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET)\nPurpose and Methods\nAbout COVID-NET\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance\nNetwork (COVID-NET) is a population-based surveillance system that collects\ndata on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among\nchildren and adults through a network of over 250 acute-care hospitals in 14\nstates.\nWhy COVID-NET Data Is Important\nCOVID-NET is CDC\u2019s source for important data on hospitalization rates\nassociated with COVID-19. Hospitalization rates are updated weekly. COVID-NET\nalso provides important clinical information on COVID-19-associated\nhospitalizations, including age group, sex, race\/ethnicity and underlying\nhealth conditions.\nHospitalization Rates\nPatient Characteristics\nCOVID-NET Data Collection, Timeliness and Interpretation\nCases are identified in COVID-NET if they test positive for SARS-COV-2 (the\nvirus that causes COVID-19 disease) through a test ordered by a health care\nprofessional and are hospitalized within 14 days of the positive test.\nClinical data are collected using a standardized case reporting form by\ntrained surveillance officers, so the data are collected in a standardized and\nuniform way.\nCOVID-NET is expected to collect the following data for each case:\n\nage\nsex\nsurveillance site\ndate of hospital admission\nevidence of positive SARS-CoV-2 test\ndemographic information (e.g., race, ethnicity)\nclinical (medical) history (underlying health conditions)\nclinical course (progression of the illness such as admission to an intensive care unit)\nmedical interventions (medical care for the illness such as need for mechanical ventilation)\noutcomes (e.g., released from the hospital, death)\n\nHow COVID-NET Hospitalization Data Is Different from Hospitalizations\nReported in National and State Case Counts\nCOVID-NET differs from hospitalizations reported in national and state case\ncounts in two ways. First, state and national COVID-19 case reporting are\nbased on all people who test positive for COVID-19 in the United States.\nCOVID-NET is limited to COVID-19-associated hospitalizations captured in the\nCOVID-NET surveillance area. Second, COVID-NET reports rates and not just\ncounts. These rates show how many people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the\nsurveillance area, compared to the entire number of people residing in that\narea.\nHow COVID-NET Calculates Hospitalization Rates\nHospitalization rates are calculated by the number of residents of a defined\narea who are hospitalized with a positive SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test divided\nby the total population within that defined area.\nCOVID-NET coverage\nCOVID-NET comprises 99 counties in the 14 states participating in the\nEmerging Infections Program (EIP) and the\nInfluenza Hospitalization Surveillance Project (IHSP). Participating states\ninclude: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan,\nMinnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah.\nCOVID-NET covers approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population. The counties\ncovered are located in all 10 Health and Human Services (HHS)\nregions.\nThe designated COVID-NET surveillance area is generally similar to the U.S.\npopulation by demographics; however, the information might not be\ngeneralizable to the entire country.\nAccessing COVID-NET Data\nCOVID-19-associated hospitalization rates are reported to CDC on a weekly\nbasis. COVID-NET data, including hospitalization rates for different age\ngroups and data on\npatient characteristics,\nare available on COVIDView \nCOVID-NET hospitalization data are preliminary and may change as more data\nis received. In particular, case counts and rates for recent hospital\nadmissions are subject to lag. As data are received each week, prior case\ncounts and rates are updated accordingly.\nCOVID-NET Publications\n\nStudy: Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 \u2013 COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1-30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wklyl Rep 2020; 69:458-464\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest113","title":"","text":"Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility\nHow to clean and disinfect\nClean\n\nWear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.\nClean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant.\nCleaning with soap and water reduces number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.\nPractice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.\n\n\nMore frequent cleaning and disinfection may be required based on level of use.\nSurfaces and objects in public places, such as shopping carts and point of sale keypads should be cleaned and disinfected before each use.\n\n\nHigh touch surfaces include:\nTables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.\n\n\n\nDisinfect\n\n\nRecommend use of EPA-registered household disinfectant .\nFollow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of\nthe product.\nMany products recommend:\n\nKeeping surface wet for a period of time (see product label).\nPrecautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.\n\n\n\nDiluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface. \n\nCheck the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection, and ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Some bleaches, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing or for whitening may not be suitable for disinfection.\nUnexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.\nFollow manufacturer\u2019s instructions for application and proper ventilation.\nNever mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.\nLeave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute.\n\nTo make a bleach solution , mix:\n\n\n\n\n\n5 tablespoons (1\/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water\nOR\n\n\n4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water\n\n\n\n\nBleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours.\n\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used.\n\nSoft surfaces\nFor soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes\n\nClean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.\nLaunder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.\n\nOR\n\nDisinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. These disinfectants meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against COVID-19.\nVacuum as usual.\n\nElectronics\nFor electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls,\nand ATM machines\n\nConsider putting a wipeable cover on electronics.\nFollow manufacturer\u2019s instruction for cleaning and disinfecting. \nIf no guidance, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Dry surface thoroughly.\n\n\n\nLaundry\nFor clothing, towels, linens and other items\n\nLaunder items according to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.\nWear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from a person who is sick.\nDirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people\u2019s items.\nDo not shake dirty laundry.\nClean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces.\nRemove gloves, and wash hands right away.\n\nCleaning and disinfecting outdoor areas\n\nOutdoor areas, like playgrounds in schools and parks generally require normal routine cleaning , but do not require disinfection.\nDo not spray disinfectant on outdoor playgrounds- it is not an efficient use of supplies and is not proven to reduce risk of COVID-19 to the public.\nHigh touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings should be cleaned routinely.\nCleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (play structures, benches, tables) or groundcovers (mulch, sand) is not recommended.\n\n\nSidewalks and roads should not be disinfected.\nSpread of COVID-19 from these surfaces is very low and disinfection is not effective.\n\n\n\nWhen cleaning\n\nRegular cleaning staff can clean and disinfect community spaces. \nEnsure they are trained on appropriate use of cleaning and disinfection chemicals.\n\n\nWear disposable gloves and gowns for all tasks in the cleaning process, including handling trash. \nAdditional personal protective equipment (PPE) might be required based on the cleaning\/disinfectant products being used and whether there is a risk of splash.\nGloves and gowns should be removed carefully to avoid contamination of the wearer and the surrounding area.\n\n\nWash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. \nAlways wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a person who is sick.\nHand sanitizer: If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.\n\n\nAdditional key times to wash hands include: \nAfter blowing one\u2019s nose, coughing, or sneezing.\nAfter using the restroom.\nBefore eating or preparing food.\nAfter contact with animals or pets.\nBefore and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g., a child).\n\n\n\nAdditional considerations for employers\n\nEducate workers performing cleaning, laundry, and trash pick-up to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19.\nProvide instructions on what to do if they develop symptoms within 14 days after their last possible exposure to the virus.\nDevelop policies for worker protection and provide training to all cleaning staff on site prior to providing cleaning tasks. \nTraining should include when to use PPE, what PPE is necessary, how to properly don (put on), use, and doff (take off) PPE, and how to properly dispose of PPE.\n\n\nEnsure workers are trained on the hazards of the cleaning chemicals used in the workplace in accordance with OSHA\u2019s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).\nComply with OSHA\u2019s standards on Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030), including proper disposal of regulated waste, and PPE (29 CFR 1910.132).\n\nAlternative disinfection methods\n\nThe efficacy of alternative disinfection methods, such as ultrasonic waves, high intensity UV radiation, and LED blue light against COVID-19 virus is not known. \nEPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of pesticidal devices, such as UV lights, LED lights, or ultrasonic devices. Therefore, EPA cannot confirm whether, or under what circumstances, such products might be effective against the spread of COVID-19.\n\n\nCDC does not recommend the use of sanitizing tunnels. There is no evidence that they are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Chemicals used in sanitizing tunnels could cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation or damage.\nCDC only recommends use of the surface disinfectants identified on List N against the virus that causes COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest114","title":"","text":"Employees: How to Cope with Job Stress and Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic\nRecognize the symptoms of stress you may be experiencing.\n\nFeeling irritation, anger, or in denial\nFeeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious\nLacking motivation\nFeeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out\nFeeling sad or depressed\nHaving trouble sleeping\nHaving trouble concentrating\n\nKnow the common work-related factors that can add to stress during a\npandemic:\n\nConcern about the risk of being exposed to the virus at work\nTaking care of personal and family needs while working\nManaging a different workload\nLack of access to the tools and equipment needed to perform your job\nFeelings that you are not contributing enough to work or guilt about not being on the frontline\nUncertainty about the future of your workplace and\/or employment\nLearning new communication tools and dealing with technical difficulties\nAdapting to a different workspace and\/or work schedule\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest115","title":"","text":"Employees: How to Cope with Job Stress and Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic\nFollow these tips to build resilience and manage job stress.\n\nCommunicate with your coworkers, supervisors, and employees about job stress while maintaining social distancing (at least 6 feet). \nIdentify things that cause stress and work together to identify solutions.\nTalk openly with employers, employees, and unions about how the pandemic is affecting work. Expectations should be communicated clearly by everyone.\nAsk about how to access mental health resources in your workplace.\n\n\nIdentify those things which you do not have control over and do the best you can with the resources available to you.\nIncrease your sense of control by developing a consistent daily routine when possible \u2014 ideally one that is similar to your schedule before the pandemic. \nKeep a regular sleep scheduleexternal icon.\nTake breaks from work to stretch, exercise, or check in with your supportive colleagues, coworkers, family, and friends.\nSpend time outdoors, either being physically active or relaxing.\nIf you work from home, set a regular time to end your work for the day, if possible.\nPractice mindfulness techniquesexternal icon.\nDo things you enjoy during non-work hours.\n\n\nKnow the facts about COVID-19. Be informed about how to protect yourself and others. Understanding the risk and sharing accurate information with people you care about can reduce stress and help you make a connection with others.\nRemind yourself that each of us has a crucial role in fighting this pandemic.\nRemind yourself that everyone is in an unusual situation with limited resources.\nTake breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and mentally exhausting\nConnect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns, how you are feeling, or how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting you. \nConnect with others through phone calls, email, text messages, mailing letters or cards, video chat, and social media.\nCheck on others. Helping others improves your sense of control, belonging, and self-esteem. Look for safe ways to offer social support to others, especially if they are showing signs of stress, such as depression and anxiety.\n\n\nIf you feel you may be misusing alcohol or other drugs (including prescription drugs) as a means of coping, reach out for help.\nIf you are being treated for a mental health condition, continue with your treatment and be aware of any new or worsening symptoms.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest116","title":"","text":"What Workers and Employers Can Do to Manage Workplace Fatigue during COVID-19\nWhat can workers do when they feel too fatigued to work safely?\nRecognize these are stressful and unusual circumstances and you may need more\nsleep or time to recover.\nTips to improve sleep:\n\nYou\u2019ll sleep better if your room is comfortable, dark, cool, and quiet.\nIf it takes you longer than 15 minutes to fall asleep, set aside some time before bedtime to do things to help you relax. Try meditating, relaxation breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation.\nBefore you begin working a long stretch of shifts, try \u201cbanking your sleep\u201d \u2013 sleeping several extra hours longer than you normally do.\nAfter you\u2019ve worked a long stretch of shifts, remember it may take several days of extended sleep (for example, 10 hours in bed) before you begin to feel recovered. Give yourself time to recover.\nAvoid sunlight or bright lights 90 minutes before you go to sleep, when possible. Exposure to light just before bedtime can cause you to feel more awake. \nIf you work a night shift and drive home during sunlight hours, try wearing sunglasses to reduce your exposure to sunlight during your drive home.\nConsider using blackout shades at home when sleeping.\n\n\nTake naps when you have the opportunity. \nA 90-minute nap before working a night shift can help prevent you from feeling tired at work.\n\n\nEat healthy foods and stay physically active because it can improve your sleep.\nBefore you go to sleep, avoid foods and drinks that can make falling asleep more difficult: \nAvoid alcohol, heavy meals, and nicotine for at least 2\u20133 hours before bedtime.\nDon\u2019t drink caffeine within 5 hours of bedtime.\n\n\n\nKnow what to do if you feel too tired to work safely.\n\nUse a buddy system while you\u2019re at work. Check in with each other to ensure everyone is coping with work hours and demands.\nWatch yourself and your coworkers for signs of fatigue \u2014 like yawning, difficulty keeping your eyes open, and difficulty concentrating. When you see something, say something to your coworkers so you can prevent workplace injuries and errors.\nFind out if your employer has a formal program to help you manage fatigue on the job. Read information about the program and ask questions so you fully understand your employer\u2019s policies and procedures for helping employees manage fatigue.\nReport any fatigue-related events or close-calls to a manager to help prevent injuries and errors.\nDo not work if your fatigue threatens the safety of yourself or others. Report to a manager when you feel too tired to work safely.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest117","title":"","text":"What Workers and Employers Can Do to Manage Workplace Fatigue during COVID-19\nWhat steps should employers take to reduce workplace fatigue for workers?\n\nRecognize that these are stressful and unusual circumstances and risk for fatigue may be increased.\nCreate a culture of safety with clear coordination and communication between management and workers. This can include establishing a Fatigue Risk Management Plan or strategies for fatigue mitigation on the job. Share and ensure that employees understand the processes.\nSpot the signs and symptoms of fatigue (e.g., yawning, difficulty keeping eyes open, inability to concentrate) in yourself and your employees and take steps to mitigate fatigue-related injury or error. \nThe Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a short survey that can be posted in a common area for workers to quickly rate their fatigue.\nCreate a procedure that does not punish workers for reporting when they, or their coworkers, are too fatigued to work safely. Build it into team comradery as an example of how management and staff can support each other.\nDevelop processes to relieve a worker from their duties if they are too fatigued to work safely. \nIf available, and agreeable with workers, consider assigning workers who are just starting their shifts onto safety-critical tasks.\nIf possible, rotate workers or groups of workers through tasks that are repetitive and\/or strenuous. Tools or workstations that are unavoidably shared need to be properly cleaned and disinfected between usage.\nIf possible, schedule physically and mentally demanding workloads and monotonous work in shorter shifts and\/or during day shifts.\n\n\nProvide information for workers on the consequences of sleep deprivation and resources to assist workers manage fatigue.\nAllow staff enough time to organize their off-duty obligations and get sufficient rest and recovery. \nSchedule at least 11 hours off in-between shifts (each 24-hour period), and one full day of rest per seven days for adequate sleep and recovery.\nAvoid penalizing those who may have restricted availability to work extra shifts\/longer hours (e.g., caring for dependents).\n\n\nIf rotating shift work is needed, use forward rotations (day to evening to night) and provide staff with sufficient notice when scheduling, particularly if there is a shift change.\nAvoid scheduling staff for more than 12 hours, if possible.\n\nFormalize and encourage regularly scheduled breaks in clean and safe areas where social distancing can be maintained. Recognize the need for additional time for increased hand hygiene and putting on and taking off required personal protective equipment (PPE).\n\n\nProvide alternative transportation to and from work and mandatory paid rest time prior to driving commutes after work, when possible. \n\nConsider arranging for nearby offsite housing for those working extended shifts and at high risk for COVID-19, such as health care workers. Nearby housing will reduce travel times, allowing for more rest and recovery.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest118","title":"","text":"What Aircraft Maintenance Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an aircraft maintenance worker, how can I protect myself?\nAs an aircraft maintenance worker, you could be exposed to COVID-19 in\nsituations such as when you have close contact with someone with COVID-19,\nwhen you touch surfaces while repairing aircraft interiors and lavatories that\nhave been touched or handled by a person with COVID-19, or by touching your\nmouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nUse gloves whenever you touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter removing any personal protective equipment (PPE)\nAfter performing maintenance tasks such as handling untreated human waste\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n\nRecommendations based on work tasks:\nInterior Work:\n\nWear your normally required PPE, if applicable, when making repairs in the passenger cabin area.\nDo not use compressed air or water sprays to clean surfaces contacted by passengers, as these techniques may aerosolize potentially infectious material.\nIf cleaning is required before you make repairs, first review CDC cleaning guidance for Airlines and Airline Crew: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and contact your employer for additional guidance.\n\nAir Filter Replacement:\n\nWear your normally required PPE, if applicable.\nFollow the manufacturer\u2019s filter replacement schedule.\nWhen replacing air filters (including HEPA filters): \nAvoid hitting, dropping, or shaking the filter.\nDo not use compressed air to clean a filter. This will keep materials in the filter from becoming airborne.\nDispose of the used filter and gloves in a sealed plastic bag.\nClean your hands when the task is finished.\n\n\n\nWaste and Wastewater Handling:\n\nFollow standard practices when performing work tasks that could expose you to untreated waste and wastewater. Untreated waste and wastewater colored blue (i.e., a deodorizing agent in some aircraft toilets) are not disinfected and have the potential to be infectious. Take these steps to protect yourself: \nAvoid causing or creating a fine spray of untreated waste material.\nDo not vent aircraft vacuum waste tanks inside hangars if the aircraft\u2019s external venting system is not equipped with a filter to prevent the spread of germs from the waste. If you must vent the vacuum waste tanks inside a hangar, use a technique that exhausts the air outside the hangar.\nUse employer-provided PPE when handling human waste or sewage: \nSplash-proof face shield\nLiquid-repellent coveralls\nWaterproof gloves\nRubber boots\nRemove PPE after use following your employers\u2019 instructions, and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest119","title":"","text":"What Aircraft Maintenance Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of aircraft maintenance workers should develop a COVID-19 health and\nsafety plan to protect employees. This plan should be shared with you and your\ncoworkers. Employers should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on whom to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, its symptoms, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with appropriate PPE when necessary and provide training on using the PPE and ensuring it fits correctly.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfecting wipes so that commonly touched surfaces can be wiped down by employees as needed. Provide products to disinfect that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for employees to use.\nFrequently clean workstations, such as areas within maintenance shops, employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable worker safety and health federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest120","title":"","text":"What Airline Catering Kitchen Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airline catering kitchen worker, how can I protect myself?\nAs an airline catering kitchen worker, you could be exposed to COVID-19 in\nsituations such as having close contact with someone with COVID-19 or touching\nyour mouth, nose, or eyes after handling frequently touched items used by\nsomeone with COVID-19 such as catering or food service carts or solid waste.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nFollow your employer\u2019s normal guidance for handling solid waste from both domestic and international flights.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, such as desks, door handles and knobs, phones, keyboards, countertops, and cart and carrier handles. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nWear your normally required personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform job tasks.\nUse gloves when handling non-disposable food service items such as cups, utensils and serving trays prior to washing as usual.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, but not as a substitute for cleaning hands with soap and water.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter handling frequently touched items, such as food service carts\nAfter handling food waste and non-disposable food service items\nAfter touching dirty surfaces like floors, walls and soiled carriers and equipment\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest121","title":"","text":"What Airline Catering Kitchen Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of airline catering kitchen workers should have a COVID-19 health\nand safety plan to protect employees. This plan should be shared with you and\nyour coworkers. Your employer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on whom to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, its symptoms, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary and providing training on using the PPE.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfecting wipes so that commonly touched surfaces such as desks, door handles and knobs, phones, keyboards, countertops, and cart and carrier handles can be wiped down by employees. Use products to disinfect that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon. Follow instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. For food contact surfaces, follow cleaning and sanitizing practices according to the FDA 2017 Food Code.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal containers for employees.\nFrequently clean employee break rooms, employee lockers, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where employees are likely to see them.\nFollow food safety regulations related to COVID-19.\nFollow all applicable federal worker safety and health regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest122","title":"","text":"What Airline Catering Truck Drivers and Helpers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airline catering truck driver or helper, how can I protect myself?\nAs an airline catering truck driver or helper, you could be exposed to\nCOVID-19 in situations such as having close contact with someone with COVID-19\nor touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after handling frequently touched items\nused by someone with COVID-19 such as catering and food service carts, used\nnon-disposable food service items (e.g., utensils and serving trays), and\nsolid waste.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nIf cleaning and disinfection is required before you perform your job duties, first review CDC cleaning guidance for Airlines and Airline Crew: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).\nDo not enter the aircraft cabin if an ill traveler has been identified on a flight until after the ill traveler has been removed and enhanced cleaning has been performed.\nFollow your employer\u2019s normal guidance for handling solid waste from domestic and international flights.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, such as workstations, catering and food service carts, door handles, tables, countertops, steering wheels or other commonly touched surfaces inside the truck. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nWear your normally required personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform your job tasks on the airplane.\nWear gloves when handling non-disposable food service items used by passengers including utensils and serving trays, as usual.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces such as food service carts\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest123","title":"","text":"What Airline Catering Truck Drivers and Helpers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of airline catering truck drivers or helpers should have a COVID-19\nhealth and safety plan to protect employees. This plan should be shared with\nyou and your coworkers. Your employer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on whom to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, its symptoms, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with the normally required PPE and provide training on using it.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfecting wipes so that commonly touched surfaces such as workstations, catering and food service carts, door handles, tables, countertops, steering wheels and other commonly touched surfaces inside the truck can be wiped down by employees. Use products to disinfect that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal containers for employees.\nFrequently clean employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where employees are likely to see them.\nFollow all applicable federal worker safety and health regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest124","title":"","text":"What Airline Customer Service Representatives and Gate Agents Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airline customer service representative or gate agent, how can I protect myself?\nAs a customer service representative or gate agent, potential sources of\nexposure could include assisting a person with COVID-19 in close contact or by\ntouching your mouth, nose, or eyes; or handling passenger items, such as\nbaggage, boarding passes, identification documents, credit cards, and mobile\ndevices.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nProvide a facemask to any visibly sick person you are assisting if one is available and they can tolerate it. Ask them to cover their mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing. Follow employer\u2019s guidelines for additional steps as required.\nAvoid handling of passenger and airline crew boarding passes, luggage, identification documents, credit cards and mobile devices, where possible.\nAllow passengers to hold their own documents and scan their own boarding pass or mobile device.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, touchscreens, printers, and computers, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\n\nFollow your employer\u2019s normal guidance for handling service\/support animals.\n\n\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\n\n\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \n\nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter interacting with a customer who is visibly ill\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest125","title":"","text":"What Airline Customer Service Representatives and Gate Agents Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nYour employer should have a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect\nemployees. This plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your\nemployer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDevelop policies for responding to the identification of sick passengers, crew, or coworkers.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper handwashing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that commonly touched surfaces (such as workstations, keyboards, touchscreens, printers, and computers) can be wiped down by employees. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest126","title":"","text":"What Airport Baggage and Cargo Handlers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airport baggage or cargo handler, how can I protect myself?\nFor baggage or cargo handlers, while the general risk remains low, potential\nsources of exposure could include surfaces touched or handled by a person with\nCOVID-19 or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces. These include baggage or cargo transport devices, vehicles, scanners, and shared\/common two-way radios or other mobile devices. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nFollow your employer\u2019s normal guidance for handling animals in transit and biological cargo.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter handling, loading, and unloading baggage, packages, or cargo\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest127","title":"","text":"What Airport Baggage and Cargo Handlers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nYour employer should develop a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect\nemployees. This plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your\nemployer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that commonly touched surfaces including baggage or cargo transport devices, vehicles, scanners, and communication systems such as two-way radios or other mobile devices can be wiped down by employees before and after each use. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest128","title":"","text":"What Airport Custodial Staff Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs airport custodial staff, how can I protect myself?\nAs an airport custodial staff, while the general risk remains low, potential\nsources of exposure could include handling solid waste or cleaning public\nfacilities (such as waste bins, tables, chairs, basins, toilets) with which a\nperson with COVID-19 has interacted or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nWear disposable gloves during such custodial job duties. Carefully remove and discard gloves after use, and immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces (such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, faucets) throughout the day. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\n\nConduct routine laundering of work clothes\/uniform.\n\n\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\n\n\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \n\nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter completing custodial tasks and removing gloves\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest129","title":"","text":"What Airport Custodial Staff Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nYour employer should develop a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect\nemployees. This plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your\nemployer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide employees with appropriate gloves when necessary and providing training on properly using them.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nProvide appropriate cleaning and disinfectant products. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nDevelop policies for worker protection and training according to OSHA standards for workers, particularly if new disinfection chemicals are introduced in the workplace for workers to use.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest130","title":"","text":"What Airport Passenger Assistance Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airport passenger assistance worker, how can I protect myself?\nAs an airport passenger service worker, potential sources of exposure can\noccur from assisting, transporting, or escorting a person with COVID-19 and\ntheir belongings or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit the amount of time you are in close contact (closer than 6 ft) with others, including passengers you are assisting, to the extent feasible.\nProvide a facemask to any visibly sick person you are assisting if one is available and they can tolerate it. Ask them to cover their mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing. Follow employer\u2019s guidelines for additional steps as required.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces. These include wheelchair handles, motorized carts, other transportation and assistive devices, and communication systems such as two-way radios, tablets, or other mobile devices. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nFollow your employers\u2019 normal guidance for handling service\/support animals.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nBetween escorting, transporting, or providing assistance to passengers\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest131","title":"","text":"What Airport Passenger Assistance Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nYour employer should develop a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect\nemployees. This plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your\nemployer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary, taking into account potential PPE shortages, and providing training on using the PPE.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that commonly touched surfaces can be wiped down by employees. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2 for disinfectionexternal icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues for ill passengers and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest132","title":"","text":"What Airport Retail or Food Service Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs an airport retail or food service worker, how can I protect myself?\nAs an airport retail or food service worker, potential sources of exposure can\noccur while working in an airport store, bar, restaurant, or food concession\nstand if you are if in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or by touching\nyour mouth, nose, or eyes after handling items used by someone with COVID-19.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nMinimize handling cash, credit cards, and mobile devices, where possible.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, such as workstations, cash registers, touch screens, door handles, tables, and countertops, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nWash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, but not as a substitute for cleaning hands with soap and water.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter interacting with a customer who is visibly ill\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\nAfter touching objects that have been handled by customers, such as utensils, menus, cups, and trash\nAfter touching dirty surfaces like floors, walls and soiled carriers and equipment\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest133","title":"","text":"What Airport Retail or Food Service Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nYour employer should have a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect\nemployees. This plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your\nemployer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees and customers such as: \nPlace signage throughout the store to remind employees and customers to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others.\nMove the electronic payment terminal further from the cash register.\nPlace visual cues, such as floor decals, colored tape, or signs to indicate to customers where they should stand during check out.\nPlace a barrier (e.g., sneeze guard) between employees and customers.\n\n\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that employees can wipe down commonly touched surfaces such as workstations, cash registers, door handles and knobs, countertops, self-service refrigerator\/freezer doors and handles. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon. Follow instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. For food contact surfaces, follow cleaning and sanitization practices according to the FDA 2017 Food Code.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal containers for employees.\nConduct frequent cleaning and disinfection of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and good hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest134","title":"","text":"What Bus Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19\nAs a bus transit operator, how can I protect myself?\nFor bus transit operators, potential sources of exposure include having close\ncontact with a bus passenger with COVID-19, by contacting surfaces touched or\nhandled by a person with COVID-19, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nConsider asking bus passengers to enter and exit the bus through rear entry doors.\nRequest passengers avoid standing or sitting within 6 feet of the bus driver.\nAvoid touching surfaces often touched by bus passengers.\nUse gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, including surfaces in the driver cockpit commonly touched by the operator.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces, such as fareboxes and handrails\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest135","title":"","text":"What Bus Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of bus transit operators should develop a COVID-19 health and safety\nplan to protect employees according to CDC business\nguidance.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your employer should:\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate or force distance greater than 6 feet between bus transit operators and passengers. These may include use of physical partitions or visual cues (e.g., floor decals, colored tape, or signs to indicate to passengers where they should not sit or stand near the bus operator).\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with correct information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nConduct worksite assessments to identify COVID-19 prevention strategies.\nProvide employees training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide employees with appropriate gloves when necessary and providing training on properly using them.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that surfaces commonly touched by the bus operator can be wiped down. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest136","title":"","text":"What Grocery and Food Retail Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a grocery or food retail worker, how can I protect myself and slow the spread?\nAs a grocery or food retail worker, potential sources of exposures include\nclose contact for prolonged periods of time with a customer with COVID-19 and\ntouching your nose, mouth, or eyes after handling items, cash, or merchandise\nthat customers with COVID-19 have touched.\n\nNotify your supervisor and stay home if having symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath).\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nFollow CDC recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact with others and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible. \nRemind customers to maintain 6 feet distance from workers and other customers with verbal announcements on the loudspeaker and written signage.\n\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nEncourage customers to use touchless payment options, when available. Minimize handling cash, credit cards, reward cards, and mobile devices, where possible.\nWhen exchanging paper and coin money: \nDo not touch your face afterward.\nAsk customers to place cash on the counter rather than directly into your hand.\nPlace money directly on the counter when providing change back to customers.\nWipe counter between each customer at checkout.\n\n\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as workstations, cash registers, payment terminals, door handles, tables, and countertops on a routine basis. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label and clean hands afterwards.\nPractice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, gloves are not necessary for workers who are not involved in food preparation. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, but not as a substitute for cleaning hands with soap and water.\nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAdditional workplace-specific times to clean hands include: \nBefore and after work shifts and periodically throughout shift\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching money or objects that have been handled by customers, such as reusable grocery bags\nBefore putting on and taking off disposable gloves when performing food prep\n\n\nAvoid contact with body fluids.\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nUse tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest137","title":"","text":"What Grocery and Food Retail Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nGrocery and food retail establishment employers should have a COVID-19 health\nand safety plan to protect employees, following CDC\nInterim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers. This plan should be shared with you and your\ncoworkers. Employers should:\nReduce transmission among employees\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. \nActively encourage sick employees to stay home.\nSick employees diagnosed with COVID-19 shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nBe aware that some employees may be at higher risk for serious illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact between these employees or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of six feet from other workers, customers and visitors, or to telework if possible.\nProvide training to employees on proper hand washing practices and other routine preventative measures. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\n\n\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and materials for drying their hands, and provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at stations around the establishment for use by both workers and customers.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees, other coworkers, and customers, such as: \nConfigure partitions with a pass-through opening at the bottom of the barrier in checkout lanes, customer service desks, and pharmacy and liquor store counters as a barrier shield, if possible.\nUse every other check-out lane to aid in distancing.\nMove the electronic payment terminal\/credit card reader farther away from the cashier in order to increase the distance between the customer and the cashier, if possible.\nUse verbal announcements on the loudspeaker and place signage throughout the establishment, at entrances, in restrooms, and in breakrooms to remind employees and customers to maintain distances of 6 feet from others.\nPlace visual cues such as floor decals, colored tape, or signs to indicate to customers where they should stand during check out.\nShift primary stocking activities to off-peak or after hours when possible to reduce contact with customers.\nRemove or rearrange chairs and tables or add visual cue marks in employee break rooms to support social distancing practices between employees. Identify alternative areas such as closed customer seating spaces to accommodate overflow volume.\n\n\nProvide remote shopping alternatives for customers, including click-and-collect, delivery, pick-up, and shop-by-phone to limit customers in the establishment. Set up designated pick-up areas.\nControl the flow of traffic into the establishment by ensuring that maximum capacity plans are adjusted and managed at the front door.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and good hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces within the establishments. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, clean them prior to disinfecting. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use. \nClean frequently touched shelving, displays, and reach-in refrigerator units nightly when closed to the public.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas.\nClean grocery carts and baskets.\nRequire employees to clean out lockers nightly to facilitate overnight deep cleaning processes.\n\n\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes, cleaner, or spray so employees can wipe down frequently touched surfaces such as workstations, cash registers, credit card touch pad, door handles, conveyer belts, tables, cart handles, and countertops.\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nConsider using a hotline for employees to voice concerns anonymously.\nImplement flexible worksites (telework) for office staff to the extent feasible.\nLimit travel for multi-store personnel to only what is required for critical facility functions. Whenever possible, conduct conversations through phone calls.\nLeverage closed-circuit television (camera systems) to remotely view facilities as opposed to physically visiting the location.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees. Employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider\u2019s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\nImplement a system in which relief workers rotate into the cashier station to allow cashiers to leave the station to wash their hands regularly.\nConsider decreasing open business hours to perform more frequent deep cleans.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest138","title":"","text":"What Long-Haul Truck Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a long-haul truck driver, how can I protect myself and slow the spread?\nAs a long-haul truck driver, you spend many hours alone in the cab of your\ntruck. However, there are times when you will be at increased risk of exposure\nto COVID-19. For long-haul truck drivers, potential sources of exposure\ninclude having close contact with truck stop attendants, store workers, dock\nworkers, other truck drivers, or others with COVID-19, and touching your nose,\nmouth, or eyes after contacting surfaces touched or handled by a person with\nCOVID-19.\n\nNotify your supervisor and stay home if having symptoms.\nMake a plan with your employer and your family as to what to do if you become sick while you\u2019re on the road. Include where to stop, where and how to seek medical advice and treatment, and plans for freight delivery.\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nFollow CDC recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet when possible. \nLimit time spent outside of the truck cab during fueling, loading and unloading, and at rest and truck stops.\nUse paperless, electronic invoicing for fueling, deliveries, and other tasks, when available.\nContact facilities in advance to make an appointment for unloading of cargo. Be aware that some facilities may not grant access to restrooms, and plan as best you can.\nUse radio\/phone to talk with dock managers or other drivers, if possible.\nPack food, water, and supplies to limit the number of stops.\nAvoid shaking hands.\nKeep your truck well-ventilated.\n\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on a routine basis such as: \nIn the truck cab (driver door handle, steering wheel, seat belt and buckle, arm and head rest, seat cover, turn signal, wiper controls, dashboard, air ducts, radio, and temperature controls).\nIn the sleeper berth (light switches, mattress tray, temperature controls, and other flat surfaces).\nIf a third party must have access to the interior of your truck (for example., mechanics, other drivers, inspectors), request that the third party clean and disinfect the truck before turning it back over to you.\nFor disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use and clean hands afterwards; more detailed cleaning and disinfecting guidance is also availableexternal icon.\n\n\nPractice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. \nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore entering and leaving the cab, including deliveries, loading and unloading of cargo, rest breaks, fueling, and other activities;\nBefore eating or preparing food;\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings;\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;\nAfter using the restroom.\n\n\nAvoid touching surfaces often touched by others when outside of the cab.\nDo not share personal protective equipment (PPE) (such as vests, safety glasses, hard hats), tools, phones, radios, or other personal items.\nUse pre-qualified truck stops or hotels identified by your employer as having appropriate COVID-19 protections.\nContinue to comply with current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationexternal icon (FMCSA) regulations. \nGet adequate sleep (7\u20139 hours) prior to driving. This is critical even when essential supplies and equipment are being transported.\nPull over, drink a cup of coffee. or take a 15\u201330 minute nap before continuing if you feel fatigued while driving.\n\n\nWhen team driving or ride-alongs are required, wear cloth face coverings inside the truck and avoid sharing bedding in the sleeper berth.\nIf any directive from your employer or a shipper is unclear, ask questions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest139","title":"","text":"What Long-Haul Truck Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers should have a COVID-19 response plan to protect drivers, following\nCDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers. This plan should be shared with you and your\ncoworkers. Employers should:\nReduce transmission among employees\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if a driver is sick. \nActively encourage sick drivers to stay home.\nSick drivers diagnosed with COVID-19 shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\n\n\nProvide drivers with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure. \nBe aware that some drivers may be at higher risk for serious illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Put in place specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact between these drivers, or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of six feet from other workers, customers, and visitors.\nProvide training to drivers on proper handwashing practices and other routine preventative measures. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\n\n\nProvide drivers with all PPE (including vests, safety glasses, hard hats) that they might need while on the road so that the driver does not need to borrow PPE from shippers.\nProvide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol for truck cabs.\nProvide tissues and small trash cans for truck cabs.\nTake additional precautions to address risks associated with ride-alongs or team driving (two drivers in the cab on a long-haul run) when they cannot be avoided. For example, install a removable barrier between the driver and passenger that does not obstruct the task of driving and\/or to separate sleeper berth.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\nConduct worksite assessments to identify COVID-19 prevention strategies.\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between drivers, other coworkers, and customers, such as: \nDevelop policies and technology options that allow and encourage contactless deliveries, such as no-signature delivery. These options limit contact, provide space, and avoid the sharing of items like pens and electronic signature pads between drivers and individuals at the delivery location.\nDuring driver training situations, use virtual training methods and in-vehicle monitoring systems where possible. Limit ride-alongs and in-person classroom-based training. Follow all applicable federal motor carrier regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\n\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene practices on the dock and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that surfaces commonly touched can be wiped down. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 60% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide drivers training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use; more detailed cleaning and disinfecting guidance is also availableexternal icon.\nPre-qualify truck stops, rest areas, and hotels to ensure such facilities are open, supplied, and follow recommended COVID-19 safety practices, such as: \ncleanliness and disinfection (such as routine cleaning, available hand-sanitizing stations, and private showers);\nproper food handling and food service (such as replacing self-service with full service);\ncontactless fuel payment.\n\n\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nFollow the CDC guidance for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. \nReintegrating exposed, asymptomatic workers back to work, while discussed in the guidance, should not be misinterpreted as the first or most appropriate option.\nHome isolation may still be the most preferred and viable option for exposed workers.\n\n\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Drivers should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nConsider using a hotline for employees to voice concerns anonymously.\nMake a plan with your employees as to what to do if they become sick while on the road. Include where to stop, where and how to seek medical advice and treatment, and plans for freight delivery.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees. Employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider\u2019s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nSchedule driver routes to allow for adequate sleep, and use fatigue management strategies.\nUnderstand that the current environment could elevate stress levels among drivers. Provide resources to help manage stress.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest140","title":"","text":"What Rail Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19\nAs a rail transit operator, how can I protect myself?\nFor rail transit operators, potential sources of exposure include having close\ncontact with a passenger with COVID-19, by contacting surfaces touched or\nhandled by a person with COVID-19, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nAvoid touching surfaces often touched by transit passengers.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, including those in the train cockpit commonly touched by the operator, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nUse gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces, such as fareboxes and handrails\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest141","title":"","text":"What Rail Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of rail transit operators should develop a COVID-19 health and\nsafety plan to protect employees according to CDC business\nguidance.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your employer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with correct information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide employees training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide employees with appropriate gloves when necessary and providing training on properly using them.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that surfaces commonly touched by the rail transit operator can be wiped down. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest142","title":"","text":"What Transit Maintenance Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nAs a transit maintenance worker, how can I protect myself?\nFor transit maintenance workers, potential sources of exposure include close\ncontact with a coworker with COVID-19, contacting surfaces touched or handled\nby a person with COVID-19, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nAvoid touching surfaces often touched by transit passengers.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching surfaces in the vehicles frequently touched by passengers\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid contact with body fluids.\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest143","title":"","text":"What Transit Maintenance Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhich transit vehicle surfaces should be cleaned? What are the best cleaning chemicals to use when cleaning?\nPerform routine cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched non-porous\nsurfaces within the interior of the transit vehicle on a daily basis and, in\nparticular, before maintenance workers conduct repairs such as removing or\nrepairing seats. These surfaces can include hard seats, arm rests, door\nhandles, seat belt buckles, light and air controls, adjacent walls and\nwindows, and grab handles. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be\ncleaned prior to disinfectant application. For soft or porous surfaces, remove\nany visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleansers\nindicated for use on these surfaces.\nAppropriate disinfectants include:\n\n\nEPA\u2019s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method, and contact time). A list of products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims is available at:\nhttps:\/\/www.epa.gov\/pesticide-registration\/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-\nsars-cov-2external icon.\n\n\nDiluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturers label for disinfection can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.\n\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.\n\nWear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for using the cleaning\nand disinfection products according to the product manufacturer\u2019s\ninstructions. After removing PPE, employees should wash their hands with soap\nand water for at least 20 seconds. Work uniforms worn during cleaning and\ndisinfecting should be laundered afterwards. If possible, launder\nitems\nusing the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items\ncompletely. Clean hands after handling laundry by washing hands with soap and\nwater or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if\nsoap and water are not available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest144","title":"","text":"What Transit Maintenance Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of transit maintenance workers should develop a COVID-19 health and\nsafety plan to protect employees according to CDC business\nguidance.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Employers should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with correct information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nConduct worksite assessments to identify COVID-19 prevention strategies.\nProvide employees training on good hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nDevelop policies for worker protection and training according to OSHA standards (e.g., hazard communicationexternal icon, personal protective equipmentexternal icon, etc.) for employees prior to conducting disinfection work tasks, particularly if new chemicals are introduced in the workplace to use.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide employees with appropriate PPE as needed for cleaning and disinfecting and provide training on properly using them.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that frequently touched surfaces can be wiped down by employees. Provide products to disinfect that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest145","title":"","text":"What Transit Station Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nAs a transit station worker, how can I protect myself?\nFor transit station workers, potential sources of exposure include having\nclose contact with a transit passenger with COVID-19, by touching surfaces\ncontaminated with coronavirus, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.\n\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nAvoid touching surfaces often touched by transit passengers.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nUse gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands in general include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest146","title":"","text":"What Transit Station Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhich transit station surfaces should be cleaned? What are the best cleaning chemicals to use when cleaning?\nPerform routine cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched non-porous\nsurfaces within the transit station on a daily basis. These include kiosks,\nticket machines, turnstiles, benches, handrails, garbage cans, door handles,\npayphones, restroom surfaces (e.g., faucets, toilets, counters), elevator\nbuttons, and system maps. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be\ncleaned prior to disinfectant application. For soft or porous surfaces, remove\nany visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleansers\nindicated for use on these surfaces.\nAppropriate disinfectants include:\n\n\nEPA\u2019s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method, and contact time). A list of products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims is available at:\nhttps:\/\/www.epa.gov\/pesticide-registration\/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-\nsars-cov-2external icon.\n\n\nDiluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturers label for disinfection can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.\n\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.\n\nWear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for using the cleaning\nand disinfection products according to the product manufacturer\u2019s\ninstructions. After removing PPE, wash your hands with soap and water for at\nleast 20 seconds. Work uniforms worn during cleaning and disinfecting should\nbe laundered afterwards. If possible, launder\nitems using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items\nand dry items completely. Clean your hands after handling laundry by washing\nyour hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with\nat least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest147","title":"","text":"What Transit Station Workers Need to Know About COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers of transit station workers should develop a COVID-19 health and\nsafety plan to protect employees according to CDC business\nguidance.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your employer should:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Sick employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with correct information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nConduct worksite assessments to identify COVID-19 prevention strategies.\nProvide training on proper hand washing practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nDevelop policies for worker protection and training according to OSHA standards (e.g., hazard communicationexternal icon, personal protective equipmentexternal icon, etc.) for employees prior to conducting disinfection work tasks, particularly if new chemicals are introduced in the workplace to use.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and drying materials, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite.\nProvide employees with appropriate PPE as needed for cleaning and disinfecting and provide training on properly using them.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that surfaces frequently touched can be wiped down. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nFollow all applicable federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest148","title":"","text":"What Construction Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a construction worker, how can I protect myself and slow the spread?\nPotential sources of exposure include having close contact with a coworker or\nmember of the public who is ill with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth,\nor eyes after touching surfaces contaminated with the virus or handling items\nthat others infected with COVID-19 have touched. Actions you can take include\nthe following:\n\nNotify your supervisor and stay home if you have symptoms.\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers, your employer, and state and local health departments.\nFollow CDC-recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible. \nLimit the number of workers in small workspace areas such as job site elevators, trailers and vehicles, and spaces under construction if possible.\n\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas where there is significant community-based transmission of COVID-19. \nCloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others.\n\n\nCloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as shared tools, machines, vehicles and other equipment, handrails, ladders, doorknobs, and portable toilets. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces periodically throughout the shift but also: \nAt the beginning and end of every shift\nAfter anyone uses your vehicle, tools, or workstation\n\n\nLimit tool sharing if possible.\nPractice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, you do not need gloves to protect you from COVID-19. When possible, wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. \nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore and after work shifts and breaks\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter using the restroom\nBefore eating and before and after preparing food\nAfter touching objects which have been handled by coworkers, such as tools and equipment\nBefore putting on and after taking off work gloves\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\nBefore donning or doffing eye or face protection (safety glasses, goggles, etc.)\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nUse tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer containing 60% alcohol if a sink to wash your hands is not available.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest149","title":"","text":"What Construction Workers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers should have a COVID-19 response plan to protect workers, following\nCDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers, and share this plan with you and your coworkers in\nlanguages you all understand. Small construction businesses should review the\nCDC small business\nguidelines. Your employer should take steps to:\nReduce transmission among workers:\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. \nActively encourage sick employees to stay home.\nSick employees diagnosed with COVID-19 shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\n\n\nProvide employees with accurate information (in a language they understand) about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure. \nProvide workers with basic facts.\nConduct toolbox talks on all job sites to explain the protective measures in place.\n\n\nBe aware that some employees may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with underlying medical conditions. Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact for these employees or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other workers, customers, and visitors, or to telework if possible.\nProvide training to employees on proper handwashing practices and other routine preventative measures. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and materials for drying their hands, or if soap and water are not readily available provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at stations around the establishment for use by both workers and customers. \nPlace handwashing stations and\/or hand sanitizers in multiple locations (including in or adjacent to portable restrooms) to encourage hand hygiene.\n\n\nExplore alternative ways to promote hand hygiene if there is difficulty sourcing hand sanitizer and running water is not available on site. Some examples may include: \nInstall temporary or mobile handwashing stations, making sure there is an adequate supply of water, soap, and single-use paper towels.\nProvide a large (5+ gallon) bucket with a lid and tap that can be used to provide water for handwashing. If this method is used, the water tap should be regularly cleaned and disinfected, and the contaminated wastewater must be collected and treated in accordance with local laws and environmental regulations. Provide fresh clean water daily.\nDepending on the size or configuration of the job site, there may need to be multiple handwashing stations available to accommodate the workforce while maintaining social distancing, and stations may need to be restocked during the course of the day to maintain adequate handwashing supplies.\n\n\nDevelop and implement social distancing guidance for the workplace to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between workers when possible.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees, such as the following: \nModify work schedules to stagger work, provide alternating workdays or extra shifts to reduce the total number of workers on a job site at any given time.\nRestrict access to reduce the number of workers in enclosed and confined areas at one time. Confined and enclosed areas (e.g., trailers, small rooms in buildings under construction) should be identified and access should be restricted to essential personnel only. Enclosed spaces (e.g., toilets, break areas) are potential transmission areas and should be treated accordingly. Time spent in these areas should be minimized.\nRearrange administrative area workstations so that workers can stay at least 6 feet away from other workers.\nInstall shields or barriers, such as plexiglass barriers, where possible.\nRemove or rearrange chairs and tables or add visual cue marks in break areas to support social distancing practices between workers. Identify alternative areas to accommodate overflow volume.\nDisinfect break or lunchroom areas between each group using the areas.\nMaintain social distancing when visiting lunch trucks or construction site vendors.\nLimit casual (social) conversations that normally occur at work.\nCancel or postpone in-person meetings\/trainings whenever possible. If you must meet, spread out to a distance of 6 feet or more between attendees.\nReduce the number of individuals at meetings, including worker orientations, to increase the distance between individuals.\n\n\nConduct a hazard assessment to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, for which workers may need personal protective equipment (PPE). CDC and OSHA have recommended PPE for some types of work activities when engineering and administrative controls cannot be implemented or are not fully protective. \nEmployers are required to determine, select, provide, and train on correct PPE use and application for their workers\u2019 specific job duties (see 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Eexternal icon).\n\n\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and proper hand hygiene practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for employees to use.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, clean them prior to disinfecting. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions that are prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and that are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use. \nClean workspaces and breakrooms at least once per shift or as often as workers change workstations.\nProvide worker training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for disinfectant use and provide workers with any additional PPE required for disinfection.\n\n\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes (when available) so that surfaces commonly touched can be wiped down.\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nDesignate a safety and health officer to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns at every jobsite. Workers should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees. Employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider\u2019s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.\nProvide information on whom to contact if employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest150","title":"","text":"What Food and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a food and grocery pick-up and delivery driver (like Uber Eats, Grubhub,\nDoorDash, Postmates, Instacart), how can I protect myself and others?\nPotential sources of exposure include having close contact with individuals\nwith COVID-19 when picking up or delivering food or groceries, or by touching\nsurfaces touched or handled by a person with COVID-19.\nStay home if you are sick\n\nIf you develop a fever or symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice before visiting their office.\nYou should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, after talking with your doctor.\n\nWear a cloth face covering\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas where a lot of people are infected.\nCloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others.\nThese face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\n\nLimit contact\n\nAvoid close contact with individuals as much as possible when picking up food, groceries, or other items at restaurants or grocery stores. This helps protect both you and the workers at the restaurants or grocery stores bringing the items to you.\nPractice contactless deliveries to the greatest extent possible. Contactless deliveries allow you to leave a delivery at a doorstep, move back to a distance greater than 6 feet away while verifying receipt of the delivery with the person getting the delivery, and try to do all interactions electronically (e.g., in an app or over a phone). This eliminates the need for close contact between you and the person getting the delivery.\nLimit your contact with frequently touched surfaces during pickups and deliveries, such as countertops, elevator buttons, doorbells, door handles, radio buttons, etc.\nAvoid sharing scanners, pens, or other tools with customers.\nUse a foot, shoulder, elbow, hip, or forearm instead of hands when opening doors at pick-up and delivery sites, if possible.\n\nPractice Everyday Preventive Actions\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Keep in mind where you can access and use facilities with soap and water during your shift. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times to clean hands on the job include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nBefore and after making a delivery\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces such as doorbells or door handles\nBefore wearing and after removing cold-weather gloves\nBefore and after pumping gas\n\n\nCarry tissues in your vehicle and use them when you cough, sneeze or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash.\n\nClean and Disinfect\n\nGet and carry cleaning and disinfectant spray or disposable wipes and a trash bag with you in your vehicle.\nClean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces at the beginning and end of each shift, particularly if the vehicle is also used by other drivers, following the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label. Clean surfaces that are visibly dirty with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Frequently touched surfaces include the steering wheel, gearshift, signaling levers, door handles, and seatbelt buckles.\nWipe down items such as pens and electronic signature pads\/mobile devices if shared with a delivery recipient after each use.\nAppropriate disinfectants to use for hard non-porous surfaces include: \nEPA\u2019s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2external icon\nDiluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, if appropriate for the surface\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest151","title":"","text":"What Food and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should the food or grocery delivery company take for whom I am a\ndriver?\nThe food or grocery delivery company for whom you are a contract driver should\ndevelop and share a set of COVID-19 health and safety measures to inform and\nhelp protect delivery drivers. They should:\n\nActively encourage sick delivery drivers to stay home.\nEncourage the use of and assist you in obtaining hand sanitizer and disposable wipes and other cleaning products so that frequently touched surfaces can be wiped down by drivers.\nProvide you with information on where to find accurate information about COVID-19 and how it spreads.\nDevelop policies and technology options that allow and prioritize contactless deliveries (e.g., no-knock, no-signature, all electronic credit card transactions, etc.) that limit or eliminate close contact between delivery drivers and suppliers and purchasers.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest152","title":"","text":"What Mail and Parcel Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a mail and parcel delivery driver (such as for Amazon, DHS, FedEx,\nPurolater, UPS, USPS), how can I protect myself and others?\nAs a mail and parcel delivery driver, potential sources of exposure include\nhaving close contact with co-workers or delivery recipients, or when you touch\nsurfaces touched or handled by a person who has COVID-19.\nStay home if you are sick\n\nIf you develop a fever or symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice before visiting their office.\nYou should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, after talking with your doctor.\n\nWear a cloth face covering\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are hard to do, especially in areas that have high rates of COVID infection.\nCloth face coverings may help prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from spreading it to others.\nThese face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\n\nLimit Contact\n\nPractice contactless deliveries whenever you can. Contactless deliveries allow you to leave a delivery at a doorstep, move back to a distance greater than 6 feet away while verifying receipt of the delivery with the recipient (if required), and try to do everything electronically whenever you can (e.g., in an app or over a phone). This eliminates the need for close contact between you and delivery recipient.\nMaintain a distance 6 feet or greater from others you might meet or need to speak to while making your deliveries.\nLimit contact with frequently touched surfaces during deliveries, such as doorbells or door handles. Use a foot, shoulder, elbow, hip, or forearm when opening doors, instead of hands, if possible.\nAvoid sharing scanners, pens, or other tools with customers.\nIf you are wearing machine-washable work gloves normally worn for the job throughout your shift, do not touch your face with gloved hands. Remove them and wash hands before eating. At the end of the work shift, remove the gloves, store them for washing, and wash your hands. When doing laundry, wash gloves using the warmest appropriate water setting and dry them completely.\n\nClean and Disinfect\n\nIf surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.\nCarry cleaning and disinfectant disposable wipes, if available, and a trash bag with you in your vehicle. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label. \nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces of the delivery vehicle (particularly if it is shared) at the start and end of the shift. These include the steering wheel, gearshift, signaling levers, and door handles.\nWipe down pens, clipboards, and electronic signature pads after each use with the public if shared when performing a delivery.\n\n\nAppropriate disinfectants for hard non-porous surfaces include: \nEPA\u2019s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2external icon\nDiluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturers label for disinfection, if appropriate for the surface\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.\n\n\n\nPractice Everyday Preventive Actions\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Keep in mind where you can access and use facilities with soap and water during your shift. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\n\nAdditional times on the job to clean hands include: \n\nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\nBefore and after making deliveries, including after picking up from drop-boxes and customer pickups\nAfter touching frequently touched surfaces, such as doorbells or door handles\nBefore wearing and after removing cold-weather gloves\nBefore and after pumping gas\n\n\n\nCarry tissues in your vehicle to use when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash.\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest153","title":"","text":"What Mail and Parcel Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nMail and parcel delivery employers should develop a COVID-19 response plan to\nprotect employees, following CDC business\nguidance.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Your employer should\nconsider the following guidance:\n\nProvide information on who to contact if you become sick.\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nActively encourage sick employees to stay home.\nSick employees shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met.\nIf an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, maintain their confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and inform employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.\nDevelop policies and technology options that allow and encourage contactless deliveries such as no-knock and no-signature. These options limit contact, provide space, and avoid the sharing of items such as pens and electronic signature pads between drivers and individuals at the delivery destinations.\nDesignate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns and ensure employees know who this person is and how to contact them.\nProvide employees with the most current information from the CDC about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nProvide employees with training on proper hand hygiene practices and other routine infection control precautions. This will help reduce the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nShow employees where they can access soap, clean running water, and drying materials, and provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol; adjust delivery schedules to build in time for frequent hand washing.\nProvide disposable disinfecting wipes or suitable alternatives so that commonly touched surfaces can be wiped down by employees. Provide employees training on manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide tissues and no-touch trash options for the delivery truck.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and good hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nReach out to local public health officials to establish ongoing communications to facilitate access to relevant information before and during a local outbreak.\nWhere available, engage employee representatives and unions regarding company COVID-19 response plans to protect employees.\nFollow all applicable federal worker safety and health regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest154","title":"","text":"What Maritime Pilots Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a maritime pilot, how can I protect myself and slow the spread of\nCOVID-19?\nFor maritime pilots, potential sources of exposures include close contact with\na vessel crewmember with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after\ncontacting surfaces or handling items that a person with COVID-19 has touched.\n\nNotify your pilots\u2019 association and stay home if having symptoms.\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers.\nFollow CDC-recommended precautions and notify your pilots\u2019 association if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact (within 6 feet) with others when possible and consider taking the following steps: \nUse external stairs following a path of minimum exposure to anyone on board to access the vessel bridge when possible.\nDo not shake hands with anyone aboard, including during the \u201cmaster-pilot exchange\u201d.\nRemind the vessel master to limit wheelhouse crew to essential personnel (such as crew involved in vessel navigation) while the pilot is on board.\nLimit your use to one radar, workstation, etc.\nAvoid unnecessary contact with frequently touched bridge surfaces.\nConsider carrying hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for all pilotage assignments and use it to clean hands when soap and water are not available for handwashing.\nFollowing each pilot job, clean and disinfect radios, portable pilot units, life jackets, etc. with an EPA-approved disinfectantexternal icon against the virus that causes COVID-19. If EPA-approved disinfectant is not available, a diluted bleach solution prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection can be used.\n\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nPractice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, gloves are not necessary for workers not already required to wear them. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. \nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore and after pilotage assignments\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter using the restroom\nBefore eating and before and after preparing food\nBefore and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings or personal protective equipment (PPE) (if applicable).\nAfter touching objects which have been handled by coworkers, such as tools, equipment, or surfaces\n\n\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\nUse tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw tissues in the trash and wash your hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest155","title":"","text":"What Maritime Pilots Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should pilots\u2019 associations take?\nIt is important to note that maritime pilotage is based upon local policies\nand procedures and each group is unique. While these guidelines are a general\nframework, each association should tailor protocols to local needs and\ncustoms. Pilots\u2019 associations should have a COVID-19 response plan to protect\nemployees, following CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers. This plan should be shared with you and your\ncoworkers. Pilots\u2019 associations should train and designate a competent person\nat each work site to ensure the plan is implemented and has the knowledge and\nauthority to recognize hazards and address them on vessels. Pilots\u2019\nassociations should take steps to:\nReduce transmission while on piloted vessels\n\nConduct a hazard assessment before boarding each vessel to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, for which workers may need PPE. CDC and OSHApdf iconexternal icon have recommended PPE for some types of work activities when engineering and administrative controls are not able to be implemented or are not fully protective. Employers are required to determine, select, provide, and train on correct PPE use and application for their workers\u2019 specific job duties.\nReport pilot boat or vessel crew who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms to the nearest Captain of the Port (COTP).\nWith the cooperation of local authorities and COTP, consider advising vessels planning to engage a pilot that they must take the following precautions prior to the pilot boarding: \nImmediately prior to pilot boarding, use an product that meets EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2,external icon against the virus that causes COVID-19 to wipe down any surface that the pilot might be anticipated to touch, such as: bridge equipment, radar, ECDIS controls, VHF radios, helm and machinery controls, the interior buttons of any elevator, and staircase hand railings that the pilot may use. If EPA-approved disinfectant is not available, a diluted bleach solution prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection can be used.\nProvide a one-person escort for the pilot to and from the bridge following a path of minimum exposure to anyone on board. If equipped, only the pilot and the escort will be permitted in the elevator to and from the bridge.\nAllow only essential personnel on the bridge while a pilot is on board.\nAnyone entering the bridge must thoroughly wash their hands immediately prior to entering. Hand soap and paper towels should be available in the bridge head for this purpose.\nAll aboard shall maintain a minimum 6 feet from the pilot and each other to the extent feasible.\n\n\n\nReduce transmission among pilots and employees while in the office or on\npilot boat\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if a pilot or employee becomes sick. \nActively encourage sick pilots and employees to stay home.\nSick pilots and employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers. Clean and disinfect any areas that symptomatic individuals have had access to. Inform client vessels with individuals suspected\/confirmed to have COVID-19, that they should clean and disinfect their vessels appropriately.\n\n\nProvide and train pilots and employees with accurate information (in their native language) about COVID-19, how it spreads, risk of exposure, the designated competent person, and how to contact them. \nBe aware that some pilots or employees may be at higher risk for serious illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact between these pilots and employees or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of at least six feet from other workers, customers, and visitors.\n\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees and others, such as: \nRearrange workstations and break rooms at the port office so that employees can stay at least 6 feet away from other employees (i.e., use alternative work areas such as conference and training rooms).\nReduce staffing levels on each shift or implement telework policies, where applicable.\nImplement on call protocols to reduce the number of employees at the port office at a given time.\nProvide technology solutions to reduce the need for face-to-face communication.\n\n\nProvide pilots and employees training on proper handwashing practices, cough and sneeze etiquette, and other routine infection control precautions. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide pilots and employees with access to soap, clean running water, and materials for drying their hands, and provide hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and good hand hygiene at the entrance to the office and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by pilots and employees.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on a routine basis: \nIn break rooms, rest rooms, and office spaces: such as telephones, door handles, keyboards, card readers, radios and electronics.\nOn pilot boats, such as door handles, control panels chart table, armrests, headsets, radio controls, and mics.\n\n\nIf the surfaces are visibly dirty, clean them prior to disinfecting. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2,external icon diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use.\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes, cleaner, or spray so employees can clean and disinfect surfaces as needed.\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive \u201cemergency sick leave\u201d policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees.\nProvide information on who to contact if pilots or employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest156","title":"","text":"What Rideshare, Taxi, Limo, and other Passenger Drivers-for-Hire Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a rideshare, taxi, limo, or other driver-for-hire, how can I protect\nmyself and others?\nAs a driver-for-hire, potential sources of exposure include having close\ncontact with passengers with COVID-19, or touching surfaces touched or handled\nby a person with COVID-19.\nStay home if you are sick\n\nIf you develop a fever, or symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice and guidance before visiting their office.\nYou should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, after talking with your doctor or nurse.\n\nWear a cloth face covering\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas where there may be a lot of infected people.\nCloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others.\nThese face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\n\nLimit contact\n\nAvoid providing pooled rides or picking up multiple passengers who would not otherwise be riding together on the same route.\nTell the passenger to sit in the back seat; do not let passengers sit in the front seat.\nAvoid close contact with passengers, when possible. \nKeep a distance of at least 6 feet from passengers when you are outside the vehicle.\nAsk that passengers sit six feet from the driver when transporting passengers in larger vehicles such as vans and buses.\nConsider asking passengers to handle their own personal bags and belongings during pick-up and drop-off.\n\n\nIf you work for a company that offers a large fleet of vehicles, ask company management for a car\/taxi (when applicable) with a partition between driver and passengers, if available.\nAvoid using the recirculated air option for the car\u2019s ventilation during passenger transport; use the car\u2019s vents to bring in fresh outside air and\/or lower the vehicle windows.\nAvoid offering items such as water bottles or magazines often provided for free to passengers.\nAvoid contact with surfaces frequently touched by passengers or other drivers, such as door frame\/handles, windows, seatbelt buckles, steering wheel, gearshift, signaling levers, and other vehicle parts before cleaning and disinfection.\n\nClean and disinfect\n\nGet and carry cleaning and disinfectant spray or disposable wipes and disposal trash bags with you in your vehicle.\nFollow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label.\nIf surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.\n\nAt a minimum, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the vehicle at the beginning and end of each shift, and between transporting passengers who are sick.\n\n\nAppropriate disinfectants for hard non-porous surfaces include: \n\nEPA\u2019s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2external icon\nDiluted household bleach solutions prepared and used according to the manufacturers label for disinfection if appropriate for the surface\nAlcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.\n\n\n\nPractice everyday preventive actions\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nProper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Keep in mind where you can access and use facilities with soap and water during your shift. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.\nKey times to clean hands include: \nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nBefore eating food\nBefore and after using the toilet\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\n\n\nAdditional times on the job to clean hands include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter handling passengers\u2019 personal belongings, if unavoidable\nBetween rides and after handling\/exchanging money\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\nBefore wearing and after removing cold-weather gloves\nBefore and after pumping gas\n\n\nCarry tissues in your vehicle to use when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash.\n\nPassengers\n\nAsk passengers to wear a cloth face covering and cover their mouth and nose with tissues if they cough or sneeze. Ask the passenger to dispose of the tissues after exiting the vehicle.\nImmediately report any passengers intentionally spreading their germs in car interior to management, your app rideshare company, and\/or the authorities, as appropriate.\nIf you feel uncomfortable with providing transport to a visibly sick passenger for safety reasons, you can choose to refuse transport. However, discrimination against passengers on the basis of race, national origin, or other reasons as described in your company\u2019s policies is not allowed.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest157","title":"","text":"What Rideshare, Taxi, Limo, and other Passenger Drivers-for-Hire Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my rideshare service or taxi\/limo transportation company\ntake?\nThe rideshare services or taxi\/limo transportation companies for whom you are\na contract driver should develop and share a set of COVID-19 response measures\nto inform and help protect drivers and passengers. They should:\n\nActively encourage sick drivers to stay home.\nProvide employees with where to find accurate information about COVID-19, its symptoms, and how it spreads.\nEncourage the use of and provide assistance in acquiring hand sanitizer and disposable wipes and cleaning products so that commonly touched vehicle surfaces can be wiped down by drivers.\nDevelop policies and technology options that allow and prioritize contactless transactions that limit or eliminate close contact and the sharing of items such as pens and electronic signature pads between drivers and passengers.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest158","title":"","text":"What School Nutrition Professionals and Volunteers at Schools Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a school nutrition professional, how can I protect myself and slow the\nspread?\nFor school nutrition professionals and volunteers working in meal preparation\nand\/or distribution at a school\/school district site or other public settings,\npotential sources of exposure include close contact with co-workers, students,\nand families with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after\ntouching contaminated surfaces or handling items that others infected with\nCOVID-19 have touched. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission\nof COVID-19 is spread through food.\n\nNotify your supervisor and stay home if having symptoms.\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and localexternal icon health departments.\nFollow CDC recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact with others and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nClean, sanitize, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as kitchen countertops, cafeteria and service tables, door handles, carts, and trays, throughout the day. Follow the directions on the cleaning product\u2019s label and clean hands afterwards.\nPractice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, gloves are not necessary for workers who are not involved in food preparation. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, but not as a substitute for cleaning hands with soap and water.\nKey times to wash hands include: \nBefore and after work shifts\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter using the restroom\nBefore eating or preparing food\nBefore putting on and after taking off disposable gloves when preparing food\nAfter touching objects with bare hands which have been handled by other staff, customers or visitors, such as tables, trays, carts, racks, dishes, cups, utensils, bags, coolers, totes, and trash\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\nAvoid contact with body fluids.\nDo not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.\nUse tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw used tissues in the trash, and then wash your hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest159","title":"","text":"What School Nutrition Professionals and Volunteers at Schools Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers should have a COVID-19 response plan to protect employees, following\nCDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers. This plan should be shared with you and your\ncoworkers. Employers should:\nReduce transmission among employees\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. \nActively encourage sick employees to stay home.\nSick employees diagnosed with COVID-19 shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and localexternal icon health departments.\n\n\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposure.\nBe aware that some employees may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions. Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact between these employees or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of six feet from other workers, customers and visitors, or to telework if possible.\nProvide training to employees on proper hand washing practices and other routine preventative measures. This will help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\nProvide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and materials for drying their hands, and provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at stations around the establishment for use by both workers and customers.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees, volunteers, other coworkers, students, and their families, such as:\n\n\n\nPlan menus, production, and food preparation schedules to allow employees to maintain the recommended social distance of 6 feet while working when possible.\n\n\n\nUse tape to mark 6-foot workstations (boxes or stripes on the floor) in the kitchen, food service, and food delivery points where interactions with students or their families occur, if possible.\n\n\nImplement a plan for curbside pickup of meals or contactless delivery service (if possible) to minimize contacts with students and their families, when possible. When not possible, encourage employees to wear cloth face coverings.\n\n\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and good hand hygiene in the school, at entrances, and where they are likely to be seen.\n\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees, volunteers and customers.\nClean, sanitize, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, clean them prior to disinfecting. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use. \nConduct frequent cleaning of entrances, employee break rooms, rest areas, and other common areas, focusing on surfaces and objects that are touched by multiple people.\n\n\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes, cleaners, or sprays that are effective against COVID-19 so employees can wipe down frequently touched surfaces such as food service work areas in kitchens, cafeterias, door handles, tables, and countertops, and in outside distribution areas.\nFollow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees. Employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider\u2019s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest160","title":"","text":"What Waste Collectors and Recyclers Need to Know about COVID-19\nAs a waste collector or recycler, how can I protect myself and slow the\nspread?\nFor waste collectors and recyclers, potential sources of exposure include\nhaving close contact with a coworker or member of the public with COVID-19, or\nby contacting surfaces touched or handled by a person with COVID-19.\n\nNotify your supervisor and stay home if having symptoms.\nFollow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\nFollow CDC recommended precautions and notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.\nLimit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet when possible.\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.\nPractice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, such as steering wheels, door handles, levers, and control panels. Key times for cleaning include: \nAt the beginning and end of every shift\nAfter anyone else uses your vehicle or workstation\n\n\nWear your normal personal protective equipment (PPE) as you go about your day. This may include work gloves, eye protection (such as safety glasses), and a work uniform or coveralls.\nUse Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectantexternal icon to clean eye protection at the beginning and end of your shift.\n\nReplace work gloves when they become damaged (for example, if they are ripped or torn). \n\nPractice proper hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette. These are important infection control measures. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Key times to clean hands include:\n\n\nBefore and after work shifts and work breaks\n\n\nAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter using the restroom\nBefore eating or preparing food\nBefore putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings\n\n\n\nAvoid contact with body fluids, if possible. Use gloves if you have to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.\n\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Be extra careful when putting on or taking off PPE.\nStay up to date on your company\u2019s current policies on COVID-19. Follow the social distancing guidance provided by your employer.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest161","title":"","text":"What Waste Collectors and Recyclers Need to Know about COVID-19\nWhat steps should my employer take?\nEmployers should have a COVID-19 health and safety plan to protect employees,\nfollowing CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and\nEmployers.\nThis plan should be shared with you and your coworkers. Employers should:\nReduce transmission among employees\n\nTake steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if an employee is sick. \nActively encourage sick employees to stay home.\nSick employees shouldn\u2019t return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.\n\n\nProvide employees with accurate information about COVID-19, how it spreads, and risk of exposurepdf iconexternal icon. \nBe aware that some employees may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact between these employees or assign work tasks that allow them to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other workers, customers, or visitors.\nProvide employees training on proper handwashing practices, cough and sneeze etiquette, and other routine infection control precautions. This will help reduce the spread of many diseases, including COVID-19.\n\n\nProvide employees access to soap and clean running water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at their worksite, which may include inside a vehicle.\n\nMaintain a healthy work environment\n\nInstitute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees and customers, such as: \nRearrange workstations so that employees can stay at least 6 feet away from other employees.\nStagger shifts, start times, and break times to reduce the number of people in work and break areas at one time.\nRemove or rearrange chairs and tables, or add visual cue marks, in employee break rooms to support social distancing practices between employees. Identify alternative areas to accommodate overflow volume.\nCommunicate through use of text messaging, phone, and email and personal mobile phones to communicate instead of face-to-face contact.\nCancel or postpone in-person meetings and trainings whenever possible. If you must meet, spread out to a distance of 6 feet or more between attendees.\nIf possible, limit waste collectors to one person per truck.\n\n\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene practices at the entrance to the workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces within the facility or vehicle. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, clean them prior to disinfecting. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and ensure products are appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use. \nClean and disinfect at the beginning and end of each shift, particularly if tools, workstations, or vehicles are shared among workers. \nIn facilities, these may include shared equipment such as cart handles, knives or other tools, buttons, levers, and\nIn vehicles, these could include the steering wheel, gearshift, signaling levers, door handles, and seatbelt buckles.\nConduct frequent cleaning of employee break rooms, restrooms, and other common areas.\nRequire employees to clean out lockers nightly to facilitate overnight deep cleaning processes.\n\n\nProvide disposable disinfectant wipes so that surfaces commonly touched can be wiped down.\nFollow all applicable worker safety and health federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.\n\nMaintain healthy business operations\n\nDesignate a person who is responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should know who this person is and how to contact them.\nConsider using a hotline for employees to voice concerns anonymously.\nImplement flexible worksites, such as telework, for staff who can perform their job functions remotely.\nImplement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices. Consider drafting non-punitive emergency sick leave policies if sick leave is not offered to some or all employees. Employers should not require a positive COVID-19 test result or a healthcare provider\u2019s note for employees who are sick to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or to return to work.\nProvide information on who to contact if employees become sick. If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\nExplore alternative other ways to promote hand washing if there is difficulty sourcing hand sanitizer and waste collectors and recyclers cannot utilize use public restrooms. For example, provide a large (5+ gallon) bucket with a lid and tap that can be used to provide water for handwashing. Buckets should we cleaned with detergent between uses. \nMaintain adequate supplies of water, soap, and single use paper towels on the truck.\nPlace hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage hand hygiene.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest162","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nDrugs and Investigational Therapies\nDo nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) worsen the course of disease for people with COVID-19?\nCDC is currently not aware of scientific evidence establishing a link between\nNSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) and worsening of COVID\u201119. FDAexternal\niconexternal icon,\nthe European Medicines Agencyexternal\nicon, the World Health\nOrganization, and CDC are\ncontinuing to monitor the situation and will review new information on the\neffects of NSAIDs and COVID-19 disease as it becomes available. For those who\nwish to use treatment options other than NSAIDs, there are other over-the-\ncounter and prescription medications approved for pain relief and fever\nreduction. Patients who rely on NSAIDs to treat chronic conditions and have\nadditional questions should speak to their healthcare provider for\nindividualized management. Patients should use NSAIDs, and all medications,\naccording to the product labels and advice of their healthcare professional."}
{"_id":"CDCtest163","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nShould hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines continue to be administered to adults at risk for hepatitis A or hepatitis B?\nYes. Continue to administer these vaccines if an in-person visit must be\nscheduled for some other purpose and the clinical preventive service can be\ndelivered during that visit with no additional risk; or an individual patient\nand their clinician believe that there is a compelling need to receive the\nservice based on an assessment that the potential benefit outweighs the risk\nof exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus. For more information see Delivery of Adult\nClinical Preventive Services, Including\nImmunizations."}
{"_id":"CDCtest164","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nWhat guidance is available for labor and delivery HCP with potential exposure in a healthcare setting to patients with COVID-19 infection?\nHCP in labor and delivery healthcare settings should follow the same infection\nprevention and control recommendations and personal protective equipment\nrecommendations as all other HCP. If HCP are exposed to patients with COVID-19\ninfection, guidance is available for HCP and healthcare facilities on steps to\ntake. For more information, please see: Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk\nAssessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential\nExposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with Coronavirus Disease\n(COVID-19)"}
{"_id":"CDCtest165","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nI am a HCP living with someone who is at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. What precautions should I take?\nTake the same precautions recommended for people at higher\nrisk of\nsevere illness from COVID-19. There are no additional precautions for HCP.\nSome HCP may choose to implement extra measures when arriving home from\nproviding healthcare, such as removing any clothing worn during delivery of\nhealthcare, taking off shoes, washing clothing, and immediately showering.\nHowever, these are optional personal practices because there is insufficient\nevidence on whether they are effective."}
{"_id":"CDCtest166","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nWho is at risk for infection with the virus that causes COVID-19?\nCurrently, those at greatest risk of infection are persons who have had\nprolonged, unprotected close contact with a patient with symptomatic,\nconfirmed COVID-19 and those who live in or have recently been to areas with\nsustained transmission. For more information, see Risk\nAssessment."}
{"_id":"CDCtest167","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nIs forceful exhalation during the second stage of labor considered an aerosol-generating procedure for respirator prioritization during shortages?\nBased on limited data, forceful exhalation during the second stage of labor\nwould not be expected to generate aerosols to the same extent as procedures\nmore commonly considered to be aerosol generating (such as bronchoscopy,\nintubation, and open suctioning. Forceful exhalation during the second stage\nof labor is not considered an aerosol-generating procedure for respirator\nprioritization during shortages over procedures more likely to generate higher\nconcentrations of infectious respiratory aerosols.\nWhen respirator supplies are restored, as with all clinical care activities\nfor patients with known or suspected COVID-19, HCP should use respirators (or\nfacemasks if a respirator is not available), eye protection, gloves, and gowns\nduring the second stage of labor, in addition to other personal protective\nequipment that may be typically indicated for labor and delivery. For more\ninformation please see: Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control\nFAQs"}
{"_id":"CDCtest168","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nShould routinely recommended hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines continue to be administered to children?\nRoutine hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination of children should continue to\nthe extent possible, according to the CDC immunization\nschedules.\nMaintaining Childhood Immunizations During COVID-19\nPandemic\nThe COVID-19 pandemic is changing rapidly and continues to affect communities\nacross the United States differently. Some of the strategies used to slow the\nspread of disease in communities include postponing or cancelling non-urgent\nelective procedures and using telemedicine instead of face-to-face encounters\nfor routine medical visits.\nDifferent strategies are needed to ensure the delivery of newborn care and\nwell-child care, including childhood immunizations. Healthcare providers in\ncommunities affected by COVID-19 are using strategies to separate well visits\nfrom sick visitsexternal\nicon.\nExamples include:\n\nScheduling well visits in the morning and sick visits in the afternoon.\nSeparating patients spatially, such as by placing patients with sick visits in different areas of the clinic or another location from patients with well visits.\nCollaborating with providers in the community to identify separate locations for holding well visits for children.\n\nBecause of personal, practice, or community circumstances related to COVID-19,\nsome providers may not be able to provide well-child care, including\nimmunizations, for all patients in their practice. If a practice can provide\nonly limited well-child visits, healthcare providers are encouraged to\nprioritize newborn care and vaccination of infants and young children (through\n24 months of age) when possible. CDC is monitoring the situation and will\ncontinue to provide guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest169","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nIf my patient has an underlying medical condition, what is my patient\u2019s risk of acquiring or having severe illness from COVID-19, and what should I tell my patient?\n\nThere is insufficient information on COVID-19 to determine the level of risk for each underlying medical condition. CDC is analyzing data continuously and provides updates as soon as new information is available.\nYou know your patient\u2019s overall health and how well their conditions are managed. Use your clinical judgement to evaluate on a case by case basis. Patients frequently in congregate settings are at increased risk of infection. Patients with underlying medical conditions may be at increased risk of severe disease.\nIf possible, work with patients to manage their underlying condition to the best of their ability, including ensuring that patients have sufficient medication and supplies. Prescribing three-month supplies of medications may help ensure access to sufficient medications.\nExplain to all patients which symptoms of their chronic conditions require emergency care or in-person visits. Stress the importance of obtaining emergency care if needed.\nReassure your patients who require emergency care that emergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect them from acquiring COVID-19\nTell patients with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness or poorer outcomes from COVID-19: \nTo stay home as much as possible to reduce their risk of being exposed.\nClosely follow their care plans for management of their chronic disease, including, for example, achieving better glycemic or blood pressure control.\nSeek emergency care for acute exacerbations of their underlying medical conditions or any health condition that requires immediate attention.\n\n\nEncourage all patients, regardless of risk, to: \nTake steps to protect yourself.\nCall your healthcare provider if you are sick with a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.\n\n\nFollow CDC travel guidelines and the recommendations of your state and local health officials. Fear and anxiety about a disease can feel overwhelming, especially for those who might be at higher risk or are experiencing social isolation, and for healthcare providers that are treating patients at higher risk. Do what you can to take care of your mental health and encourage your patients to do the same.\n\nAdditional resources for healthcare\nproviders"}
{"_id":"CDCtest170","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTreatment and Management\nShould post-exposure prophylaxis be used for people who may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19?\nThere is currently no FDA-approved post-exposure prophylaxis for people who\nmay have been exposed to COVID-19. For information about registered clinical\ntrials of investigational therapeutics for pre or post exposure prophylaxis of\nSARS-CoV-2 infection, visit ClinicalTrials.govexternal\nicon.\nFor more information on movement restrictions, monitoring for symptoms, and\nevaluation after possible exposure to COVID-19, see Interim US Guidance for\nRisk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposure in Travel-associated or Community\nSettings and Interim U.S\nGuidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare\nPersonnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).\nThe National Institutes of Health recently published guidelines on prophylaxis\nuse, testing, and management of COVID-19 patients. For more information,\nplease visit: National Institutes of Health: Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19) Treatment Guidelinesexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest171","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nHow should the use of N95 respirators be prioritized within obstetric healthcare settings during shortages?\nDuring respirator shortages, care should be taken to ensure that N95\nrespirators are reserved for situations where respiratory protection is most\nimportant, such as performance of aerosol-generating procedures on patients\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. In such shortage situations,\nfacemasks might be used for other types of patient care.\nAlternatives to N95 respirators might be considered where feasible. These\ninclude other classes of NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators, half\nfacepiece or full facepiece elastomeric respirators, and powered air-purifying\nrespirators (PAPRs) where feasible. All of these alternatives will provide\nequivalent or higher protection than N95 respirators when properly worn.\nHowever, PAPRs and elastomeric respirators should not be used in surgical\nsettings due to concerns that exhaled air may contaminate the sterile field.\nFor more information please see: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95\nRespirators: Conventional Capacity\nStrategies.\nWhen respirator supplies are restored, the facility can switch back to use of\nN95 respirators for all care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19\ninfection. For more information, please see Interim Infection Prevention and\nControl Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus\nDisease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare\nSettings."}
{"_id":"CDCtest172","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nHow do you diagnose and report a potential case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)?\nPatients with MIS-C have presented with a persistent fever and a variety of\nsigns and symptoms including multiorgan (e.g., cardiac, gastrointestinal,\nrenal, hematologic, dermatologic, neurologic) involvement and elevated\ninflammatory markers. Not all children will have the same symptoms. For\nchildren who may have MIS-C, further evaluation for signs of this syndrome may\ninclude (but are not limited to) chest radiograph, echocardiography, and blood\ntesting to evaluate for evidence of inflammation.\nHealthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21\nyears of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their\nlocal, state, or territorial health department. After hour phone numbers for\nhealth departments are available at the Council of State and Territorial\nEpidemiologists website.external\nicon For additional reporting\nquestions, please contact CDC\u2019s 24-hour Emergency Operations Center at\n770-488-7100. For more information, including a full case definition, please\nvisit the CDC Health Alert\nNetwork. For guidance for\npediatric healthcare providers, visit Information for Pediatric Healthcare\nProviders."}
{"_id":"CDCtest173","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nShould vaccination of HBV-exposed infants continue during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYes. Hepatitis B vaccination of all infants, especially those exposed to\nhepatitis B virus, should occur according to the Advisory Committee on\nImmunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.\nLabor and Delivery Care\n\nIdentify HBsAg status of all women presenting for delivery.\nIf a woman\u2019s HBsAg status is positive, HBIG and single antigen hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to her infant within 12 hours of birth.\nIf a woman\u2019s HBsAg status is unknown, single antigen hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to her infant within 12 hours of birth. Administration of HBIG should be determined per ACIP recommendations (see https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/67\/rr\/rr6701a1.htm). Infants weighing <2,000 grams should receive HBIG if the mother\u2019s HBsAg status cannot be determined within 12 hours of birth.\nProvide the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to all other newborns within 24 hours of birth to prevent horizontal hepatitis B virus transmission from household or other close contacts.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest174","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nWaste Management\nWhat do waste management companies need to know about wastewater and sewage coming from a healthcare facility or community setting with either a known COVID-19 patient or person under investigation (PUI)?\nWaste generated in the care of PUIs or patients with confirmed COVID-19 does\nnot present additional considerations for wastewater disinfection in the\nUnited States. Coronaviruses are susceptible to the same disinfection\nconditions in community and healthcare settings as other viruses, so current\ndisinfection conditions in wastewater treatment facilities are expected to be\nsufficient. This includes conditions for practices such as oxidation with\nhypochlorite (i.e., chlorine bleach) and peracetic acid, as well as\ninactivation using UV irradiation."}
{"_id":"CDCtest175","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nWho is at risk for severe disease from COVID-19?\nThe available data are currently insufficient to clearly identify risk factors\nfor severe clinical outcomes. Based on limited data that are available for\nCOVID-19 patients, and data from related coronaviruses such as severe acute\nrespiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and MERS-CoV, people who may be at\nrisk for more severe outcomes include older adults and persons who have\ncertain underlying chronic medical\nconditions. Those\nunderlying chronic conditions include chronic lung disease, moderate to severe\nasthma, cardiac disease with complications, diabetes, or immunocompromising\nconditions. See also Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients\nwith Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19) and Information for Healthcare Professionals: COVID-19 and\nUnderlying Conditions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest176","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Asthma\nAre any changes recommended to the asthma treatment plan if my patient with asthma has COVID-19?\nPatients can be referred to CDC\u2019s recommendations for caring for themselves\nor someone else at home sick with COVID-19.\nIf nebulizer use at home is necessary for patients with asthma who have\nsymptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19, use of the nebulizer in a location that\nminimizes and preferably avoids exposure to any other members of the\nhousehold, and preferably a location where air is not recirculated into the\nhome (like a porch, patio, or garage) is recommended by national professional\norganizations, including the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology\n(ACAAI) by the ACAAI and the Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN). Limiting the\nnumber of people in the room or location where the nebulizer is used is also\nrecommended by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Nebulizers\nshould be used and cleaned according to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.\nIf nebulizer use in a healthcare setting is necessary for patients who have\neither symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19, use CDC\u2019s recommended precautions\nwhen performing aerosol-generating procedures\n(AGPs)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest177","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTransmission\nCan people who recover from COVID-19 be re-infected with SARS-CoV-2?\nThe immune response, including duration of immunity, to SARS-CoV-2 infection\nis not yet understood. Patients with MERS-CoV are unlikely to be re-infected\nshortly after they recover, but it is not yet known whether similar immune\nprotection will be observed for patients with COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest178","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nIs use of high-flow oxygen considered an aerosol-generating procedure for respirator prioritization during shortages?\nBased on limited data, high-flow oxygen use is not considered an aerosol-\ngenerating procedure for respirator prioritization during shortages over\nprocedures more likely to generate higher concentrations of infectious\nrespiratory aerosols (such as bronchoscopy, intubation, and open suctioning).\nPatients with known or suspected COVID-19 should receive any interventions\nthey would normally receive as standard of care. When respirator supplies are\nrestored, as with all clinical care activities for patients with known or\nsuspected COVID-19, respirators (or facemasks if a respirator is not\navailable), eye protection, gloves, and gowns should be used by HCP for the\ncare of pregnant patients with known or suspected COVID-19. For more\ninformation please see: Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control\nFAQs"}
{"_id":"CDCtest179","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nWhom should healthcare providers notify if they suspect a patient has COVID-19?\nHealthcare providers should immediately notify infection control personnel at\ntheir facility if they suspect COVID-19 in a patient. If a patient tests\npositive, providers should report that positive result to their local\/state\nhealth department."}
{"_id":"CDCtest180","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nAre there work restrictions recommended for HCP with underlying health conditions who may care for COVID-19 patients? What about for pregnant HCP?\nAdherence to recommended infection prevention and control practices is an\nimportant part of protecting HCP and patients in healthcare settings. All HCP\nwho care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients should adhere to\nstandard and transmission based\nprecautions.\nTo the extent feasible, healthcare facilities could consider prioritizing HCP\nwho are not at higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19 or who\nare not pregnant to care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.\nIf staffing shortages make this challenging, facilities could consider\nrestricting HCP at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 or who are\npregnant from being present for higher risk procedures (e.g., aerosol-\ngenerating procedures)\non COVID-19 patients. Find more information for facilities on mitigating HCP\nstaffing shortages.\nHCP who are concerned about their individual risk for severe illness from\nCOVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions while caring for COVID-19\npatients can discuss their concerns with their supervisor or occupational\nhealth services.\nPeople 65 years and older and people of all ages with serious underlying\nhealth conditions \u2014 like serious heart conditions, chronic lung disease, and\ndiabetes \u2014 seem to be at higher risk of developing severe illness from\nCOVID-19.\nInformation on COVID-19 in pregnancy is limited. Pregnant women are not\ncurrently considered at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\nHowever, pregnant women have had a higher risk of severe illness when infected\nwith viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory\ninfections, such as influenza. Find more information on\npregnancy and risk for severe illness from COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest181","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTreatment and Management\nHow are COVID-19 patients treated?\nNot all patients with COVID-19 will require medical supportive care. Clinical\nmanagement for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is focused on supportive\ncare for complications, including supplemental oxygen and advanced organ\nsupport for respiratory failure, septic shock, and multi-organ failure.\nEmpiric testing and treatment for other viral or bacterial etiologies may be\nwarranted.\nCorticosteroids are not routinely recommended for treatment of viral\npneumonia or ARDS, due to the potential for prolonging viral replication, as\nhas been observed with MERS coronavirus and influenza. Corticosteroids should\nbe avoided unless they are indicated for another reason (e.g., COPD\nexacerbation or refractory septic shock following the Surviving Sepsis\nCampaign Guidelinesexternal iconexternal\nicon).\nFor information on investigational therapies, see Therapeutic Options for\nPatients with COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest182","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nShould intrapartum fever be considered as a possible sign of COVID-19 infection?\nClinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and\nsymptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the\npatient should be tested. Fever is the most commonly reported sign; most\npatients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever and\/or symptoms of acute\nrespiratory illness (cough, difficulty breathing).\nData regarding COVID-19 in pregnancy are limited; according to current\ninformation, presenting signs and symptoms are expected to be similar to those\nfor non-pregnant patients, including the presence of fever.\nOther considerations that may guide testing are epidemiologic factors such as\nthe occurrence of local community transmission of COVID-19 infections. As part\nof evaluation, clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other causes of\nrespiratory illness and peripartum fever. For more information please see:\nEvaluating and Testing Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19)"}
{"_id":"CDCtest183","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nObstetrical Care\nDoes CDC recommend use of facemasks or respirators for healthcare personnel (HCP) caring for pregnant patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection?\nWhen available, respirators (or facemasks if a respirator is not available),\neye protection, gloves, and gowns should be used for the care of patients with\nknown or suspected COVID-19 infection, including women who are pregnant. For\nmore information, please see Interim Infection Prevention and Control\nRecommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease\n2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings."}
{"_id":"CDCtest184","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Asthma\nIf I have patients with asthma, do I need to make any changes to their daily asthma preventive management regimens to reduce their risk of getting sick with COVID-19?\nPeople with moderate to severe asthma , particularly if not well\ncontrolled, might be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.\nBased on what we currently know about COVID-19, the selection of therapeutic\noptions through guideline-recommended treatment of asthma has not been\naffected. National asthma guidelinesexternal\nicon are available. Continuation of inhaled corticosteroids\nis particularly important for patients already using these medications because\nthere is no evidence of increased risk of COVID-19 morbidity with use of\ninhaled corticosteroids and an abundance of data showing reduced risk of\nasthma exacerbation with maintenance of asthma controller therapy.\nPatients with asthma but without symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19 should\ncontinue any required nebulizer treatments."}
{"_id":"CDCtest185","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nWaste Management\nShould medical waste or general waste from healthcare facilities treating PUIs and patients with confirmed COVID-19 be handled any differently or need any additional disinfection?\nMedical waste (trash) coming from healthcare facilities treating COVID-2019\npatients is no different than waste coming from facilities without COVID-19\npatients. CDC\u2019s guidance states that management of laundry, food service\nutensils, and medical waste should be performed in accordance with routine\nprocedures. There is no evidence to suggest that facility waste needs any\nadditional disinfection.\nMore guidance about environmental infection control is available in section 7\nof CDC\u2019s Interim Infection Prevention and Control\nRecommendations for Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 or Persons Under\nInvestigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings."}
{"_id":"CDCtest186","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTransmission\nWhich body fluids can spread infection?\nSARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in upper and lower respiratory tract\nspecimens, and SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated from upper respiratory tract\nspecimens and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected\nin blood and stool specimens, and SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated in cell\nculture from the stool of some patients, including a patient with pneumonia 15\ndays after symptom onset. The duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in upper\nand lower respiratory tract specimens and in extrapulmonary specimens is not\nyet known but may be several weeks or longer. Duration of several week or\nlonger has been observed in cases of MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV infection. While\nviable, infectious SARS-CoV has been isolated from respiratory, blood, urine,\nand stool specimens, viable, infectious MERS-CoV has only been isolated from\nrespiratory tract specimens. It is not yet known whether other non-respiratory\nbody fluids from an infected person including vomit, urine, breast milk, or\nsemen can contain viable, infectious SARS-CoV-2."}
{"_id":"CDCtest187","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nShould management of infants born to HBV-infected women continue during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYes. Management should continue to prevent mother-to-child transmission of\nhepatitis B.\nPediatric Care of HBV-exposed Infants\n\nMake every effort to ensure HBV-exposed infants complete the hepatitis B vaccine series following the ACIP recommendations (see https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/67\/rr\/rr6701a1.htm). Providers using single-component vaccine who are experiencing immunization service disruption should administer hepatitis B vaccine as close to the recommended intervals as possible, including series completion at 6 months, and follow ACIP recommendations for post-vaccination serologic testing.\nIf post-vaccination serologic testing is delayed beyond 6 months after the hepatitis B series is completed, consider administering a \u201cbooster\u201d dose of single antigen hepatitis B vaccine and then ordering post-vaccination serologic testing (HBsAg & antibody to HBsAg [anti-HBs]) 1-2 months after the \u201cbooster\u201d dose.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest188","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nDrugs and Investigational Therapies\nAre empiric antibiotics recommended for patients suspected of having COVID-19?\nSeveral patients with COVID-19 have been reported to present with concurrent\ncommunity-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Decisions to administer antibiotics to\nCOVID-19 patients should be based on the likelihood of bacterial infection\n(community-acquired or hospital-acquired), illness severity, and antimicrobial\nstewardship issues. For more information, see Diagnosis and Treatment of\nAdults with Community-acquired Pneumonia: An Official Clinical Practice\nGuideline of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of\nAmericaexternal iconexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest189","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Hypertension\nAre patients with hypertension at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19?\nAlthough many patients with severe illness from COVID-19 have underlying\nhypertension, it is unclear at this time if hypertension is an independent\nrisk factor for severe illness from COVID-19. Hypertension is common in the\nUnited States. Hypertension is more frequent with advancing age and among men,\nnon-Hispanic blacks, and people with other underlying medical conditions such\nas obesity, diabetes, and serious heart disease. At this time, people whose\nonly underlying medical condition is hypertension are not considered to be at\nhigher risk for severe illness from COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest190","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Asthma\nIf my patient experiences an asthma exacerbation, should the exacerbation be treated any differently to reduce risk of COVID-19?\nSelection of therapeutic options through guideline-recommended treatment of\nasthma exacerbations has not been affected by what we currently know about\nCOVID-19.\nSystemic corticosteroids should be used to treat an asthma exacerbation per\nnational asthma guidelinesexternal icon and current standards of\ncare, even if it is caused by COVID-19. Short-term use of systemic\ncorticosteroids to treat asthma exacerbations should be continued. There is\ncurrently no evidence to suggest that short-term use of systemic\ncorticosteroids to treat asthma exacerbations increases the risk of developing\nsevere COVID-19, whereas there is an abundance of data to support use of\nsystemic steroids for moderate or severe asthma exacerbations.\nPatients with asthma but without symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19 should\ncontinue any required nebulizer for treatments, as recommended by national\nprofessional organizations, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma\n& Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology\n(ACAAI). If healthcare providers need to be present during nebulizer use among\npatients who have either symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19, use CDC\u2019s\nrecommended precautions when performing aerosol-generating procedures\n(AGPs).\nClinicians may be concerned that an asthma exacerbation is related to an\nunderlying infection with COVID-19. Clinicians can access laboratory testing\nfor COVID-19 through a network of state and local public health laboratories\nacross the country. Lists of states and territories with\nlaboratories that are\nusing COVID-19 viral tests are available. For more information, see Testing\nin U.S. Clinicians\nshould direct testing questions to their\nstate\nand localexternal icon\nhealth departments."}
{"_id":"CDCtest191","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTreatment and Management\nDo patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 need to be admitted to the hospital?\nNot all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose\nclinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive\nmedical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation\nprecautions.\nSome patients with initial mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second\nweek of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or\noutpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. This decision will\ndepend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient\u2019s\nability to engage in self-monitoring, the feasibility of safe isolation at\nhome, and the risk of transmission in the patient\u2019s home environment. For more\ninformation, see Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for\nPatients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a\nHealthcare Setting and\nInterim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring\nHospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest192","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nWhat is multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and who is at risk?\nCDC is investigating reports of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children\n(MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Patients with MIS-C have presented with a\npersistent fever and a variety of signs and symptoms including multiorgan\n(e.g., cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal, hematologic, dermatologic,\nneurologic) involvement and elevated inflammatory markers. CDC is\ncollaborating with domestic and international partners to better understand\nthis new syndrome, including how common it is and its risk factors, and to\nbegin tracking cases. For more information including a full case definition,\nvisit the CDC Health Alert\nNetwork. For additional\nclinical guidance, visit Information for Pediatric Healthcare\nProviders."}
{"_id":"CDCtest193","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, should high-risk populations continue to be vaccinated for hepatitis A in response to the ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks?\nYes. People susceptible to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection during the\ncurrent hepatitis A outbreaks should receive the hepatitis A vaccine when\npossible. This includes:\n\npeople who use drugs (injection or non-injection)\npeople experiencing unstable housing or homelessness\nmen who have sex with men (MSM)\npeople who are or were recently incarcerated\npeople with chronic liver disease (including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C) and living or working in areas where the hepatitis A outbreaks are ongoing\n\nVaccination in settings such as jails, other correctional facilities, and\nhomeless shelters should continue if already previously planned and organized\nin a way that would adhere to infection control practices and where relevant\nsocial distancing standards can be maintained. However, efforts should be made\nto vaccinate people in non-congregate settings that allow for social\ndistancing. Whenever possible, vaccination efforts in non-congregate settings\nshould continue for people at highest risk of acquiring HAV infection or\ndeveloping serious complications from HAV infection, if social distancing\nstandards can be maintained."}
{"_id":"CDCtest194","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTreatment and Management\nWhen can patients with confirmed COVID-19 be discharged from the hospital?\nPatients can be discharged from the healthcare facility whenever clinically\nindicated. Isolation should be maintained at home if the patient returns home\nbefore the time period recommended for discontinuation of hospital\nTransmission-Based Precautions.\nDecisions to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions or in-home isolation\ncan be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with clinicians, infection\nprevention and control specialists, and public health authorities based upon\nmultiple factors, including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and\nresults of laboratory testing for COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.\nSee Interim Considerations for Disposition of Hospitalized Patients with\nCOVID-19.\nFor non-hospitalized persons, see Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care\nof People Not Requiring Hospitalization for\nCOVID-19, and\nDiscontinuation of In-Home Isolation for Immunocompromised\nPersons."}
{"_id":"CDCtest195","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nIf a patient tests positive for another respiratory virus, should that exclude SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of illness?\nPatients can be infected with more than one virus at the same time.\nCoinfections with other respiratory viruses in people with COVID-19 have been\nreported. Therefore, identifying infection with one respiratory virus does not\nexclude SARS-CoV-2 virus infection."}
{"_id":"CDCtest196","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nDo existing commercially available multiple respiratory virus panels detect SARS-CoV-2?\nYes. There are commercially developed respiratory panels with multi-pathogen\nmolecular assays that can detect respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2,\ninfluenza, and other human coronaviruses that can cause acute respiratory\nillness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of tests\nthat includes viral tests with Emergency Use Authorizationexternal\nicon (EUA)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest197","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nHow do you test a patient for infection with SARS-CoV-2?\n\nClinicians are able to access laboratory testing through state and local public health laboratories, as well as commercial and clinical laboratories across the country. The Association of Public Health Laboratoriesexternal icon provides a list of states and territories with laboratories that are using COVID-19 viral tests. For more information, see Testing in U.S. Clinicians should direct testing questions to their state health departments. Commercial reference laboratories are also able to offer a larger volume of testing for SARS-CoV-2.\nCDC has guidance for who should be tested, but decisions about testing are at the discretion of state and local health departments and\/or individual clinicians.\nHealthcare providers should report positive results to their local\/state health department CDC does not directly collect these data directly.\nSee recommendations for prioritization of testing, and instructions for specimen collection at Evaluating and Testing Persons for COVID-19.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest198","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTesting, Diagnosis, and Notification\nShould chest CT be used for diagnosis of COVID-19?\nClinicians considering use of chest CT scans for diagnosis or management of\nCOVID-19 patients should consider whether such imaging will change clinical\nmanagement. The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends that CT should\nnot be used to screen for COVID-19, or as a first-line test to diagnose\nCOVID-19, and that CT should be used sparingly and reserved for hospitalized,\nsymptomatic patients with specific clinical indications for CT. Appropriate\ninfection control procedures should be followed before scanning subsequent\npatients. For more information see, ACR Recommendations for the use of Chest\nRadiography and Computed Tomography (CT) for Suspected COVID-19\nInfectionexternal iconexternal icon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest199","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nDrugs and Investigational Therapies\nWhat antiviral drugs are available to treat COVID-19?\nThere are currently no antiviral drugs approved by FDA to treat COVID-19. See\nInterim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).\n\nFor information on use of investigational drugs for treatment of patients with COVID-19, see Therapeutic Options for Patients with COVID-19.\nFor information on specific clinical trials underway for treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection, visit clinicaltrials.govexternal icon.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest200","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Hypertension\nShould angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) be stopped in patients with COVID-19?\nNo. The American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, and\nthe American College of Cardiology recommendexternal\nicon continuing ACE-I or ARB medications for all patients already\nprescribed those medications for indications such as heart failure,\nhypertension, or ischemic heart disease. At this time, available evidence\ndemonstrates no indication of COVID-specific harm from these agents. Several\nrandomized controlled trials are under way to better answer this important\nclinical question. Cardiovascular disease patients diagnosed with COVID-19\nshould be fully evaluated by a healthcare professional before adding or\nremoving any treatments, and any changes to their treatment should be based on\nthe latest scientific evidence. Patients who rely on ACE-Is or ARBs to treat\nchronic conditions and have additional questions should speak to their\nhealthcare provider for individualized management"}
{"_id":"CDCtest201","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPatients with Liver Disease\nShould people with COVID-19 and increased ALT or AST be tested for viral hepatitis?\nYes, for your COVID-19 patients with risk factors for viral hepatitis and\nelevated hepatic enzymes, consider testing them for hepatitis A virus,\nhepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections. However, elevated alanine\naminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) may also be\nassociated with COVID-19 alone and indicate greater severity of illness. For\nmore information, review CDC\u2019s Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of\nPatients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease\n(COVID-19)"}
{"_id":"CDCtest202","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nCOVID-19 Risk\nAre pregnant healthcare personnel at increased risk for adverse outcomes if they care for patients with COVID-19?\nPregnant healthcare personnel (HCP) should follow risk\nassessment and\ninfection control guidelines for HCP exposed to patients with suspected or\nconfirmed COVID-19. Adherence to recommended infection prevention and control\npractices is an important part of protecting all HCP in healthcare settings.\nInformation on COVID-19 in pregnancy is very limited; facilities may want to\nconsider limiting exposure of pregnant HCP to patients with confirmed or\nsuspected COVID-19, especially during higher risk procedures (e.g., aerosol-\ngenerating procedures) if feasible based on staffing availability."}
{"_id":"CDCtest203","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nTransmission\nWhen is someone infectious?\nThe onset and duration of viral shedding and the period of infectiousness for\nCOVID-19 are not yet known. It is possible that SARS-CoV-2 RNA may be\ndetectable in the upper or lower respiratory tract for weeks after illness\nonset, similar to infections with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. However, detection of\nviral RNA does not necessarily mean that infectious virus is present. There\nare reports of asymptomatic infections (detection of virus with no development\nof symptoms) and pre-symptomatic infections (detection of virus prior to\ndevelopment of symptoms) with SARS-CoV-2, but their role in transmission is\nnot yet known. Based on existing literature, the incubation period (the time\nfrom exposure to development of symptoms) of SARS-CoV-2 and other\ncoronaviruses (e.g. MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV) ranges from 2\u201314 days."}
{"_id":"CDCtest204","title":"","text":"Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nWaste Management\nDo wastewater and sewage workers need any additional protection when handling untreated waste from healthcare or community setting with either a known COVID-19 patient or PUI?\nWastewater workers should use standard practices including basic hygiene\nprecautions and\nwear the recommended\nPPE as\nprescribed for their current work tasks when handling untreated waste. There\nis no evidence to suggest that employees of wastewater plants need any\nadditional protections in relation to COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest205","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nWhy do you need to wear cloth face coverings?\nIn light of new data about how COVID-19\nspreads, along with evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in\ncommunities across the country, CDC recommends that people wear a cloth face\ncovering to cover their nose and mouth in the community\nsetting. This is to protect people around you if you are infected but do not\nhave symptoms."}
{"_id":"CDCtest206","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nWhen do you need to wear a cloth face covering?\nA cloth face covering should be worn whenever people are in a community\nsetting, especially in situations where you may be near people. These settings\ninclude grocery stores and pharmacies. These face coverings are not a\nsubstitute for social distancing. Cloth face coverings are especially\nimportant to wear in public in areas of widespread COVID-19 illness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest207","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nWhy is CDC recommending cloth face coverings instead of medical grade facemasks?\nSurgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved\nfor healthcare workers or other medical first responders, as recommended by\nCDC guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest208","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nWho should not wear cloth face coverings?\nCloth face coverings should not be placed on young children younger than 2\nyears of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious,\nincapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest209","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nDo I still need to stay at least 6 feet away from people if wearing a cloth face covering?\nYes. Wearing cloth face coverings is an additional public health measure\npeople should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. CDC still recommends that\nyou stay at least 6 feet away from other people (social distancing), frequent\nhand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. A cloth face covering is\nnot intended to protect the wearer, but it may prevent the spread of virus\nfrom the wearer to others. This would be especially important if someone is\ninfected but does not have symptoms. View CDC\u2019s guidance on how to protect\nyourself."}
{"_id":"CDCtest210","title":"","text":"Cloth Face Coverings: Questions and Answers\nWhat type of cloth face covering should be worn?\nCloth face coverings can be made from household items or made at home from\ncommon materials at low cost."}
{"_id":"CDCtest211","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhy are crew members required to use noncommercial travel if they are on a \u201cCOVID-free\u201d ship?\nAt this time, given the limited availability of testing onboard ships and\ninconsistent reporting from cruise ships, CDC does not have confirmation or\nevidence that any cruise ship is free of COVID-19. We are currently in a phase\nof the pandemic where it is necessary to implement strict measures to control\nthe spread of COVID-19. Just as the American public has a role to play by\npracticing social distancing, cruise lines have a role to play in limiting the\ncontact their crew members have with the public when disembarking. This is why\nCDC has provided instructions for the safe disembarkation of crew in a manner\nthat will not endanger the public\u2019s health. We are hopeful that more cruise\nlines will take advantage of the opportunity to use the attestation process.\nCrew members who remain at sea and want to disembark should contact their\ncruise ship or cruise line about meeting CDC requirements for safe\ndisembarkation and transport."}
{"_id":"CDCtest212","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhy is CDC requiring that cruise officials sign a legal attestation?\nRequiring a signed attestation helps ensure that the information provided by\ncruise officials as a condition of disembarking or transferring crew is\ntruthful and accurate. By signing the legal attestation documents, cruise line\nofficials certify that the information they provided to CDC is truthful and\naccurate. If the information is not truthful and accurate, these officials are\nsubject to the criminal penalty provisions of 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1001. It is common\nto ask corporate officials in other settings to certify that statements made\nto the U.S. Government on behalf of the corporate entity are true and correct,\nsuch as in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing or when seeking\npayment reimbursement under Medicare."}
{"_id":"CDCtest213","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhy are legal penalties included in the attestation form?\nCDC requires cruise lines to sign an attestation form to verify that the\ninformation they provide to CDC is true and accurate. Legal penalties would\nonly be applied if the cruise line knowingly submitted a false statement,\nwhich could pose further risk to the public\u2019s health."}
{"_id":"CDCtest214","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nAre ships required to comply with the No Sail Order if they are not operating in U.S. waters?\nCDC\u2019s No Sail Order (NSO)external\nicon applies to all cruise ships operating, or seeking to\noperate, in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction. CDC recommends that all\ncruise lines follow the same guidance for safe travel to protect the public\u2019s\nhealth, including conducting a medical screening at disembarkation, providing\nface coverings, and advising crew members to stay home for 14 days after\ndisembarking.\nCruise lines that are unable or unwilling to abide by all elements outlined in\nthe NSO and CDC\u2019s Interim Guidance for\nCruise Ships During the Period of the No Sail\nOrder must\nremain entirely outside U.S. waters during the period of the NSO. Cruise ships\nthat expect to operate in U.S. waters in any capacity or for any length of\ntime must follow all elements outlined in the NSO and in the Interim Guidance,\neven while outside of U.S. waters.\nHowever, the NSO does not apply to ships operating entirely outside of U.S.\nwaters. Foreign jurisdictions may impose their own restrictions or\nrequirements on cruise ships."}
{"_id":"CDCtest215","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat is CDC\u2019s legal authority for preventing crew who are U.S. citizens from disembarking cruise ships?\nCDC is using its legal authority under the No Sail Order and 42 CFR 71.31(b),\n71.32(b) to stipulate specific conditions for the safe disembarkation of crew\nin a manner that will not endanger the public\u2019s health. Having cruise lines\nsign a legal attestation is one method of ensuring that these conditions have\nbeen or will be met. CDC is not detaining crew who are U.S. citizens or\npreventing them from entering the United States. We are hopeful that more\ncruise lines will take the necessary steps to ensure that their crew members\nget home safely in a way that will not risk the health and safety of our\ncommunities."}
{"_id":"CDCtest216","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat are the legal penalties for knowingly submitting a false attestation form?\nThe sentence for this crime can include 5 years in federal prison and a fine."}
{"_id":"CDCtest217","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat is CDC doing to ensure cruise lines are adhering to the No Sail Order?\nCDC has provided Interim Guidance for cruise ships during the period of the No Sail\nOrder to help inform the plans that cruise lines develop to prevent, detect,\ncontain, and respond to COVID-19 on their ships.\nCDC is committed to the safety and well-being of crew members while onboard\nand as they disembark. Crew members on ships in or intending to be in US\nwaters who have questions about the process for disembarkation or who have\nconcerns about what their ship is doing to prevent COVID-19 onboard can share\ntheir questions or concerns with CDC by sending an email to\neocevent431@cdc.gov\nCDC is also reminding all cruise lines in U.S. waters or seeking to operate in\nU.S. waters of these requirements. With the assistance of its federal, state,\nand local partners, CDC stands ready to direct ships that do not comply to\nleave U.S. waters. CDC also reminds cruise ship operators that those who do\nnot comply may be subject to criminal penalties."}
{"_id":"CDCtest218","title":"","text":"Cruise Ship Crew Member Disembarkations\nFrequently Asked Questions\nWhat are the requirements of the attestation that cruise lines are required to sign before crew can disembark, or transfer to another ship?\nBy signing the attestation form, cruise ship operators agree to follow\nspecific conditions that are designed to allow crew to safely disembark while\nprotecting public health, including the following:\n\nArrange to transport crew members to their final destination (US or overseas) by industry-chartered private transport, industry-chartered private flights, or personal vehicles (no rental cars, taxis, or ride-share services) with measures in place to ensure neither those involved in transport nor other members of the public are exposed to the disembarking individuals.\nScreen disembarking crew members for symptoms of COVID-19.\nEnsure crew members with known exposures to COVID-19 are transported separately from those with no known exposure.\nProvide face coverings, such as a cloth face covering, to disembarking crew members or confirm that they have their own face coverings.\nInstruct disembarking crew members to stay home for 14 days and continue to practice social distancing after reaching their final destination.\nEnsure disembarking crew members: \nwill not stay overnight in a hotel before the flight or at any point until they reach their final destination\nwill not use public transportation (including taxis, rental cars or ride-share services) to get to the airport\/charter flight\nwill not enter the public airport terminal\nwill not take commercial aircraft after an initial charter flight\nwill not have a transportation layover exceeding 8 hours\nwill not have interaction with the public during their travel home or to their new duty station (e.g., rental car companies, restaurants, other public areas)\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest219","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nConfirmed case of COVID-19 at an event\nWhat steps should I take if an attendee or staff person develops symptoms of COVID-19 while at the event?\nIf a staff member or attendee becomes sick at your event, separate them from\nothers as soon as possible and until they can go home. Provide them with\nclean, disposable facemaskspdf iconpdf\nicon\nto wear, if available. If not available, provide them with a tissue or some\nother way to cover their coughs and sneezes. If needed, contact emergency\nservices for those who need emergency care. Public transportation, shared\nrides, and taxis should be avoided for sick persons. Be sure to contact local\npublic health officials regarding the possible case of COVID-19 at your event\nand how to communicate with staff and attendees about possible exposure to the\nvirus. Read more about preventing the spread of COVID-19 if someone is\nsick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest220","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat are things to consider when determining if an event needs to be postponed or canceled?\nConsult with local public health officials and continually assess, based on\ncurrent conditions, whether to postpone, cancel, or significantly reduce the\nnumber of attendees (if possible) at an event or gathering. When determining\nif you should postpone or cancel a large gathering or event, consider the:\n\nOverall number of attendees or crowd size.\nNumber of attendees who are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19. This includes older adults and people with underlying health problems such as lung or heart disease and diabetes.\nHow close together attendees will be at the event.\nPotential ways to minimize economic impact to attendees, staff, and the local community.\nAmount of spread in local community and the communities from where your attendees are likely to travel.\nNeeds and capacity of the local community to host or participate in your event.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest221","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nConfirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community\nDo I need to cancel an event if there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community?\nIf there is minimal or moderate spread of COVID-19 in the community, CDC\nrecommends cancelling an:\n\nevent that includes 250 people or more. \n3\/29\/20 UPDATE: The President\u2019s Coronavirus Guidelines for America\u2014Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19): \nMore Information on Mass Gatherings\nRead the White House noticepdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\n\n\nevent likely to have 10 or more people who are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness. This includes older adults and people with underlying health problems such as lung or heart disease and diabetes.\n\nIf there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the community, CDC recommends\ncancelling events of any size. See guidance for definitions of minimal,\nmoderate, and substantial spreadpdf iconpdf\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest222","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat actions can staff and attendees take to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nEncourage staff and attendees to take everyday preventive\nactions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses,\nsuch as COVID-19. This includes:\n\nCleaning your hands often.\nAvoiding close contact with people who are sick.\nStaying home when you are sick.\nCovering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.\nCleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest223","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat actions should I take to plan for an outbreak?\nCreating an emergency plan for mass gatherings and large community events,\nsuch as concerts and sporting events, can help protect the health of your\nstaff, attendees, and the local community. This planning should include:\n\nEncouraging staff and attendees to stay home if sick.\nDeveloping flexible refund policies for attendees.\nProviding supplies for attendees and staff that can be used to help prevent the spread of germs.\nConsulting local public health officials about your event.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest224","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nEvent cancellations\nWhen does CDC recommend that I cancel or postpone an event?\nIf there is minimal or moderate spread of COVID-19 in the community, CDC\nrecommends cancelling an:\n\nevent that includes 250 people or more. \n3\/16\/20 UPDATE: During the next 15 days, all U.S. events of 10+ people should be cancelled or held virtually. \nMore Information on Mass Gatherings\nRead the White House noticepdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\n\n\nevent likely to have 10 or more people who are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness. This includes older adults and people with underlying health problems such as lung or heart disease and diabetes.\n\nIf there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the community, CDC recommends\ncancelling events of any size. See page 9 of CDC\u2019s Community Mitigation\nFramework or definitions of \u201cminimal, moderate, and substantial spreadpdf\niconpdf icon.\u201d"}
{"_id":"CDCtest225","title":"","text":"Event Planning and COVID-19: Questions and Answers\nConfirmed case of COVID-19 at an event\nWhat is the best way to clean and disinfect the event space after a confirmed case of COVID-19 at my event?\nCDC has guidance for cleaning and disinfecting rooms and areas where a person\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has visited. See Environmental Cleaning\nand Disinfection\nRecommendations."}
{"_id":"CDCtest226","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nConfirmed COVID-19 case within your organization or facility\nWhat is the best way to clean and disinfect rooms and other areas after a confirmed case of COVID-19?\nIf you think someone on your staff or one of your members who has been in your\nfacility might be sick with COVID-19 (see COVID-19\nsymptoms):\n\nSend the sick person home right away or separate them from others (such as in a separate room just for sick people) until they can go home. \nGive them a clean, disposable facemaskpdf icon to wear until they can leave, if available. If not available, provide them with a tissue or some other way to cover their coughs and sneezes.\nDo not use of public transportation, shared rides, and taxis to transport the sick person home.\nContact emergency services for those who need emergency care, when needed, and let them know about the person\u2019s symptoms.\n\n\nContact local public health officials and communicate with staff, members, and volunteers about possible exposure to the virus. \nRead preventing the spread of COVID-19 if someone is sick to learn more.\n\n\nLocal health officials can offer guidance for closing the facility or restricting access. An initial short-term closure may be recommended to allow time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation. \nImplement flexible telework and sick-leave policies for staff, if possible, and provide instructions about how and when to safely return to work.\nConsider the need to cancel in-person group activities in other locations. Instead use phone and online (live or recorded) meeting and service options.\nWork with local public health officials to decide when it is safe to re-open the facility and your programs and services.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest227","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nSubstantial spread of COVID-19 in the local community\nShould my organization cancel or postpone an event if there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the local community?\nYou should first follow the directions of your state and local authorities. If\nauthorities do not have specific directions related to cancelling or\npostponing a group event or activity, read CDC guidance on community\nevents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest228","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nWhat steps should my organization take to prepare?\nTo help your organization prepare for the possible spread of\nCOVID-19, ensure\nyour emergency operations plan includes key COVID-19 prevention\nstrategies and covers groups at increased risk for severe\nillness. This includes, but is not limited to, older adults\nand people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions, such as\nheart or lung disease or diabetes.\nBe sure all staff, volunteers, and members are familiar with your emergency\noperations plan. Ensure you know how to contact them with information and\nupdates (such as through text message and websites). Alert local public health\nofficials about large increases in staff or regular member absenteeism,\nparticularly if absences appear due to respiratory illnesses (such as, the\ncommon cold and the flu, which have\nsymptoms similar to COVID-19 (fever, cough, and difficulty\nbreathing). Read CDC\u2019s\nguidance to learn more about how to get your\ncommunity- or faith-based organization ready for COVID-19. CDC also has\nguidance that covers additional strategies to protect your\nstaff."}
{"_id":"CDCtest229","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nHow can my organization get involved to help the local community?\nLeaders should talk to staff and members about their concerns, as well as the\npotential fears and\nanxiety that may\nresult from rumors or misinformation. Be sure to share resources that provide\nreliable COVID-19\ninformation\nand speak out to prevent stigma and\ndiscrimination.\nConsider how your organization is uniquely able to assist the local community.\nDetermine whether your organization can work with local health departments, if\nneeded, so that your facilities can be used as temporary care facilities;\nquarantine facilities; or central distribution sites for food, water,\nsupplies, or medicine. Coordinate with local health officials on ways to\nensure care and services for vulnerable populations. Congregations and\norganizations with experience working with underserved communities (e.g.,\npeople who are incarcerated, people who are experiencing homelessness,\nimmigrants, refugees, those with limited English proficiency, single-parent\nfamilies, public housing residents, migrant-, farm-, and other low-wage\nworkers) can work with local health officials to ensure these groups receive\nappropriate care and services."}
{"_id":"CDCtest230","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nConfirmed COVID-19 case within your organization or facility\nShould my organization cancel or postpone an event if there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the local community?\nCDC has guidance for cleaning and disinfecting rooms and areas where a person\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has visited. See Environmental Cleaning\nand Disinfection\nRecommendations."}
{"_id":"CDCtest231","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nHow should my organization clean the facility to limit spread of the virus?\nAt least once per day, clean and then disinfect surfaces and objects that are\ntouched often. Read CDC guidance on cleaning and\ndisinfecting to learn more. This guidance includes cleaning objects\nand surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily, for example, doorknobs, light\nswitches, and countertops. Clean with the cleaners typically used. Use all\ncleaning products according to the directions on the label. For disinfection,\nmost common household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products\nthat are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is\navailable herepdf iconexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest232","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nWhere can my organization find out if the virus has spread to the local community?\nYou can get up-to-date information about local COVID-19 activity by keeping in\ntouch with your local and state public health officialsexternal\nicon, and keeping up-to-date\nwith the CDC website."}
{"_id":"CDCtest233","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nWhat are things to consider when determining if a group event or gathering needs to be postponed or canceled?\nConsult with local public health officials and continually assess current\nconditions. Be sure to regularly review the latest recommendations from the\nWhite Houseexternal icon and\nCDC for all types of gatherings. When\ndetermining if you should postpone or cancel a gathering or event, consider\nthe:\n\nOverall number of attendees or crowd size.\nNumber of people attending who are at higher risk for serious illness.\nHow close together attendees will be.\nPotential economic impact to attendees, staff, and the local community.\nAmount of spread in local community and the communities from where your attendees are likely to travel.\nNeeds and capacity of the local community to host or participate in your event.\n\nRead CDC guidance on mass gatherings and large\nevents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest234","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nSubstantial spread of COVID-19 in the local community\nWhat steps should my organization take to protect staff and members if there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the local community?\nIf there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in the community, you should:\n\nFollow the directions of your state and local authorities.\nCancel in-person community and faith-based group events or gatherings of any size.\nContinue to encourage everyday preventive actions.\nClean and then disinfect surfaces daily.\nDevelop ways to continue essential services for clients or members, such as meal, mental and spiritual and health, and social service programs.\nConsider closing the facility or limiting access to the facility by non-essential visitors and limit non-essential services.\n\nFor more information related to group activities or events, read CDC guidance\non community\nevents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest235","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nGet Prepared\nHow can my organization lower the chance that staff and members will get sick?\nThe best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Start\nby encouraging your staff and members to use everyday preventive\nactions (such as washing hands often, avoiding close contact with\npeople, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of the\nelbow). Be sure you have supplies on hand (such as such as soap, hand\nsanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, tissues, trash baskets) for your\nstaff, volunteers, and those you serve. CDC has posters with messages you can\npost in your facility for staff about:\n\nStaying home when sickpdf icon;\nHow to avoid spreading germs at workpdf icon.\n\nCDC also has information for members, including:\n\nHealth promotion materials;\nInformation on proper handwashing technique; and\nTips for families to help children develop good handwashing habits.\n\nTo help limit the spread of the virus, you should also develop flexible sick-\nleave and telework\npolicies so that staff (and volunteers) can stay home when they\nare sick, when they need to care for a sick household member, or to care for\ntheir children in the event of temporary school\ndismissals. You may also consider replacing in-person\nmeetings with conference calls, video conferencing, or web-based seminars and\npostponing non-essential meetings and travel."}
{"_id":"CDCtest236","title":"","text":"FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations\nMinimal or moderate spread of COVID-19 in the local community\nWhat steps should my organization take to protect staff and members if there is minimal or moderate spread of COVID-19 in the local community?\nIf there is minimal or moderate spread of COVID-19 in your community, you\nshould:\n\nContinue to encourage everyday preventive actions\nClean and disinfect surfaces daily.\nUse multiple strategies to increase space between people, especially for those who are at high-risk for serious illness (such as putting at least 6 feet of space between desks and between people who are in line).\nDevelop ways to continue essential services for clients or members, such as meal, mental and spiritual and health, and social service programs.\n\nCancel large events or modify into smaller gatherings. (see CDC guidance for more information) \n\nFollow the directions of your state and local authorities.\nEncourage people who are at high-risk for serious illness not to attend in-person. Instead, offer call-in or online viewing options.\n\n\n\nPostpone or cancel trips that could put staff, volunteers, or members at risk for COVID-19.\n\nLimit access of non-essential visitors to the facility.\n\nFor more information related to group activities or events, read CDC guidance\non mass gatherings and large\nevents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest237","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nWhat should I do if one of my staff might have COVID-19?\nIf you think someone on your staff is sick with COVID-19 (see COVID-19\nsymptoms), activate your\nemergency plan and notify public health officials. Give them a clean,\ndisposable facemaskpdf iconpdf\nicon and send them\nhome right away. Close contacts of the sick person (who have been within 6\nfeet of the sick person or have had direct contact with infectious droplets,\nsuch as from a cough or squeeze) should self-quarantine at for 14 days home\nand follow CDC recommended steps for people who are sick with COVID-19\nsymptoms."}
{"_id":"CDCtest238","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nPeople Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nWhat should I do if I think I may be sick with COVID-19?\nIf you think you have been exposed to\nCOVID-19 and develop a\nfever or symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty\nbreathing, alert facility staff right away to make sure you receive medical\ncare and protect the people around you from being exposed to the virus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest239","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nPeople Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nWhat does it mean to be in quarantine?\nAnyone who has close contact with a person with COVID-19 will need to stay\naway from other people for at least 14 days to make sure they aren\u2019t sick as\nwell. This means that they will be placed in a room separate from others, or\njust with other people who have also been exposed to the same sick person.\nDuring this time, they will be checked for COVID-19 symptoms. If testing is\navailable, a person in quarantine may be tested several times until medical\nstaff are sure they do not have the virus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest240","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prepare your facility for the possible spread of COVID-19\nHow can I lower the chance that my staff will get COVID-19?\nThe best way to protect your staff is to prevent exposure. Start by:\n\nStaying informed about updates to CDC guidance via the CDC COVID-19 website.\nMaking sure staff are aware of COVID-19 symptoms and requiring staff with any flu-like symptoms to stay home (or be sent home if they develop symptoms while at the facility).\nOffering telework for staff when feasible, and exploring ways to revise duties that require face-to-face interaction for staff at high-risk for severe illness.\nEnsuring staff use everyday preventive actions (such as washing hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, covering their cough).\nManaging and monitoring staff absenteeism. \nAlert local public health officials about large increases in staff absenteeism, particularly if absences appear due to respiratory illnesses (like the common cold or the flu, which have symptoms similar to COVID-19).\n\n\nOffering flu shots to staff, as limiting cases of flu can speed up the identification of people with COVID-19.\nStocking and providing supplies that help prevent the spread of germs.\nRoutinely cleaning and disinfecting the facility.\nConsult CDC guidance on recommended PPE for persons in direct contact with COVID-19 cases.\n\nReview the Occupational Safety and Health Administration websiteexternal\niconexternal icon and guidance for\nbusinesses and employers to identify any additional strategies the facility can\nuse within its role as an employer.\nStaff evaluating and providing care for people with confirmed or suspected\nCOVID-19 should follow the CDC Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of\nPatients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease\n(COVID-19) and monitor the guidance website regularly for updates to these\nrecommendations. Facilities without on-site health care capacity should make a\nplan for how they will ensure that suspected COVID-19 cases will be medically\nisolated, evaluated, tested (if indicated), and provided medical care. Contact\nand collaborate with your state, local, tribal, and territorial health\ndepartments for more specific guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest241","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nPeople Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nIs it ok for people to visit me?\nAnyone who has had flu-like symptoms in the last 24 hours or has been in\ncontact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 in last 14 days\nshould not visit a correctional or detention facility. All visitors will be\nscreened for symptoms and contact with someone with COVID-19. Staff will also\nperform temperature checks on all visitors. Visitors should contact the\nfacility about their rules on visits before they travel. If a person in the\nfacility has COVID-19, visitors may not be allowed to enter the facility.\nInstead, non-contact visits can be used, when possible."}
{"_id":"CDCtest242","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nWhat do medical staff need to know about caring for a person with COVID-19 in my facility?\nFacilities should ensure that incarcerated individuals receive medical\nevaluation and treatment at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms. Staff\nevaluating and providing care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases should\nfollow the CDC Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with\nConfirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and monitor the guidance website regularly\nfor updates to these recommendations. Facilities without on-site healthcare\nstaff should contact their state, local, tribal, and\/or territorial health\ndepartment to coordinate effective medical isolation and necessary medical\ncare. Facilities should have a plan in place to safely transfer persons with\ncomplications from COVID-19 to a local hospital if they require care beyond\nwhat the facility is able to provide. When evaluating and treating persons\nwith symptoms of COVID-19 who do not speak English, provide a translator when\npossible. Spanish and Simplified Chinese\nmaterials are available for those who need them."}
{"_id":"CDCtest243","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nPeople Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nDo I have a greater chance of getting COVID-19?\nPeople in correctional and detention facilities are at greater risk for some\nillnesses, such as COVID-19, because of close living arrangements with other\npeople. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, through\nrespiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These\ndroplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or be\nlaunched into the air and inhaled into someone\u2019s lungs. It is possible that a\nperson can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on\nit and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes; however, this is not the\nmost likely way the virus spreads."}
{"_id":"CDCtest244","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within my facility or from the local community into my facility\nWhat should be included in my screening procedures for new entrants to the facility?\nNew entrants should undergo temperature screening in addition to the following\nverbal screening questions:\n\n\u201cToday or in the past 24 hours, have you had any of the following symptoms? Fever, felt feverish, or had chills? Cough? Difficulty breathing?\u201d \nIf yes, give them a clean, disposable facemaskpdf icon, separate them from others, and notify medical staff. Ensure only trained personnel wearing recommended PPE have contact with individuals who have or may have COVID-19.\nFacilities without on-site healthcare staff should contact their state, local, tribal, and\/or territorial health department to coordinate effective medical isolation and necessary medical care.\n\n\n\u201cIn the past 14 days, have you had contact with a person known to be infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?\u201d \nIf yes (but no COVID-19 symptoms): Quarantine the individual and monitor for symptoms two times per day for 14 days. During quarantine, facility staff should follow guidance on quarantine, and monitor the person for symptoms two times per day for 14 days.\nFacilities without on-site health care staff should contact their state, local, tribal, and\/or territorial health department to coordinate effective medical isolation and necessary medical care.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest245","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nFamily Members of People Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nIs it ok for me to visit?\nAnyone who has had flu-like symptoms in the last 24 hours or has been in\ncontact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 in last 14 days\nshould not visit a correctional or detention facility. Staff may screen and\nperform temperature checks on all visitors. Visitors should contact the\nfacility about their rules on visits before they travel to a facility. If\nthere is a person in the facility who has COVID-19, visitors may not be\nallowed to enter the facility. Some facilities may arrange for non-contact\nvisits when possible."}
{"_id":"CDCtest246","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nWhat should I do if a person who is incarcerated in my facility may have COVID-19?\nIf you think someone who is incarcerated in the facility is sick with COVID-19\n(see COVID-19 symptoms),\nactivate your emergency plan and notify local public health officials. Ensure\nthat the sick person is wearing a clean, disposable facemaskpdf\nicon, and separate\nthe sick person from others, ideally within an individual housing space and\nbathroom. Provide them with tissues for when they cough or sneeze, and a lined\ntrash receptacle when possible.\nStaff evaluating and providing care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases\nshould follow the CDC Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients\nwith Confirmed Coronavirus Disease\n(COVID-19) and monitor the guidance website regularly for updates to these\nrecommendations. Facilities without on-site healthcare staff should contact\ntheir state, local, tribal, and\/or territorial health department to coordinate\neffective isolation and necessary medical care. Ensure only trained personnel\nwearing recommended personal protective equipment\n(PPE) have contact with or transport\nindividuals who have or may have COVID-19.\nPeople who are incarcerated and have COVID-19 should be placed under medical\nisolation in a separate room, ideally with solid walls and a solid door that\ncloses fully. If not available, refer to the full guidance\ndocument for other options for medical isolation. If\nmultiple people become ill with COVID-19:\n\nMake every effort to house each ill person individually, with their own bathroom. Refer to the full guidance document for additional options if individual spaces are not available.\nPrioritize those at high risk for complications of COVID-19 (older adults, people with severe underlying chronic medical conditions) for individual spaces that are available.\n\nTo prevent further spread:\n\nUse options for virtual court appearances, if possible.\nSuspend group gatherings.\nLimit non-medical transfers of people within and between facilities. Ensure that anyone transferred out is screened for symptoms and contact with a COVID-19 case before leaving the facility.\nEnsure that release planning includes screening for COVID-19 symptoms and contact with a case. Coordinate with local public health officials if releasing a symptomatic person to the community.\nUse multiple social distancing strategies.\nHandle laundry and food items of possible or confirmed cases of COVID-19 with recommended PPE.\nSuspend visitation or offer non-contact visitation only.\nConsider quarantining all new entrants for 14 days before they enter the facility. (Make sure that new entrants under quarantine are housed separately from other incarcerated people already under quarantine due to contact with a COVID-19 case.)\nIf releasing someone to a community facility (e.g., a homeless shelter), contact the facility\u2019s staff to ensure adequate time for them to prepare to continue medical isolation, and coordinate with local public health officials.\n\nProvide clear information to staff and people who are incarcerated about the\npresence of COVID-19 cases within the facility. Close contacts of the sick\nperson (who have been within 6 feet of the sick person or had direct contact\nwith infectious droplets, such as from a cough or squeeze) should be placed\nunder quarantine for at least 14 days. Follow CDC\nguidance on\nquarantining close contacts of people with COVID-19.\nIf separate spaces for individual quarantined people are not available, refer\nto the full guidance document for other\noptions. Monitor symptoms twice per day and\nmove anyone developing symptoms to medical isolation right away (after\nensuring they are wearing a face mask). Quarantined people at high risk for\ncomplications of COVID-19 (older adults, people with severe underlying chronic\nmedical conditions) should not be housed with other quarantined people if at\nall possible."}
{"_id":"CDCtest247","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nStaff at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nWhat does it mean to be in quarantine?\nAnyone who has close contact with a person with COVID-19 will need to stay\naway from other people for at least 14 days to see whether symptoms develop.\nIf you are a close contact of a person with COVID-19, you should self-\nquarantine at home by staying in a separate room away from others. Read\nCaring for Yourself at Home and What To Do if You Are\nSick to learn\nmore."}
{"_id":"CDCtest248","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prepare your facility for the possible spread of COVID-19\nHow can I lower the chance that people who are incarcerated will get COVID-19?\nThe best way to prevent illness among people who are incarcerated is to\nprevent exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Start by:\n\nStaying informed about updates to CDC guidance via the CDC COVID-19 website.\nMaking sure people who are incarcerated are aware of COVID-19 symptoms and remind them to notify staff right away if they might be sick.\nPosting information about and ensuring they use everyday preventive actions (such as washing hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, covering their cough).\nStocking up and providing free access to soap (preferably liquid soap to promote use), tissues, and hand drying supplies, as well as hand sanitizer (where permitted based on security restrictions).\nConducting temperature checks and screening all new entrants, staff, and visitors for flu-like symptoms during the last 24 hours, and any contact they may have had with someone infected with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.\nOffering flu shots to people who are incarcerated, as limiting cases of flu can help speed the identification of people with COVID-19.\nRoutinely cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are frequently touched.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest249","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nWhat steps do I need to take to implement quarantine in my facility?\nClose contacts of a sick person (who have been within about 6 feet of the sick\nperson or have had direct contact with infectious droplets, such as from a\ncough or squeeze) should be placed under quarantine for 14 days to determine\nif they develop symptoms. CDC has developed\nguidance on\nquarantining close contacts of people with COVID-19. Be sure to monitor\nsymptoms twice a day and move anyone developing symptoms to medical isolation\nright away, after ensuring that they are wearing a face mask. Individuals\nunder quarantine should stay within the quarantine space, including when\neating their meals, using the bathroom, and receiving medical evaluation.\nLaundry of people in quarantine can be washed with the laundry of others.\nIndividuals handling laundry should wear recommended\nPPE, should not shake the laundry,\nand should clean their hands often.\nIdeally, people under quarantine due to contact with a COVID-19 case should be\nhoused individually. If separate spaces in a facility are not available, refer\nto CDC\u2019s full guidance document for correctional and detention centers for\nother options. People at high\nrisk for complications of COVID-19 (older adults, people with severe\nunderlying chronic medical conditions) should not be housed with other\nquarantined people if at all possible. Facilities without enough space or\nwithout onsite healthcare capacity should coordinate with local public health\nofficials.\nIndividuals in quarantine can be released from quarantine back to their\nprevious housing arrangement in the facility if they have not developed\nsymptoms during the 14-day time period."}
{"_id":"CDCtest250","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nStaff at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow can I lower the chance that I will get COVID-19?\nThe best way to prevent illness is to take steps to avoid being exposed to\nthis virus. Start by ensuring you and others around you use everyday\npreventive actions\n(such as washing hands often, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth,\nand covering your cough). Read How to Protect\nYourself to learn more.\nIf there is spread of COVID-19 in the community close to the facility, you\nwill be asked daily about symptoms over the last 24 hours and any contact you\nhad with someone infected with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Your temperature\nwill also be checked daily."}
{"_id":"CDCtest251","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nStaff at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nWhat should I do if I think I may be sick with COVID-19?\nIf you think you have been exposed to\nCOVID-19 and develop a\nfever or symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty\nbreathing, stay home. If you are at work, alert your supervisor right away and\ngo home. Read What To Do if You Are Sick to learn more."}
{"_id":"CDCtest252","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nPeople Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow can I lower the chance that I will get COVID-19?\nThe best way to prevent illness is to take steps to avoid being exposed to\nthis virus. Start by ensuring you and others around you use everyday\npreventive actions (such as washing hands often, avoiding touching your\neyes, nose, and mouth, and covering your cough). Read How to Protect\nYourself to\nlearn more."}
{"_id":"CDCtest253","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nFamily Members of People Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nWhat does it mean if someone I know is in quarantine?\nAnyone who has close contact with a person with COVID-19 will need to put into\nquarantine for at least 14 days. This means that they will be placed in a room\nseparate from others, until staff are sure that they don\u2019t have symptoms.\nDuring this time, they will be checked for COVID-19 symptoms twice a day. If\ntesting is available, a person in quarantine may be tested several times until\nmedical staff are sure they do not have the virus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest254","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nStaff at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nDo I have a greater chance of getting COVID-19?\nStaff and people incarcerated in correctional and detention facilities are at\ngreater risk for some illnesses, such as COVID-19, because of the close living\narrangements inside the facility. The virus is thought to spread mainly from\nperson-to-person, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected\nperson coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of\npeople who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be\npossible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that\nhas the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their\neyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. This is\nwhy washing your hands regularly and avoid close contact with other people\nwhen possible prevents illness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest255","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nShould I allow visitors into the facility?\nIf there is a case of COVID-19 in your facility, suspend contact visitation\nprograms. Instead, use virtual visitation when possible."}
{"_id":"CDCtest256","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prepare your facility for the possible spread of COVID-19\nWhat steps should I take to prepare my facility?\nBecause of close contact and the number of people in correctional and\ndetention facilities (including prisons and jails), staff and people who are\nincarcerated are at greater risk for the spread of germs. To help your\nfacility prepare for the possible spread of\nCOVID-19, update your emergency operations plan. This includes:\n\nAdding key COVID-19 prevention strategies and posting information in the facility on how to limit the spread of germs.\nReminding staff to stay home when sick.\nIdentifying points of contact for local public health agencies.\nIdentifying physical locations (dedicated housing areas and bathrooms) where you can medically isolate incarcerated persons, as well as where to quarantine known close contacts of people with COVID-19. \nFollow guidance on medical isolation and quarantine.\nMedical isolation and quarantine locations should be separate.\n\n\nOffering flu shots to staff and people who are incarcerated, because limiting cases of flu can help speed the identification of people with COVID-19.\nDeveloping ways to continue providing critical services, such as mental health support.\nEnsuring adequate stocks of hygiene, cleaning, and medical supplies. \nHygiene: Soap (preferably liquid to promote use), tissues, and hand drying supplies, as well as hand sanitizers, when possible. Ensure no-cost access to soap.\nCleaning: EPA-registered disinfectantsexternal icon effective against the virus that causes COVID-19\nMedical supplies : Supplies for daily clinic needs, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing\n\n\nCreating and testing communications plans to share critical information.\nSetting up systems to safely transfer people between facilities and identifying alternative strategies to in-person court appearances, when possible. \nPrevent confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases and their close contacts from being transferred between jurisdictions and facilities unless necessary for medical evaluation, medical isolation\/quarantine, clinical care, extenuating security concerns, or to prevent overcrowding.\n\n\nPlanning for staff absenteeism.\n\nFollow CDC guidance on recommended PPE for staff who will have direct\ncontact with an individual with possible COVID-19 infection, or infectious\nmaterials. Make contingency plans for the likely event of PPE shortages.\nFollow the CDC Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with\nConfirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and monitor the guidance website regularly\nfor updates for staff evaluating and providing care for confirmed or suspected\nCOVID-19 cases. When no on-site healthcare capacity is available, make a plan\nfor how to ensure that people suspected to have COVID-19 will be medically\nisolated, evaluated, tested (if indicated), and provided medical care. Contact\nand collaborate with your state, local, tribal and territorial health\ndepartments for more specific guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest257","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within my facility or from the local community into my facility\nWhat is a safe way to perform temperature checks?\nStaff performing temperature checks should follow these steps:\n\nWash hands thoroughly.\nPut on a face mask, eye protection (goggles or disposable face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face), gown\/coveralls, and a single pair of disposable gloves.\n\nCheck the person\u2019s temperature.\n\n\n\nIf performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, ensure that a clean pair of gloves is used for each individual and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check.\nIf disposable or non-contact thermometers are used and the screener did not have physical contact with an individual, gloves do not need to be changed before the next check. If non-contact thermometers are used, they should be cleaned routinely as recommended by CDC for infection control.\n\n\n\nRemove and discard PPE.\n\nWash hands thoroughly.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest258","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within my facility or from the local community into my facility\nHow should the facility be cleaned to limit spread of the virus?\nTo limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, routinely clean and\ndisinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often. Read CDC guidance on\ncleaning and disinfecting to learn more. This may include cleaning objects and\nsurfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily, such as doorknobs, light switches, and\ncountertops. Clean with the cleaners typically used. Use all cleaning products\naccording to the directions on the label. For disinfection, most common EPA-\nregistered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products\nthat are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is\navailable herepdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest259","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within my facility or from the local community into my facility\nWhat steps should I take to protect my staff and people who are incarcerated if there is spread of COVID-19 in the local community close to my facility?\nIf COVID-19 is known to be spreading in the local community close to your\nfacility, but there are no confirmed cases among people who are incarcerated,\nstaff, or visitors who have been inside the facility within the past 14 days:\n\n\nImplement operational actions: \n\nRestrict non-essential transfers of people between facilities and systems.\nUse alternative strategies to limit in-person court appearances where possible.\nConsider suspending co-pays for incarcerated persons seeking medical evaluation for COVID-19 symptoms.\nRequire staff to stay home if they are sick.\nConsider suspending visitation or offering non-contact visits only.\nDo not allow non-essential vendors, volunteers, or tours into the facility.\nConsider suspending work release programs.\n\n\n\nClean and disinfect the facility: \n\nUse CDC recommendations for cleaning and disinfection during the COVID-19 response to routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially in common areas.\nUse household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants effective against the virus that causes COVID-19external iconexternal icon\n\n\n\nFocus on good hygiene: \n\nRemind staff, visitors, and people who are incarcerated to use everyday preventive actions (such as washing hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, covering their cough).\n\n\n\n\nProvide free access to soap (preferably liquid soap) and access to running water, hand dryers, tissues, and no-touch trash cans, when possible.\n\n\n\nContinually restock hygiene supplies throughout the facility.\n\n\nConsider increasing the number of staff and\/or other people who are trained to clean common areas to ensure they are cleaned on a continual basis.\n\n\nConduct screenings for symptoms and fever on all new entrants, staff, and visitors prior to entering the facility and follow guidance.\n\n\nUse options to increase social distancing (increasing the physical space between people in the facility, ideally at least 6 feet between people, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms): \n\nIncrease space between people who are incarcerated in holding cells and when in line.\nStagger mealtimes and time in recreation spaces.\nLimit interactions in large group settings and group programs.\nWhen possible, place beds at least 6 feet apart and have people sleep head-to-foot.\nFind a separate space to check people for COVID-19 that is close to each housing unit instead of having people who are sick walk through the facility to be medically evaluated.\nRemind staff to keep 6 feet apart from an individual with respiratory symptoms when possible.\n\n\nCommunicate regularly: \nProvide up-to-date information and remind and encourage people who are incarcerated and staff to report COVID-19 symptoms to staff right away.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest260","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to manage a confirmed COVID-19 case in the facility\nWhat is the best way to clean and disinfect my facility after a confirmed case of COVID-19?\nFollow guidance for cleaning and\ndisinfecting rooms and areas where a person with suspected or confirmed\nCOVID-19 have visited, including transport vehicles.\nEnsure staff or people who are incarcerated wear appropriate PPE when cleaning\nthe facility and handling food service items of people with possible or\nconfirmed COVID-19. Laundry of a person with COVID-19 may be washed with the\nlaundry of other individuals. Individuals handling laundry should wear\nrecommended PPE, should not\nshake the laundry, and should clean their hands often to prevent spread of\nCOVID ."}
{"_id":"CDCtest261","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nFamily Members of People Who Are Incarcerated at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nDo people who are incarcerated have a greater chance of getting COVID-19?\nPeople in correctional and detention facilities are at greater risk for\nillnesses, such as COVID-19 because of their close living arrangements with\nother people. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person,\nthrough respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or\nsneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are\nnearby or be launched into the air and inhaled into someone\u2019s lungs. It is\npossible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that\nhas the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes; however,\nthis is not the most likely way the virus spreads."}
{"_id":"CDCtest262","title":"","text":"FAQs for Correctional and Detention Facilities\nAdministrators at Correctional and Detention Facilities\nHow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within my facility or from the local community into my facility\nShould I allow visitors into the facility if there is spread of COVID-19 in the community close to my facility?\nIf there is spread of COVID-19 in the community close to your facility,\nconsider suspending contact visits. If contact visits continue, all potential\nvisitors should be asked:\n\n\u201cToday or in the past 24 hours, have you had any of the following symptoms? Fever, felt feverish, or had chills? Cough? Difficulty breathing?\u201d\n\u201cIn the past 14 days, have you had contact with a person known to be infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?\u201d\n\nStaff should also perform temperature checks for all visitors and volunteers.\nAny visitor who answers yes to one of these questions or who declines\nscreening should not be allowed into the facility. When possible, facilities\nshould let potential visitors know about these rules before they travel to the\nfacility. Facilities can place posters in visiting areas and ask people who\nare incarcerated to inform their family members and visitors about these\nrules."}
{"_id":"CDCtest263","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nAre first responders being prioritized for those who will be tested for COVID-19?\nAt this time, first responders with\nsymptoms are listed\nas high priority for getting tested for COVID-19 as part of CDC\u2019s Criteria to\nGuide Evaluation and Laboratory Testing for\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest264","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nHow can law enforcement agencies get personal protective equipment (PPE) when they are in short supply?\nCDC is aware of shortages of PPE nationwide. Law enforcement leaders should\ncontact their localexternal icon and\nstate public\nhealth departments and emergency preparedness partners to discuss options. CDC\nhas developed strategies for optimizing the supply of\nPPE, including N95\nrespirators, gowns, eye protection, and facemasks."}
{"_id":"CDCtest265","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nShould law enforcement agencies screen personnel for signs and symptoms of COVID-19?\nLaw enforcement agencies should encourage all personnel to self-monitor for\nsymptoms before they come to work. Workers who have\nsymptoms (fever,\ncough, or shortness of breath) should notify their supervisor and stay home.\nThey can also enter their symptoms into the CDC Self-\nChecker to determine\nwhether they need to seek medical care. Law enforcement agencies should ensure\nthat sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health\nguidance, and\nthat employees are aware of and understand these policies."}
{"_id":"CDCtest266","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nIf law enforcement takes a person into custody who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, where should they take the person for intake processing (such as jail, hospital, or some other facility)?\nAll persons taken into custody should be given a facemask or cloth face\ncovering to wear as part of universal source\ncontrol. A\nfacemask or cloth face covering may help protect others nearby if these people\nare infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.\nIf a person taken into custody exhibits signs and\nsymptoms of COVID-19\n(cough, fever, or shortness of breath), the person should be assessed for\ntransport to a healthcare facility for further evaluation and management.\nMedical evaluation during intake processing may be necessary, especially if\nCOVID-19 is suspected. If, at any point, it is determined that the person\ntaken into custody needs medical care, transportation should be coordinated\nwith EMS providers and the receiving healthcare facility.\nIf a person taken into custody does not show any symptoms of COVID-19, he or\nshe should still be isolated as much as feasible during intake processing.\nCDC has additional guidance for correctional and detention\nfacilities that may be useful."}
{"_id":"CDCtest267","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nIs there any specific guidance for protecting police canines from COVID-19 exposure?\nWe are still learning about the virus, but it appears that it can spread from\npeople to animals in some situations. Therefore, CDC recommends that people\nsick with COVID-19 restrict contact with animals until more information is\nknown about the virus.\n\nIf a police canine that has been exposed to a person or setting with COVID-19 develops a new illness, contact your veterinary clinic and let them know that a working dog with a COVID-19 exposure has developed a new illness.\nYour veterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet\u2019s treatment and care. For more information, please see CDC\u2019s If You Have Animals guidance.\nDo not use products not approved for use on animals to try to clean a police canine\u2019s fur or paws.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest268","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nShould law enforcement personnel and other first responders take additional precautions when coming home, even if they have no symptoms of COVID-19, to avoid potentially exposing household members?\nCDC recommends that law enforcement personnel practice everyday\nmeasures to\nprotect their household members from becoming ill. These measures include:\n\nhand hygiene\ncovering coughs and sneezes\ndisinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily\n\nMany law enforcement personnel routinely change out of their uniforms at the\nstation and wear street clothes and shoes home. Laundry services for uniforms\nmay be provided by law enforcement agencies. Continuing this practice may help\nminimize the potential of transmitting the virus that causes COVID-19 and\nother potential take-home exposures. Law enforcement personnel should perform\nhand hygiene after changing out of\nuniforms.\nThey also should have a plan for household members who are at higher risk for\nsevere illness from COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest269","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nAre there additional precautions law enforcement personnel should take during death investigations?\nUpon entering a structure (home or place of business) where someone has died\nand COVID-19 is a suspected cause or contributing factor, law enforcement\npersonnel should anticipate that others in that building could also be\ninfected. If the cause of death is unknown, it would be most protective to\nassume that COVID-19 contributed. Law enforcement personnel should limit the\nnumber of personnel needed to enter the building, if feasible. If the building\nhas not been cleared, law enforcement personnel should wear the following\nPPE:\n\nA single pair of disposable examination gloves\nDisposable isolation gown or single use coveralls\nFit-tested NIOSH approved N95 respirator or higher level of protection (or a facemask if respirators are unavailable)\nEye protection (goggles or a disposable face shield).\n\nFurther, law enforcement personnel should try to maintain social distancing\n(at least 6 feet distance) with others at all times, especially while in the\nstructure.\nIf the building has been cleared, then it may not be necessary to wear\nrespiratory and eye protection, unless there are other hazards present that\ndictate their use according to an onsite hazard\/risk assessment.\nLaw enforcement personnel should be careful not to touch potentially\ncontaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. However, this\nis not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.\nLaw enforcement should avoid direct contact with someone who has died of\nsuspected or confirmed COVID-19 :\n\nEvery jurisdiction is different, but law enforcement personnel, in general, should not move or transport a body.\nConsult with the medical examiner\/coroner\u2019s office to determine the appropriate next steps and protective measures for that jurisdiction. The medical examiner\/coroner\u2019s office can decide who will transport the decedent.\n\nWhen the investigation is over, law enforcement personnel should take the\nfollowing steps:\n\nSafely remove gloves and other PPE and properly dispose of them according to existing policies and procedures. Law enforcement personnel should be trained on the proper donning and doffing of PPEpdf icon.\nWash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\nIf other reusable items (e.g., such as duty belt or gear) come into contact with individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, disinfect those items according to the manufacturers\u2019 instructions. For disinfection, most EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available hereexternal icon.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest270","title":"","text":"FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel\nWhat does CDC recommend for law enforcement personnel who have been in close contact (less than 6 feet) with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?\nIf law enforcement personnel have direct personal contact with an individual\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19, they should immediately use alcohol-\nbased hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, or wash\nhands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.\nThey should also avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Any uniform items\n(or other surfaces) that were potentially exposed should be disinfected or\ncleaned as soon as feasible. For example, the duty belt or other non-porous\nitems can be disinfected using products that are EPA-approved for use against\nthe virusexternal icon. Porous items, like the uniform, should\nbe replaced as soon as possible and then laundered according to manufacturers\u2019\nrecommendations. This is especially important if any body fluids were expelled\nduring the encounter (bloodborne pathogen protocols should also be followed if\napplicable). Gloves should be worn when touching potentially contaminated\nitems or applying disinfectants and it is important to perform hand hygiene\nupon removing gloves or other PPE.\nLaw enforcement personnel who have an exposure should be evaluated by their\noccupational health program and may be able to finish their work shift before\nstarting home isolation.\nIf personnel and resources are available, it is most protective for law\nenforcement personnel to stay at home until 14\ndays after\nexposure to an individual with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if the exposure\nwas prolonged (10 minutes or more) or if the exposure was of concern (e.g.,\nthe individual coughed into the face of the law enforcement officer). This\nwould best protect the health of the exposed worker, their co-workers, and the\ngeneral public.\nHowever, if personnel and resources are not available, law enforcement\npersonnel (considered critical infrastructure workers) may be permitted to\nwork after exposure to ensure continuity of operations. To continue working,\nthe exposed worker should remain symptom-free, and the employer should put\ninto place the following prevention\nstrategies for the exposed worker:\n\nScreen the worker for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) before each work shift\nRegularly monitor the worker for symptoms, under the supervision of an occupational health program\nEnsure the worker practices social distancing (remaining at least 6 feet away from others)\nEnsure the worker wears a facemask (or cloth face covering if facemasks are unavailable) to protect others\n\nIf an exposed worker develops symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness\nof breath) and is still working, the employer should:\n\nSend the worker home immediately and encourage them to follow CDC guidance for What to Do If You Are Sick.\nClean and disinfect surfaces in their workspace.\nFollow CDC guidance to determine when the worker can return to work.\n\nFor more information, see CDC\u2019s updated guidance for Implementing Safety\nPractices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a\nPerson with Suspected or Confirmed\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest271","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nIn many situations, fire personnel travel from many different geographic locations and live and work closely in shared living spaces, such as bunkhouses, during the fire season. In these situations, how do you prevent infection and spread of COVID-19 for co-workers or crewmates?\nWhen personnel arrive to their duty stations, it is recommended that\nmanagement provide separate spaces for the personnel to socially\ndistance themselves from others on their crew for 14 days,\nif possible. During this period, personnel should take special precautions to\nlimit any close interactions with other people (maintaining at least 6-feet\ndistance) and avoid sharing kitchens, living spaces (bedrooms), bathrooms, or\nhousehold items.\nIf shared living spaces and common areas must be utilized during the initial\n14 day period after reporting, all personnel should still practice social\ndistancing (maintaining at least 6 feet distance from one another), wear\ncloth face coverings, and frequently clean and\ndisinfect shared and high touch surfaces. Personnel should also\nconsider sleeping in opposite directions (head to toe) and avoid using bunk\nbeds in shared sleeping quarters. Management should also consider increasing\nventilation rates and\/or the percentage of outdoor air that circulates within\nthe shared living and working areas.\nWhen feasible, management should employ mechanisms to support their employees\nand limit employees\u2019 interactions with others during this period. This may\ninclude online ordered and delivered groceries, delivered meals, and virtual\nand online training tasks.\nAfter the initial 14-day period is over, fire crews and modules who work\ntogether and do not have regular interactions with other people can isolate as\na unit. During this time, personnel should continue to cover their mouth and\nnose with tissue or elbow when they cough or sneeze, perform proper hand\nhygiene and frequently clean and\ndisinfect shared spaces,\nvehicles, and equipment with EPA-registered\ndisinfectantsexternal icon that are appropriate for the surface and\neffective against SARS-CoV-2, following label instructions. If a crew operates\nas a unit, it is not necessary for crew members to wear face coverings unless\nthey are not feeling\nwell or interacting with the public (consistent with CDC\nguidelines for households living in close\nquarters). If interactions with the general public must occur, all\npersonnel should practice social distancing, wear cloth face coverings,\nperform hand hygiene, and disinfect surfaces, objects, or items that are\nshared with the general public.\nFor more information, see CDC\u2019s COVID-19 Guidance for Shared or Congregate\nHousing."}
{"_id":"CDCtest272","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nWhat precautions should wildland firefighting personnel take when they come off assignment and return back home to their families?\nWhen crew members return home after an assignment, they should continue to\nself-monitor for fever and symptoms. Personnel who feel sick should follow CDC\nguidance for What to Do If You Are Sick. Personnel who have vulnerable family\nmembers within their home should consider social distancing from those\nfamily members or wearing a facemask or cloth face covering if social\ndistancing is not possible, even if they feel well and do not have symptoms,\nfor 14 days."}
{"_id":"CDCtest273","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nWhat precautions should be implemented for protecting firefighters and other personnel at fire camps?\nFire camps can include thousands of personnel living together and working\ncollectively to respond to a wildfire, often in remote areas. In many ways,\nfire camps are like small communities. For example, fire camps employ a number\nof support personnel, some of whom may be considered at higher risk for\nsevere illness from COVID-19 (e.g., people 65 years and older, or\npeople with serious underlying medical conditions). Also, fire camps have many\npeople coming and going throughout the day. Therefore, extra precautions\nshould be taken. Note: Many of the recommendations in CDC\u2019s COVID-19\nGuidance for Shared or Congregate\nHousing also apply to fire camps.\nThe following are protective measures that can be employed within the fire\ncamp to prevent COVID-19 transmission:\n\nScreening of temperature and symptoms for everyone entering a fire camp and daily screening for those who remain at the camp\nEncouraging personnel to maintain social distancing (6 feet or more) as much as feasible\nWearing cloth face coverings as a form of source control\nProviding hand washing stations (soap and water) or hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol throughout the camp, especially outside bathrooms, portable toilets, and dining facilities\nProviding individual bottles of hand sanitizer for all personnel at the fire camp\nEnsuring bathrooms, portable toilets, and handwash stations are well stocked with hygiene products (e.g., soap and water, hand sanitizer, paper towels)\nUsing disinfectants approved by the EPA for use against COVID-19external icon to clean showers, bathrooms, sinks, portable toilets, and handwash stations at least twice a day (in the morning and evening after heavy use) and commonly-touched surfaces in the dining facility before and after each meal. Make sure individuals doing the cleaning are trained on the proper application of the disinfectant and wear protective disposable gloves and other PPE as recommended by the disinfectant manufacturer\nInstructing personnel to avoid placing toothbrushes (or other personal items) directly on sinks as that is a potential contamination pathway. Individual totes may be used to carry and keep personal items off sinks\nEnsuring that food service personnel wear disposable gloves during preparation and serving of food and practice recommended hand hygiene\nStaffing drink stations to limit the number of people touching the drink machines\nInstructing personnel not to share personal items (e.g., cups, canteens, safety glasses, etc.) with others\nUsing ventilation systems, fans, or open windows to increase outdoor air circulation in enclosed spaces within the fire camp including command tents, dining facilities, and showers\nEstablishing housing in one area of the fire camp (or nearby community) that could be used for isolation, if necessary, and assigning someone on staff to make sure that anyone being isolated is provided with necessities. Note: it is likely people will get sick with illnesses other than COVID-19, but out of an abundance of caution, all illnesses should be treated as COVID-19 until medical staff determines otherwise\nEnsuring medical staff in the fire camp are familiar with the CDC Guidance for Healthcare Professionals, which provides information on control measures, including PPE that should be worn, when caring for individuals with known or suspected COVID-19\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest274","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nWhat does CDC recommend for wildland firefighting personnel who have been in close contact (less than 6 feet) with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?\nIf wildfire personnel have direct personal contact with an individual with\nsuspected or confirmed COVID-19, they should take the following actions:\n\nImmediately perform hand hygiene (i.e., use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol or wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds).\nAvoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.\nClean and disinfect any clothing items or surfaces that were potentially exposed (coughed on, sneezed on, or exposed to body fluids) as soon as possible. \nNon-porous items can be disinfected using products that are EPA-approved for use against the virusexternal icon.\nPorous items, like clothing and other reusable personal protective equipment (PPE), should be replaced as soon as possible. The potentially contaminated items should be laundered according to manufacturers\u2019 recommendations using the warmest water available.\nGloves (e.g., nitrile or latex) should be worn when touching potentially contaminated items or applying disinfectants. Perform hand hygiene upon removing gloves or other PPE.\n\n\n\nIf personnel and resources are available, it is most protective for wildfire\npersonnel who were exposed to an individual with suspected or confirmed\nCOVID-19 to stay at home until 14 days after exposure if the exposure was\nprolonged (10 minutes or more) or if the exposure was of concern (e.g., the\nindividual coughed or sneezed on the worker).\nIf personnel and resources are not available, wildfire personnel (considered\ncritical infrastructure workers) may be permitted to continue to\nwork after exposure to ensure continuity of operations. To continue working,\nthe exposed worker should be symptom-free, and the employer should use the\nfollowing prevention strategies:\n\nScreen the exposed worker for symptoms of COVID-19 before each work shift.\nRegularly monitor the exposed worker for symptoms, under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.\nEnsure the exposed worker practices social distancing during his\/her work shift by assigning tasks where he\/she can still work but remain at least 6 feet away from others, if possible.\nEnsure the exposed worker wears a facemask (or cloth face covering only if facemasks are unavailable) to protect others.\n\nIf an exposed worker develops symptoms of COVID-19 and is still working, the\nemployer should:\n\nProvide a facemask for the worker to wear (if not already wearing one).\nSend the worker to the medical unit, if available, for evaluation to determine if medical care is needed. If a medical unit is not available, encourage the worker to call a qualified medical provider for guidance.\nSend the worker home if it is safe for the worker to travel and make sure the worker is wearing a facemask. If it is not safe for the worker to travel, isolate the worker from others on the crew and require the worker to wear a facemask.\nEnsure the worker is provided with necessary supplies, including food, water, and hygiene items, while he\/she is self-isolating.\nEncourage the worker to follow CDC guidance for What to Do If You Are Sick.\nClean and disinfect any surfaces and areas the worker may have touched.\nFollow CDC guidance to determine when the worker can return to work.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest275","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nAre first responders, like wildland firefighters, being prioritized for those who will be tested for COVID-19?\nAt this time, first responders with symptoms of\ncoronavirus are\nclassified by CDC as high priority for getting tested for COVID-19. The process and locations for\ntesting vary by location or jurisdiction. Contact your state, local, tribal,\nor territorial health department for more information, or reach out to a\nmedical provider in your jurisdiction. CDC does not do individual testing."}
{"_id":"CDCtest276","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nShould wildfire management agencies screen personnel for signs and symptoms of COVID-19?\nAll personnel should be encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms before they\ncome to work. Workers who have symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately notify\ntheir supervisor and safety officer and self-isolate. They can also enter\ntheir symptoms into the CDC Coronavirus Self-\nChecker to determine whether they need to seek medical care.\nWildfire agencies should ensure that sick leave policies are flexible and\nconsistent with public health guidance, and that employees are aware of and\nunderstand these policies.\nWildfire agencies should consider implementing daily temperature checks and\nsymptom screening, consistent with the White House guideline for Opening Up\nAmerica Againexternal icon. Consider a program for screening workers before entry into the workplace\nor fire incident, based on CDC guidance for screening employees for\nCOVID-19, which includes:\n\nVerbal screening (from a distance of at least 6 feet) to determine if workers have had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 24 hours.\nChecking temperatures of workers at the start of each shift to identify anyone with a fever of 100.4\u2109 or greater. \nEnsure that screeners are trained to use temperature monitors.\nMake sure that temperature monitors are accurate under conditions of use (such as cold or hot temperatures).\nAvoid direct sunlight when recording temperatures.\n\n\nPreventing employees from entering the workplace if they have a fever of 100.4\u2109 or greater, or if verbal screening results indicate that the worker may have COVID-19. \nEncourage workers to self-isolate and contact a healthcare provider.\nProvide information on the agency\u2019s return-to-work policies and procedures which may be informed by CDC\u2019s Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings interim guidance.\nInform the employer health unit (if in place), incident medical unit, and supervisor so the worker can return home and self-isolate.\n\n\n\nEnsure that personnel performing screening activities, including temperature\nchecks, are appropriately protected from exposure to potentially infectious\nworkers.\n\nImplement engineering controls, such as physical barriers or dividers or rope and stanchion systems, to maintain at least six feet between screeners and workers being screened.\nIf screeners need to be within six feet of workers, provide them with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the tasks being performed. \nAt minimum, screeners should wear facemasks.\nAdditional PPE may include gloves, gowns, and face shields.\nN95 filtering facepiece respirators (or more protective) may be appropriate for workers performing screening duties and necessary for workers managing a sick employee who has symptoms of COVID-19 in the work environment (see below). Note: If respirators are needed, they must be used in the context of a comprehensive respiratory protection program that includes medical exams, fit testing, and training in accordance with OSHA\u2019s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134external icon).\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest277","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nWhat steps can be taken by wildland fire personnel to prevent infection and spread of COVID-19? How can a crew, module, or resource \u201cisolate as a unit\u201d to better protect themselves?\nThe best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the\nvirus that causes COVID-19. All firefighters and support personnel should have\na basic understanding of COVID-19, how the disease is thought to\nspread,\nwhat the symptoms of\nthe disease are, and what measures can be taken to prevent or minimize the\ntransmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.\nDuring the fire season, it will be important that members of each fire crew or\nmodule make an effort to operate and isolate as a unit. Management will need\nto develop and implement procedures and protocols to prevent possible\nexposures to the virus. When possible, crews should not interchange personnel\nor equipment between units and should limit the number of personnel who must\ninteract with people in the community (e.g. fueling vehicles, picking up\nsupplies, etc.). This will require planning and using technology to safely\naccomplish tasks while maintaining social distancing as much as possible. This\nmay include implementing procedures that allow fire crews or incident\nmanagement personnel to stay remote, isolate from other units, or complete\ntasks or missions virtually. If close contact with others in the community is\nnecessary, it is advised that all personnel wear facemasks or cloth face\ncoverings for source control.\nWildfire management and personnel should prioritize reducing fatigue and\nremaining healthy throughout the fire season. Rest and proper hydration and\nnutrition should be prioritized and emphasized every workday."}
{"_id":"CDCtest278","title":"","text":"FAQs for Wildland Firefighters\nWhile traveling to fire assignments, what actions can wildland firefighters take to prevent infection and protect the communities that they will be traveling through?\nWhile traveling between assignments or during fire responses (via large\ntransport vehicles), it is often not practical to implement social distancing\nmeasures. However, the following actions can be taken to prevent transmission\nof the virus during travel.\n\nFollowing screening guidance presented above and from CDC, continue screening personnel for symptoms of COVID-19 and temperature checks before travel and throughout a response. If screening identifies a worker suspected to have COVID-19, the worker should return home or self-isolate and not travel.\nWear a facemask or cloth face coverings, when appropriate and when interacting with individuals outside of your unit, as a source control.\nWash hands with soap and water or using hand-sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol: \nAfter blowing one\u2019s nose, coughing, or sneezing\nAfter using the restroom\nBefore eating or putting anything in the mouth\nBefore and after preparing food\nAfter touching high-contact surfaces that could be contaminated (e.g., door handles, phones, computers)\nAfter contact with animals or pets\n\n\nAvoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.\nTurn the vehicle ventilation fan(s) to high, in non-recirculating mode, and\/or open windows to maximize the intake of outdoor air.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on a routine basis such as: \nIn the truck cab (door handles, steering wheel, seat belts and buckles, arm and head rest, seat cover, turn signal, wiper controls, dashboard, air ducts, radio, and temperature and other controls).\nOther surfaces like controls, and other flat surfaces that are touched.\nIf a third party must have access to the interior of your truck (for example, mechanics, other drivers, inspectors), request that the third party clean and disinfect the truck before turning it back over to you.\nFor disinfection, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon, diluted household bleach solutions, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% rubbing alcohol, and are appropriate for the surface. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s directions for use, and clean your hands afterwards.\n\n\n\nFor more information, see CDC guidance for Coronavirus and Travel in the\nUnited States."}
{"_id":"CDCtest279","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nWho should clean and disinfect community spaces?\nRegular cleaning staff can clean and disinfect community spaces. Cleaning\nstaff should be trained on appropriate use of cleaning and disinfection\nchemicals and provided with the personal protective equipment (PPE) required\nfor the chemicals used."}
{"_id":"CDCtest280","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan wild animals spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to people or pets?\nCurrently, there is no evidence to suggest the virus that causes COVID-19 is\ncirculating in free-living wildlife in the United States, or that wildlife\nmight be a source of infection for people in the United States. The first case\nof a wild animal testing positive for the virus in the United States was a\ntiger with a respiratory illness at a zoo in New York City. However, this\ntiger was in a captive zoo environment ,and public health officials believe\nthe tiger became sick after being exposed to a zoo employee who was infected\nand spreading the virus.\nIf a wild animal were to become infected with the virus, we don\u2019t know whether\nthe infection could then spread among wildlife or if it could spread to other\nanimals, including pets. Further studies are needed to understand if and how\ndifferent animals, including wildlife, could be affected by COVID-19. Because\nwildlife can carry other diseases, even without looking sick, it is always\nimportant to enjoy wildlife from a distance.\nTake steps to prevent getting sick from wildlife in the United States:\n\nKeep your family, including pets, a safe distance away from wildlife.\nDo not feed wildlife or touch wildlife droppings.\nAlways wash your hands and supervise children washing their hands after working or playing outside.\nLeave orphaned animals alone. Often, the parents are close by and will return for their young.\nConsult your state wildlife agency\u2019s guidance if you are preparing or consuming legally harvested game meat.\nDo not approach or touch a sick or dead animal \u2013 contact your state wildlife agency instead.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest281","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nHow can I protect my child from COVID-19 infection?\nYou can encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching\nthem to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy.\n\nAvoid close contact with people who are sick.\nStay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.\nCover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.\nIf soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles).\nLaunder items, including washable plush toys, as appropriate and in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people\u2019s items.\n\nYou can find additional information on preventing COVID-19 at Prevention for\n2019 Novel Coronavirus\nand at Preventing COVID-19 Spread in\nCommunities.\nAdditional information on how COVID-19 is spread is available at How COVID-19\nSpreads.\nMore information on Children and Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19) is available online."}
{"_id":"CDCtest282","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nShould I avoid contact with pets or other animals if I am sick with COVID-19?\nWe are still learning about this virus, but it appears that it can spread from\npeople to animals in some situations. Until we learn more about this new\ncoronavirus, you should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you\nare sick with COVID-19, just like you would with people. When possible, have\nanother member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If\nyou are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including\n\nPetting\nSnuggling\nBeing kissed or licked\nSharing food or bedding\n\nIf you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash\nyour hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a cloth face\ncovering."}
{"_id":"CDCtest283","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nWhat do funeral home workers need to know about handling decedents who had COVID-19?\nA funeral or visitation service can be held for a person who has died of\nCOVID-19. Funeral home workers should follow their routine infection\nprevention and control precautions when handling a decedent who died of\nCOVID-19. If it is necessary to transfer a body to a bag, follow Standard\nPrecautions, including additional personal protective equipment (PPE) if\nsplashing of fluids is expected. For transporting a body after the body has\nbeen bagged, disinfect the outside of the bag with a product with EPA-\napproved emerging viral pathogens claimspdf iconexternal iconexternal\nicon expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data\nfor harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all\ncleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method\nand contact time, etc.). Wear disposable nitrile gloves when handling the body\nbag.\nEmbalming can be conducted. During embalming, follow Standard Precautions\nincluding the use of additional PPE if splashing is expected (e.g. disposable\ngown, faceshield or goggles and N95 respirator). Wear appropriate respiratory\nprotection if any procedures will generate aerosols or if required for\nchemicals used in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s label. Wear heavy-duty\ngloves over nitrile disposable gloves if there is a risk of cuts, puncture\nwounds, or other injuries that break the skin. Additional information on how\nto safely conduct aerosol-generating procedures is in the CDC\u2019s Postmortem\nGuidance. Cleaning should be conducted in accordance with\nmanufacturer\u2019s instructions. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral\npathogens claimspdf iconexternal iconexternal\nicon are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on\ndata for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for\nall cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application\nmethod and contact time).\nAfter cleaning and removal of PPE, perform hand\nhygiene by washing\nhands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based\nhand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water is not\navailable. Soap and water should be used if the hands are visibly soiled.\nDecedents with COVID-19 can be buried or cremated, but check for any\nadditional state and local requirements that may dictate the handling and\ndisposition of the remains of individuals who have died of certain infectious\ndiseases."}
{"_id":"CDCtest284","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nWhat is community spread?\nCommunity spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area,\nincluding some who are not sure how or where they became infected."}
{"_id":"CDCtest285","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nHow do I prepare my children in case of COVID-19 outbreak in our community?\nOutbreaks can be stressful for adults and children. Talk with your children\nabout the outbreak, try to stay calm, and reassure them that they are safe. If\nappropriate, explain to them that most illness from COVID-19 seems to be mild.\nChildren respond differently to stressful situations than\nadults.\nCDC offers\nresources to help talk with children about\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest286","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCommunity Mitigation\nWhat is community mitigation?\nCommunity mitigation activities are actions that people and communities can\ntake to slow the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Community\nmitigation is especially important before a vaccine or drug becomes widely\navailable."}
{"_id":"CDCtest287","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nWhat if my child or someone else in the home is sick with symptoms of COVID-19?\nIf your child with special healthcare needs becomes sick with symptoms of\nCOVID-19, contact your\nchild\u2019s healthcare provider. If your child has new or worsening emergency\nwarning signs,\nsuch as trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or\ninability to wake them up, or bluish lips or face, call 911. If you think your\nchild may have COVID-19, notify the operator so that first responders may be\nappropriately prepared to protect themselves and others.\nNotify your child\u2019s healthcare provider if someone else in your house becomes\nsick with COVID-19, so they can provide any advice specific for your child.\nSee additional information if someone in the home is sick with\nCOVID-19 or\nsuspected of having COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest288","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nWhat temperature kills the virus that causes COVID-19?\nGenerally coronaviruses survive for shorter periods at higher temperatures and\nhigher humidity than in cooler or dryer environments. However, we don\u2019t have\ndirect data for this virus, nor do we have direct data for a temperature-based\ncutoff for inactivation at this point. The necessary temperature would also be\nbased on the materials of the surface, the environment, etc. Regardless of\ntemperature please follow CDC\u2019s guidance for cleaning and\ndisinfection."}
{"_id":"CDCtest289","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSchool Dismissals and Children\nWhile school\u2019s out, limit time with older adults, including relatives, and people with chronic medical conditions.\nOlder adults and people who have serious underlying medical\nconditions are at highest risk of getting sick\nfrom COVID-19.\n\nIf others in your home are at particularly high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, consider extra precautions to separate your child from those people.\nIf you are unable to stay home with your child during school dismissals, carefully consider who might be best positioned to provide childcare. If someone at higher risk for COVID-19 will be providing care (older adult, such as a grandparent or someone with a serious underlying medical condition), limit your children\u2019s contact with other people.\nConsider postponing visits or trip to see older family members and grandparents. Connect virtually or by writing letters and sending via mail.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest290","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nWhat does a well-controlled health condition mean?\nGenerally, well-controlled means that your condition is stable, not life-\nthreatening, and laboratory assessments and other findings are as similar as\npossible to those without the health condition. You should talk with your\nhealthcare provider if you have a question about your health or how your\nhealth condition is being managed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest291","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nWhat steps can my family take to reduce our risk of getting COVID-19?\nPractice everyday preventive actions to help reduce your risk of getting sick\nand remind everyone in your home to do the same. These actions are especially\nimportant for older adults and people who have severe chronic medical\nconditions:\n\nAvoid close contact with people who are sick.\nStay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.\nCover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.\nIf soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles).\nLaunder items, including washable plush toys, as appropriate and in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people\u2019s items.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest292","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nIn Case of an Outbreak in Your Community\nWill schools be dismissed if there is an outbreak in my community?\nDepending on the situation, public health officials may recommend community\nactions to reduce exposures to COVID-19, such as school dismissals. Read or\nwatch local media sources that report school dismissals or and watch for\ncommunication from your child\u2019s school. If schools are dismissed temporarily,\ndiscourage students and staff from gathering or socializing anywhere, like at\na friend\u2019s house, a favorite restaurant, or the local shopping mall."}
{"_id":"CDCtest293","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nWhat should I do if someone in my house gets sick with COVID-19?\nMost people who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home. CDC has\ndirections for\npeople who are recovering at home and their caregivers, including:\n\nStay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.\n\nWhen to Seek Emergency Medical Attention\nLook for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any\nof these signs, *seek emergency medical care immediately**\n\nTrouble breathing\nPersistent pain or pressure in the chest\nNew confusion\nInability to wake or stay awake\nBluish lips or face\n\n*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.\nCall 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the\noperator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.\n\nUse a separate room and bathroom for sick household members (if possible).\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.\nIf soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.\nProvide your sick household member with clean disposable facemasks to wear at home, if available, to help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.\nClean the sick room and bathroom, as needed, to avoid unnecessary contact with the sick person.\nAvoid sharing personal items like utensils, food, and drinks.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest294","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nCan I get sick with COVID-19 if it is on food?\nBased on information about this novel coronavirus thus far, it seems unlikely\nthat COVID-19 can be transmitted through food \u2013 additional investigation is\nneeded."}
{"_id":"CDCtest295","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nAre there any medications I should avoid taking if I have COVID-19?\nCurrently, there is no evidence to show that taking ibuprofen or naproxen can\nlead to a more severe infection of COVID-19.\nPeople with high blood pressure should take their blood pressure medications,\nas directed, and work with their healthcare provider to make sure that their\nblood pressure is as well controlled as possible. Any changes to your\nmedications should only be made by your healthcare provider."}
{"_id":"CDCtest296","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nShould I worry about my pet cat?\nWe are still learning about this virus and how it spreads, but it appears it\ncan spread from humans to animals in some situations. CDC is aware of a small\nnumber of pets, including cats, reported to be infected with the virus that\ncauses COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Most of\nthese animals had contact with a person with COVID-19. A tiger at a New York\nzoo has also tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.\nAt this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in\nspreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited data available,\nthe risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. The\nvirus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person, typically\nthrough respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking.\nPeople sick with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from other people and\nanimals, including pets, during their illness until we know more about how\nthis virus affects animals. If you must care for your pet or be around animals\nwhile you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and\nafter you interact with pets."}
{"_id":"CDCtest297","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nShould sidewalks and roads be disinfected to prevent COVID-19?\nCDC does not recommend disinfection of sidewalks or roads. Spraying\ndisinfectant on sidewalks and roads is not an efficient use of disinfectant\nsupplies and has not been proven to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public.\nThe risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 from these surfaces is\nvery low and disinfection is not effective on these surfaces."}
{"_id":"CDCtest298","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhy might someone blame or avoid individuals and groups (create stigma) because of COVID-19?\nPeople in the U.S. may be worried or anxious about friends and relatives who\nare living in or visiting areas where COVID-19 is spreading. Some people are\nworried about getting the disease from these people. Fear and anxiety can lead\nto social stigma, for example, toward people who live in certain parts of the\nworld, people who have traveled internationally, people who were in\nquarantine, or healthcare professionals.\nStigma is discrimination against an identifiable group of people, a place, or\na nation. Stigma is associated with a lack of knowledge about how COVID-19\nspreads, a need to blame someone, fears about disease and death, and gossip\nthat spreads rumors and myths.\nStigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger toward ordinary people\ninstead of focusing on the disease that is causing the problem."}
{"_id":"CDCtest299","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nWhat should I do if my pet gets sick and I think it\u2019s COVID-19?\nThere is a small number of animals around the world reported to be infected\nwith the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after having contact with a person\nwith COVID-19. Talk to your veterinarian about any health concerns you have\nabout your pets.\nIf your pet gets sick after contact with a person with COVID-19, do not take\nyour pet to the veterinary clinic yourself. Call your veterinarian and let\nthem know the pet was around a person with COVID-19. Some veterinarians may\noffer telemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets. Your\nveterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet\u2019s\ntreatment and care."}
{"_id":"CDCtest300","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhy do some state\u2019s COVID-19 case numbers sometimes differ from what is posted on CDC\u2019s website?\nCDC\u2019s overall case numbers are validated through a confirmation process with\njurisdictions. The process used for finding and confirming cases displayed by\ndifferent places may differ."}
{"_id":"CDCtest301","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCommunity Mitigation\nWhat are community mitigation actions for COVID-19?\nSome community mitigation actions may include:\n\nWashing hands often\nAvoiding close contact with people who are sick, and practicing social distancing\nCovering mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others\nCovering coughs and sneezes\nCleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest302","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nIs hunter-harvested game meat safe to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nCurrently, there is no evidence that you can get infected with the virus that\ncauses COVID-19 by eating food, including wild hunted game meat. However,\nhunters can get infected with other diseases when processing or eating game.\nHunters should always practice good hygiene when processing animals by\nfollowing these food safety recommendations:\n\nDo not harvest animals that appear sick or are found dead.\nKeep game meat clean and cool the meat down as soon as possible after harvesting the animal.\nAvoid cutting through the backbone and spinal tissues and do not eat the brains of any wild animal.\nWhen handling and cleaning game: \nWear rubber or disposable gloves.\nDo not eat, drink, or smoke.\n\n\nWhen finished handling and cleaning game: \nWash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.\nClean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were in contact with game meat with soap and water and then disinfect them. While these recommendations apply to general food safety practices, if you are concerned about COVID-19, you may use a product on the EPA list of disinfectants for use against the COVID-19 virusexternal icon.\n\n\nCook all game meat thoroughly (to an internal temperature of 165\u00b0F or higher).\nCheck with your state wildlife agency regarding any testing requirements for other diseases and for any specific instructions regarding preparing, transporting, and consuming game meat.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest303","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nHow can I prepare in case my child\u2019s school, child care facility, or university is dismissed?\nTalk to the school or\nfacility about their emergency operations plan.\nUnderstand the plan for continuing education and social services (such as\nstudent meal programs) during school dismissals. If your child attends a\ncollege or\nuniversity, encourage them to learn about the school\u2019s plan for\na COVID-19 outbreak."}
{"_id":"CDCtest304","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nIf my utility has issued a Boil Water Advisory, can I still use tap water to wash my hands?\nIn most cases, it is safe to wash your\nhands with soap and tap water\nduring a Boil Water\nAdvisory. Follow the guidance from your local\npublic health officials. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-\nbased hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol."}
{"_id":"CDCtest305","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nWhat kind of test is being used to diagnose if I have COVID-19?\nThere are actually many tests being used to diagnose COVID-19 that the U.S.\nFood & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized for use during the current\nemergency. All of these viral tests identify the virus in samples from the\nrespiratory system, such as from nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs. Some tests are\nconducted at the testing site you visit, and results are available to you\nwithin minutes. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory to analyze, a process\nthat takes 1-2 days once the lab receives your samples. Two tests allow you to\ncollect your own sample at home \u2013 either a nasal swabexternal\nicon or a\nsaliva sampleexternal icon \u2013 but you will still need to send the\nsample to a lab for processing.\nLocations and types of testing sites vary depending on where you live (see\nquestion: Where can I get tested). Check with your testing site to learn which\ntest it uses. You can find a patient information sheet about each test on the\nFDA websiteexternal icon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest306","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nIs it safe to vacuum in a school, business, or community facility after someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has been present?\nThe risk of transmitting or spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes\nCOVID-19, during vacuuming is unknown. At this time, there are no reported\ncases of COVID-19 associated with vacuuming. If vacuuming is necessary or\nrequired in a school, business, or community facility that was used by a\nperson with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, first follow the CDC\nrecommendations for Cleaning and Disinfection for Community\nFacilities that apply, which includes a wait time of 24\nhours, or as long as practical.\nAfter cleaning and disinfection, the following recommendations may help reduce\nthe risk to workers and other individuals when vacuuming:\n\nConsider removing smaller rugs or carpets from the area completely, so there is less that needs to be vacuumed.\nUse a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.\nDo not vacuum a room or space that has people in it. Wait until the room or space is empty to vacuum, such as at night, for common spaces, or during the day for private rooms.\nConsider temporarily turning off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest307","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nWhat cleaning products should I use to protect against COVID-19?\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs,\nlight switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets,\nfaucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap\nand water prior to disinfection. To disinfect, most common EPA-registered\nhousehold disinfectants will work. See CDC\u2019s recommendations for household\ncleaning and disinfection."}
{"_id":"CDCtest308","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nIn Case of an Outbreak in Your Community\nWhat should I do if there is an outbreak in my community?\nDuring an outbreak, stay calm and put your preparedness plan to work. Follow\nthe steps below:\nProtect yourself and\nothers.\n\nStay home if you are sick. Keep away from people who are sick. Limit close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).\n\nPut your household plan into action.\n\n\nStay informed about the local COVID-19 situation. Be aware of temporary school dismissals in your area, as this may affect your household\u2019s daily routine.\n\n\nContinue practicing everyday preventive actions. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol. Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily using a regular household detergent and water.\n\nNotify your workplace as soon as possible if your regular work schedule changes. Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick with COVID-19 symptoms, or if your child\u2019s school is dismissed temporarily. Learn how businesses and employers can plan for and respond to COVID-19.\nStay in touch with others by phone or email. If you have a chronic medical condition and live alone, ask family, friends, and health care providers to check on you during an outbreak. Stay in touch with family and friends, especially those at increased risk of developing severe illness, such as older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest309","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nWhat should I do if my family member died from COVID-19 while overseas?\nWhen a US citizen dies outside the United States, the deceased person\u2019s next\nof kin or legal representative should notify US consular officials at the\nDepartment of State. Consular personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a\nweek, to provide assistance to US citizens for overseas emergencies. If a\nfamily member, domestic partner, or legal representative is in a different\ncountry from the deceased person, he or she should call the Department of\nState\u2019s Office of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, DC, from 8 am to 5\npm Eastern time, Monday through Friday, at 888-407-4747 (toll-free) or\n202-501-4444. For emergency assistance after working hours or on weekends and\nholidays, call the Department of State switchboard at 202-647-4000 and ask to\nspeak with the Overseas Citizens Services duty officer. In addition, the US\nembassyexternal iconexternal iconexternal icon\nclosest to or in the country where the US citizen died can provide assistance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest310","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nHow many cases have been reported in the United States?\nCOVID-19 case counts for the United States are updated regularly online. See\nthe current U.S. case count of\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest311","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nWhat CDC is Doing\nWhat is CDC doing about COVID-19?\nCDC is working with other federal partners in a whole-of-government response.\nThis is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will continue to\nprovide updated information as it becomes available. CDC works 24\/7 to protect\npeople\u2019s health. More information about CDC\u2019s response to\nCOVID-19 is available online."}
{"_id":"CDCtest312","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nHow were the underlying conditions for people considered higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 selected?\nThis list is based on:\n\nWhat we are learning from the outbreak in other countries and in the United States.\nWhat we know about risk from other respiratory infections, like flu.\n\nAs CDC gets more information about COVID-19 cases here in the United States,\nwe will update this list as needed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest313","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nShould contact lens wearers take special precautions to prevent COVID-19?\n\nCurrently there is no evidence to suggest contact lens wearers are more at risk for acquiring COVID-19 than eyeglass wearers.\nContact lens wearers should continue to practice safe contact lens wear and care hygiene habits to help prevent against transmission of any contact lens-related infections, such as always washing hands with soap and water before handling lenses.\nPeople who are healthy can continue to wear and care for their contact lenses as prescribed by their eye care professional.\n\nFind more information about how coronavirus\nspreads\nand how to protect\nyourself.\nVisit CDC\u2019s contact lens\nwebsite for more information on\nhealthy contact lens wear and care."}
{"_id":"CDCtest314","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhat is a novel coronavirus?\nA novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously\nidentified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the\nsame as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among\nhumans and cause mild illness,\nlike the common cold.\nA diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a\nCOVID-19 diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for\ndifferently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis."}
{"_id":"CDCtest315","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan bats in United States get the virus that causes COVID-19, and can they spread it back to people?\nOther coronaviruses have been found in North American bats in the past, but\nthere is currently no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 is present\nin any free-living wildlife in the United States, including bats. In general,\ncoronaviruses do not cause illness or death in bats, but we don\u2019t yet know if\nthis new coronavirus would make North American species of bats sick. Bats are\nan important part of natural ecosystems, and their populations are already\ndeclining in the United States. Bat populations could be further threatened by\nthe disease itself or by harm inflicted on bats resulting from a misconception\nthat bats are spreading COVID-19. However, there is no evidence that bats in\nthe United States are a source of the virus that causes COVID-19 for people.\nFurther studies are needed to understand if and how bats could be affected by\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest316","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nWhat animals can get COVID-19?\nWe don\u2019t know for sure which animals can be infected with the virus that\ncauses COVID-19. CDC is aware of a small number of pets, including dogs and\ncats, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly\nafter close contact with people with COVID-19. A tiger at a zoo in New York\nhas also tested positive for the virus.\nRecent research shows that ferrets, cats, and golden Syrian hamsters can be\nexperimentally infected with the virus and can spread the infection to other\nanimals of the same species in laboratory settings. Pigs, chickens, and ducks\ndid not become infected or spread the infection based on results from these\nstudies. Data from one study suggested dogs are not as likely to become\ninfected with the virus as cats and ferrets. These findings were based on a\nsmall number of animals, and do not show whether animals can spread infection\nto people.\nAt this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in\nspreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited information\navailable to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is\nconsidered to be low. Further studies are needed to understand if and how\ndifferent animals could be affected by the virus that causes COVID-19 and the\nrole animals may play in the spread of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest317","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan I travel to the United States with dogs or import dogs into the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak?\nPlease refer to CDC\u2019s requirements for bringing a dog to the United\nStates. The current requirements for rabies\nvaccination apply to dogs imported from high-risk\ncountries for rabies."}
{"_id":"CDCtest318","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nWhat are the symptoms and complications that COVID-19 can cause?\nPeople with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported \u2013 ranging from\nmild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after\nexposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:\n\nCough\nShortness of breath or difficulty breathing\nFever\nChills\nMuscle pain\nSore throat\nNew loss of taste or smell\n\nChildren have similar symptoms to adults and generally\nhave mild illness.\nThis list is not all inclusive. Other less common symptoms have been reported,\nincluding gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.\nRead about COVID-19 Symptoms."}
{"_id":"CDCtest319","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nAre the symptoms of COVID-19 different in children than in adults?\nNo. The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. However,\nchildren with confirmed COVID-19 have generally presented with mild symptoms.\nReported symptoms in children include cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny\nnose, and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. It\u2019s not known\nyet whether some children may be at higher risk for severe illness, for\nexample, children with underlying medical conditions and special healthcare\nneeds. There is much more to be learned about how the disease impacts\nchildren."}
{"_id":"CDCtest320","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nWhat steps should parents take to protect children during a community outbreak?\nThis is a new virus and we are still learning about it, but so far, there does\nnot seem to be a lot of illness in children. Most illness, including serious\nillness, is happening in adults of working age and older adults. However,\nchildren do get the virus and become ill. Many schools across the country have\nannounced dismissals for temporary periods. Keep track of school dismissals in\nyour community. Read or watch local media sources that report school\ndismissals. If schools are dismissed temporarily, use alternative childcare\narrangements, if needed.\nIf your child\/children become sick with COVID-19, notify their childcare\nfacility or school. Talk with teachers about classroom assignments and\nactivities they can do from home to keep up with their schoolwork.\nDiscourage children and teens from gathering in other public places while\nschool is dismissed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest321","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nCan someone who has been quarantined for COVID-19 spread the illness to others?\nQuarantine means separating a person or group of people who have been exposed\nto a contagious disease but have not developed illness (symptoms) from others\nwho have not been exposed, in order to prevent the possible spread of that\ndisease. Quarantine is usually established for the incubation period of the\ncommunicable disease, which is the span of time during which people have\ndeveloped illness after exposure. For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14\ndays from the last date of exposure because the incubation period for this\nvirus is 2 to 14 days. Someone who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine\nis not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others because they have\nnot developed illness during the incubation period."}
{"_id":"CDCtest322","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nShould wastewater workers take extra precautions to protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19?\nRecently, the virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in untreated\nwastewater. While data are limited, there is no information to date that\nanyone has become sick with COVID-19 because of exposure to wastewater.\nStandard practices associated with wastewater treatment plant operations\nshould be sufficient to protect wastewater workers from the virus that causes\nCOVID-19. These standard practices can include engineering and administrative\ncontrols, hygiene precautions, specific safe work practices, and personal\nprotective equipment\n(PPE)\nnormally required when handling untreated wastewater. No additional\nCOVID-19\u2013specific protections are recommended for workers involved in\nwastewater management, including those at wastewater treatment facilities."}
{"_id":"CDCtest323","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nCan mosquitoes or ticks spread the virus that causes COVID-19?\nAt this time, CDC has no data to suggest that this new coronavirus or other\nsimilar coronaviruses are spread by mosquitoes or ticks. The main way that\nCOVID-19 spreads is from person to person. See How Coronavirus\nSpreads for more information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest324","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHealthcare Professionals and Health Departments\nWhat should healthcare professionals and health departments do?\nFor recommendations and guidance on persons under investigation; infection\ncontrol, including personal protective equipment guidance; home care and\nisolation; and case investigation, see Information for Healthcare\nProfessionals. For information on specimen collection and shipment, see\nInformation for\nLaboratories. For\ninformation for public health professional on COVID-19, see Information for\nPublic Health\nProfessionals."}
{"_id":"CDCtest325","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nHow can I prepare for COVID-19 at work?\nPlan for potential changes at your workplace. Talk to your employer about\ntheir emergency operations plan, including sick-leave policies and telework\noptions. Learn how businesses and employers can plan for and respond to\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest326","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhy is the disease being called coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19?\nOn February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization\nannounced an\nofficial name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus\noutbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is\ncoronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, \u2018CO\u2019 stands\nfor \u2018corona,\u2019 \u2018VI\u2019 for \u2018virus,\u2019 and \u2018D\u2019 for disease. Formerly, this disease\nwas referred to as \u201c2019 novel coronavirus\u201d or \u201c2019-nCoV\u201d.\nThere are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause\nmild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused be a\nnovel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. The\nname of this disease was selected following the World Health Organization\n(WHO) best practiceexternal iconexternal\nicon\nfor naming of new human infectious diseases."}
{"_id":"CDCtest327","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nAm I at risk for COVID-19 in the United States?\nThis is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk\nassessment may change daily. The latest updates are\navailable on CDC\u2019s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) website."}
{"_id":"CDCtest328","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nHow effective are alternative disinfection methods, such as ultrasonic waves, high intensity UV radiation, and LED blue light?\nThe efficacy of these disinfection methods against the virus that causes\nCOVID-19 is not known. EPA only recommends use of the surface disinfectants\nidentified on List Nexternal icon against the virus\nthat causes COVID-19. EPA does not routinely review the safety or efficacy of\npesticidal devices, such as UV lights, LED lights, or ultrasonic devices.\nTherefore, EPA cannot confirm whether, or under what circumstances, such\nproducts might be effective against the spread of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest329","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nCan the COVID-19 virus spread through sewerage systems?\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in untreated wastewater.\nResearchers do not know whether this virus can cause disease if a person is\nexposed to untreated wastewater or sewerage systems. There is no evidence to\ndate that this has occurred. At this time, the risk of transmission of the\nvirus that causes COVID-19 through properly designed and maintained sewerage\nsystems is thought to be low."}
{"_id":"CDCtest330","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nHow do CDC\u2019s COVID-19 case numbers compare with those provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) or Johns Hopkins?\nCDC\u2019s COVID-19 case numbers include many publicly reported numbers, including\ninformation from state, local, territorial, international and external\npartners."}
{"_id":"CDCtest331","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nWhat is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?\nCleaning with soap and water removes germs, dirt, and impurities from\nsurfaces. It lowers the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting kills\ngerms on surfaces. By killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can\nfurther lower the risk of spreading infection."}
{"_id":"CDCtest332","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nWhat is the source of the virus?\nCOVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a\nlarge family of viruses that are common in people and many different species\nof animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal\ncoronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people. This occurred\nwith MERS-CoV and SARS-\nCoV, and now with the virus that causes COVID-19. The SARS-\nCoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three of\nthese viruses have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are\nsimilar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single,\nrecent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir. However, the exact\nsource of this virus is unknown.\nMore information about the source and spread of COVID-19 is available on the\nSituation Summary: Source and Spread of the\nVirus."}
{"_id":"CDCtest333","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nWhat is multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and who is at risk?\nCDC is working with state and local health departments to investigate reports\nof multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with\nCOVID-19 and gather more information as quickly as possible about how common\nit is and who is at risk. As new information becomes available, we will\ncontinue to provide information for parents and caregivers as well as\nhealthcare and public health professionals. MIS-C has been described as\ninflammation (swelling) across multiple body systems, potentially including\nthe heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal organs.\nSigns and symptoms of MIS-C include fever and various symptoms such as\nabdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, and feeling tired.\nIf your child has any of these symptoms, other symptoms of\nCOVID-19, or other\nconcerning signs, contact your pediatrician. If your child is showing any\nemergency warning signs including trouble breathing, persistent pain or\npressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish\nlips or face, severe abdominal pain, or other concerning signs, seek\nemergency care right away."}
{"_id":"CDCtest334","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nHow does the virus spread?\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to\nperson, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person\ncoughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people\nwho are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely\nwhen people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).\nCOVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community\n(\u201ccommunity spread\u201d) in many affected geographic\nareas. Community spread means people have been infected with the\nvirus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became\ninfected.\nLearn what is known about the spread of newly emerged\ncoronaviruses."}
{"_id":"CDCtest335","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nShould outdoor playgrounds, like those at schools or in parks, be cleaned and disinfected to prevent COVID-19?\nOutdoor areas generally require normal routine cleaning and do not require\ndisinfection. Spraying disinfectant on outdoor playgrounds is not an efficient\nuse of disinfectant supplies and has not been proven to reduce the risk of\nCOVID-19 to the public. You should maintain existing cleaning and hygiene\npractices for outdoor areas. If practical, high touch surfaces made of plastic\nor metal, such as grab bars and railings, should be cleaned routinely.\nCleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (e.g., play structures, benches,\ntables) or groundcovers (e.g., mulch, sand) is not recommended."}
{"_id":"CDCtest336","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSchool Dismissals and Children\nWhile school\u2019s out, how can I keep my family healthy?\n\nWatch your child for any signs of illness.\nIf you see any sign of illness consistent with symptoms of COVID-19, particularly fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider and keep your child at home and away from others as much as possible. Follow CDC\u2019s guidance on \u201cWhat to do if you are sick.\u201d\n\n\nWatch for signs of stress in your child.\nSome common changes to watch for include excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, and difficulty with attention and concentration. For more information, see the \u201cFor Parents\u201d section on CDC\u2019s website, Manage Anxiety and Stress.\nTake time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.\nGo to CDC\u2019s Helping Children Cope with Emergencies or Talking with Children About COVID-19 for more information.\n\n\nTeach and reinforceeveryday preventive actions .\nParents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Explain that hand washing can keep them healthy and stop the virus from spreading to others.\nBe a good role model\u2014if you wash your hands often, they\u2019re more likely to do the same.\nMake handwashing a family activity.\n\n\nHelp your child stay active.\nEncourage your child to play outdoors\u2014it\u2019s great for physical and mental health. Take a walk with your child or go on a bike ride.\nUse indoor activity breaks (stretch breaks, dance breaks) throughout the day to help your child stay healthy and focused.\n\n\nHelp your child stay socially connected.\nReach out to friends and family via phone or video chats.\nWrite cards or letters to family members they may not be able to visit.\nSome schools and non-profits, such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learningexternal iconexternal icon and The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligenceexternal iconexternal icon, have resources for social and emotional learning. Check to see if your school has tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of your child.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest337","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nIs cleaning alone effective against the virus that causes COVID-19?\nCleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers\nand the risk of spreading infection. If a surface may have gotten the virus on\nit from a person with or suspected to have COVID-19, the surface should be\ncleaned and disinfected. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces."}
{"_id":"CDCtest338","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nWhat additional steps should families that have a child with an underlying medical condition or special health care need take?\nIn addition to following the recommendations to prevent getting\nsick and running\nessential errands, families should take extra steps recommended for persons with\nhigher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and steps outlined for those with\npotential COVID-19 exposure or confirmed\nillness.\n\nIdentify potential alternative caregivers, if you or other regular caregivers become sick and are unable to care for your child. If possible, these alternative caregivers would not be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 themselves.\nTry to have at least one month of medication and medical supplies on hand. Some health plans allow for a 90-day supply of prescription medications. Consider discussing this option with your child\u2019s healthcare provider.\nReview any care plans for your child, such as an asthma action plan, and make sure caregivers and backup caregivers are familiar with these plans.\nIf you do not have care plans or an emergency notebook, try to make them. They typically include important information about your child\u2019s medical conditions, how to manage those conditions, how to get in touch with your child\u2019s doctors, allergies, information on medications (names, dosages, and administration instructions), preferences (food and other) or special needs, daily routines and activities, friends, and details about routines that are important to support behavioral and emotional health.\nLearn if your child\u2019s healthcare providers, including doctors and therapists, have new ways to be contacted or new ways of providing appointments. If they offer telemedicine visits, find out how those are arranged and any additional information you need.\nIf your child receives any support care services in the home that need to be continued, make plans for what you will do if those direct care providers get sick, or if persons in your household are sick.\nDiscuss with the support care agencies and the providers ways to minimize risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. \nIf your child or other persons in your household are sick with COVID-19 and are able to recover at home, inform your direct care providers and consider postponing or rescheduling services until the criteria for discontinuing home isolation have been met.\nAsk service providers if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.\nTell the service provider to: \nWear a cloth face covering if they will be close (less than 6 feet) to you or persons in your household. Their cloth face covering helps protect you if they are infected but do not have symptoms.\nAsk them to wash their hands with soap and water or, if unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when they enter your home, before and after helping your child (dressing, bathing\/showering, transferring, toileting and\/or diapering, feeding), after handling tissues, and after changing linens or doing laundry. Learn more about proper handwashing.\nService providers and families should: \nRoutinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, bedside tables), and equipment such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, oxygen tanks and tubing, communication boards, and other assistive devices. Refer to CDC\u2019s recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest339","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nWhat about underlying medical conditions that are not included on this list?\nBased on available information, adults aged 65 years and older and people of\nany age with underlying medical conditions included on this list are at higher\nrisk for severe illness and poorer outcomes from COVID-19. CDC is collecting\nand analyzing data regularly and will update the list when we learn more.\nPeople with underlying medical conditions not on the list might also be at\nhigher risk and should consult with their healthcare provider if they are\nconcerned.\nWe encourage all people, regardless of risk, to:\n\nTake steps to protect yourself and others.\nCall your healthcare provider if you are sick with a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.\nFollow CDC travel guidelines and the recommendations of your state and local health officials.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest340","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nWhy are animals being tested when many people can\u2019t get tested?\nAnimals are only being tested in very rare circumstances. Routine testing of\nanimals is not recommended at this time, and any tests done on animals are\ndone on a case by case basis. For example, if the pet of a COVID-19 patient\nhas a new, concerning illness with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, the\nanimal\u2019s veterinarian might consult with public health and animal health\nofficials to determine if testing is needed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest341","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nCan the virus that causes COVID-19 be spread through food, including restaurant take out, refrigerated or frozen packaged food?\nCoronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person to person through\nrespiratory droplets. Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission\nof COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food it is\nimportant to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20\nseconds for general food safety. Throughout the day use a tissue to cover your\ncoughing or sneezing, and wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or\nsneezing, or going to the bathroom.\nIt may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or\nobject, like a packaging container, that has the virus on it and then touching\ntheir own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be\nthe main way the virus spreads.\nIn general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces,\nthere is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging.\nLearn what is known about the spread of\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest342","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nIs it safe to get care for my other medical conditions during this time?\n\nIt is important to continue taking care of your health and wellness. If you have a chronic health problem, you may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Below are some things you can to do to take care of your health during this time.\nContinue your medications, and do not change your treatment plan without talking to your healthcare provider.\nContinue to manage your disease the way your healthcare provider has told you.\nHave at least a 2-week supply of all prescription and non-prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare provider, insurer, and pharmacist about getting an extra supply of prescription medications, if possible, to reduce trips to the pharmacy.\nTalk to your healthcare provider about whether your vaccinations are up-to-date. People aged 65 years or older, and those with some underlying medical conditions, are recommended to receive vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease as soon as your provider tells you that can.\nCall your healthcare provider\nif you have any concerns about your medical conditions, or if you get sick.\nto find out about different ways you can connect with your healthcare provider for chronic disease management or other conditions. Ask about phone calls, video appointments, use of the patient portal, emails and mailings. Learn more about telehealth hereexternal icon.\n\n\nDo not delay getting emergency care for your health problems or any health condition that requires immediate attention. \nIf you need emergency help, call 911.\nEmergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect you from getting COVID-19 if you need care for your medical condition.\n\n\nContinue to practice everyday prevention: wash your hands often, keep space between yourself and others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around other people, cover coughs and sneezes, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest343","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nShould I make my own hand sanitizer if I can\u2019t find it in the stores?\nCDC recommends handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or,\nusing alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and\nwater are not available. These actions are part of everyday preventive\nactions individuals can take to slow the spread of respiratory\ndiseases like COVID-19.\n\nWhen washing hands, you can use plain soap or antibacterial soap. Plain soap is as effective as antibacterial soap at removing germs.\nIf soap and water are not readily available, you can use an FDA-approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.\n\nCDC does not encourage the production and use of homemade hand sanitizer\nproducts because of concerns over the correct use of the ingredientsexternal\niconexternal icon and the need to\nwork under sterile conditions to make the product. Local industries that are\nlooking into producing hand sanitizer to fill in for commercial shortages can\nrefer to the World Health Organization guidancepdf iconexternal iconpdf\niconexternal\nicon.\nOrganizations should revert to the use of commercially produced, FDA-approved\nproduct once such supplies again become available.\n\nTo be effective against killing some types of germs, hand sanitizers need to have a strength of at least 60% alcohol and be used when hands are not visibly dirty or greasy.\nDo not rely on \u201cDo It Yourself\u201d or \u201cDIY\u201d recipes based solely on essential oils or formulated without correct compounding practices.\nDo not use hand sanitizer to disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects. See CDC\u2019s information for cleaning and sanitizing your home.\n\nSee FAQs about hand hygiene for healthcare personnel responding to\nCOVID-2019."}
{"_id":"CDCtest344","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCommunity Mitigation\nWho is involved in community mitigation actions?\nIndividuals, communities, schools, businesses and healthcare organizations all\nhave a role to play in community mitigation. Policies*, which include limits\non large gatherings, restrictions on businesses, and school closures are often\nneeded to fully put in place community mitigation strategies.\nEach community is unique. Because some actions can be very disruptive to daily\nlife, mitigation activities will be different depending on how much disease\nhas spread within the community, what the community population is like, and\nthe ability to take these actions at the local level. To identify appropriate\nactivities, all parts of a community that might be impacted need to be\nconsidered, including populations most vulnerable to severe\nillness, and those who might be more impacted socially or economically.\nWhen selecting mitigation activities, states and communities need to consider\nthe spread of disease locally, characteristics of the people who live in the\ncommunity (for example, age groups, languages spoken, overall health status),\nand the kind of public health resources and healthcare systems (like\nhospitals) that are available in the community. State and local officials may\nneed to adjust community mitigation activities and immediately take steps to\nscale them up or down depending on the changing local situation.\nPutting mitigation into practice is based on:\n\nEmphasizing individual responsibility for taking recommended personal-level actions\nEmpowering businesses, schools, and community organizations to take recommended actions, particularly in ways that protect persons at increased risk of severe illness\nFocusing on settings that provide critical infrastructure or services to individuals at increased risk of severe illness\nMinimizing disruptions to daily life to the extent possible\n\n*CDC cannot address the policies of any business or organization. CDC shares recommendations based on the best available science to help people make decisions that improve their health and safety. In all cases, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and local health department. Local decisions depend on local circumstances."}
{"_id":"CDCtest345","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nAre pets from a shelter safe to adopt?\nBased on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals\nspreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. There is no reason to\nthink that any animals, including shelter pets, play a significant role in\nspreading the virus that causes COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest346","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nWhat is antibody testing? And can I be tested using this method?\nAntibody testing checks a sample of a person\u2019s blood to look for antibodies to\nSARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These antibodies are produced when\nsomeone has been infected, so a positive result from this test indicates that\nperson was previously infected with the virus.\nCDC is working with other federal agencies to evaluate the performance of\ncommercially manufactured antibody tests that are becoming increasingly\navailable from healthcare providers. This evaluation is expected to be\ncompleted in early May.\nWe do not know yet if the antibodies that result from infection with SARS-\nCoV-2 can protect someone from reinfection with this virus (immunity) or how\nlong antibodies to the virus will protect someone. Scientists are conducting\nresearch to answer those questions.\nAntibody tests may not be able to tell you if you are currently infected\nbecause it typically takes 1 to 3 weeks to develop antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.\nTo tell if you are currently infected, you would need a test that identifies\nthe virus in samples from your upper respiratory system, such as a\nnasopharyngeal swab."}
{"_id":"CDCtest347","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nWhat is the risk of my child becoming sick with COVID-19?\nBased on available evidence, children do not appear to be at higher risk for\nCOVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with\nCOVID-19, adults make up most of the known cases to date. You can learn more\nabout who is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 at People who\nare at higher risk for severe\nillness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest348","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nWhy are we seeing a rise in cases?\nThe number of cases of\nCOVID-19 being reported in the United States is rising due to increased\nlaboratory testing and reporting across the country. The growing\nnumber of cases in part reflects the rapid spread of COVID-19 as many U.S.\nstates and territories experience community spread. More detailed and accurate\ndata will allow us to better understand and track the size and scope of the\noutbreak and strengthen prevention and response efforts."}
{"_id":"CDCtest349","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nDoes CDC recommend the use of facemask or face coverings to prevent COVID-19?\nIn light of data about how COVID-19 spreads, along with evidence of widespread\nCOVID-19 illness in communities across the country, CDC recommends that people\nwear a cloth face\ncovering to cover their nose and mouth in the community\nsetting. This is an additional public health measure people should take to\nreduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) social\ndistancing, frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. A\ncloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but may prevent the\nspread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important\nin the event that someone is infected but does not have symptoms. A cloth face\ncovering should be worn whenever people must go into public settings (grocery\nstores, for example). Medical masks and N-95 respirators are reserved for\nhealthcare workers and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC\nguidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest350","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nAm I at risk if I go to a funeral or visitation service for someone who died of COVID-19?\nThere is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a\nfuneral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest351","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nAre people with disabilities at higher risk?\nMost people with disabilities are not inherently at higher risk for becoming\ninfected with or having severe illness from COVID-19. Some people with\nphysical limitations or other disabilities might be at a higher risk of\ninfection because of their underlying medical condition.\n\nPeople with certain disabilities might experience higher rates of chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness and poorer outcomes from COVID-19. Adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities.\n\nYou should talk with your healthcare provider if you have a question about\nyour health or how your health condition is being managed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest352","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nHow long do companies need to close for disinfection after an exposure? How long before other workers can come back to work?\nCompanies do not necessarily need to close after a person with confirmed or\nsuspected COVID-19 has been in a company facility. The area(s) used or visited\nby the ill person should be closed for 24 hours or as long as possible. Open\noutside doors and windows as much as possible ensuring that doing so does not\npose a safety risk to children using the facility (i.e. make sure that\nchildren are not able to enter the closed off area through any windows or\ndoors). and use ventilating fans to increase air circulation in the area. Once\nthe area has been appropriately\ndisinfected, it can be opened for use. Workers without close contact with\nthe person with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can return to work immediately\nafter disinfection is completed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest353","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nIs it possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?\nIt is possible to test positive for flu (as well as other respiratory\npathogens) and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time."}
{"_id":"CDCtest354","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nIf I have recovered from COVID-19, will I be immune to it?\nCDC and partners are investigating to determine if you can get sick with\nCOVID-19 more than once. At this time, we are not sure if you can become re-\ninfected. Until we know more, continue to take steps to protect yourself and\nothers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest355","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Hypertension\nAre people with high blood pressure (hypertension) at higher risk from COVID-19?\nAt this time, we do not think that people with high blood pressure and no\nother underlying health conditions are more likely than others to get severely\nill from COVID-19. Although many people who have gotten severely ill from\nCOVID-19 have high blood pressure, they are often older or have other medical\nconditions like obesity, diabetes, and serious heart conditions that place\nthem at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.\nIf you have high blood pressure, it\u2019s critically important that you keep your\nblood pressure under control to lower your risk for heart disease and strokes.\nTake your blood pressure medications as directed, keep a log of your blood\npressure every day if you are able to take your blood pressure at home, and\nwork with your healthcare team to make sure your blood pressure is well\ncontrolled. Any changes to your medications should be made in consultation\nwith your healthcare team."}
{"_id":"CDCtest356","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nHow can my family cope with the added stress?\nSupporting children with special healthcare needs can put additional demands\nand stress on families, especially during emergency situations. You have\nlikely found ways to manage the stress and challenges unique to your family\u2019s\nsituation. It is important to continue your family\u2019s coping methods, including\nreaching out to other family members, friends, support groups, and\norganizations that have been helpful in the past.\nSee information on ways to cope with stress (such as visiting parks, trails,\nor open spaces) and\nmaking your family stronger.\nIf you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like\nsadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or\nothers:\n\nCall 911\nVisit the Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon, call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746\nVisit the National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon or call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest357","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nCan the virus that causes COVID-19 spread through drinking water?\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water.\nConventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection,\nsuch as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or\ninactivate the virus that causes COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest358","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSchool Dismissals and Children\nWhile school\u2019s out, how can I help my child continue learning?\n\nStay in touch with your child\u2019s school.\nMany schools are offering lessons online (virtual learning). Review assignments from the school, and help your child establish a reasonable pace for completing the work. You may need to assist your child with turning on devices, reading instructions, and typing answers.\nCommunicate challenges to your school. If you face technology or connectivity issues, or if your child is having a hard time completing assignments, let the school know.\n\n\nCreate a schedule and routine for learning at home, but remain flexible.\nHave consistent bedtimes, and get up at the same time, Monday through Friday.\nStructure the day for learning, free time, healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity.\nAllow flexibility in the schedule\u2014it\u2019s okay to adapt based on your day.\n\n\nConsider the needs and adjustment required for your child\u2019s age group.\nThe transition to being at home will be different for preschoolers, K-5, middle school students, and high school students. Talk to your child about expectations and how they are adjusting to being at home versus at school.\nConsider ways your child can stay connected with their friends without spending time in person.\n\n\nLook for ways to make learning fun.\nHave hands-on activities, like puzzles, painting, drawing, and making things.\nIndependent play can also be used in place of structured learning. Encourage children to build a fort from sheets or practice counting by stacking blocks.\nPractice handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is a great way to connect and limit face-to-face contact.\nStart a journal with your child to document this time and discuss the shared experience.\nUse audiobooks or see if your local library is hosting virtual or live-streamed reading events.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest359","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nCan the virus that causes COVID-19 spread through pools, hot tubs, spas, and water play areas?\nWhile there is ongoing community\nspread of COVID-19 of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for\nindividuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take steps\nto ensure health and safety:"}
{"_id":"CDCtest360","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nIn Case of an Outbreak in Your Community\nShould I go to work if there is an outbreak in my community?\nFollow the advice of your local health officials. Stay home if you can. Talk\nto your employer to discuss working from home, taking leave if you or someone\nin your household gets sick with COVID-19\nsymptoms, or\nif your child\u2019s school is dismissed temporarily. Employers should be aware\nthat more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or\nother sick family members than is usual in case of a community outbreak."}
{"_id":"CDCtest361","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nShould I use soap and water or a hand sanitizer to protect against COVID-19?\nHandwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from\ngetting sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20\nseconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to\nthe bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not\nreadily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%\nalcohol."}
{"_id":"CDCtest362","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSchool Dismissals and Children\nWhile school\u2019s out, can my child hang out with their friends?\n\nThe key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 is to practice social distancing. While school is out, children should not have in-person playdates with children from other households. If children are playing outside their own homes, it is essential that they remain 6 feet from anyone who is not in their own household.\nTo help children maintain social connections while social distancing, help your children have supervised phone calls or video chats with their friends.\nMake sure children practice everyday preventive behaviors, such as washing their hands often with soap and water. Remember, if children meet outside of school in groups, it can put everyone at risk. \nRevise spring break plans if they included non-essential travel.\n\n\nInformation about COVID-19 in children is somewhat limited, but current data suggest children with COVID-19 may have only mild symptoms. However, they can still pass this virus onto others who may be at higher risk, including older adults and people who have serious underlying medical conditions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest363","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nWhere can I get tested for COVID-19?\nThe process and locations for testing vary from place to place. Contact your\nstate, local, tribal, or territorial department for more information, or reach\nout to a medical provider. State and local public health departments have\nreceived tests from CDC while medical providers are getting tests developed by\ncommercial manufacturers. While supplies of these tests are increasing, it may\nstill be difficult to find someplace to get tested. See Testing for\nCOVID-19 for more information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest364","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan I get COVID-19 from my pets or other animals?\nAt this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in\nspreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited information\navailable to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is\nconsidered to be low. A small number of pets have been reported to be infected\nwith the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after contact with people with\nCOVID-19.\nPets have other types of coronaviruses that can make them sick, like canine\nand feline coronaviruses. These other coronaviruses cannot infect people and\nare not related to the current COVID-19 outbreak.\nHowever, since animals can spread other diseases to people, it\u2019s always a good\nidea to practice healthy\nhabits\naround pets and other animals, such as washing your hands and maintaining good\nhygiene. For more information on the many benefits of pet ownership, as well\nas staying safe and healthy around animals including pets, livestock, and\nwildlife, visit CDC\u2019s Healthy Pets, Healthy People\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"CDCtest365","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan animals carry the virus that causes COVID-19 on their skin or fur?\nAlthough we know certain bacteria and fungi can be carried on fur and hair,\nthere is no evidence that viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19,\ncan spread to people from the skin, fur, or hair of pets.\nHowever, because animals can sometimes carry other germs that can make people\nsick, it\u2019s always a good idea to practice healthy\nhabits\naround pets and other animals, including washing hands before and after\ninteracting with them."}
{"_id":"CDCtest366","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Hypertension\nShould I continue to take my blood pressure medication?\nYes. Continue to take your blood pressure medications exactly as prescribed\nand make lifestyle modifications agreed upon in your treatment plan. Continue\nall your regular medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme\ninhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), as prescribed by\nyour healthcare team. This is recommended by current clinical\nguidelines from the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of\nAmerica, and the American College of Cardiology."}
{"_id":"CDCtest367","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Water\nIs the virus that causes COVID-19 found in feces (stool)?\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the feces of some patients\ndiagnosed with COVID-19. However, it is unclear whether the virus found in\nfeces may be capable of causing COVID-19. There has not been any confirmed\nreport of the virus spreading from feces to a person. Scientists also do not\nknow how much risk there is that the virus could be spread from the feces of\nan infected person to another person. However, they think this risk is low\nbased on data from previous outbreaks of diseases caused by related\ncoronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle\nEast respiratory syndrome (MERS)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest368","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nIs contact lens disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19?\n\nHydrogen peroxide-based systems for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing contact lenses should be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. \nFor other disinfection methods, such as multipurpose solution and ultrasonic cleaners, there is currently not enough scientific evidence to determine efficacy against the virus.\n\n\nAlways use solution to disinfect your contact lenses and case to kill germs that may be present.\nHandle your lenses over a surface that has been cleaned and disinfected.\n\nFind more information about how coronavirus\nspreads\nand how to protect\nyourself.\nVisit CDC\u2019s contact lens\nwebsite for more information on\nhealthy contact lens wear and care."}
{"_id":"CDCtest369","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nAm I at risk for COVID-19 from mail, packages, or products?\nThere is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and how it spreads.\nCoronaviruses are thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets.\nAlthough the virus can survive for a short period on some surfaces, it is\nunlikely to be spread from domestic or international mail, products or\npackaging. However, it may be possible that people can get COVID-19 by\ntouching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their\nown mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the\nmain way the virus spreads.\nLearn more about safe handling of deliveries and\nmail."}
{"_id":"CDCtest370","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nIs my child with an underlying medical condition or special healthcare need at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19?\nChildren with complex, chronic medical conditions, including children with\nphysical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional differences, can have\nspecial healthcare needs. It\u2019s not known yet whether all of these children are\nat higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\nAlthough most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious illness that\nneeds to be treated at the hospital still happens. Some data on children\nreported that the majority who needed hospitalization for COVID-19 had at\nleast one underlying medical condition. The most common underlying conditions\nreported among children with COVID-19 include chronic lung disease (including\nasthma), heart disease, and conditions that weaken the immune system. This\ninformation suggests that children with these underlying medical conditions\nmay be at risk for more severe illness from COVID-19.\nMore data are needed to learn which underlying or complex medical conditions\nmay put children at increased risk. CDC is monitoring new information as it\nbecomes available and will provide updates as needed.\nLearn more about caring for children with special health care needs during a\ndisaster\nand people who are at higher risk for severe illness from\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest371","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nMy family member died from COVID-19 while overseas. What are the requirements for returning the body to the United States?\nCDC does not require an autopsy before the remains of a person who died\noverseas are returned to the United States. Depending on the circumstances\nsurrounding the death, some countries may require an autopsy. Sources of\nsupport to the family include the local consulate or embassy, travel insurance\nprovider, tour operator, faith-based and aid organizations, and the deceased\u2019s\nemployer. There likely will need to be an official identification of the body\nand official documents issued by the consular office.\nCDC requirements for importing human remains depend upon if the body has been\nembalmed, cremated, or if the person died from a quarantinable communicable\ndisease.\nAt this time, COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United\nStates and the remains must meet the standards for importation found in 42\nCode of Federal Regulations Part 71.55 and may be cleared, released, and\nauthorized for entry into the United States only under the following\nconditions:\n\nThe remains are cremated; OR\nThe remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed casket; OR\nThe remains are accompanied by a permit issued by the CDC Director. The CDC permit (if applicable) must accompany the human remains at all times during shipment. \nPermits for the importation of the remains of a person known or suspected to have died from a quarantinable communicable disease may be obtained through the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or emailing dgmqpolicyoffice@cdc.gov.\n\n\n\nPlease see CDC\u2019s guidance\nfor additional information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest372","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nIn Case of an Outbreak in Your Community\nCan CDC tell me or my employer when it is safe for me to go back to work\/school after recovering from or being exposed to COVID-19?\nCDC cannot address the policies of any business or organization. CDC shares\nrecommendations based on the best available science to help people make\ndecisions that improve their health and safety. Employers, schools, and\norganizations may decide to visibly screen for symptoms or perform on-site\nsymptom checks.\nIf your employer, school, or organization requires you to present\ndocumentation regarding COVID-19 before returning to work or school (for\nexample, proof of a negative COVID-19 lab test, if a test was performed,\ncontact your healthcare provider to ask if he or she would be able to provide\na form of documentation for you. Documentation of self-isolation and self-\nquarantine may not be possible.\nCDC has guidance for when and how people with COVID-19 can discontinue home\nisolation: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/if-you-are-sick\/steps-\nwhen-sick.html.\nCDC also has guidance for what people should do if they think they have been\nexposed or feel sick: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prevent-\ngetting-sick\/social-distancing.html.\nIn all cases, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and local\nhealth department. Local decisions depend on local circumstances."}
{"_id":"CDCtest373","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nIn Case of an Outbreak in Your Community\nWill businesses and schools close or stay closed in my community and for how long? Will there be a \u201cstay at home\u201d or \u201cshelter in place\u201d order in my community?\nCDC makes recommendations, shares information, and provides guidance to help\nslow down the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. including guidance for schools\nand businesses. CDC regularly shares information and provides assistance to\nstate, local, territorial, and tribal health authorities. These local\nauthorities are responsible for making decisions including \u201cstay at home\u201d or\n\u201cshelter in place.\u201d What is included in these orders and how they are\nimplemented are also decided by local authorities. These decisions may also\ndepend on many factors such as how the virus is spreading in a certain\ncommunity.\nPlease contact your local health\ndepartment\nto find out more."}
{"_id":"CDCtest374","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nHow can people help stop stigma related to COVID-19?\nPeople can fight stigma by providing social support in situations where you\nnotice this is occurring. Stigma affects the emotional or mental\nhealth of stigmatized groups and the communities they live in. Stopping\nstigma is important to making communities and community members resilient. See\nresources on mental health and coping during\nCOVID-19.\nEveryone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the\nfacts and\nsharing them with others in your community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest375","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nWhat should people at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 do?\nIf you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:\n\nStock up on supplies\nTake everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others\nWhen you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick\nLimit close contact and wash your hands often\nAvoid crowds, cruise travel, and non-essential travel\n\nIf there is an outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible.\nWatch for symptoms and emergency signs. If you get sick, stay home and call\nyour doctor. More information on how to prepare, what to do if you get sick,\nand how communities and caregivers can support those at higher risk is\navailable on People at Risk for Serious Illness from\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest376","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nCan someone who has had COVID-19 spread the illness to others?\nThe virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-\nperson. People are thought to be most contagious when they are\nsymptomatic (the sickest). That is why CDC recommends that these patients be\nisolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are)\nuntil they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others. More\nrecently the virus has also been detected in asymptomatic persons.\nHow long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release\nsomeone from isolation is made using a test-based or non-test-based strategy\n(i.e. time since illness started and time since recovery) in consultation with\nstate and local public health officials. The decision involves considering the\nspecifics of each situation, including disease severity, illness signs and\nsymptoms, and the results of laboratory testing for that patient.\nLearn more about CDC\u2019s guidance on when to release someone from\nisolation and discharge hospitalized patients with COVID-19.\nFor information on when someone who has been sick with COVID-19 is able to\nstop home isolation see Interim Guidance for Discontinuation of In-Home\nIsolation for Patients with\nCOVID-19.\nSomeone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk\nof infection to others."}
{"_id":"CDCtest377","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nAm I at risk if I touch someone who died of COVID-19 after they have passed away?\nCOVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads. The\nvirus that causes COVID-19 is thought to mainly spread from close contact\n(i.e., within about 6 feet) with a person who is currently sick with COVID-19.\nThe virus likely spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when\nan infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other\nrespiratory infections spread. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses\nof people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. This type of\nspread is not a concern after death.\nIt may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or\nobject that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or\npossibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus\nspreads.\nPeople should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of\nCOVID-19. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health\nconditions are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness. There\nmay be less of a chance of the virus spreading from certain types of touching,\nsuch as holding the hand or hugging after the body has been prepared for\nviewing. Other activities, such as kissing, washing, and shrouding should be\navoided before, during, and after the body has been prepared, if possible. If\nwashing the body or shrouding are important religious or cultural practices,\nfamilies are encouraged to work with their community\u2019s cultural and religious\nleaders and funeral home staff on how to reduce their exposure as much as\npossible. At a minimum, people conducting these activities should wear\ndisposable gloves. If splashing of fluids is expected, additional personal\nprotective equipment (PPE) may be required (such as disposable gown,\nfaceshield or goggles and N-95 respirator).\nCleaning should be conducted in accordance with manufacturer\u2019s instructions\nfor all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application\nmethod and contact time). Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens\nclaimspdf iconexternal iconexternal icon are expected to be\neffective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. After\nremoval of PPE, perform hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water for at least 20\nseconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%\nalcohol if soap and water are not available. Soap and water should be used if\nthe hands are visibly soiled."}
{"_id":"CDCtest378","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nDo I need to get my pet tested for COVID-19?\nNo. At this time, routine testing of animals for COVID-19 is not recommended."}
{"_id":"CDCtest379","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSymptoms & Testing\nCan a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?\nUsing the CDC-developed viral test, a negative result means that the virus\nthat causes COVID-19 was not found in the person\u2019s sample. In the early stages\nof infection, it is possible the virus will not be detected.\nFor COVID-19, a negative test result for a sample collected while a person has\nsymptoms likely means that the COVID-19 virus is not causing their current\nillness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest380","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan I take my dog to daycare or a groomer?\nUntil we know more about how this virus affects animals, CDC encourages pet\nowners to treat pets as you would other human family members to protect them\nfrom possible infection. This means limiting contact between pets and people\nor animals outside the household as much as possible and avoiding places where\nlarge numbers of animals and people gather.\nSome areas are allowing groomers and boarding facilities such as dog daycares\nto open. If you must take your pet to a groomer or boarding facility, follow\nany protocols put into place at the facility, such as wearing a cloth face\ncovering\nand maintaining at least 6 feet of space between yourself and others if\npossible.\nLimit pet items brought from home to the groomer or boarding facility, and\ndisinfect any objects that are taken into a facility and returned home (such\nas leashes, bowls, and toys). Use an EPA-registered disinfectantexternal\nicon to clean items and rinse thoroughly with clean water\nafterwards. Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants,\nalcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other products not approved for animal use.\nDo not put face coverings on pets, and do not take a sick pet to a groomer or\nboarding facility. Signs of sickness in animals may include:\n\nFever\nCoughing\nDifficulty breathing or shortness of breath\nLethargy\nSneezing\nNasal\/ocular discharge\nVomiting\nDiarrhea\n\nIf you think your pet is sick, call your veterinarian. Some veterinarians may\noffer telemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets. Your\nveterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet\u2019s\ntreatment and care.\nSee more information on pets and COVID-19 and recommendations for how to help keep your pet safe."}
{"_id":"CDCtest381","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nWhat if my child needs to go to the hospital?\nIf your child\u2019s healthcare provider tells you to go to the hospital for any\nhealth problem, including COVID-19:\n\nAsk the healthcare provider to let the hospital know you are coming and to share the important information the hospital will need to know to care for your child.\nVisiting policies may have changed due to COVID-19. If your child\u2019s hospital policy does not allow an adult to stay with a child, ask your child\u2019s healthcare provider for a statement explaining your child\u2019s need for a familiar adult to be present.\nBring your care plans\/emergency notebook with you along with paper and pen to write down questions you have during your time at the hospital.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest382","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nSchool Dismissals and Children\nWhile school\u2019s out, will kids have access to meals?\nCheck with your school on plans to continue meal services during the school\ndismissal. Many schools are keeping school facilities open to allow families\nto pick up meals or are providing grab-and-go meals at a central location."}
{"_id":"CDCtest383","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nHow can I safely run my equestrian facility?\nYou should follow your state and\/or local jurisdictional guidance regarding\ncontinuing operations at your facility. There have not been any reports of\nhorses testing positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the\nlimited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading the virus\nthat causes COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. COVID-19 is primarily\nspread from person to person, so steps should be taken to reduce the risks for\npeople visiting your facility.\n\nEncourage employees and other visitors, including boarders, owners, farriers, veterinarians, and those taking lessons, not to enter the facility if they are sick. Employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, after talking with their doctor. Implement sick leave policies that are flexible, nonpunitive, and consistent with public health guidance, allowing employees to stay home if they have symptoms of respiratory infection.\nConsider conducting daily health checks (e.g., symptom and\/or temperature screening) of employees and others visiting the facility before they enter the premises. People with a fever of 100.40(38.00C) or above or other signs of illness should not be admitted to the premises. If implementing health checks, conduct them safely and respectfully. See General Business FAQs for more information. \nEmployees or visitors who appear to have symptoms upon arrival or who become sick during their visit should immediately be separated from other employees and visitors and sent home.\n\n\nLimit the number of people entering the facility. Consider staggering lesson and visiting times to limit the number of people in the facility and potential for person-to-person contact. If possible, you can also take steps to decrease high-traffic areas by limiting areas open to visitors\/owners or staggering use of common areas like grooming or wash stalls and tack rooms.\nIncrease distance and limit duration of contact between employees and visitors in the facility. Whenever possible, people should maintain at least 6 feet of distance between each other at the facility, including instructors teaching lessons. Allow for social distancing and avoid large numbers of people within the facility, including in employee-only areas.\nVisitors and employees should wear cloth face coverings to protect others especially where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Wearing a cloth face covering does NOT replace the need to practice social distancing.\nSet up hand hygiene stations at the entrance and within the facility, so that employees and people entering can clean their hands before they enter. Employees should wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, but if hands are visibly dirty, they should be washed with soap and water before using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Examples of hand hygiene stations may be a hose and soap located at entrances to allow for handwashing before entry.\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as grooming tools, halters, lead ropes, shared tack and equipment, and door handles\/gates (including those to stall doors and pasture\/turn out areas) on a routine basis. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against theexternal icon virus that causes COVID-19 and are appropriate for the surface, diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturer\u2019s label for disinfection, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol. Follow manufacturer\u2019s directions for use, especially regarding product contact time and protections from chemical hazards posed by cleaners and disinfectants.\nFollow local guidance on shelter in place and travel recommendations when traveling for showing, training, or trail riding.\nIf traveling to a new facility, limit contact between people, horses, tack, equipment, and other supplies from different facilities, and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between horses and riders. \nFollow state and local guidance on travel. People who are sick should not travel to other facilities.\nPeople visiting other facilities should follow the same precautions as they would normally, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between each other, wearing a cloth face covering to protect others, and washing hands frequently with soap and water.\n\n\nIf other animals, such as barn cats, are present at the facility, be aware that a small number of pets have been reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after contact with people with COVID-19.\n\nFor more information, see Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19pdf\niconexternal icon and\nInterim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to\nCoronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19)\n."}
{"_id":"CDCtest384","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhy do the number of cases for previous days increase?\nDelays in reporting can cause the number of COVID-19 cases reported on\nprevious days to increase. (Sometimes this effect is described as \u201cbackfill.\u201d)\nState, local, and territorial health departments report the number of cases\nthat have been confirmed and share these data with CDC. Since it takes time to\nconduct laboratory testing, cases from a previous day may be added to the\ndaily counts a few days late."}
{"_id":"CDCtest385","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nCan sanitizing tunnels be used at building entrances or exits to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nCDC does not recommend the use of sanitizing tunnels. There is no evidence\nthat they are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Chemicals used in\nsanitizing tunnels could cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation or damage."}
{"_id":"CDCtest386","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nPreparing Your Home and Family for COVID-19\nHow can my family and I prepare for COVID-19?\nCreate a household plan of action to help protect your health and the health\nof those you care about in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in your\ncommunity:\n\nTalk with the people who need to be included in your plan, and discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community.\nPlan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications, particularly older adults and those with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. \nMake sure they have access to several weeks of medications and supplies in case you need to stay home for prolonged periods of time.\n\n\nGet to know your neighbors and find out if your neighborhood has a website or social media page to stay connected.\nCreate a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, healthcare services, support, and resources.\nCreate an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest387","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection\nWhat is routine cleaning? How frequently should facilities be cleaned to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19?\nRoutine cleaning is the everyday cleaning practices that businesses and\ncommunities normally use to maintain a healthy environment. Surfaces\nfrequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles, bathroom\nsurfaces, and handrails, should be cleaned with soap and water or another\ndetergent at least daily when facilities are in use. More frequent cleaning\nand disinfection may be required based on level of use. For example, certain\nsurfaces and objects in public spaces, such as shopping carts and point of\nsale keypads, should be cleaned and disinfected before each use. Cleaning\nremoves dirt and impurities, including germs, from surfaces. Cleaning alone\ndoes not kill germs, but it reduces the number of germs on a surface."}
{"_id":"CDCtest388","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nWhat if my child\u2019s symptoms of their underlying medical condition or complex, chronic medical condition get worse?\n\nCall your child\u2019s healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your child\u2019s medical conditions. If you need emergency help, call 911.\nEmergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect you and your child from getting COVID-19 if your child needs care for medical conditions not related to COVID-19. Do not delay getting emergency care for your child\u2019s underlying condition or complex medical condition because you are afraid of getting exposed to COVID-19 when visiting the healthcare setting.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest389","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nWhat does more severe illness mean?\nSeverity typically means how much impact the illness or condition has on your\nbody\u2019s function. You should talk with your healthcare provider if you have a\nquestion about your health or how your health condition is being managed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest390","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHigher Risk\nWho is at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19?\nCOVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk\nfactors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and\nclinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious\nunderlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness\nfrom COVID-19.\nBased on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19\nare:\n\nPeople aged 65 years and older\nPeople who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility\n\nPeople of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not\nwell controlled, including:\n\nPeople with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma\nPeople who have serious heart conditions\nPeople who are immunocompromised \nMany conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications\n\n\nPeople with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] \u226540)\nPeople with diabetes\nPeople with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis\nPeople with liver disease\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest391","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Children\nShould children wear masks?\nCDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that\ncovers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. Cloth face\ncoverings should NOT be put on babies or children younger than 2 because of\nthe danger of suffocation. Children younger than 2 years of age are listed as\nan exception as well as anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious,\nincapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without\nassistance.\nWearing cloth face coverings is a public health measure people should take to\nreduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) social\ndistancing, frequent hand cleaning ,and other everyday preventive actions. A\ncloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer but may prevent the\nspread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important\nif someone is infected but does not have symptoms. Medical face masks and N95\nrespirators are still reserved for healthcare personnel and other first\nresponders, as recommended by current CDC guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest392","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nCOVID-19 and Hypertension\nAre people with high blood pressure (hypertension) at higher risk from\nCOVID-19?\nAt this time, we do not think that people with high blood pressure and no\nother underlying health conditions are more likely than others to get severely\nill from COVID-19. Although many people who have gotten severely ill from\nCOVID-19 have high blood pressure, they are often older or have other medical\nconditions like obesity, diabetes, and serious heart conditions that place\nthem at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.\nIf you have high blood pressure, it\u2019s critically important that you keep your\nblood pressure under control to lower your risk for heart disease and strokes.\nTake your blood pressure medications as directed, keep a log of your blood\npressure every day if you are able to take your blood pressure at home, and\nwork with your healthcare team to make sure your blood pressure is well\ncontrolled. Any changes to your medications should be made in consultation\nwith your healthcare team.\nShould I continue to take my blood pressure medication?\nYes. Continue to take your blood pressure medications exactly as prescribed\nand make lifestyle modifications agreed upon in your treatment plan. Continue\nall your regular medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme\ninhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), as prescribed by\nyour healthcare team. This is recommended by current clinical\nguidelines from the American Heart Association, the Heart\nFailure Society of America, and the American College of Cardiology"}
{"_id":"CDCtest393","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nWhat about imported animals or animal products?\nCDC does not have any evidence to suggest that imported animals or animal\nproducts pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 in the United States. This is a\nrapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes\navailable. CDC, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Fish\nand Wildlife Service (FWS) play distinct but complementary roles in regulating\nthe importation of live animals and animal products into the United States.\n\nCDC regulates animals and animal products that pose a threat to human health,\nUSDA regulateexternal icon animals and animal products that pose a threat to agriculture; and\nFWS regulatesexternal icon importation of endangered species and wildlife that can harm the health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture, or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest394","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow COVID-19 Spreads\nWill warm weather stop the outbreak of COVID-19?\nIt is not yet known whether weather and temperature affect the spread of\nCOVID-19. Some other viruses, like those that cause the common cold and flu,\nspread more during cold weather months but that does not mean it is impossible\nto become sick with these viruses during other months. There is much more to\nlearn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with\nCOVID-19 and investigations are ongoing."}
{"_id":"CDCtest395","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nHow to Protect Yourself\nIs it okay for me to donate blood?\nIn healthcare settings across the United States, donated blood is a\nlifesaving, essential part of caring for patients. The need for donated blood\nis constant, and blood centers are open and in urgent need of donations. CDC\nencourages people who are well to continue to donate blood if they are able,\neven if they are practicing social distancing because of COVID-19. CDC is\nsupporting blood centers by providing recommendations that will keep donors\nand staff safe. Examples of these recommendations include spacing donor chairs\n6 feet apart, thoroughly adhering to environmental cleaning practices, and\nencouraging donors to make donation appointments ahead of time."}
{"_id":"CDCtest396","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nChildren and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs\nWhat can I do if my child has difficulties adjusting to new routines and following recommendations?\nHelping children understand and follow recommendations, like social distancing\nand wearing cloth face coverings, can be challenging if your child has intellectual\ndisabilities, sensory issues, or other special healthcare needs.\n\nKeeping children at home and sheltering in place can lower stress created by social distancing and cloth face covering recommendations. Reach out to others for help in running essential errands.\nBehavioral techniques can be used to address behavioral challenges and to develop new routines. These include social stories, video modeling, picture schedules, and visual cues. Try rewarding your child in small ways with his or her favorite non-food treat or activities to help switch routines and to follow recommendations.\nMany of the organizations you turn to for information and support around your child\u2019s complex, chronic medical condition may have information on their websites to help families address issues related to COVID-19.\nYour child\u2019s therapist(s) and\/or teachers may also have resources to help successfully introduce new routines to your child.\n\nAdditional information on caring for children and on child development specific\nconditions are available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest397","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nWhat precautions should be taken for animals that have recently been imported from outside the United States (for example, by shelters, rescues, or as personal pets)?\nImported animals will need to meet\nCDC and USDAexternal iconexternal\nicon\nrequirements for entering the United States. At this time, there is no\nevidence that companion animals, including pets and service animals, can\nspread the virus that causes COVID-19. As with any animal introduced to a new\nenvironment, animals recently imported should be observed daily for signs of\nillness. If an animal becomes ill, the animal should be examined by a\nveterinarian. Call your local veterinary clinic before bringing the animal\ninto the clinic and let them know that the animal was recently imported from\nanother country.\nThis is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it\nbecomes available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest398","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions\nCOVID-19 and Animals\nCan I walk my dog?\nWalking a dog is important for both animal and human health and well-being.\nWalk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people\nand animals, do not gather in groups, and stay out of crowded places and avoid\nmass gatherings. Do not go to dog parks or public places where a large number\nof people and dogs gather. To help maintain social distancing, do not let\nother people pet your dog when you are out for a walk."}
{"_id":"CDCtest399","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nOnce packaging of the samples is complete should staff members decontaminate the work area?\nDecontaminate work surfaces and equipment with appropriate disinfectants. Use\nEPA-registered hospital disinfectants with label claims to be effective\nagainst SARS-CoV-2external icon. Follow\nmanufacturer\u2019s recommendations for use, such as dilution, contact time, and\nsafe handling.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nInterim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest400","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nWhat information is required on the outer package for shipment of specimens with ice packs?\nA: Ensure the outer package has been properly marked and labeled with the\nfollowing:\n\nHazard labeled with UN Identification Number already on label \u2013 UN 3373\nBiological Substance, Category B\nShipper\u2019s name, address, and phone number\nReceiver\u2019s name, address, and phone number\nName and phone number of a responsible person is optional if it is on the airway bill\n\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2019 \u2013 2020pdf iconexternal icon\n\n\nDangerous Goods Documentationexternal icon\n\n\nClick on \u201cInfectious substances\u201d and there is an option to download the packing instructions.\n\n\nexternal iconexternal iconLabels for UN 3373 \n\n\nWhen using cold packpdf iconpdf icon \u2013 Include the name and telephone number of the person who will be available during normal business hours who knows the content of the shipment (can be someone at CDC). Place the label on one side of the box and cover the label completely with clear tape (do not tape just the edges of the label).\n\n\n\n\nSchematic for packaging, UN 3373 Category Bpdf icon\npdf iconpdf icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest401","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nWhat information is required on the outer packages for shipment of specimens with dry ice?\nEnsure the outer package has been properly marked and labeled with the\nfollowing:\n\nHazard labeled with UN Identification Number already on label \u2013 UN 3373\nBiological Substance, Category B\nHazard Labeled with UN Identification Number- UN 1845\nDry Ice along with the net weight (kg) of the dry ice\nShipper\u2019s name and address\nReceiver\u2019s name and address\nName and phone number of a responsible person.\n\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2019 \u2013 2020pdf iconexternal icon\nIATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Packaging Instruction 650 \n\n\nPacking Instructions 650 for UN 3373external icon\n\n\nClick on \u201cInfectious substances\u201d and there is an option to download the packing instructions.\n\n\nLabels for UN 3373 \nWhen using dry icepdf iconpdf icon \u2013 Include the name and telephone number of the person who will be available during normal business hours who knows the content of the shipment (can be someone at CDC). Place the label on one side of the box and cover the label completely with clear tape (do not tape just the edges of the label).\n\n\nSchematic for packaging, UN 3373 Category Bpdf icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest402","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nDo people packing patient specimens, isolates or cultures for transport need to be trained and competent?\nFor transporting patient specimens, cultures or isolates, personnel must be\ntrained in the proper safety, packing, and shipping regulations for Division\n6.2, UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B in accordance with the current\nedition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods\nRegulations (DGR)external\nicon. Personnel\nshould be trained in a manner that corresponds to their function-specific\nresponsibilities.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2019 \u2013 2020pdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest403","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nAre certified Class II biological safety cabinets (BSCs) required to process suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 specimens? Should laboratory staff put procedures in place to minimize personnel exposure if there is no certified Class II BSC?\nFor procedures with a high likelihood to generate aerosols or droplets, use\neither a certified Class II Type A1 or A2 BSC or additional precautions to\nprovide a barrier between the specimen and personnel. Examples of these\nadditional precautions include personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a\nsurgical mask or face shield, or other physical barriers, like a splash\nshield; centrifuge safety cups; and sealed centrifuge rotors to reduce the\nrisk of exposure to laboratory personnel.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nCDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panelexternal icon\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\nLaboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)pdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest404","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nWhat procedures can generate aerosols and droplets?\nMany routine laboratory procedures can potentially generate aerosols and\ndroplets that are often undetectable. The following laboratory procedures have\nbeen associated with the generation of infectious aerosols and droplets:\ncentrifugation, pipetting, vortexing, mixing, shaking, sonicating, removing\ncaps, decanting liquids, preparing smears, flaming slides, aliquoting and\nloading specimens, loading syringes, manipulating needles, syringes or sharps,\naspirating and transferring blood and body fluids, subculturing blood culture\nbottles, spilling specimens, and cleaning up spills.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratoriespdf iconpdf icon\nBiosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Ed.\nLaboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)pdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest405","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nHow should specimens be stored?\nStore specimens at 2-8oC for up to 72 hours after collection. If a delay\noccurs in extraction, store specimens at -70oC or lower. Store extracted\nnucleic acid samples at -70oC or lower.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nInterim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings\nCDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panelexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest406","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nIs a shipper\u2019s declaration required? What documentation is required for shipment? What if specimens are shipped on dry ice?\nA shipper\u2019s declaration is not required for UN 3373 Biological Substances,\nCategory B shipped samples. If an Air Waybill is used, the \u201cNature and\nQuantity of Goods\u201d box should show \u201cUN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B\u201d\nalong with the number of packages. If specimens are shipped on dry ice,\ninclude UN 1845, Dry Ice, 9, along with the net weight of the dry ice. See\nIATA PI 650 for additional information.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2019 \u2013 2020pdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\nIATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Packaging Instruction 650pdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest407","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nWhat disinfectant should personnel use to decontaminate work surfaces?\nDecontaminate work surfaces and equipment with appropriate disinfectants. Use\nEPA-registered hospital disinfectants with label claims to be effective\nagainst SARS-CoV-2external icon. Follow\nmanufacturer\u2019s recommendations for use, such as dilution, contact time, and\nsafe handling."}
{"_id":"CDCtest408","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nIs a Responsible Person required on the shipping paperwork?\nYes, a Responsible Person should be listed on the air waybill or Shipper\u2019s\nDeclaration (if applicable).\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nGuidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2019 \u2013 2020pdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\nIATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Packaging Instruction 650pdf iconexternal iconpdf iconpdf iconexternal iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest409","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nWhat information is required on an overpack if used for specimen shipment?\nThe overpack should be marked in accordance with the packing instructions\nrequired for the outer package:\n\nHazard labeled with UN Identification Number already on the label \u2013 UN 3373\nBiological Substance, Category B\nShipper\u2019s name, address, and phone number\nReceiver\u2019s name, address, and phone number\nPackage Orientation Label\nMarked with the word \u201cOverpack\u201d\nName and phone number of a responsible person is optional if it is on the airway bill\n\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\u2022 IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Packaging Instruction 650pdf iconexternal\niconpdf iconexternal\nicon\n\u2022 Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing\nSpecimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019\n(COVID-19)"}
{"_id":"CDCtest410","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nHow should laboratory personnel remove biohazardous waste from the laboratory or testing area for decontamination and disposal?\nHandle laboratory waste from testing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient\nspecimens as all other biohazardous waste in the laboratory. Currently, there\nis no evidence to suggest that this laboratory waste needs additional\npackaging or disinfection procedures.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nBiosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (5th edition)\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest411","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nWhat specific packaging should personnel use when shipping suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patient specimens, isolates or cultures?\nPack and ship suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patient specimens, cultures or\nisolates as UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B, in accordance with the\ncurrent edition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)\nDangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)external\nicon:\n\nA leakproof primary container.\nA leakproof, watertight secondary packaging with absorbent material.\nA rigid outer packaging to protect the specimens during shipment.\n\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nIATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Packaging Instruction 650pdf iconexternal icon\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\nLaboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)pdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest412","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nIf laboratory personnel collect blood or respiratory specimens directly from suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, what PPE should they wear?\nIf laboratory personnel have direct contact with suspected or confirmed\nCOVID-19 patients, they should follow recommended PPE for health care\nproviders while in the presence of these patients.\nFor additional information, refer to:\n\nInterim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings\nOSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens Standardexternal icoexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest413","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nHow should the laboratory perform a risk assessment to identify and mitigate risks?\nAll laboratories should perform a site-specific and activity-specific risk\nassessment to identify and mitigate risks and determine if enhanced biosafety\nprecautions are warranted based on situational needs, such as high testing\nvolumes, and the likelihood to generate infectious droplets and aerosols. Risk\nassessments and mitigation measures are dependent on the procedures performed,\nidentification of the hazards involved in the process and\/or procedures, the\ncompetency level of the personnel who perform the procedures, the laboratory\nequipment and facility, and the resources available.\nThe risk assessment should identify all potential scenarios of a particular\nactivity that could produce a negative outcome. The risk assessment should\nprioritize those potential negative outcomes, or risks, based on an evaluation\nof the likelihood and consequences of each of those identified risks. The risk\nassessment should determine the most appropriate control measures, and how the\nsystem will measure the effectiveness of those control measures.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nLaboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)pdf iconexternal icon\nRisk Assessment Best Practicespdf iconexternal icon\nWorld Health Organization Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 3rdpdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest414","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nHow should point-of-care testing (POCT) be conducted outside a traditional laboratory?\nFor viral testing of specimens conducted outside of a traditional clinical\nlaboratory, such as rapid respiratory testing, use Standard Precautions to\nprovide a barrier between the specimen and personnel during specimen\nmanipulation.\nFor additional information, refer to:\n\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest415","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nWhat are Standard Precautions?\nStandard Precautions are based on the principle that all blood, body fluids,\nsecretions, nonintact skin, mucous membranes, and excretions (except sweat)\nmay contain transmissible infectious agents. Standard Precautions include hand\nhygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as laboratory\ncoats or gowns, gloves, and eye protection.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\n2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settingspdf iconpdf icon\nCDC Isolation Precautions\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest416","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Packing and Shipping\nAt what temperature should specimens be shipped?\nSpecimens should be shipped at 2-8oC with ice packs. If the specimen is\nfrozen, ship overnight on dry ice. The primary receptacle and the secondary\npackaging should maintain their integrity at the temperature of the\nrefrigerant used as well as the temperatures and the pressures which could\nresult if refrigeration were lost. Packages containing dry ice should be\ndesigned and constructed so as to prevent the buildup of pressure and to allow\nthe release of gas that could rupture the packaging.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nCDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panelexternal icon\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest417","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nWhat are infectious aerosols and droplets?\nAerosols and droplets containing particles that are <100 \u03bcm in diameter\nare not visible to the naked eye. Laboratory workers may not be aware that\nsuch particles can be generated during many laboratory procedures and that\nthese particles could be inhaled or could cross-contaminate work surfaces,\nmaterials, and equipment.\nInfectious aerosols are small liquid or solid particles suspended in the\nair that contain infectious agents. They can disperse throughout the\nlaboratory and remain infective over time and distance. These particles are of\na size that may be inhaled into the lower respiratory tract (<5 \u03bcm in\ndiameter). Examples of organisms transmitted by aerosols include spores of\nAspergillus spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rubeola virus (measles), and\nvaricella-zoster virus (chickenpox).\nDroplets traditionally are defined as larger infectious particles (>5 \u03bcm\nin diameter) that rapidly fall out of the air, contaminating gloves, the\nimmediate work area, and the mucous membranes of the persons performing the\nprocedure.\nExamples of infectious agents that are transmitted via the droplet route\ninclude Bordetella pertussis, influenza viruses, adenovirus, Mycoplasma\npneumoniae, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), group A streptococcus, and\nNeisseria meningitidis.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nWHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 3rdpdf iconexternal icon\n2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settingspdf iconpdf icon\nCDC Isolation Precautions\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest418","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nWhat is the recommended biosafety level for handling suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patient specimens?\nRoutine viral testing of patient specimens, such as the following activities,\ncan be handled in a BSL-2 laboratory using Standard Precautions:\n\u2022 Using automated instruments and analyzers\n\u2022 Staining and microscopic analysis of fixed smears\n\u2022 Examination of bacterial cultures\n\u2022 Pathologic examination and processing of formalin-fixed or otherwise\ninactivated tissues\n\u2022 Molecular analysis of extracted nucleic acid preparations\n\u2022 Final packaging of specimens for transport to diagnostic laboratories for\nadditional testing. Specimens should already be in a sealed, decontaminated\nprimary container\n\u2022 Using inactivated specimens, such as specimens in nucleic acid extraction\nbuffer\n\u2022 Electron microscopic studies with glutaraldehyde-fixed grids\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nCDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panelexternal icon\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\nOSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens Standardexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest419","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19\nSpecimen Handling\nHow should personnel transport suspected or confirmed SARS CoV-2 specimens within a facility?\nPersonnel should adhere to standard procedures associated with other\nrespiratory pathogens, such as seasonal influenza and other human\ncoronaviruses, when they transport specimens within a facility. Personnel\nshould perform site- and activity-specific risk assessments to determine if\nenhanced biosafety precautions are warranted based on situational needs.\nFor additional information, refer to the following:\n\nInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)\nLaboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).pdfpdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest420","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Public Health Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nWhat supplies are being distributed by IRR for COVID-19 testing?\nThe expanded catalog of COVID-19 diagnostic supplies includes:\n\nExtraction kits , to isolate the viral genetic material (RNA)\n\nTest kits , to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2\nClick here for more information about CDC\u2019s test\nkits\n\n\nDISCONTINUED: Sample collection kits , to swab via the nasopharynx, suggest nose, and\/or throat (See below to learn more about the process for ordering swabs.)\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest421","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Clinical Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nHow do I obtain reagents for the CDC EUA real-time RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2?\nClinical laboratories can purchase reagents for the CDC EUA real-time RT-PCR\nprimers and probes from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) or Biosearch\nTechnologies. CDC has posted a list of approved reagents and acceptable lots\non the CDC COVID-19 website .\nClinical laboratories also can purchase commercially developed viral tests\nwith an EUA from the manufacturer."}
{"_id":"CDCtest422","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Serology\nShould I test for IgG, IgM, or total immunoglobulin?\nThe decision to test for IgG, IgM, or total immunoglobulin, which could also\ninclude IgA, depends on the purpose for testing. Testing for total\nimmunoglobulin may increase sensitivity for identifying people who have been\nrecently infected. Testing for IgG may be a better marker of durable immunity\nto SARS-CoV-2. However, we need additional data on the maturation of the\nimmune response to SARS-CoV-2 to make evidence-based recommendations for all\ntesting scenarios. Scientists from CDC and elsewhere are investigating how\nSARS-CoV-2 antibody responses develop over time."}
{"_id":"CDCtest423","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Public Health Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nWhat Is CDC's International Reagent Resource (IRR)?\nThe International Reagent Resourceexternal\nicon (IRR) was established by\nCDC more than 10 years ago. It provides registered users with reagents, tools,\nand information for studying and detecting influenza virus and other\npathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. IRR is primarily a resource used for\nprocuring pathogen test components and assembling, qualifying, and\ndistributing these kits for use in CDC-directed public health activities. This\nresource supports detection and characterization of pathogens, which will aid\nin informing interventions. By centralizing these functions within IRR, access\nto and use of these materials in the scientific and public health community is\nmonitored and quality control of the reagents is assured.\nTo support health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic, IRR has expanded\nto provide more products needed for viral testing, including numerous\ncommercially produced Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) assays. IRR is managed\nunder a CDC contract by American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest424","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Clinical Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nCan I register my lab or hospital with IRR?\nCDC limits IRR registration and SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic reagent distribution to\nU.S. state and local public health laboratories validated to perform SARS-\nCoV-2 viral testing. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, CDC will defer the\ndecision to authorize new laboratories to the corresponding state public\nhealth laboratory."}
{"_id":"CDCtest425","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nHow do clinicians get access to SARS-CoV-2 viral testing?\n\nClinicians can access laboratory tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, through clinical laboratories performing tests authorized or intended to be authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Clinicians should consult with the laboratories that routinely perform their diagnostic services to see how best to access SARS-CoV-2 testing.\nClinicians also can access viral testing through their state public health departments. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)external icon provides a list of available public health laboratory testing locations.\nFor a list of COVID-19 EUAs, see FDA\u2019s COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorizations for Medical Devicesexternal icon.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest426","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nWhen FDA authorizes emergency use for a SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care test, can that test be used in CLIA certificate-of-waiver facilities?\nWhen the FDA grants an EUA for a point-of-care test, that test is deemed to be\nCLIA-waived. For the duration of the national emergency declaration for\nCOVID-19, such tests can be performed in any CLIA-certified patient care\nsetting with a certificate of waiver."}
{"_id":"CDCtest427","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nCan a pooling strategy be used to expand nucleic acid testing for SARS-CoV-2?\nIn areas with low COVID-19 prevalence, a two-stage specimen pooling approach\ncan help preserve testing reagents and resources. In the first stage, several\npatients\u2019 specimens are combined before extraction, and then tested all at\nonce. If the test comes back negative, then all of those patients can be\ncleared with one test. If the test comes back positive, then all of those\nspecimens need to be extracted and re-tested individually.\nThe lower the prevalence of the disease, the larger the optimal pool size can\nbe. A recent studyexternal\nicon from the\nNebraska Public Health Laboratory found that polymerase chain reaction (PCR)\ntests for SARS-CoV-2 reliably return a positive result when one positive\nsample is mixed with four negatives. Researchers in Germany and Israel have\nhad similar results.\nA pooling strategy is not efficient when the prevalence of COVID-19 is\nhigh. People with symptoms and people who have been exposed to someone with a\nconfirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection should still be tested individually.\nBefore using a pooling strategy, the laboratory must have the proper\nregulatory approvals. If the manufacturer\u2019s guidelines and the emergency use\nauthorization (EUA) for that SARS-CoV-2 test do not stipulate pooling,\nlaboratories that use authorized nucleic acid devices can still bridge to\nalternative components, including extraction methods, PCR instruments,\nsoftware versions, etc., under Section IV. A. 4. of FDA\u2019s Policy for COVID-19\nTests During the Public Health Emergencyexternal\nicon. These component changes can be achieved through evaluation\nand verification of the performance of the component with the test, without a\nnew EUA or an amendment to the original EUA. Additional detail and suggested\nstudies are discussed in FDA\u2019s policy. The process used for such changes must\nalso comply with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments\n(CLIA) guidelines."}
{"_id":"CDCtest428","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nWhat is the CLIA test complexity categorization of SARS-CoV-2 tests that do not have an EUA?\nTests for SARS-CoV-2 that are offered prior to or without an EUA have not been\nreviewed by FDA, are not FDA-authorized, and have not received a CLIA\ncategorizationexternal icon. Thus, those tests are\nconsidered high complexity by default until they receive an EUA or other FDA\nreview that indicates they may be performed as moderate complexity or waived\ntests. For more information, visit FDA COVID-19 Resourcesexternal\nicon, and navigate to the section titled \u201cGeneral\nFAQs.\u201d"}
{"_id":"CDCtest429","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nUnder what circumstances should laboratories use either a SARS-CoV-2 viral or serology (antibody) test that has received EUA from FDA?\nFDA has authorized EUAs for both viral and antibody tests for COVID-19. Viral\n(nucleic acid and antigen) tests are used to diagnose the presence of SARS-\nCoV-2 infections. In contrast, antibody tests can detect IgG, IgA, and IgM\nantibodies from an immune response to SARS-CoV-2.\nWhenever possible, laboratories should rely on viral tests to diagnose the\npresence of SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, a negative result from viral\ntesting does not rule out COVID-19.\nMost of the PCR-based tests that use two or more targets are likely to have\nhigh specificity (few false positives). However, there is some variation in\nthe stated sensitivity of the different assays, and sensitivity is highly\ndependent on the stage of the disease. For this reason, negative results\nshould always be interpreted in the context of the exposure history and\nsymptoms of the patient.\nResults from antibody testing should not be used to diagnose or exclude SARS-\nCoV-2 infections or to inform infection status. Negative results from antibody\ntesting do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infections, particularly for those\nindividuals who have been exposed to the virus and are still within the\nestimated incubation period. Until the performance characteristics of antibody\ntests have been evaluated, it is possible that positive results from such\ntesting may be due to past or present infections with a coronavirus other than\nSARS-CoV-2.\nIf a laboratory initially uses antibody testing for diagnostic purposes,\nfollow-up testing using a viral test should be performed.\nRead: Important Information on the Use of Serological (Antibody) Tests for\nCOVID-19: FDA Letter to Healthcare Providersexternal\nicon\nMore: FDA EUA Authorized Serology Test Performanceexternal\nicon"}
{"_id":"CDCtest430","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Test Developers\nWhere do test developers get the genomic RNA needed to validate test performance for FDA?\n\nCurrently, genomic RNA material can be used for validation purposes in biosafety level 2 laboratories (BSL-2). Genomic RNA material is available through BEI Resourcesexternal icon. Registrationexternal icon with BEI Resources is required to request SARS-CoV-2 materials. BEI Resources is prioritizing and fast-tracking all SARS-CoV-2 registrations with a 12- to 72-hour turnaround time for all SARS-CoV-2-related registrations. Please contact BEI Resources at contact@beiresources.org or 1-800 359-7370 for questions.\nDevelopers are required to sign a material transfer agreement prior to the release of materials.\nAll BEI Resources reagents are provided worldwide. There is no cost for the reagents themselves. However, shipping and handling charges may apply.\nCommercial sources also may have this material.\nFor Public Health Laboratories: If a kit to detect the virus (SAR-CoV-2) is needed, contact the International Reagent Resource external icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest431","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Serology\nDoes CDC accept specimens for antibody testing?\nCDC is currently performing antibody surveys to understand how COVID-19 has\nspread in the U.S. population. CDC is not using its antibody tests for\ndiagnostic purposes, and thus is not accepting antibody test requests intended\nfor COVID-19 patient diagnosis."}
{"_id":"CDCtest432","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nCan laboratories use specimen collection devices other than those listed in the manufacturer\u2019s instructions or EUA (e.g., swabs) for SARS-CoV-2 testing?\nAccording to FDA, when one entity establishes equivalent performance between\nparallel testing of the same specimens with the new and original components\n(including viral transport media [VTM]), and FDA\u2019s review of the validation\ndata indicates that it could be applicable to modifications of other tests\nwith an authorized EUA, FDA will post this information on its website so that\nother laboratories can refer to the validation for their testing. Then, other\nlaboratories do not need to conduct their own bridging study for the same\nmodification. For additional information regarding FDA\u2019s policy for\nmodification, see FDA\u2019s frequently asked questionsexternal\nicon website."}
{"_id":"CDCtest433","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nMy facility would like to begin SARS-CoV-2 testing. Do we need a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate? Can my facility be granted a waiver from the CLIA certification requirements so that I can begin testing immediately?\nBefore conducting SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, a laboratory must be CLIA-\ncertified and meet applicable regulatory requirements. The Centers for\nMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) does not have the authority to grant\nwaivers of exceptions that are not established in a statute or regulation. For\nadditional information, please refer to the FAQs on the CMS website: CMS\nCoronavirus Informationexternal icon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest434","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nWhere do laboratories get access to reagents and materials to perform viral testing for SARS-CoV-2?\nPublic health laboratories can access collection materials for SARS-CoV-2\ntesting, including swabs and transport media, through the International\nReagent Resource (IRR)external\nicon. The IRR\nsupports state and local public health laboratories, as well as other\nqualified laboratories participating in public health surveillance and\nstudies, by providing reagents, tools, and information for studying SARS-CoV-2\nand other pathogens.\nThrough IRR, CDC also provides the reagents that public health laboratories\nuse to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory specimens. One test for SARS-\nCoV-2 detection is a CDC-developed real-time reverse transcription polymerase\nchain reaction (RT-PCR) test that received an EUA from FDA on February 4,\n2020, to detect the virus in upper and lower respiratory specimens. IRR also\nprovides several additional commercially produced assays that have received an\nEUA from FDA to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in respiratory samples.\nClinical and commercial laboratories conducting SARS-CoV-2 viral testing\ncan acquire test reagents from commercial reagent manufacturers that have\nreceived EUA from FDA. Genomic RNA material for validation purposes can be\nobtained from BEI Resources as indicated below."}
{"_id":"CDCtest435","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nHow do I apply for a CLIA certificate so that my testing facility can perform SARS-CoV-2 testing?\nThe federal CLIA program contracts with states to carry out certain oversight\nand recording functions of the CLIA program. The state in which the laboratory\nis located processes applications for CLIA certificates. After the laboratory\nhas identified a qualified and certified laboratory directorexternal\nicon and has\nprovided all required information on the CMS-116 application, a CLIA number\nwill be assigned and the laboratory can begin testing if applicable CLIA\nrequirements have been met. For additional information, please refer to the\nFAQs on the CMS website: CMS Coronavirus Informationexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest436","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Test Developers\nWhat is NIH's BEI Resources Repository?\nBEI Resources Repositoryexternal\nicon was established by the National\nInstitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseasesexternal\nicon at the National Institutes of Health to\nprovide reagents, tools, and information for studying Category A, B, and\nCexternal icon priority pathogens, emerging infectious diseaseexternal\nicon agents, non-pathogenic microbes, and other microbiological\nmaterials of relevance to the research community including diagnostic\ndevelopers. Centralizing these functions within BEI Resources facilitates\naccess to these materials by the scientific community and ensures quality\ncontrol of the reagents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest437","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Serology\nWill CDC submit its antibody test for an EUA?\nNot at this time. CDC is using its antibody test as part of a multi-agency\nstudy to evaluate current commercially marketed antibody tests for specificity\nand sensitivity and to help determine how results from antibody tests could\nsupport policymaking. CDC will share information publicly on the recommended\nuse of antibody testing as soon as enough data becomes available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest438","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Public Health Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nWhere can I find a complete product list of items for SARS-CoV-2 testing?\nA comprehensive list of all viral testing supplies available through IRR is\nprovided on the IRR websiteexternal\nicon. New\nreagents may be added to the IRR catalog as the emergency response progresses."}
{"_id":"CDCtest439","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nI can\u2019t find viral transport media (VTM) for SARS-CoV-2 testing. What are my options?\nPublic health laboratories can order VTM through IRR, as noted above.\nClinical testing laboratories should acquire VTM from commercial\nsources.\nPublic health and clinical laboratories can also create their own VTM if they\nare unable to order it. In response to VTM shortages, CDC has posted a \nstandard operating procedurepdf icon to create VTM for laboratories. Saline is also an\nacceptable transport media for some COVID-19 viral assays, including the CDC\nEUA. Check the Instructions for Use with the EUA Assayexternal\nicon to see which transport\nmedia is acceptable."}
{"_id":"CDCtest440","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Test Developers\nMy facility created a laboratory-developed test (LDT) to detect SARS-CoV-2. We need to have the first five positive and negative specimens confirmed. Can we send these specimens to CDC?\nLaboratories using an LDT to detect SARS-CoV-2 should confer with their state\npublic health laboratory for assistance. If the state public health laboratory\ncannot assist, contact respvirus@cdc.gov."}
{"_id":"CDCtest441","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing\nAre pathologists able to sign out cases remotely during the COVID-19 public health emergency?\nCMS has indicated that it will allow laboratories to use temporary testing\nsites for remote review and reporting of laboratory data, slides, and images\nif specific criteria are met. Please refer to this CMS Memorandumexternal\nicon for additional information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest442","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19\nFor Public Health Laboratories: Ordering Supplies\nWhat is the new process for swab ordering?\nStarting April 30, 2020, FEMA is assuming responsibility for the production\nand distribution of LR-1, Flock Swabs. States can reach out to their federal\ntesting contact. The federal government will work with states who are on pace\nto exceed their testing goals for the month to meet increased testing demand.\nLearn more hereexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest443","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nWhat resources are available for burial of American Indian\/Alaska Native veterans?\nSpouses and families of American Indian\/Alaska Native Veterans may be eligible\nfor burial assistance. Burial benefits can include opening and closing of the\ngrave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a\nPresidential Certificate\u2014at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be\neligible to receive money to help cover the cost (burial allowances).\nThe National Cemetery Administration oversees burial benefits. This office is\nunder the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits\nAdministration. The VA can be contacted at the following phone numbers:\n\nFor burial, survivors\u2019 pension, or other benefits: 1-877-294-6380\nFor the status of VA headstones and markers: 1-800-697-6947\nFor obtaining bereavement counseling: 1-202-461-6530\nFor telecommunications devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing services, dial 711.\nAdditional informationexternal icon\nVA Survivors and Burial Benefits kitpdf iconexternal icon\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest444","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nHigher Risk\nWho is most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19?\nCOVID-19 can cause mild to severe illness. This can result in someone being\nadmitted to the hospital and even an intensive care unit. It can even cause\ndeath. People who are infected often have symptoms of illness. People 65 and\nolder and people of any age who have serious underlying medical\nconditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. This\nincludes people with serious heart conditions, severe obesity, diabetes,\nchronic kidney disease (or undergoing dialysis), liver disease, chronic lung\ndisease or moderate to severe asthma, or people who have a weakened immune\nsystem (immunocompromised). Everyone can take actions, such as social\ndistancing, to help slow the spread."}
{"_id":"CDCtest445","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nAm I at risk if I go to a family gathering, traditional event, ceremony, or funeral for someone who died of COVID-19?\nThere is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a\nfuneral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19.\nAnyone who is sick should stay home. These actions help prevent people from\ngetting sick and help stop the spread of the virus.\nAlso, tribal leaders can help. While each tribe has its own traditions\nregarding death rituals and funerals (including family feeds, giveaways, and\ncommemorative gatherings), it is important for leaders to determine ways for\nimmediate family members to take part while making sure that\n\nVulnerable populations are protected.\nEveryone practices frequent hand washing (hand hygiene) and social distancing (keep 6 feet of space or greater between people).\nGatherings are limited to 10 or fewer people.\n\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where social\ndistancing is difficult to maintain (for example, at grocery stores and\npharmacies). This is especially important in communities where COVID-19 is\nspreading. So, if you do go to a funeral or gathering, use a cloth face\ncovering. But also try to keep about 6 feet from others who are present. You\ncan find more information about using a cloth face\ncovering.\nDo not place cloth face coverings on young children under age 2. Also, don\u2019t\nplace a face covering on anyone who has trouble breathing or who is\nunconscious or unable to remove the mask without assistance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest446","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nHow do you protect yourself after body preparation?\nAfter the body has been prepared for viewing and burial, clean surfaces using\nEPA-approved products in accordance with manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all\ncleaning and disinfection products (such as concentration, application method,\nand contact time).\n\nProducts with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claimspdf iconexternal icon are expected to be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses.\nAfter removal of PPE, perform hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\n\nInformation on cleaning and sanitizing can be found on the CDC website:\n\nFor facilitites\nFor households\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest447","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nAre there any special requirements for burying or cremating people who die from COVID-19?\nPeople who died from COVID-19 can be buried or cremated. But check for any\nadditional tribal, state, local, or territorial requirements that may dictate\nthe handling and disposition of the body of individuals who have passed from\ncertain infectious diseases."}
{"_id":"CDCtest448","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nHow can communities plan for an increase in the number of deaths?\nTribes have asked for guidance to help them plan for increased death from\nCOVID-19. While an increase in deaths may be a very difficult topic to discuss\nand plan for, tribal leaders have resources to help:\n\nResources for emergency preparedness.\nCDC Interim Guidance for Administrators and Leaders of Community- and Faith-Based Organizations to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).\n\nTribal leaders can also do the following:\n\nPostpone large events, including celebrations such as funerals, weddings, baptisms, and holiday gatherings.\nLimit gatherings to a small number (less than 10) of family and friends and ensure social distancing and hand washing.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest449","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 Basics\nWhat is COVID-19?\nCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new disease, and we are still\nlearning about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes. The\nvirus that causes COVID-19 is believed to spread person-to-person between\npeople who are in close contact (being within about 6 feet) with one another.\nSome people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.\nThe virus likely spreads primarily through saliva or mucus droplets produced\nwhen an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. This is somewhat like how\nthe flu (influenza) and other infections such as the common cold spread.\nThese droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or\npossibly be breathed in. Droplets can remain on surfaces such as countertops\nand doorknobs for hours to days."}
{"_id":"CDCtest450","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nHow do you transport the body of a person who has died from COVID-19?\nFollow these steps if you are involved in transporting the body of someone who\ndied from COVID-19:\n\nIf the body of a tribal member needs to be moved, wear disposable gloves and contain the body in a body bag, an impermeable shroud, or another impermeable covering that does not allow body fluids to leak from the enclosure. The virus that causes COVID-19 is not thought to be carried by blood (bloodborne), but leaked fluids could cause exposure to pathogens.\nIf a body bag is used to contain the body, disinfect the outside of the bag with an EPA-approved disinfectant for emerging viral pathogensexternal icon. Be sure to follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for cleaning and disinfection products including concentration, application method, and contact time.\nFollowing transport of the body, carefully remove your gloves and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest451","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nWhat are the most important things to remember about COVID-19 and AI\/AN funeral services or other gatherings?\nFor Tribal Leaders :\n\nEducate your community about who is at higher risk of getting very sick, such as Tribal Elders and those with diabetes and serious heart or lung conditions.\nLimit the number of people at a gathering to 10 or fewer.\nClean and disinfect where these activities are held.\nProvide plenty of handwashing sinks with soap and water or ensure there is hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for all.\n\nFor Attendees:\n\nAvoid close contact with people who are sick.\nStay home and do not engage in burial and funeral practices if you are sick.\nPractice social distancing by putting at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other people.\n\nMore information on large gatherings and\nevents."}
{"_id":"CDCtest452","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nAm I at risk if I touch someone who died of COVID-19 after they have passed away?\nYou should avoid touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19, before\nthe body is prepared for viewing.\nThough we are still learning more about how COVID-19 spreads, it may be\npossible that you could get COVID-19 by touching the body of someone who has\ndied of COVID-19. After the body has been prepared for viewing there may\nbe less of a chance of the virus spreading from certain types of touching,\nsuch as holding the hand or hugging. But you should avoid other activities,\nsuch as kissing, washing, and shrouding before and during body preparation.\nAfter any contact with the body, be sure to wash your hands with soap and\nwater for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available,\nuse a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol."}
{"_id":"CDCtest453","title":"","text":"Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives\nCOVID-19 and Funerals\nHow can I protect myself when preparing the body of someone who died of COVID-19?\nIf washing the body, shrouding, or other important religious or cultural\npractices are observed in a specific tribal community, families are encouraged\nto consider this guidance and work with their cultural and religious leaders\nand funeral home staff on how to reduce their exposure as much as possible.\nIf you participate in these activities, wear disposable gloves (nitrile,\nlatex, or rubber). And you may need additional equipment (called personal\nprotective equipment, or PPE). For example, you may need the following:\n\nDisposable, waterproof isolation gown\nFace shield or goggles\nFacemask\n\nFollowing preparation of the body remove PPE and throw away. Immediately wash\nyour hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are\nnot available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\nShower after completing body preparation activities. If you did not wear any\npersonal protective equipment while preparing the body, wash your clothes in\nthe warmest setting possible and dry them completely.\nFor more information see CDC resources on Cleaning and Disinfecting Your\nFacility\nor Cleaning and Disinfecting Your\nHome."}
{"_id":"CDCtest454","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhat should I do if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?\nIn most cases, you do not need to shut down your facility. But do close off\nany areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person:\n\nWait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize potential for other employees being exposed to respiratory droplets. If waiting 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.\nDuring this waiting period, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in these areas.\n\nFollow the CDC cleaning and disinfection\nrecommendations:\n\nClean dirty surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting them.\nTo disinfect surfaces, use products that meet EPA criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2external iconexternal icon, the virus that causes COVID-19, and are appropriate for the surface.\nAlways wear gloves and gowns appropriate for the chemicals being used when you are cleaning and disinfecting.\nYou may need to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the setting and disinfectant product you are using.\n\nIn addition to cleaning and disinfecting, employers should determine which\nemployees may have been exposed to the virus and need to take additional\nprecautions:\n\nMost workplaces should follow the Public Health Recommendations for Community-Related Exposure.\nCritical infrastructure workplaces should follow the guidance Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.\n\nSick employees should follow CDC-recommended\nsteps. Employees\nshould not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue\nhome isolation\nand have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health\ndepartment.\nIf an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow\nemployees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain\nconfidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest455","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCritical Infrastructure\nIs other specific CDC guidance available for critical infrastructure workplaces?\nCDC has guidance for first responders and law\nenforcement as well\nas a series of fact\nsheets for specific critical infrastructure worker groups. Unless\notherwise specified, the CDC interim guidance for businesses and\nemployers\napplies to critical infrastructure workplaces as well."}
{"_id":"CDCtest456","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCritical Infrastructure\nShould I allow critical infrastructure employees to work if they have been exposed but are not showing symptoms of COVID-19?\nFunctioning critical infrastructure is imperative during the response to the\nCOVID-19 emergency, for both public health and safety as well as community\nwell-being. When continuous remote work is not possible, critical\ninfrastructure businesses should use strategies to reduce the likelihood of\nspreading the disease. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to,\nseparating staff by off-setting shift hours or days and implementing social\ndistancing. These steps can preserve and protect the workforce and allow\noperations to continue.\nTo ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that\ncritical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following\npotential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and\nadditional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.\nCritical infrastructure businesses have an obligation to limit, to the extent\npossible, the reintegration of in-person workers who have experienced an\nexposure to COVID-19 but remain symptom-free in ways that best protect the\nhealth of the worker, their co-workers, and the general public.\nAn analysis of core job tasks and workforce availability at worksites can\nallow the employer to match core activities to other equally skilled and\navailable in-person workers who have not been exposed to the virus. Critical\ninfrastructure workers who have been exposed but remain symptom-free and must\nreturn to in-person work should adhere to the following practices before and\nduring their work shift:\n\nPre-screen for symptoms\nMonitor regularly for symptoms\nWear a face mask\nPractice social distancing\nClean and disinfect workspaces\n\nSick employees should be sent home and should not return to the workplace\nuntil they have met the criteria to discontinue home\nisolation.\nSee Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May\nHave Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed\nCOVID-19 for more information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest457","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nHow can I help protect employees who may be at higher risk for severe illness?\nHave conversations with employees if they express concerns. Some people may be\nat higher risk of severe illness. This includes older\nadults (65\nyears and older) and people of any age with serious underlying medical\nconditions. By using strategies that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in\nthe workplace, you will help protect all employees, including those at higher\nrisk. These strategies include:\n\nImplementing telework and other social distancing practices\nActively encouraging employees to stay home when sick\nPromoting handwashing\nProviding supplies and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for cleaning and disinfecting workspaces\n\nIn workplaces where it\u2019s not possible to eliminate face-to-face contact (such\nas retail), consider assigning higher risk employees work tasks that allow\nthem to maintain a 6-foot distance from others, if feasible.\nEmployers should not require employees to provide a note from their healthcare\nprovider when they are sick and instead allow them to inform their supervisors\nor employee health services when they have conditions that put them at higher\nrisk for diseases."}
{"_id":"CDCtest458","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace\nHow can I safely use cleaning chemicals?\nFollow safe work practices when using cleaning chemicalspdf iconpdf\nicon:\n\nAlways wear gloves appropriate for the chemicals being used when you are cleaning and disinfecting. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) may be needed based on the setting and product you are using.\nNever mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.\nMake sure that employees know which cleaning chemicals must be diluted and how to correctly dilute the cleaners they are using.\nEmployers must ensure workers are trained on the hazards of the cleaning chemicals used in the workplace in accordance with OSHA\u2019s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200external iconexternal icon).\nFollow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products for concentration, application method, and contact time.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest459","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nHow often should my employees wash their hands while at work?\nCDC recommends employees protect themselves from respiratory illness with\neveryday preventive actions, including good hand hygiene. Employees should wash hands often with soap and water\nfor at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%\nalcohol if soap and water are not readily available, especially during key\ntimes when persons are likely to be infected by or spread germs:\n\nAfter blowing one\u2019s nose, coughing, or sneezing\nBefore, during, and after preparing food\nAfter using the toilet\nAfter touching garbage\nBefore and after the work shift\nBefore and after work breaks\nAfter touching objects that have been handled by customers\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest460","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace\nHow do I clean and disinfect machinery or equipment?\nCurrent evidence, though still preliminary, suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the\nvirus that causes COVID-19, may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces\nmade from a variety of materials. It may be possible that a person can get\nCOVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then\ntouching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not\nthought to be the main way the virus spreads.\nIf the machinery or equipment in question are not accessible to employees or\nhave not been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19, they will not\npresent an exposure hazard.\nIf machinery or equipment are thought to be contaminated and can be cleaned,\nfollow the CDC cleaning and disinfection\nrecommendations. First clean dirty surfaces with soap and water. Second,\ndisinfect surfaces using products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against\nSARS-Cov-2external iconexternal icon and are appropriate\nfor the surface.\nIf machinery or equipment are thought to be contaminated and cannot be\ncleaned, they can be isolated. Isolate papers or any soft (porous) surfaces\nfor a minimum of 24 hours before handling. After 24 hours, remove soft\nmaterials from the area and clean the hard (non-porous) surfaces per the\ncleaning and disinfection recommendations. Isolate hard (non-porous) surfaces\nthat cannot be cleaned and\ndisinfected for a minimum of 7 days before handling."}
{"_id":"CDCtest461","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nHealthy Business Operations\nShould I cancel my meetings and conferences?\nCarefully consider whether travel is necessary, and use videoconferencing or\nteleconferencing when possible for work-related meetings and gatherings.\nEmployers should consider canceling, adjusting, or postponing large work-\nrelated meetings or gatherings that can only occur in-person. Follow CDC\nguidance for events and mass\ngatherings.\nWhen videoconferencing or teleconferencing is not possible, hold meetings in\nopen, well-ventilated spaces, and space chairs at least 6 feet apart.\nEncourage staff and attendees to stay home if sick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest462","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nHealthy Business Operations\nI don\u2019t provide paid sick leave to my employees. What should I do?\nEmployers that do not currently offer sick leave to some or all of their\nemployees may want to draft non-punitive \u201cemergency sick leave\u201d policies.\nEnsure that sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health\nguidance and that employees are aware of and understand these policies."}
{"_id":"CDCtest463","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace\nIf I shut down my facility as a result of a COVID-19 case or outbreak, what is the recommended way to clean and disinfect, and what is the appropriate timeframe to resume operations?\n\nFollow CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfection.\nWait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize potential for exposure to respiratory droplets. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.\nOpen outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.\n\nCleaning staff should clean and disinfect all areas including offices,\nbathrooms, and common areas, focusing especially on frequently touched\nsurfaces.\n\nClean dirty surfaces with soap and water prior to disinfection.\nNext, disinfect surfaces using products that meet EPA\u2019s criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2external iconexternal icon, the virus that causes COVID-19, and that are appropriate for the surface.\nFollow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products for concentration, application method, contact time, and required PPE.\n\nOperations can resume as soon as the cleaning and disinfection are completed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest464","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nIf employees have been exposed but are not showing symptoms, should I allow them to work?\nEmployees may have been exposed if they are a \u201cclose contact\u201d of someone who\ninfected, which is defined as being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of\na person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time:\n\nPotentially exposed employees who have symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and follow CDC recommended steps.\nPotentially exposed employees who do not have symptoms should remain at home or in a comparable setting and practice social distancing for 14 days.\n\nAll other employees should self-monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, or\nshortness of breath. If they develop symptoms, they should notify their\nsupervisor and stay home.\nSee Public Health Recommendations for Community-Related\nExposure for\nmore information.\nTo ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that\ncritical infrastructure workersexternal iconexternal\nicon may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to\nCOVID-19, provided they remain symptom-free and additional precautions are\ntaken to protect them and the community.\n\nCritical infrastructure businesses have an obligation to limit, to the extent possible, the reintegration of in-person workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 but remain symptom-free in ways that best protect the health of the worker, their co-workers, and the general public.\nAn analysis of core job tasks and workforce availability at worksites can allow the employer to match core activities to other equally skilled and available in-person workers who have not been exposed.\nA critical infrastructure worker who is symptom-free and returns to work should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees\u2019 supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.\n\nSee Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May\nHave Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed\nCOVID-19 for more information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest465","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhat does \u201cacute\u201d respiratory illness mean?\n\u201cAcute\u201d respiratory illness is an infection of the upper or lower respiratory\ntract that may interfere with normal breathing, such as COVID-19. \u201cAcute\u201d\nmeans of recent onset. A respiratory illness that is acute, that is, of recent\nonset (for example, for a few days), and is used to distinguish from chronic\nrespiratory illnesses like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease\n(COPD)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest466","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhat should I do if an employee comes to work with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath)?\nEmployees who have symptoms when they arrive at work or become sick during the\nday should immediately be separated from other employees, customers, and\nvisitors and sent home. Employees who develop symptoms outside of work should\nnotify their supervisor and stay home.\nSick employees should follow CDC-recommended\nsteps. Employees\nshould not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue\nhome isolation\nand have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health\ndepartment.\nEmployers should not require sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test result\nor healthcare provider\u2019s note to validate their illness, qualify for sick\nleave, or return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical facilities\nmay be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely\nmanner."}
{"_id":"CDCtest467","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhen should an employee suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 return to work?\nSick employees should follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you\nare sick.\nEmployees should not return to work until they meet the criteria to\ndiscontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or\nlocal health department.\nEmployers should not require sick employee to provide a negative COVID-19 test\nresult or healthcare provider\u2019s note to return to work. Employees with\nCOVID-19 who have stayed home can stop home isolation and return to work when\nthey have met one of the following sets of criteria:\n\n\nOption 1: If, in consultation with a healthcare provider and local public health authorities knowledgeable about locally available testing resources, it is determined an employee will not have a test to determine if they are still contagious, the employee can leave home and return to work after these three conditions have been met: \n\n\nThe employee has had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is, 3 full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers)\nAND\n\n\nrespiratory symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved)\nAND\n\n\nat least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared\n\nOption 2: If, in consultation with a healthcare provider and local public health authorities knowledgeable about locally available testing resources, it is determined the employee will be tested to determine if the employee is still contagious, the employee can leave home after these three conditions have been met: \n\nThe employee no longer has a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)\nAND\n\n\nrespiratory symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved)\nAND\n\n\nthey received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Their doctor should follow CDC guidelines.\n\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest468","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nHow do I handle personal protective equipment (PPE) waste?\nDiscard PPE into a trash can. There is no evidence to suggest that facility\nwaste needs any additional disinfection."}
{"_id":"CDCtest469","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nHealthy Business Operations\nWhat is social distancing and how can my workplace do that?\nSocial distancing means avoiding large\ngatherings and maintaining distance (at least 6 feet or 2\nmeters) from others when possible. Strategies that businesses could use\ninclude:\n\nAllowing flexible worksites (such as telework)\nAllowing flexible work hours (such as staggered shifts)\nIncreasing physical space between employees at the worksite\nIncreasing physical space between employees and customers (such as a drive-through and partitions)\nImplementing flexible meeting and travel options (such as postponing non-essential meetings or events)\nDownsizing operations\nDelivering services remotely (e.g., phone, video, or web)\nDelivering products through curbside pick-up or delivery\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest470","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhat should I do if I find out several days later, after an employee worked, that they were diagnosed with COVID-19?\n\nIf it has been less than 7 days since the sick employee used the facility, clean and disinfect all areas used by the sick employee following the CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations.\nIf it has been 7 days or more since the sick employee used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routinely cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces in the facility.\nOther employees may have been exposed to the virus if they were in \u201cclose contact\u201d (within approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) of the sick employee for a prolonged period of time. \nThose who have symptoms should self-isolate and follow CDC recommended steps.\nIn most workplaces, those potentially exposed but with no symptoms should remain at home or in a comparable setting and practice social distancing for 14 days.\nCritical infrastructure workers should follow Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. A critical infrastructure worker who is symptom-free and returns to work should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees\u2019 supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.\n\n\nEmployees not considered exposed should self-monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath. If they develop symptoms, they should notify their supervisor and stay home.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest471","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nAre allergy symptoms considered an acute respiratory illness?\nNo. Allergy symptoms are not considered an acute respiratory illness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest472","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nDo my employees need to wear cloth face coverings or personal protective equipment (PPE) (such as N95 respirators, gloves) to protect themselves while working?\nCDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other\nsocial distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of\nsignificant community transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people\nwho don\u2019t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face\ncoverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate\nsubstitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended\nor required.\nEmployees should continue to follow their routine policies and procedures for\nPPE (if any) that they would ordinarily use for their job tasks. When cleaning\nand disinfecting, employees should always wear gloves and gowns appropriate\nfor the chemicals being used. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE)\nmay be needed based on setting and product.\nCDC does not recommend the use of PPE in workplaces where it is not routinely\nrecommended. Facilities can use the hierarchy of\ncontrols, such as administrative, and engineering\ncontrols \u2013 these strategies are even more effective at preventing exposures\nthan wearing PPE."}
{"_id":"CDCtest473","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nWhat can I tell my employees about reducing the spread of COVID-19 at work?\nEmployees should take the following steps to protect\nthemselves at\nwork:\n\nFollow the policies and procedures of the employer related to illness, cleaning and disinfecting, and work meetings and travel.\nStay home if sick, except to get medical care.\nMaintain a distance of at least 6 ft. from all other persons\nUnderstand that no one with symptoms should be present at the workplace. Employees should inform their supervisor if they or their colleagues develop symptoms at work, especially fever, cough, or shortness of breath.\nWash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing noses, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place. \nUse hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.\n\n\nAvoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.\nTo the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places \u2013 elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc.\nMinimize handling cash, credit cards, and mobile or electronic devices when possible.\nPractice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from fellow co-workers, customers, and visitors when possible.\nAvoid all non-essential travel.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest474","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nHow do I keep employees who interact with customers safe?\nTo keep your employees safe, you should:\n\nConsider options to increase physical space between employees and customers such as opening a drive- through, erecting partitions, and marking floors to guide spacing at least six feet apart.\nAt least once a day clean and disinfect surfaces frequently touched by multiple people. This includes door handles, desks, phones, light switches, and faucets,\nConsider assigning a person to rotate throughout the workplace to clean and disinfect surfaces.\nConsider scheduling handwashing breaks so employees can wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.\nConsider scheduling a relief person to give cashiers and service desk workers an opportunity to wash their hands.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest475","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nReducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces\nShould we be screening employees for COVID-19 symptoms (such as temperature checks)? What is the best way to do that?\nScreening employees is an optional strategy that employers may use. There are\nseveral methods that employers can use to protect the employee conducting the\ntemperature screening. The most protective methods incorporate social\ndistancing (maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others), or physical\nbarriers to eliminate or minimize the screener\u2019s exposures due to close\ncontact with a person who has symptoms during screening. Examples to consider\nthat incorporate these types of controls for temperature screening include:\n\nReliance on Social Distancing : Ask employees to take their own temperature either before coming to the workplace or upon arrival at the workplace. Upon their arrival, stand at least 6 feet away from the employee and: \nAsk the employee to confirm that their temperature is less than 100.4o F (38.0o C), and confirm that they are not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.\nMake a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue.\nScreening staff do not need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) if they can maintain a distance of 6 feet.\n\n\nReliance on Barrier\/Partition Controls : During screening, the screener stands behind a physical barrier, such as a glass or plastic window or partition, that can protect the screener\u2019s face and mucous membranes from respiratory droplets that may be produced when the employee sneezes, coughs, or talks. Upon arrival, the screener should wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Then: \nMake a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue.\nConduct temperature and symptom screening using this protocol: \nPut on disposable gloves.\nCheck the employee\u2019s temperature, reaching around the partition or through the window. Make sure the screener\u2019s face stays behind the barrier at all times during the screening.\nIf performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, make sure that you use a clean pair of gloves for each employee and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check. If disposable or non-contact thermometers are used and you did not have physical contact with an individual, you do not need to change gloves before the next check. If non-contact thermometers are used, clean and disinfect them according to manufacturer\u2019s instructions and facility policies.\nRemove and discard PPE (gloves), and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.\n\n\n\nIf social distance or barrier controls cannot be implemented during screening,\nPPE can be used when the screener is within 6 feet of an employee during\nscreening. However, reliance on PPE alone is a less effective control and more\ndifficult to implement given PPE shortages and training requirements.\n\nReliance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) : Upon arrival, the screener should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, put on a facemask, eye protection (goggles or disposable face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face), and a single pair of disposable gloves. A gown could be considered if extensive contact with an employee is anticipated. Then: \nMake a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue, and confirm that the employee is not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.\nTake the employee\u2019s temperature. \nIf performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, make sure that you use a clean pair of gloves for each employee and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check. If disposable or non-contact thermometers are used and you did not have physical contact with an individual, you do not need to change gloves before the next check. If non-contact thermometers are used, you should clean and disinfect them according to manufacturer\u2019s instructions and facility policies.\nAfter each screening, remove and discard PPE and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest476","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace\nIn addition to cleaning and disinfecting, what can I do to decrease the spread of disease in my workplace?\nEmployers can also:\n\nProvide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles.\nProvide soap and water in the workplace. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be chosen over hand sanitizer.\nPlace hand sanitizer in multiple locations to encourage good hand hygiene practices.\nPlace posters that encourage staying home when sick, the importance of hand hygiene, and coughing and sneezing etiquette at the entrance to your workplace and in other workplace areas where employees are likely to see them.\nDiscourage handshaking\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest477","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nHealthy Business Operations\nShould I require employees to provide a doctor\u2019s note or positive COVID-19 test result?\nEmployers should not require sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test result\nor a healthcare provider\u2019s note to validate their illness, qualify for sick\nleave, or to return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical\nfacilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in\na timely manner."}
{"_id":"CDCtest478","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace\nShould I adjust my ventilation system?\nThe risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 through ventilation\nsystems has not been studied, but is likely low. Routine HVAC maintenance is\nrecommended. Although it is never the first line of prevention, consider\ngeneral ventilation adjustments in your workplace, such as increasing\nventilation and increasing the amount of outdoor air used by the system.\nMaintain the indoor air temperature and humidity at comfortable levels for\nbuilding occupants."}
{"_id":"CDCtest479","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nSuspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace\nWhat should I do if an employee has a respiratory illness?\nEmployees who appear to have COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, or\nshortness of breath, upon arrival to work or become sick during the day with\nCOVID-19 symptoms should immediately be separated from other employees,\ncustomers, and visitors and sent home.\nCDC has a symptom self-checker chatbot called Clara that employers and employees may\nfind helpful. It has a series of questions and recommends what level of\nmedical care, if any, the user should seek. It is not intended to provide\ndiagnosis or treatment."}
{"_id":"CDCtest480","title":"","text":"General Business Frequently Asked Questions\nCritical Infrastructure\nHow do I know if my business is considered critical?\nThe Department of Homeland Security developed a listexternal iconexternal\nicon of essential critical infrastructure workers to help state and local\nofficials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity\nof functions critical to public health and safety as well as economic and\nnational security. State and local officials make the final determinations for\ntheir jurisdictions about critical infrastructure workers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest481","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nWhat personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by individuals transporting patients who are confirmed with or under investigation for COVID-19 within a healthcare facility? For example, what PPE should be worn when transporting a patient to radiology for imaging that cannot be performed in the patient room?\nIn general, transport and movement of the patient outside of their room should\nbe limited to medically essential purposes. If being transported outside of\nthe room, such as to radiology, healthcare personnel (HCP) in the receiving\narea should be notified in advance of transporting the patient. For transport,\nthe patient should wear a facemask or cloth face covering to contain\nsecretions and be covered with a clean sheet.\nIf transport personnel must prepare the patient for transport (e.g., transfer\nthem to the wheelchair or gurney), transport personnel should wear all\nrecommended PPE (gloves, a gown, respiratory protection that is at least\nas protective as a fit tested NIOSH-certified disposable N95 filtering\nfacepiece respirator or facemask\u2014if a respirator is not available\u2014and eye\nprotection [i.e., goggles or disposable face shield that covers the front and\nsides of the face]). This recommendation is needed because these interactions\ntypically involve close, often face-to-face, contact with the patient in an\nenclosed space (e.g., patient room). Once the patient has been transferred to\nthe wheelchair or gurney (and prior to exiting the room), transporters should\nremove their gown, gloves, and eye protection and perform hand hygiene.\nIf the patient is wearing a facemask or cloth face covering, no recommendation\nfor PPE is made typically for HCP transporting patients with a respiratory\ninfection from the patient\u2019s room to the destination. However, given current\nlimitations in knowledge regarding COVID-19 and following the currently\ncautious approach for risk stratification and monitoring of healthcare\npersonnel caring for patients with\nCOVID-19, use of\na facemask by the transporter is recommended for anything more than brief\nencounters with COVID-19 patients. Additional PPE should not be required\nunless there is an anticipated need to provide medical assistance during\ntransport (e.g., helping the patient replace a dislodged facemask).\nAfter arrival at their destination, receiving personnel (e.g., in radiology)\nand the transporter (if assisting with transfer) should perform hand hygiene\nand wear all recommended PPE. If still wearing their original respirator or facemask,\nthe transporter should take care to avoid self-contamination when donning the\nremainder of the recommended PPE. This cautious approach will be refined and\nupdated as more information becomes available and as response needs change in\nthe United States.\nInterim guidance for EMS personnel transporting patients with confirmed or\nsuspected COVID-19 is available here. EMS personnel should wear all recommended PPE because they are\nproviding direct medical care and in close contact with the patient for longer\nperiods of time."}
{"_id":"CDCtest482","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nWhy does CDC continue to recommend respiratory protection equivalent or higher to the level provided by an N95 disposable filtering facepiece respirator for care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19?\nCDC\u2019s guidance to use NIOSH-approved N95 disposable filtering facepiece or\nhigher level respirators when providing care for patients with suspected or\nknown COVID-19 is based on the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and related\nrespiratory viruses.\nCurrent data suggest that close-range aerosol transmission by droplet and\ninhalation, and contact followed by self-delivery to the eyes, nose, or mouth\nare likely routes of transmission. Long-range aerosol transmission, such as is\nseen with measles, has not been a feature of SARS-CoV-2.\nPotential routes of close-range transmission include splashes and sprays of\ninfectious material onto mucous membranes and inhalation of infectious virions\nexhaled by an infected person. The relative contribution of each of these is\nnot known for SARS-Co-V-2.\nFacemasks commonly used during surgical procedures will provide barrier\nprotection against droplet sprays contacting mucous membranes of the nose and\nmouth, but they are not designed to protect wearers from inhaling small\nparticles. N95 and higher level respirators, such as other disposable\nfiltering facepiece respirators, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs),\nand elastomeric respirators, provide both barrier and respiratory protection\nbecause of their tight fit and filtration characteristics.\nRespirators should be used as part of a respiratory protection program that\nprovides staff with medical evaluations, training, and fit testing.\nAlthough facemasks are routinely used for the care of patients with common\nviral respiratory infections, N95 or higher level respirators are routinely\nrecommended for emerging pathogens like SARS CoV-2, which have the potential\nfor transmission via small particles, the ability to cause severe infections,\nand no specific treatments or vaccines.\nCDC recommendations acknowledge the current challenges with limited supplies\nof N95s and other respirators. Facilities that do not have sufficient supplies\nof N95s and other respirators for all patient care should prioritize their use\nfor activities and procedures that pose high risks of generating infectious\naerosols and use facemasks for care that does not involve those activities or\nprocedures. Detailed strategies for optimizing the supply of N95\nrespirators are\navailable on the CDC website. Once availability of supplies is reestablished,\nthe guidance states that the use of N95 and higher level respirators should\nresume."}
{"_id":"CDCtest483","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nWhich procedures are considered aerosol generating procedures in healthcare settings?\nSome procedures performed on patients are more likely to generate higher\nconcentrations of infectious respiratory aerosols than coughing, sneezing,\ntalking, or breathing. These aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) potentially\nput healthcare personnel and others at an increased risk for pathogen exposure\nand infection.\nDevelopment of a comprehensive list of AGPs for healthcare settings has not\nbeen possible, due to limitations in available data on which procedures may\ngenerate potentially infectious aerosols and the challenges in determining if\nreported transmissions during AGPs are due to aerosols or other exposures.\nThere is neither expert consensus, nor sufficient supporting data, to create a\ndefinitive and comprehensive list of AGPs for healthcare settings.\nCommonly performed medical procedures that are often considered AGPs, or that\ncreate uncontrolled respiratory secretions, include:\n\nopen suctioning of airways\nsputum induction\ncardiopulmonary resuscitation\nendotracheal intubation and extubation\nnon-invasive ventilation (e.g., BiPAP, CPAP)\nbronchoscopy\nmanual ventilation\n\nBased on limited available data, it is uncertain whether aerosols generated\nfrom some procedures may be infectious, such as:\n\nnebulizer administration*\nhigh flow O2 delivery\n\n*Aerosols generated by nebulizers are derived from medication in the nebulizer. It is uncertain whether potential associations between performing this common procedure and increased risk of infection might be due to aerosols generated by the procedure or due to increased contact between those administering the nebulized medication and infected patients.\nReferences related to aerosol generating procedures:\nTran K, Cimon K, Severn M, Pessoa-Silva CL, Conly J (2012) Aerosol Generating\nProcedures and Risk of Transmission of Acute Respiratory Infections to\nHealthcare Workers: A Systematic Review. PLoS ONE 7(4);\nhttps:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3338532\/#!po=72.2222external\niconexternal\nicon)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest484","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nMy hospital is experiencing a shortage of isolation gowns. To preserve our supply, can we stop using gowns for the care of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other endemic multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and Clostridioides difficile?\nCDC has released information about strategies to optimize the supply of\nisolation gowns. Healthcare facilities should refer to that guidance and implement\nthe recommended strategies to optimize their current supply of gowns. This\nincludes shifting toward the use of washable cloth gowns, if feasible.\nThe use of gowns as part of Contact Precautions in the context of MDROs has\nbeen implemented primarily to reduce the risk of transmission to other\npatients rather than to protect healthcare personnel (HCP). Facilities with\nshortages could consider suspending the use of gowns for the care of patients\nwith endemic MDROs, such as MRSA, VRE, and ESBL-producing Gram-negative\nbacilli except as required for Standard\nPrecautions. Facilities\nshould assess their local epidemiology to determine which MDROs are considered\nendemic. Regardless of the use of gowns, HCP at facilities should continue to\nwear gloves for contact with these patients and their environment. Hand\nhygiene should continue to be emphasized. Facilities should also attempt to\nplace patients colonized or infected with an MDRO in a private room, if\navailable.\n\nCaring for patients who have highly resistant Gram-negative organisms (e.g., carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacae) and other MDROs (e.g., Candida auris ) that are not considered endemic: Rather than gowns being donned for every room entry, they should be reserved for use as part of Standard Precautions and also prioritized for high-contact patient care activities that pose highest risk for transfer of pathogens from the patient to HCP. Examples of such high-contact care activities include dressing, bathing\/showering, transferring, providing hygiene, changing linens, changing briefs or assisting with toileting, device care or use (central line, urinary catheter, feeding tube, tracheostomy\/ventilator), and wound care. To further preserve gowns, HCP are recommended to bundle high-contact care activities as part of individual care encounters. Regardless of the use of gowns, HCP at facilities should continue to wear gloves for contact with these patients and their environment. Hand hygiene should continue to be emphasized. Facilities should also attempt to place patients colonized or infected with an MDRO in a private room, if available.\nCaring for patients with Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI): Facilities should continue using Contact Precautions (putting on a gown and gloves upon entry into the patient\u2019s room and placing the patient in a private room) for the care of symptomatic patients with CDI. As part of a supplemental strategy to prevent transmission of CDI, some facilities have implemented Contact Precautions for the care of patients at high risk for CDI who have asymptomatic carriage of Clostridioides difficile. There are limited data about the role of asymptomatic carriage in transmission of CDI. In this setting of a critical national shortage of gowns, facilities should consider suspending this approach until the shortage is addressed. Gowns should still be used as part of Standard Precautions.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest485","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nGiven the potential for asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2, what personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by healthcare personnel (HCP) providing care to patients who are not suspected to have COVID-19?\nThe potential for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 transmission underscores the\nimportance of applying prevention practices to all patients, including social\ndistancing, hand hygiene, surface decontamination, and having patients wear a\ncloth face covering or facemask (for source control) while in a healthcare\nfacility. To protect patients and co-workers, HCP should wear a facemask at\nall times while they are in a healthcare facility (i.e., practice source\ncontrol). Use of a facemask, instead of a cloth face covering, is recommended\nfor HCP, because a facemask offers both source control and protection from\nexposure to splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.\n\nHCP caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should continue to wear gloves, a gown, respiratory protection that is at least as protective as a fit-tested NIOSH-certified disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirator (or facemask if respirators are not available), and eye protection (i.e., goggles or disposable face shield that covers the front and sides of the face).\n\nHCP working in facilities located in areas with moderate to substantial community transmission are more likely to encounter asymptomatic patients with COVID-19. If COVID-19 is not suspected in a patient presenting for care (based on symptom and exposure history), HCP should follow Standard Precautions (and Transmission-Based Precautions if required based on the suspected diagnosis). They should also: \n\nWear eye protection in addition to their facemask to ensure the eyes, nose, and mouth are all protected from splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.\nWear an N95 or higher-level respirator, instead of a facemask, for: \nAerosol-generating procedures (See Which procedures are considered aerosol generating procedures in healthcare settings FAQ) and\nSurgical procedures that might pose higher risk for transmission if the patient has COVID-19 (e.g., that generate potentially infectious aerosols or involving anatomic regions where viral loads might be higher, such as the nose and throat, oropharynx, respiratory tract) (see Surgical FAQ below).\nRespirators with exhalation valves are not recommended for source control and should not be used during surgical procedures as unfiltered exhaled breath would compromise the sterile field\n\n\n\nFor HCP working in areas with minimal to no community transmission, the universal eye protection and respirator recommendations (described above) for areas with moderate to substantial community transmission are optional. However, HCP should continue to use eye protection or an N95 or higher-level respirator whenever recommended for patient care as a part of Standard or Transmission-Based Precautions. Universal use of a facemask for source control is recommended for HCP.\n\n\nDepending on testing availability and how rapidly results are available,\nfacilities can also consider implementing pre-admission or pre-procedure\ntesting for COVID-19. Testing results might inform decisions for universal use\nof eye protection and respirators as described above, especially if there are\nPPE shortages. Limitations of using this testing strategy include obtaining\nnegative results in patients during their incubation period who later become\ninfectious and false negative test results, depending on the test method used.\nDefinitions:\n\nSubstantial community transmission: Large scale community transmission, including communal settings (e.g., schools, workplaces)\nMinimal to moderate community transmission: Sustained transmission with high likelihood or confirmed exposure within communal settings and potential for rapid increase in cases\nNo to minimal community transmission: Evidence of isolated cases or limited community transmission, case investigations underway; no evidence of exposure in large communal setting\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest486","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nDo all patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 need to be placed in airborne infection isolation rooms?\nNo. Updated CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for\nPatients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in\nHealthcare\nSettings recommends placing patients in a regular\nexamination room with the door closed. Airborne infection isolation rooms\nshould be reserved for patients undergoing aerosol generating procedures or\nfor diagnoses such as active tuberculosis."}
{"_id":"CDCtest487","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nWhere should nasopharyngeal swabs be performed on a known or suspected COVID-19 patient, and with what PPE?\nThe collection of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs from patients with known or\nsuspected COVID-19 can be performed in a regular examination room with the\ndoor closed. Use of an airborne infection isolation room for nasopharyngeal\nspecimen collection is not required. HCP in the room should wear an N95 or\nhigher-level respirator (or facemask if a respirator is not available), eye\nprotection, gloves, and a gown. If respirators are not readily available, they\nshould be prioritized for other procedures at higher risk for producing\ninfectious aerosols (e.g., intubation), instead of for collecting NP swabs."}
{"_id":"CDCtest488","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nIs a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, required before a hospitalized patient can be discharged to a nursing home?\nNo. For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, decisions about discharge\nfrom the hospital should be based on their clinical status and the ability\nof the accepting facility to meet their care needs and adhere to recommended\ninfection prevention and control practices. Decisions about hospital discharge\nare distinct from decisions about discontinuation of Transmission-Based\nPrecautions.\nFor patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, decisions about\ndiscontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions should be based on the\nstrategies outlined here. The test-based strategy is NOT REQUIRED and\nmight not be possible due to limitations on availability of testing.\nIf a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has not met criteria for\ndiscontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions, they should be transferred to a\nfacility with the ability to adhere to infection prevention and control\nrecommendations for the care\nof residents with COVID-19, including placement in a unit or area of the\nfacility designated to care for residents with COVID-19 and provision of\nrecommended personal protective equipment to healthcare personnel.\nIf the patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has met the criteria\nfor discontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions but has persistent\nsymptoms (e.g., persistent cough), they should ideally be placed in a single\nroom, be restricted to their room to the extent possible, and wear a facemask\n(if tolerated) during care activities until all symptoms are completely\nresolved or at baseline. If the patient has met the criteria for\ndiscontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions and does not have persistent\nsymptoms, they do not require additional restrictions.\nA patient hospitalized for non-COVID-related illnesses whose COVID-19 status\nis not known can be transferred to a nursing home without testing. However, to\nensure they are not infected, nursing homes should place them in\nTransmission-based Precautions in a separate observation area or in a single-person room until 14\ndays have elapsed since admission.\nAs part of universal source control\nmeasures,\nall residents (including those described in the scenarios above) should wear a\ncloth face covering or facemask (if tolerated) whenever they leave their room."}
{"_id":"CDCtest489","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, are there special considerations for surgical and other procedural care settings, including performance of aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs)?\nAs part of routine practices, healthcare personnel (HCP) should be applying\nStandard Precautions. HCP\nshould always deliberately assess potential risks of exposure to infectious\nmaterial before engaging in activities and procedures in healthcare delivery.\nBased on their risk assessment, safe work practices, including engineering\ncontrols that reduce the release of infectious material, administrative\ncontrols, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be implemented\nat the point of care according to CDC guidelines and standards of practice for\nthe activity performed.\nTo reduce SARS-CoV-2 exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC recommends\nthat facilities:\n\nconsider nonoperative approaches when feasible;\nminimize the use of procedures or techniques that might produce infectious aerosols when feasible;\nminimize the number of people in the operating or procedure room to reduce exposures;\nuse the extent of community transmission and an assessment of the likelihood for patient harm if care is delayed to make decisions about cancelling or postponing elective surgeries and procedures; and\nimplement universal source control measures, which includes having patients wear a cloth face covering (as tolerated) and having HCP wear a facemask at all times while they are in the healthcare facility.\n\nIf surgery or procedures cannot be postponed, HCP caring for patients with\nsuspected or confirmed COVID-19 should adhere to all recommended infection\nprevention and control practices for\nCOVID-19.\nThis includes:\n\nUsing all recommended PPE: an N95 or higher-level respirator (or facemask if respirators are not available), eye protection, gloves, and a gown. \nRespirators with exhalation valves should not be used during surgical procedures as unfiltered exhaled breath would compromise the sterile field.\nIf shortages exist, N95 or higher-level respirators should be prioritized for procedures involving higher risk techniques (e.g., that generate potentially infectious aerosols) or that involve anatomic regions where viral loads might be higher (e.g., nose and throat, oropharynx, respiratory tract).\n\n\nAs part of routine practice, HCP should also be using additional engineering controls for source control, when applicable (e.g., smoke evacuation devices).\n\nBecause COVID-19 can be transmitted asymptomatically, some infected\nindividuals will not be identified based on clinical signs and symptoms. HCP\nproviding surgical or procedural care to patients not suspected of having\nCOVID-19 should use a tiered approach based on the level of community\ntransmission to inform the need for universal eye protection and respirator\nuse (see FAQ addressing recommended PPE when caring for asymptomatic patients\nwho are not suspected to have COVID-19). HCP should continue to use eye\nprotection or an N95 or higher-level respirator whenever recommended for\npatient care as a part of Standard or Transmission-Based Precautions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest490","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nHow long does an examination room need to remain vacant after being occupied by a patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19?\nAlthough spread of SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be primarily via respiratory\ndroplets, the contribution of small respirable particles to close proximity\ntransmission is currently uncertain. Airborne transmission from person-to-\nperson over long distances is unlikely.\nThe amount of time that the air inside an examination room remains potentially\ninfectious is not known and may depend on a number of factors including the\nsize of the room, the number of air changes per hour, how long the patient was\nin the room, if the patient was coughing or sneezing, and if an aerosol-\ngenerating procedure was performed. Facilities will need to consider these\nfactors when deciding when the vacated room can be entered by someone who is\nnot wearing PPE.\nFor a patient who was not coughing or sneezing, did not undergo an aerosol-\ngenerating procedure, and occupied the room for a short period of time (e.g.,\na few minutes), any risk to HCP and subsequent patients likely dissipates over\na matter of minutes. However, for a patient who was coughing and remained in\nthe room for a longer period of time or underwent an aerosol-generating\nprocedure, the risk period is likely longer.\nFor these higher risk scenarios, it is reasonable to apply a similar time\nperiod as that used for pathogens spread by the airborne route (e.g., measles,\ntuberculosis) and to restrict HCP and patients without PPE from entering the\nroom until sufficient time has elapsed for enough air changes to remove\npotentially infectious particles.\nGeneral guidance on clearance rates under differing ventilation\nconditions\nis available.\nIn addition to ensuring sufficient time for enough air changes to remove\npotentially infectious particles, HCP should clean and disinfect environmental\nsurfaces and shared equipment before the room is used for another patient."}
{"_id":"CDCtest491","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nDo CDC\u2019s interim infection prevention and control recommendations for COVID-19 apply to psychiatric hospitals or other behavioral health facilities?\nYes. To keep patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) healthy and safe, CDC\u2019s\ninfection prevention and control guidance applies to all settings where\nhealthcare is delivered. However, as with any guidance, facilities can tailor\ncertain recommendations to their setting. For example, inpatient psychiatric\ncare includes communal experiences and group activities that may need to\ncontinue. If so, these activities might need to be adapted to align with\nsocial distancing recommendations. Other recommended infection control measures\n(for example, ensuring access to alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cohorting\npatients with COVID-19 and assigning dedicated staff, or implementing\nuniversal source control measures) might not be safe or appropriate to\nimplement in all locations or for all patients due to security and behavioral\nconcerns.\nChallenges and potential solutions specific to behavioral health settings\nmight include:\n\nCohorting \nChallenge: To prevent transmission, it is generally recommended that patients with COVID-19 be transferred to a separate area of the facility where they can be cared for by dedicated HCP. Because of security concerns or specialized care needs, it might not be possible to cohort certain patients together or change HCP assigned to their care.\nPotential Solutions: When cohorting is not possible, implement measures to maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) between patients with COVID-19 and others on the unit. Ideally, this would include a separate bathroom for COVID-19 patients. Ensure HCP wear all recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.\n\n\nGroup Therapy Sessions \nChallenge : Group counseling, therapy, and discussion sessions are a critical component of psychiatric treatment and care plans, but the traditional set-up for these activities is not compatible with social distancing recommendations.\nPotential Solutions : When possible, use virtual methods, or decrease group size so social distancing can be maintained. In the event that COVID-19 is transmitted in the facility, sessions should stop or move to a video discussion forum until additional infection prevention measures are in place to stop the spread.\n\n\nCloth Face Coverings \nChallenge: For some patients, the use of cloth face coverings or facemasks might pose an additional danger or may cause distress. Some patients may be unable or unwilling to use them as intended. Elastic and cloth straps can be used for strangling oneself or others, and metal nasal bridges can be used for self-harm or as a weapon.\nPotential Solutions: Consider allowing patients at low risk for misuse to wear cloth face coverings or facemasks, with a preference for those with short ear-loops rather than longer ties. Consider use of cloth face coverings or facemasks during supervised group activities. Ensure that HCP interacting with patients who cannot wear a cloth face covering or facemask are wearing eye protection and a facemask (or a respirator if the patient is suspected to have COVID-19 and respirators are available).\n\n\nAlcohol-based Hand Sanitizer \nChallenge : While alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) containing 60-95% alcohol is an important tool to increase adherence to hand hygiene recommendations, ABHS must be used carefully in psychiatric facilities to ensure it is not ingested by patients.\nPotential Solutions : Consider not placing ABHS in patients\u2019 rooms in psychiatric facilities, nor in locations where the patients have unsupervised access. Encourage frequent hand washing with soap and water for patients and HCP. Consider providing personal, pocket-sized ABHS dispensers for HCP.\n\n\nDining \nChallenge : As part of social distancing, communal dining is generally not recommended. However, eating needs to remain supervised due to the potential for self-harm with eating utensils and because commonly used psychiatric medications may cause side effects (e.g., tardive dyskinesia, dysphagia, hypo- and hypersalivation) that increase choking risk for patients.\nPotential Solutions : One option is to position staff in patients\u2019 rooms to monitor their dining. Another option is to allow communal dining in shifts so that staff can monitor patients while ensuring they remain at least 6 feet apart. A third option is to have patients sit in appropriately spaced chairs in the hallway outside their rooms so they can be monitored while they eat.\n\n\nSmoking \nChallenge: A higher proportion of psychiatric patients smoke cigarettes compared to the general population. Patients might congregate in outdoor smoking spaces without practicing appropriate social distancing.\nPotential Solutions: Limit the number of patients allowed to access smoking spacesat the same time, and position staff to observe and ensure patients are practicing appropriate physical distancing.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest492","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nIf a long-term care facility has a resident or staff member with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, how and to whom should this be communicated?\nFacilities should follow the reporting requirements of their state or\njurisdiction. Those regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid\nServices (CMS) (e.g., nursing homes) should also follow all CMS\nrequirementspdf iconexternal\nicon, which are being\nupdated to include new requirements for reporting to CDC and to residents and\ntheir representatives.\nIn addition, CDC recommends\nthat health departments be promptly notified\nabout:\n\nResidents or healthcare personnel (HCP) with suspected or confirmed COVID-19,\nResidents with severe respiratory infection resulting in hospitalization or death, and\n\u2265 3 residents or HCP with new-onset respiratory symptoms within 72 hours of each other.\n\nThese could signal an outbreak of COVID-19 or other respiratory disease in the\nfacility. The health department can provide important guidance to assist with\ncase finding and halting transmission.\nThe facility should also have a plan and mechanism to regularly communicate\nwith residents, family members, and HCP, including if cases of COVID-19 are\nidentified in the facility. Often, information in nursing homes is\ncommunicated through town hall meetings and staff meetings, along with letters\nor emails. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person gatherings should\nnot occur. Instead, communication should occur through virtual meetings over\nphone or web platforms. These should be supplemented with written\ncommunications that provide contact information for a staff member who can\nrespond to questions or concerns. Communications should include information\ndescribing the current situation, plans for limiting spread within the\nfacility, and recommended actions they can take to protect themselves and\nothers. Facilities should make this information available in a timely manner\nand offer periodic updates as the situation develops and more information\nbecomes available."}
{"_id":"CDCtest493","title":"","text":"Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19\nWhat personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by environmental services (EVS) personnel who clean and disinfect rooms of hospitalized patients with COVID-19?\nIn general, only essential personnel should enter the room of patients with\nCOVID-19. Healthcare facilities should consider assigning daily cleaning and\ndisinfection of high-touch surfaces to nursing personnel who will already be\nin the room providing care to the patient. If this responsibility is assigned\nto EVS personnel, they should wear all recommended\nPPE when\nin the room. PPE should be removed upon leaving the room, immediately followed\nby performance of hand hygiene.\nAfter discharge, terminal cleaning may be performed by EVS personnel. They\nshould delay entry into the room until a sufficient time has\nelapsed\nfor enough air changes to remove potentially infectious particles. We do not\nyet know how long SARS-CoV-2 remains infectious in the air. Regardless, EVS\npersonnel should refrain from entering the vacated room until sufficient time\nhas elapsed for enough air changes to remove potentially infectious particles\n(more information on clearance rates under differing ventilation conditions\nis\navailable).\nAfter this time has elapsed, EVS personnel may enter the room and should wear\na gown and gloves when performing terminal cleaning. A facemask (if not\nalready wearing for source control) and eye protection should be added if\nsplashes or sprays during cleaning and disinfection activities are anticipated\nor otherwise required based on the selected cleaning products. Shoe covers are\nnot recommended at this time for personnel caring for patients with COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest494","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nShould homeless encampments be cleared?\nConnecting people to stable housing should continue to be a priority. However,\nif individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living\nin encampments to remain where they are. Encourage people living in\nencampments to increase space between people and provide hygiene resources in\naccordance with the Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered\nHomelessness."}
{"_id":"CDCtest495","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nShould homeless shelters screen clients?\nHomeless shelters can screen clients for symptoms of respiratory infections.\nClients who have symptoms may or may not have COVID-19. Make sure they have a\nseparate place they can safely stay within the shelter or at an alternate site\nin coordination with local health authorities. An on-site nurse or other\nclinical staff can help with clinical assessments.\n\nProvide anyone who presents with symptoms with a cloth face covering.\nFacilitate access to non-urgent medical care as needed.\nUse standard facility procedures to determine whether a client needs immediate medical attention. Emergency signs include: \nTrouble breathing\nPersistent pain or pressure in the chest\nNew confusion or inability to arouse\nBluish lips or face\n\n\n\nNotify the designated medical facility and personnel to transfer clients that\nthe client might have COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest496","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nWhat should a person who is experiencing homelessness do if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19?\nAny person experiencing homelessness with symptoms consistent with\nCOVID-19 (fever,\ncough, or shortness of breath) should alert their service providers (such as\ncase managers, shelter staff, and other care providers). These staff will help\nthe individual understand how to isolate themselves and identify options for\nmedical care as needed."}
{"_id":"CDCtest497","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nWhere can people experiencing homelessness be tested for COVID-19?\nIf they meet criteria for testing, people experiencing homelessness will access COVID-19\ntesting through a healthcare provider. Local public health and healthcare\nfacilities need to determine the best location for this testing in\ncoordination with homeless healthcare clinics and street medicine clinics."}
{"_id":"CDCtest498","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nWhere should a person who is experiencing homelessness stay if they are suspected to have COVID-19 or if they have tested positive for COVID-19?\nThose with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should stay in a place where they\ncan best be isolated from other people to prevent spreading the infection.\nLocal health departments, housing authorities, homeless service systems and\nhealthcare facilities should plan to identify locations to isolate those with\nknown or suspected COVID-19 until they meet the criteria to end\nisolation.\nIsolation housing could be units designated by local authorities or shelters\ndetermined to have capacity to sufficiently isolate these people. If no other\noptions are available, homeless service providers should plan for how they can\nhelp people isolate themselves while efforts are underway to provide\nadditional support. Please see the Interim Guidance for Homeless Service\nProviders and Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered\nHomelessness for more information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest499","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nCan homeless service providers accept donations?\nHomeless service providers can accept donations during community spread of\nCOVID-19, but general infection control precautions should be taken. Request\nthat donors not donate if they are sick. Set up donation drop-off points to\nencourage social distancing between shelter workers and those donating.\nAccording to usual procedures, launder donated clothing, sheets, towels, or\nother fabrics on high heat settings, and disinfect items that are nonporous,\nsuch as items made of plastic. Food donations should be shelf-stable, and\nshelter staff should take usual food-related infection prevention precautions.\nFor more information about COVID-19 and food, see the Food and Drug\nAdministration\u2019s website on Food Safety and COVID-19external\nicon. For further information on cleaning and\ndisinfection, see\nhere."}
{"_id":"CDCtest500","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nAre people experiencing homelessness at risk of COVID-19?\nPeople who are homeless are at risk of COVID-19. Homeless services are often\nprovided in congregate settings, which could facilitate the spread of\ninfection. Because many people who are homeless are older adults or have\nunderlying medical conditions, they may also be at higher risk for severe disease than\nthe general population. Health departments and healthcare facilities should be\naware that people who are homeless are a particularly vulnerable group. If\npossible, identifying non-congregate settings where those at highest risk can\nstay may help protect them from COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest501","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nHow can people experiencing homelessness protect themselves when COVID-19 is spreading in their community?\nMany of the recommendations to prevent\nCOVID-19 may be difficult for\na person experiencing homelessness to do. Although it may not be possible to\navoid certain crowded locations (such as shelters), people who are homeless\nshould try to avoid other crowded public settings and public transportation.\nIf possible, they should use take-away options for food. As is true for\neveryone, they should maintain a distance of about 6 feet (two arms\u2019 length)\nfrom other people. They also should wash their hands with soap and water for\nat least 20 seconds as often as possible, and cover their coughs and sneezes."}
{"_id":"CDCtest502","title":"","text":"Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs\nShould homeless shelters close?\nHomeless shelters serve a critical function in our communities. Shelters\nshould stay open unless homeless service providers, health departments, and\nhousing authorities have determined together that a shelter needs to close."}
{"_id":"CDCtest503","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat should we do if a student, staff or faculty member shows symptoms of COVID-19?\nYou should establish procedures for anyone who becomes sick or arrives sick on\ncampus. Sick students, staff and faculty should be separated from others,\ngiven a mask to wear, if available and sent to their place or residence as\nsoon as possible. Sick residents of on-campus housing should avoid contact\nwith individuals who are healthy."}
{"_id":"CDCtest504","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nDismissals\nHow long should colleges or universities be dismissed?\nIt depends on the situation at your school and community. You may need to\ntemporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if someone with COVID-19 was on\ncampus. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health\nofficials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting\nthe school and for custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected\nfacilities. The need for an extended dismissal will be made based on what\nofficials discover from contact tracing.\nIf there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health\nofficials may suggest extended school dismissals. This longer-term, and likely\nbroader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow transmission rates of\nCOVID-19 in the community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest505","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat can staff and students do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nEncourage students and staff to take everyday preventive\nactions to\nprevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as staying home when sick;\nappropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched\nsurfaces; and washing hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are\nnot readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%\nalcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty."}
{"_id":"CDCtest506","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nDismissals\nWhen should I suspend classes or cancel events\/activities on campus?\nAny decision about school dismissal or cancellation of events should be made\nin coordination with your local health officials. Colleges and universities\nare not expected to make decisions about dismissals on their own.\nYou may need to temporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if someone with\nCOVID-19 was on campus. COVID-19. This initial short-term dismissal allows\ntime for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the\nCOVID-19 situation impacting the school and for custodial staff to clean and\ndisinfect the affected facilities. Work with the local health officials to\ndetermine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal\nduration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.\nIf there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health\nofficials may suggest extended school dismissals. This longer-term, and likely\nbroader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow transmission rates of\nCOVID-19 in the community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest507","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nDismissals\nShould we continue teaching and\/or research activities if we decide to dismiss classes?\nYes, consider ways that your college\/university can adapt or use alternative\nteaching methods.\n\nReview continuity plans, including plans for the continuity of teaching, learning, and research. Implement e-learning plans and distance learning options as feasible and appropriate.\nEnsure continuity plans address how to temporarily postpone, limit, or adapt research-related activities (e.g., study recruitment or participation, access to labs) in a manner that protects the safety of researchers, participants, facilities, and equipment.\nConsider the following approaches: \nUse of existing infrastructure and services (e.g., Blackboard, Skype, Zoom) to support efficient transition of classes from in-person to distance-based formats. This may include using strategies such as faculty check-ins, recorded class meetings or lectures, and live class meetings.\nOther student support services such as online library services, print materials available online, phone- or Internet-based counseling support, or study groups enabled through digital media.\n\n\nInstitutes of higher education should determine, in consultation with their university system: \nHow to convert face-to-face lessons into online lessons and how to train faculty to do so.\nHow to triage technical issues if faced with limited IT support and staff\nHow to deal with the potential lack of students\u2019 access to computers and the Internet at home or in temporary housing.\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest508","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat should we do if we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus or identify someone who was on campus?\nImmediately notify local health officials. These officials will help\nadministrators determine a course of action for your college or university.\nAdministrators should work closely with their local health officials to\ndetermine if a short-term closure (for 2-5 days) of all campus buildings and\nfacilities is needed. In some cases, you may only need to close buildings and\nfacilities that had been entered by the individual(s) with COVID-19. This\ninitial short-term class suspension and event and activity (e.g., club\nmeetings; on-campus sport, theater, and music events) cancellation allows time\nfor the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19\nsituation and for custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected\nfacilities. It also allows the local health officials and administrators to\ndetermine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended duration is\nneeded to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest509","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat should I do if there is substantial community transmission?\nIf local health officials have determined there is substantial transmission of\nCOVID-19 within the community, they will provide guidance to administrators on\nthe best course of action for their college or university. Similar strategies\nwill extend across organizations (e.g., K-12 schools, business, community and\nfaith-based organizations) in a collective effort to stop the spread of\nCOVID-19.\nMeasures will likely include extended class suspension and event\/activity\ncancellations (e.g., suspension\/cancellations for longer than two weeks). This\nlonger-term, and likely broader-reaching, strategy is intended to slow\ntransmission rates of COVID-19 in the community. During extended class\nsuspensions, cancel extracurricular group activities and large events.\nRemember to implement strategies to ensure the continuity of education,\nresearch, and housing as well as meal programs and other essential services\nfor students."}
{"_id":"CDCtest510","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nHow should my school prepare when there is minimal to moderate community transmission?\nWork with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies\nappropriate for your community\u2019s situation. Continue using the preparedness\nstrategies implemented for no community transmission, and consider the\nfollowing social distancing strategies:\n\nCancel large gatherings\nCancel or modify courses where students are likely to be in very close contact.\nIncrease space between desks.\nReduce congestion in the health clinic.\nConsider if and how existing dining services should be scaled back or adapted.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest511","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat should I consider as I plan and prepare for COVID-19?\nAs you plan and prepare, you should reinforce healthy practices to everyone on\ncampus and prepare for a potential case of COVID-19, regardless of the level\nof community transmission.\nAs you create and update your preparedness plans, work with your local health\nofficials to determine the most appropriate plan and action for your college\nor university. Together, you will need to consider your local community\nsituation\u2014whether you have local transmission in your community, and if so,\nthe level of transmission (none\/minimal, minimal to moderate, substantial).\nCDC has created guidance for the scenarios listed below, to help colleges,\nuniversities and their partners understand how to help prevent the\ntransmission of COVID-19 within their campus, and to react quickly should a\ncase be identified. The administrators\u2019 guidance includes information about\nthe following:\n\nHow to prepare if you have no community spread of COVID-19.\nHow to prepare if you have minimal to moderate community spread in your community.\nHow to prepare if you have substantial community spread in your community.\nWhat to do if a person with COVID-19 has entered your school.\n\nSee CDC\u2019s full interim guidance for more\ndetails."}
{"_id":"CDCtest512","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat groups should I work with in our community to prepare?\nWork with your local health department to develop\/update your emergency\noperations plan and information-sharing system. Institutional information\nsystems can be used to get accurate and up-to-date information, and day-to-day\nabsenteeism or changes in student health center traffic can help detect and\nrespond to an outbreak."}
{"_id":"CDCtest513","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nDismissals\nShould we temporarily cancel extracurricular group activities and large events?\nIf your community has cases of COVID-19, work with your local public health\nofficials to determine if you should temporarily cancel\nevents.\nIf you decide to dismiss classes, you should also cancel extracurricular group\nactivities and large events, such as club meetings, performances, social\nevents, athletic team practices, and sporting events. You should also\ndiscourage students, staff, and faculty from gathering or socializing\nelsewhere."}
{"_id":"CDCtest514","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat should I include in my emergency operations plan?\nReview and update your emergency operations plan in collaboration with your\nlocal health departmentexternal icon. Focus on the components or annexes of\nthe plans that address infectious disease outbreaks.\n\nEnsure the plan includes strategies to reduce the spread of a wide variety of infectious diseases (e.g., seasonal influenza). This includes strategies for social distancing and school dismissal that may be used to stop or slow the spread of infectious disease. The plan should also include strategies for continuing education, meal programs, and other related services in the event of school dismissal.\nEnsure the plan emphasizes everyday preventive actions for students and staff. For example, emphasize actions such as staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched surfaces; and washing hands often.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest515","title":"","text":"Institutes of Higher Education\nRecent Travel\nWhat should we do if a student or staff member recently traveled to an area with COVID-19 or has a family member who has traveled to an area with COVID-19?\nReview updatedCDC information for\ntravelers, including FAQ for\ntravelers, and consult with state\nand local health officials. Health officials may use CDC\u2019s Interim US\nGuidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with\nPotential Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposure in Travel-associated or\nCommunity Settings to make recommendations. Individuals returning from travel\nto areas with community spread of COVID-19 must follow guidance they have\nreceived from health officials."}
{"_id":"CDCtest516","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat should I do when there is substantial community transmission?\nIf local health officials have determined there is substantial transmission of\nCOVID-19 within the community, they will provide guidance to administrators on\nthe best course of action for child care programs or schools. These strategies\nare expected to extend across multiple programs, schools, or school districts\nwithin the community.\nYou may need to consider extended school dismissals (e.g. dismissals for\nlonger than 2 weeks). This longer-term, and likely broader-reaching, dismissal\nstrategy is intended to slow transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community.\nDuring extended school dismissals, also cancel extracurricular group\nactivities, school-based afterschool programs, and large events (e.g.,\nassemblies, spirit nights, field trips, and sporting events). Remember to\nimplement strategies to ensure the continuity of education (e.g., distance\nlearning) as well as meal programs and other essential services for students."}
{"_id":"CDCtest517","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nDismissals\nIf I make the decision for a school dismissal, what else should I consider?\nIn the event of a school dismissal, extracurricular group activities and large\nevents, such as performances, field trips, and sporting events should also be\ncancelled. This may require close coordination with other partners and\norganizations (e.g., high school athletics associations, music associations).\nIn addition, discourage students and staff from gathering or socializing\nanywhere, like at a friend\u2019s house, a favorite restaurant, or the local\nshopping mall.\nEnsure continuity of meal programs for your students. Consider ways to\ndistribute food to students who receive free or reduced cost meals. Check with\nthe US Department of Agriculture \u2013 Food and Nutrition Service for additional\ninformation:\nhttps:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/disaster\/USDAfoodsPandemicSchools.external\nicon If there is\ncommunity spread of COVID-19, design strategies to avoid distribution in\nsettings where people might gather in a group or crowd. Consider options such\nas \u201cgrab-and-go\u201d bagged lunches or meal delivery.\nConsider alternatives for providing essential medical and social services for\nstudents. Continue providing necessary services for children with special\nhealthcare needs, or work with the state Title V Children and Youth with\nSpecial Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program."}
{"_id":"CDCtest518","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nHow should my school prepare when there is no community transmission in our area?\nThe most important thing you can do now is to prepare. Schools need to be\nready if COVID-19 does appear in their communities. Here are some strategies:\n\nReview, update, and implement emergency operations plans.\nDevelop information-sharing systems with partners.\nTeach and reinforce health hygiene practices.\nIntensify cleaning and disinfection efforts.\nMonitor and plan for absenteeism.\nAssess group gatherings and events. Follow current guidance about non-critical gatherings and events.\nRequire sick students and staff to stay home. Establish procedures for students and staff who are sick at school.\nCreate and test communications plans for use with the school community.\nReview CDC\u2019s guidance for business and employers.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest519","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nRecent Travel\nWhat should we do if a child, student, or staff member has recently traveled to an area with COVID-19 or has a family member who has traveled to an area with COVID-19?\nReview updated CDC information for\ntravelers,\nincluding FAQ for\ntravelers, and\nconsult with state and local health officials. Health officials may use CDC\u2019s\nInterim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of\nPersons with Potential Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposure in Travel-\nassociated or Community Settings to make recommendations. Individuals\nreturning from travel to areas with community spread of COVID-19 must follow\nguidance they have received from health officials."}
{"_id":"CDCtest520","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nIf children with asthma use \u201cbreathing treatments\u201d or peak flow meters, do schools need to be concerned about aerosolizing the virus that causes COVID-19?\nFirst, students with symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend school. Symptoms\nof asthma and COVID-19 may overlap, including cough and shortness of breath.\nTherefore, students experiencing acute asthma attacks should not be attending\nschool without approval by a healthcare provider; if an asthma attack starts\nat school, a student may need a bronchodilator treatment before being sent\nhome or before an ambulance arrives. The American Lung Association\u2019s Model\nPolicy for School Districts: Stock Bronchodilatorspdf iconexternal\nicon recommends using inhalers with disposable\nspacers\/mouthpieces and nebulizers with disposable tubing with\nmask\/mouthpieces. Inhalers and nebulizers should be used and cleaned according\nto the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.\nDuring this COVID-19 pandemic, asthma treatments using inhalers with\nspacers (with or without face mask,\naccording to each student\u2019s individualized treatment plan) are preferred over\nnebulizer treatments whenever possible. Based on limited data, use of asthma\ninhalers (with or without spacers or face masks) is not considered an aerosol-\ngenerating procedure.\nBased on limited available data, it is uncertain whether aerosols generated\nby nebulizer treatments are potentially\ninfectious. During this COVID-19 pandemic, nebulizer treatments at school\nshould be reserved for children who cannot use or do not have access to an\ninhaler (with or without spacer or face mask).\nSchools should obtain the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for\nstaff who administer nebulizer treatments. PPE for use when administering\nnebulizer treatments to students with asthma consists of gloves, medical grade\nfacemask and eye protection.\nSchool staff should be trained on when to use PPE, what PPE is necessary,\nwhere this PPE is stored, how to properly don (put on), use, and doff (take\noff) PPE, and how to properly dispose of used PPE. CDC has\ninformation on using PPE. Staff\nshould also be trained on how to administer nebulizer treatments.\nDuring this COVID-19 pandemic, if a nebulizer treatment is necessary at school\nfor a student, the number of people present in the room should be limited to\nthe student and the staff member administering the treatment. If appropriate\nbased on the student\u2019s age and level of maturity, the staff member could leave\nthe room and return when the treatment is finished. After the nebulizer\ntreatment, this room should undergo routine cleaning and disinfection. CDC has\ninformation on how to clean and\ndisinfect and how to prevent asthma attacks triggered by cleaning and\ndisinfecting\nactivities.\nUse of peak flow meters, including in the school setting, includes forceful\nexhalation. Forceful exhalation is not considered an aerosol-generating\nprocedure associated with increased risk of transmitting the virus that causes\nCOVID-19. However, for some people with asthma, using a peak flow meter can\ntrigger cough.\nPeople with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from\nCOVID-19. CDC has more information on COVID-19 for\nschools and healthcare\nproviders\n(including school nurses)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest521","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat steps should my school take if a student or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19?\nYou should establish procedures to ensure students and staff who become sick\nat school or who arrive at school sick are sent home as soon as possible. Keep\nanyone sick separate from well students and staff until the sick person can\nbe sent home."}
{"_id":"CDCtest522","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nIf each child has his or her own spacer, can a school\u2019s metered dose inhaler be used by more than one student if the actuator is cleaned before use by another student?\nCDC is not aware of data regarding practices to prevent transmission of the\nvirus that causes COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses, when multiple people\nshare one asthma inhaler.\nStudents should be permitted to use their personal inhaler, as needed, to the\nextent permitted by state law and school policies. When students need to use\nof the school\u2019s stock inhaler, the inhaler should be used and cleaned\naccording to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. The American Lung Association\u2019s\nModel Policy for School Districts: Stock Bronchodilatorspdf iconexternal\nicon recommends using inhalers with disposable\nspacers\/mouthpieces.\nAdditional strategies to further minimize cross-contamination include using\nspacers with one-way valves and not allowing the student to touch the inhaler\n(e.g., the student can touch the spacer, but only the school staff\nadministering the inhaler can touch the inhaler). Limited data from\nhealthcare settingspdf iconexternal\nicon suggest\nwiping all surfaces of an inhaler with an alcohol-based wipe containing at\nleast 70% alcohol after inhaler use, and then allowing these surfaces to air-\ndry can prevent bacterial cross-contamination. CDC is not aware of data on\nwhether this has helped prevent viral infections or infections in the school\nsetting.\nCDC is not aware of data regarding viral contamination of spacer devices. A\nstudy evaluating the persistence of SARS-CoV-2external\nicon (the virus that\ncauses COVID-19) on plastic, stainless steel, and cardboard surfaces showed\nthat the virus is able to remain viable for up to 72 hours. The American Lung\nAssociation\u2019s Model Policy for School Districts: Stock Bronchodilatorspdf\niconexternal\nicon recommends using inhalers with disposable spacers\nor disposable mouthpieces.\nSchool staff who administer asthma medication to students should use good hand\nhygiene, including washing hands\nwith soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after administration.\nIf soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, staff\nshould use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.\nPeople with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from\nCOVID-19. CDC has more information on COVID-19 for\nschools and healthcare\nproviders\n(including school nurses).\nCDC has additional information about asthma (non-COVID related) for health\nprofessionals and schools here: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/info.html"}
{"_id":"CDCtest523","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nTeachers\nWhat can teachers do to protect themselves and their students?\nTeachers and students are in close contact for much of the day, and schools\ncan become a place where respiratory diseases like COVID-19 can quickly\nspread. Protect yourself and your students by practicing and promoting\nhealthy habits during the school year. You should also plan to say home\nif you have symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, or shortness of breath.\nEncourage parents to keep students at home if they\u2019re sick. Consider social\ndistancing strategies, such as modifying classes where students are likely to\nbe in very close contact; increasing space between desks; and allowing\nstudents to eat meals in the classroom."}
{"_id":"CDCtest524","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat should I include in my emergency operations plan?\nReview and update your emergency operations plan in collaboration with your\nlocal health departmentexternal iconexternal\nicon. Focus on the\ncomponents or annexes of the plans that address infectious disease outbreaks.\n\nEnsure the plan includes strategies to reduce the spread of a wide variety of infectious diseases (e.g., seasonal influenza). This includes strategies for social distancing and school dismissal that may be used to stop or slow the spread of infectious disease. The plan should also include strategies for continuing education, meal programs, and other related services in the event of school dismissal.\nEnsure the plan emphasizes everyday preventive actions for students and staff. For example, emphasize actions such as staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched surfaces; and washing hands often.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest525","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat should I do if the suspected sick student or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19?\nImmediately notify local health officials. These officials will help\nadministrators determine a course of action for their child care programs or\nschools.\nYou will likely dismiss students and most staff for 2-5 days. This initial\nshort-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a\nbetter understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school and for\ncustodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities. Work with the\nlocal health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether\nan extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest526","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nHow should my school prepare when there is minimal to moderate community transmission in our area?\nWork with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies\nappropriate for your community\u2019s situation. Continue using the preparedness\nstrategies implemented for no community transmission, and consider the\nfollowing social distancing strategies:\n\nCancel field trips, assemblies, and other large gatherings.\nCancel or modify classes where students are likely to be in very close contact.\nIncrease the space between desks to at least 6 feet.\nStagger arrival and\/or dismissal times.\nReduce congestion in the health office.\nLimit nonessential visitors.\nLimit bringing in students from other schools for special programs (e.g., music, robotics, academic clubs)\nTeach staff, students, and their families to maintain a safe distance (6 feet) from each other in the school.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest527","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nParents\nHow should parents talk to children about COVID-19?\nAs public conversations around COVID-19 increase, children may worry about\nthemselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents play\nan important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way\nthat is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created\nguidance to help adults have conversations with children about\nCOVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease."}
{"_id":"CDCtest528","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nTeachers\nHow should I talk to my students about COVID-19?\nAs public conversations around COVID-19 increase, children may worry about\nthemselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Teachers can\nplay an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a\nway that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created\nguidance to help adults have conversations with children about\nCOVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease."}
{"_id":"CDCtest529","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat should I consider as I plan and prepare for COVID-19?\nAdministrators should always reinforce healthy practices among their staff and\nstudents, as well as prepare for a potential case of COVID-19, regardless of\nthe current level of community transmission.\nAs you create and update your preparedness plans, work with your local health\nofficials to determine the most appropriate plan and actions for your school\nor program. Together, you will need to consider your local community\nsituation\u2014whether you have local transmission in your community, and if so,\nthe level of transmission (none\/minimal, minimal to moderate, substantial).\nCDC has created overall guidance, as well as guidance tailored for\ntransmission level in your area to help child care programs, schools, and\ntheir partners understand how to help prevent COVID-19 and react quickly when\na case is identified. The guidance includes information about the following:\n\nHow to prepare if you have no community spread of COVID-19.\nHow to prepare if you have minimal to moderate community spread in your community.\nHow to prepare if you have substantial community spread in your community.\nWhat to do if a person with COVID-19 has entered your school.\n\nSee CDC\u2019s full interim guidance for more\ndetails."}
{"_id":"CDCtest530","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nDismissals\nAre there ways for students to keep learning if we decide to dismiss schools?\nYes, consider implementing e-learning plans, including digital and distance\nlearning options as feasible and appropriate. Determine, in consultation with\nschool district officials or other relevant state or local partners:\n\nIf a waiver is needed for state requirements of a minimum number of in-person instructional hours or school days (seat time) as a condition for funding.\nHow to convert face-to-face lessons into online lessons and how to train teachers to do so.\nHow to triage technical issues if faced with limited IT support and staff.\nHow to encourage appropriate adult supervision while children are using distance learning approaches.\nHow to deal with the potential lack of students\u2019 access to computers and the internet at home.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest531","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nDismissals\nWhen should I dismiss our school\/child care program?\nAny decision about school dismissal or cancellation of school events should be\nmade in coordination with your local health officials. Schools are not\nexpected to make decisions about dismissals on their own.\nYou may need to temporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if a student or staff\nmember attended school before being confirmed as having COVID-19. This initial\nshort-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a\nbetter understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school and for\ncustodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities. Work with the\nlocal health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether\nan extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of\nCOVID-19.\nIf there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health\nofficials may suggest extended school dismissalspdf iconpdf\nicon (e.g., dismissals for longer than two weeks). This longer-\nterm, and likely broader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow\ntransmission rates of COVID-19 in the community."}
{"_id":"CDCtest532","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nParents\nHow will I know if my child's school is closed?\nLook out for information from your school district. Information may come via\nphone, email, or website depending on your school\u2019s communication plan. Local\nmedia outlets may provide updates, since they often monitor this information."}
{"_id":"CDCtest533","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nDismissals\nIf we dismiss school, what do we need to consider when re-opening the building to students?\nCDC is currently working on additional guidance to help schools determine when\nand how to re-open in an orderly manner. If you need immediate assistance with\nthis, consult local health officials for guidance. Stay in touch with your\nlocal and state health department, as well as the Department of Education."}
{"_id":"CDCtest534","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat can staff and students do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nEncourage students and staff to take everyday preventive\nactions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. These\nactions include staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and\nsneezes; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces; and washing\nhands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available,\nuse an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash\nhands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty. Remember to supervise\nyoung children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol."}
{"_id":"CDCtest535","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nParents\nWhat are schools doing to prepare for COVID-19?\nSchools are advised to ensure adequate supplies are available to support\nhealthy hygiene practices, and to routinely clean and disinfect objects and\nsurfaces that are frequently touched.\nThey are also working closely with local health officials to review and update\ntheir school emergency operation plans, and to determine if or when to dismiss\nschools."}
{"_id":"CDCtest536","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nParents\nAre children more at-risk?\nInformation about COVID-19 in\nchildren is somewhat\nlimited, but the information that is available suggests that children with\nconfirmed COVID-19 generally had mild symptoms. Person-to-person spread from\nor to children, as among adults, is thought to occur mainly via respiratory\ndroplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Recent\nstudies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely\nalso play a role in the spread of COVID-19.\nHowever, a small percentage of children have been reported to have more severe\nillness. People who have serious chronic medical conditions are believed to be\nat higher risk. Despite lower risk of serious illness among most children,\nchildren with COVID-19-like symptoms should avoid contact with others who\nmight be at higher risk, such as older adults and adults with serious chronic\nmedical conditions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest537","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nWhat should I do if my school experiences increased rates of absenteeism?\nIf your school notices a substantial increase in the number of students or\nstaff missing school due to illness, report this to your local health\nofficials."}
{"_id":"CDCtest538","title":"","text":"K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs\nAdministrators\nPlanning and Responding to COVID-19\nShould my school screen students for COVID-19?\nSchools and child care programs are not expected to screen children,\nstudents, or staff to identify cases of COVID-19. If a community (or more\nspecifically, a school) has cases of COVID-19, local health officials will\nhelp identify those individuals and follow up on next steps."}
{"_id":"CDCtest539","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nHow do I put on (don) and take off (doff) my gown?\n\nCheck to see if your facility has guidance on how to don and doff PPE. The procedure to don and doff should be tailored to the specific type of PPE that you have available at your facility.\nIf your facility does not have specific guidance, the CDC has recommended sequences for donning and doffing of PPE.pdf icon\nIt is important for Health Care Providers (HCP) to perform hand hygiene before and after removing PPE. Hand hygiene should be performed by using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water should be used before returning to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest540","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGloves\nWhat type of glove is recommended to care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in healthcare settings?\nNonsterile disposable patient examination gloves, which are used for routine\npatient care in healthcare settings, are appropriate for the care of patients\nwith suspected or confirmed COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest541","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGloves\nHow do I put on (don) or take off (doff) my gloves?\n\nCheck to see if your facility has guidance on how to don and doff PPE. The procedure to don and doff should be tailored to the specific type of PPE that you have available at your facility.\nIf your facility does not have specific guidance, the CDC has recommended sequences for donning and doffing of PPEpdf icon.\nIt is important for HCP to perform hand hygiene after removing PPE. Hand hygiene should be performed by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water should be used before returning to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest542","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat do I do with an expired respirator?\nIn times of increased demand and decreased supply, consideration can be made\nto use N95 respirators past their intended shelf life. However, the potential\nexists that the respirator will not perform to the requirements for which it\nwas certified. Over time, components such as the strap and nose bridge may\ndegrade, which can affect the quality of the fit and seal. Prior to use of N95\nrespirators, the HCP should inspect the respirator and perform a seal check.\nAdditionally, expired respirators may potentially no longer meet the\ncertification requirements set by NIOSH. For further guidance, visit Release\nof Stockpiled N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Beyond the Manufacturer-\nDesignated Shelf Life: Considerations for the COVID-19\nResponse ."}
{"_id":"CDCtest543","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nHow do I know if my respirator is expired?\nNIOSH does not require approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) be\nmarked with an expiration date. If an FFR does not have an assigned expiration\ndate, you should refer to the user instructions or seek guidance from the\nspecific manufacturer on whether time and storage conditions (such as\ntemperature or humidity) are expected to have an effect on the respirator\u2019s\nperformance and if the respirators are nearing the end of their shelf life."}
{"_id":"CDCtest544","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nWhat testing and standards should I consider when looking for CDC-recommended protective clothing?\n\nCDC\u2019s guidance for Considerations for Selecting Protective Clothing used in Healthcare for Protection against Microorganisms in Blood and Body Fluids outlines the scientific evidence and information on national and international standards, test methods, and specifications for fluid-resistant and impermeable gowns and coveralls used in healthcare.\nMany organizations have published guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in medical settings. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI): ANSI\/AAMI PB70:2012pdf iconexternal icon describes the liquid barrier performance and a classification of surgical and isolation gowns for use in health care facilities.\nAs with any type of PPE, the key to proper selection and use of protective clothing is to understand the hazards and the risk of exposure. Some of the factors important to assessing the risk of exposure in health facilities include source, modes of transmission, pressures and types of contact, and duration and type of tasks to be performed by the user of the PPE. (Technical Information Report (TIR) 11pdf iconexternal icon[AAMI 2005]).\nFor gowns, it is important to have sufficient overlap of the fabric so that it wraps around the body to cover the back (ensuring that if the wearer squats or sits down, the gown still protects the back area of the body).\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest545","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nHow can I tell if a respirator is NIOSH-approved?\nThe NIOSH approval number and approval\nlabel\nare key to identifying NIOSH-approved respirators. The NIOSH approval label\ncan be found on or within the packaging of the respirator or sometimes on the\nrespirator itself. The required labeling of NIOSH-Approved N95 filtering\nfacepiece respiratorspdf\nicon includes the NIOSH name, the approval number, filter\ndesignations, lot number, and model number to be printed on the respirator.\nYou can verify that your respirator approvals are valid by checking the NIOSH\nCertified Equipment List\n(CEL)."}
{"_id":"CDCtest546","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nShould I wear a respirator in public?\nMost often,\nspread of\nrespiratory viruses from person-to-person happens among close\ncontacts\n(within 6 feet). Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do\nnot have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19. CDC\nrecommends everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory\nviruses, such as avoiding people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes or\nnose, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue. People who are sick\nshould stay home and not go into crowded public places or visit people in hospitals.\nWorkers who are sick should follow CDC guidelines and stay home when they are\nsick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest547","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGloves\nIs double gloving necessary when caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in healthcare settings?\nCDC Guidance does not recommend double gloves when\nproviding care to suspected or confirmed 2019-COVID patients."}
{"_id":"CDCtest548","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nMy N95 respirator has an exhalation valve, is that okay?\nAn N95 respirator with an exhalation valve does provide the same level of\nprotection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. The presence of an\nexhalation valve reduces exhalation resistance, which makes it easier to\nbreathe (exhale). Some users feel that a respirator with an exhalation valve\nkeeps the face cooler and reduces moisture build up inside the facepiece.\nHowever, respirators with exhalation valves should not be used in situations\nwhere a sterile field must be maintained (e.g., during an invasive procedure\nin an operating or procedure room) because the exhalation valve allows\nunfiltered exhaled air to escape into the sterile field."}
{"_id":"CDCtest549","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGloves\nAre extended length gloves necessary when caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in healthcare settings?\nAccording to CDC\nGuidance, extended length gloves are not necessary when providing\ncare to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. Extended length gloves can\nbe used, but CDC is not specifically recommending them at this time."}
{"_id":"CDCtest550","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat is a respirator?\nA respirator is a personal protective device that is worn on the face or head\nand covers at least the nose and mouth. A respirator is used to reduce the\nwearer\u2019s risk of inhaling hazardous airborne particles (including infectious\nagents), gases or vapors. Respirators, including those intended for use in\nhealthcare settings, are certified by the CDC\/NIOSH."}
{"_id":"CDCtest551","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nHow do I know if a respirator is falsely advertising NIOSH-approval?\nWhen NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting\nNIOSH approval on the market, these respirators are posted on the Counterfeit\nRespirators \/ Misrepresentation of NIOSH-\nApproval\nwebpage to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers."}
{"_id":"CDCtest552","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat makes N95 respirators different from facemasks (sometimes called a surgical mask)?\n\nInfographic: Understanding the difference between surgical masks and N95 respiratorspdf icon\nN95 respirators reduce the wearer\u2019s exposure to airborne particles, from small particle aerosols to large droplets. N95 respirators are tight-fitting respirators that filter out at least 95% of particles in the air, including large and small particles.\nNot everyone is able to wear a respirator due to medical conditions that may be made worse when breathing through a respirator. Before using a respirator or getting fit-tested, workers must have a medical evaluation to make sure that they are able to wear a respirator safely.\nAchieving an adequate seal to the face is essential. United States regulations require that workers undergo an annual fit test and conduct a user seal check each time the respirator is used. Workers must pass a fit test to confirm a proper seal before using a respirator in the workplace.\nWhen properly fitted and worn, minimal leakage occurs around edges of the respirator when the user inhales. This means almost all of the air is directed through the filter media.\nUnlike NIOSH-approved N95s, facemasks are loose-fitting and provide only barrier protection against droplets, including large respiratory particles. No fit testing or seal check is necessary with facemasks. Most facemasks do not effectively filter small particles from the air and do not prevent leakage around the edge of the mask when the user inhales.\nThe role of facemasks is for patient source control, to prevent contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear a facemask until they are isolated in a hospital or at home. The patient does not need to wear a facemask while isolated.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest553","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nWhat type of gown is recommended for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?\nNonsterile, disposable patient isolation gowns, which are used for routine\npatient care in healthcare settings, are appropriate for use by patients with\nsuspected or confirmed COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest554","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat is an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR)?\nAn N95 FFR is a type of respirator which removes particles from the air that\nare breathed through it. These respirators filter out at least 95% of very\nsmall (0.3 micron) particles. N95 FFRs are capable of filtering out all types\nof particles, including bacteria and viruses."}
{"_id":"CDCtest555","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat methods should healthcare facilities consider in order to avoid unintentional loss of PPE during COVID-19?\nMonitoring PPE supply inventory and maintaining control over PPE supplies may\nhelp prevent unintentional product losses that may occur due to theft, damage,\nor accidental loss. Inventory systems should be employed to track daily usage\nand identify areas of higher than expected use. This information can be used\nto implement additional conservation strategies tailored to specific patient\ncare areas such as hospital units or outpatient facilities. Inventory tracking\nwithin a health system may also assist in confirming PPE deliveries and\noptimizing distribution of PPE supplies to specific facilities."}
{"_id":"CDCtest556","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGloves\nWhat standards should be considered when choosing gloves?\n\nThe American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)external icon has developed standards for patient examination gloves.\nStandard specifications for nitrile gloves, natural rubber gloves, and polychloroprene gloves indicate higher minimum tensile strength and elongation requirements compared to vinyl gloves.1,2,3,4\nThe ASTM has developed standards for patient examination gloves. Length requirements for patient exam gloves must be a minimum of 220mm-230mm depending on glove size and material type.1,2,3,4\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest557","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nIs it acceptable for emergency medical services to wear coveralls as an alternative to gowns when COVID-19 is suspected in a patient needing emergency transport?\nUnlike patient care in the controlled environment of a healthcare facility,\ncare and transport by EMS present unique challenges because of the nature of\nthe setting. Coveralls are an acceptable alternative to gowns when caring for\nand transporting suspect COVID-19 patients. While no clinical studies have\nbeen done to compare gowns and coveralls, both have been used effectively by\nhealthcare workers in clinical settings during patient care. CDC\u2019s\nConsiderations for Selecting Protective Clothing used in Healthcare for\nProtection against Microorganisms in Blood and Body\nFluids guidance\nprovides a comparison between gowns and coveralls, including test methods and\nperformance requirements. Coveralls typically provide 360-degree protection\nbecause they are designed to cover the whole body, including the back and\nlower legs, and sometimes the head and feet as well. This added coverage may\nbe necessary for some work tasks involved in medical transport. However,\ncoveralls may lead to increased heat stress compared to gowns due to the total\narea covered by the fabric. Training on how to properly remove (doff) a\ncoverall is important to prevent self-contamination. Comparatively, gowns are\neasier to put on and, in particular, to take off."}
{"_id":"CDCtest558","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nWhat types of gowns are available for healthcare personnel to protect from COVID-19?\n\nWhile the transmissibility of COVID-19 is not fully understood, gowns are available that protect against microorganisms. The choice of gown should be made based on the level of risk of contamination. Certain areas of surgical and isolation gowns are defined as \u201ccritical zones\u201d where direct contact with blood, body fluids, and\/or other potentially infectious materials is most likely to occur. (ANSI\/AAMI PB70pdf iconexternal icon).\nIf there is a medium to high risk of contamination and need for a large critical zone, isolation gowns that claim moderate to high barrier protection (ANSI\/AAMI PB70 Level 3 or 4pdf iconexternal icon) can be used.\nFor healthcare activities with low, medium, or high risk of contamination, surgical gowns (ANSI\/AAMI PB70 Levels 1-4pdf iconexternal icon), can be used. These gowns are intended to be worn by healthcare personnel during surgical procedures.\nIf the risk of bodily fluid exposure is low or minimal, gowns that claim minimal or low levels of barrier protection (ANSI\/AAMI PB70 Level 1 or 2pdf iconexternal icon) can be used. These gowns should not be worn during surgical or invasive procedures, or for medium to high risk contamination patient care activities.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest559","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nMy employees complain that Surgical N95 respirators are hot and uncomfortable - what can I do?\nThe requirements for surgical N95 respirators that make them resistant to high\nvelocity streams of body fluids and help protect the sterile field can result\nin a design that has a higher breathing resistance (makes it more difficult to\nbreath) than a typical N95 respirator. Also, surgical N95 respirators are\ndesigned without exhalation valves which are sometimes perceived as warmer\ninside the mask than typical N95 respirators. If you are receiving complaints,\nyou may consider having employees who are not doing surgery, not working in a\nsterile field, or not potentially exposed to high velocity streams of body\nfluids wear a standard N95 with an exhalation valve."}
{"_id":"CDCtest560","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nGowns\nWhat is the difference between gowns and coveralls?\n\nCDC\u2019s guidance for Considerations for Selecting Protective Clothing used in Healthcare for Protection against Microorganisms in Blood and Body Fluids provides additional comparisons between gowns and coveralls.\nGowns are easier to put on and, in particular, to take off. They are generally more familiar to healthcare workers and hence more likely to be used and removed correctly. These factors also facilitate training in their correct use.\nCoveralls typically provide 360-degree protection because they are designed to cover the whole body, including the back and lower legs, and sometimes the head and feet as well. Surgical\/isolation gowns do not provide continuous whole-body protection (e.g., they have possible openings in the back, and typically provide coverage to the mid-calf only).\nThe level of heat stress generated due to the added layer of clothing is also expected to be less for gowns when compared to coveralls due to several factors, such as the openings in the design of gowns and total area covered by the fabric.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest561","title":"","text":"Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers\nRespirators\nWhat is a Surgical N95 respirator and who needs to wear it?\n\nA surgical N95 (also referred as a medical respirator) is recommended only for use by healthcare personnel (HCP) who need protection from both airborne and fluid hazards (e.g., splashes, sprays). These respirators are not used or needed outside of healthcare settings. In times of shortage, only HCP who are working in a sterile field or who may be exposed to high velocity splashes, sprays, or splatters of blood or body fluids should wear these respirators, such as in operative or procedural settings. Most HCP caring for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients should not need to use surgical N95 respirators and can use standard N95 respirators.\nIf a surgical N95 is not available for use in operative or procedural settings, then an unvalved N95 respirator may be used with a faceshield to help block high velocity streams of blood and body fluids.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest562","title":"","text":"Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities\nIf there is a case in the facility\nWhat should administrators do if there is a case of COVID-19 in our facility?\nWork with local health authorities to communicate the possible exposure to\nresidents, staff, and visitors. Clean and disinfect all shared facilities and\nhigh-touch surfaces. Limit visitors to essential staff and visitors. Staff\nand, when possible, visitors should be screened for signs and symptoms of\nCOVID-19 before entering the facility. Residents will need to actively monitor\ntheir health for COVID-19 symptoms. Cancel group activities. Residences that\nbecome ill should be advised to call the medical facility in advance of their\nvisit. See CDC\u2019s full interim guidance for more\ndetails."}
{"_id":"CDCtest563","title":"","text":"Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities\nIf there is a case in the facility\nWhat should administrators do if a resident or staff shows symptoms of COVID-19?\nAsk residents to actively monitor (at least daily) for COVID-19\nsymptoms,\nincluding fever and respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, new or change\nin cough). Administrators should work with local health authorities to\nestablish procedures for those who become sick. Sick residents should avoid\ncontact with individuals who are healthy. If you think someone may have\nCOVID-19, ask them to self-isolate and you should contact local health\nofficials."}
{"_id":"CDCtest564","title":"","text":"Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities\nPlanning and Preparedness\nHow can my retirement community or independent living facility prepare for COVID-19?\nAdministrators should take the following actions to prevent a COVID-19\noutbreak in their community or\nfacility:\n\nPromote social distancing \nCancel public or group activities and events\nInform workers and volunteers to avoid close contact with residents\nWhen possible, limit visitors and volunteers to essential persons\nAdvise residents to stay home and avoid public places\nAlter schedules to reduce mixing (e.g., stagger meal, activity, arrival\/departure times)\n\n\nSupport residents in preparing \nEstablish the \u2018buddy\u2019 system to ensure residents stay connected.\nEncourage residents to have extra medications and supplies.\nIdentify residents with unique needs and work with them to tailor these strategies.\nFind ways to support residents in managing stress and anxiety.\nInform residents using print materials and high-visibility posters\n\n\nEncourage everyone to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. \nCover coughs and sneezes\nClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces\nWash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds\nEnsure hand hygiene supplies (e.g., hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) are readily available in all buildings.\n\n\nMonitor for cases and take action when someone is sick. \nScreen workers and when possible volunteers\nAsk residents to self-monitor for symptoms\nReview the usual absenteeism patterns at your facility among staff, so you can identify if the rate of absenteeism increases.\nImplement flexible sick-leave policies and actively encourage sick employees to stay home\nCoordinate with local health facilities if you suspect a resident or staff member may have COVID-19\n\n\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest565","title":"","text":"Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities\nPlanning and Preparedness\nDoes CDC have recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces?\nRoutinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., doorknobs,\nlight switches, countertops) with cleaners that you typically use. Use all\ncleaning products according to the directions on the label. Practice strict\ninfection control procedures if there is a case in your\nfacility.\nFollow CDC\u2019s Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations for\nCommunities."}
{"_id":"CDCtest566","title":"","text":"Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities\nPlanning and Preparedness\nWhat actions can residents and staff take to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nEncourage residents and staff to take everyday preventive\nactions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. Actions\ninclude staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes;\ncleaning and then disinfecting frequently touched\nsurfaces; and washing hands often with soap and water."}
{"_id":"CDCtest567","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nAir or Cruise Travel\nShould I go on a cruise?\nCDC recommends that all travelers defer all cruise ship travel\nworldwide. Recent\nreports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise\nship passengers and crew. Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread\nmore easily between people in close quarters aboard ships."}
{"_id":"CDCtest568","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nInternational Travel\nShould I cancel my international trip?\nCDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential international travel\nbecause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some health care systems are overwhelmed and\nthere may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas. Many\ncountries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines,\nclosing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance\nnotice. Airlines have cancelled many international flights and in-country\ntravel may be unpredictable. If you choose to travel internationally, your\ntravel plans may be disrupted, and you may have to remain outside the United\nStates for an indefinite length of time.\nCDC also recommends all travelers defer all cruise ship travel\nworldwide."}
{"_id":"CDCtest569","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nGeneral\nIf I travel, what steps should I take to help reduce my chances of getting sick?\n\nAvoid contact with sick people.\nAvoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.\nWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. \nIt is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.\n\n\nMake sure you are up to date with your routine vaccinations, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest570","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nAir or Cruise Travel\nWhat is the risk of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?\nBecause of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and\nother germs do not spread easily. Although the risk of infection on an\nairplane is low, try to avoid contact with sick passengers, avoid touching\nyour eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and wash your hands often with\nsoap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at\nleast 60% alcohol.\nLearn more about Exposure Risk During\nTravel"}
{"_id":"CDCtest571","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nInternational Travel\nWhen can I return to work after international travel?\nCurrently, all international travelers arriving into the US should stay home\nfor 14 days after their arrival. At home, they are expected to monitor their\nhealth and practice social distancing. To protect the health of others, these\ntravelers should not to go to work or school for 14 days."}
{"_id":"CDCtest572","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nGeneral\nShould travelers wear facemasks or coverings?\nIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC recommends that everyone wear a\ncloth face covering over their nose and mouth when in the community setting, including\nduring travel if they must travel. This as an additional public health measure\npeople should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not\ninstead of) social distancing, frequent hand cleaning and other everyday\npreventive actions. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the\nwearer but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This\nwould be especially important if someone is infected but does not have\nsymptoms. Medical masks and N-95 respirators are still reserved for healthcare\nworkers and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance."}
{"_id":"CDCtest573","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nDomestic Travel\nIs it safe to travel to visit family or friends?\nTravel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Before you\ntravel, learn if coronavirus is spreading in your local area or in any of the\nplaces you are going. Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if\nyou or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from\nCOVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra\nprecautions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest574","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nInternational Travel\nWhat can I expect when arriving to the United States?\nAt this time, travel restrictions and entry screening apply only to travelers\narriving from some countries or regions with widespread ongoing transmission\nof COVID-19. [Note: US policies are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic\nevolves.]\nYou may be screened when you arrive in the United States. After you arrive\nhome, take the following steps to protect yourself and others:\n\nStay at home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school.\nMonitor your health. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.\nKeep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters) This is referred to as \u201csocial distancing.\u201d\n\nCheck CDC\u2019s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Travel\nwebpage to find the current\ntravel health notice level for your international travel."}
{"_id":"CDCtest575","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nInternational Travel\nWhat can I expect when departing other countries?\nSome countries are conducting exit screening for all passengers leaving their\ncountry. Before being permitted to board a departing flight, you may have your\ntemperature taken and be asked questions about your travel history and health."}
{"_id":"CDCtest576","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nDomestic Travel\nIs it safe to travel to campgrounds or go camping?\nGoing camping at a time when much of the United States is experiencing\ncommunity spread of COVID-19 can pose a risk to you if you come in close\ncontact with others or share public facilities (like restrooms or picnic\nareas) at campsites or along the trails. Exposure may be especially unsafe if\nyou are more likely to get very ill from\nCOVID-19 and are planning to be in remote areas, without easy access to\nmedical care. Also be aware that many local, state, and national public parks\nhave been temporarily closed due to COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest577","title":"","text":"Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers\nAir or Cruise Travel\nWhat happens if there is a sick passenger on an international or domestic flight?\nUnder current federal regulations, pilots must report all illnesses and deaths\nto CDC before arriving to a US destination. According to CDC disease\nprotocols, if a sick traveler is considered to be a public health risk, CDC\nworks with local and state health departments and international public health\nagencies to contact passengers and crew exposed to that sick traveler.\nBe sure to give the airline your current contact information when booking your\nticket so you can be notified if you are exposed to a sick traveler on a\nflight.\nLearn more about Contact Investigation"}
{"_id":"CDCtest578","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nAre people with HIV at higher risk for COVID-19 than other people?\nAt the present time, we have no specific information about the risk of\nCOVID-19 in people with HIV.\nOlder adults and people of any age who have a serious underlying medical\ncondition might be at higher risk for severe illness, including people who are\nimmunocompromised. The risk for people with HIV getting very sick is greatest\nin:\n\nPeople with a low CD4 cell count, and\nPeople not on HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART).\n\nPeople with HIV can also be at increased risk of getting very sick with\nCOVID-19 based on their age and other medical conditions."}
{"_id":"CDCtest579","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nCan HIV medicine (ART) be used to treat COVID-19?\nSome types of HIV medicine (for example, lopinavir-ritonavir) to treat\nCOVID-19 are being evaluated. Results from a clinical trialexternal\nicon in China showed that\nlopinavir-ritonavir did not speed up recovery or reduce the amount of virus\nproduced in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia. More than 15\nclinical trials of HIV medicines are registered on ClinicalTrials.govexternal\nicon.\nUntil more is known about the effects of these medicines on COVID-19, people\nwith HIV should not switch their HIV medicine in an attempt to prevent or\ntreat COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest580","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nWhat can everyone do to minimize stigma about COVID-19?\nMinimizing stigma and misinformation about COVID-19 is very important. People\nwith HIV have experience in dealing with stigma and can be allies in\npreventing COVID-19 stigma. Learn how you can reduce stigma and help prevent\nthe spread of rumors about COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest581","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nAre shortages of HIV medicine (ART) or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) expected?\nDrug shortages or anticipated problems with HIV medicine have not been\nidentified.\nThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is closely monitoring the drug\nsupply chain as the COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to disrupt the supply\nof medical and pharmaceutical products in the United States.\nThe National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) has\nalso remained in contact with the major manufacturers of HIV medicine as many\nof these products rely on ingredients produced in China.\nAs of March 10, 2020, there were no reports of manufacturing concerns or\nsupply shortages.\nLearn more about the FDA\u2019s response to COVID-19external\nicon."}
{"_id":"CDCtest582","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nWhat can people with HIV do to protect themselves from COVID-19?\nThere is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent\ngetting sick is to avoid exposure to the virus.\nPeople with HIV should take everyday preventive\nactions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.\nPeople with HIV should also continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This\nincludes:\n\nEating right,\nGetting at least 8 hours of sleep, and\nReducing stress as much as possible.\n\nStaying healthy helps your immune system fight off infection should it occur.\nIf you have HIV and are taking your HIV medicine, it is important to continue\nyour treatment and follow the advice of your health care provider. This is the\nbest way to keep your immune system healthy."}
{"_id":"CDCtest583","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nWhat else can people with HIV who are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 do to protect themselves?\nNearly half of people in the United States with diagnosed HIV are aged 50\nyears and older. People with HIV also have higher rates of certain underlying\nhealth conditions. Both increased age and these conditions can increase their\nrisk for more severe illness if people with\nHIV get COVID-19, especially people with advanced HIV.\nSteps that people with HIV can take to\nprepare in addition\nto what is recommended for everybody:\n\nMake sure you have at least a 30-day supply of your HIV medicine and any other medications or medical supplies you need for managing HIV.\nTalk to your health care provider and make sure all your vaccinations are up-to-date, including vaccinations against seasonal influenza and bacterial pneumonia because these vaccine preventable diseases disproportionally affect people with HIV.\nEstablish a plan for clinical care if you have to stay at home for a couple of weeks. Try to establish a telemedicine link through your HIV care provider\u2019s online portal. If telemedicine is not available to you, make sure you can communicate with your provider by phone or text.\nMake sure you can maintain a social network remotely, such as online, by phone, or by video chat. This can help you stay socially connected and mentally healthy, which is especially important for people with HIV.\nPeople with HIV can sometimes be more likely than others to need extra help, from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, and others. If you become sick make sure you stay in touch by phone or email with people who can help you.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest584","title":"","text":"What to Know About HIV and COVID-19\nWhat should I do if I think I might have COVID-19?\nCall your health care provider if you develop\nsymptoms that could be\nconsistent with COVID-19. Discuss how to get evaluated and how to avoid\npotentially exposing others to COVID-19.\nLearn more about COVID-19 and what to do if you get\nsick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest585","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nWhat else can people with chronic liver disease do to protect themselves from COVID-19?\nPeople with chronic liver disease should take steps that everyone can take to\nprevent getting\nCOVID-19. They should also take the same preventive\nactions\nbeing taken by people with other serious underlying medical conditions to\navoid getting sick with or spreading COVID-19.\nIn addition, people with chronic liver disease can take the following\nmeasures:\n\nIf you are currently taking treatment for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or other chronic conditions, make sure you have enough of your medication at home to reduce unnecessary visits to health services or pharmacies. You may be eligible for up to a 90-day supply of medication.\nTalk to your healthcare provider about vaccination. CDC recommends that people with chronic liver disease receive vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza (flu), and pneumococcal disease.\nIf you must stay at home for a couple of weeks, come up with a plan to continue your care. Try to establish a telemedicine link through your hepatitis provider\u2019s online portal. If telemedicine is not available to you, make sure you can communicate with your provider by phone or text.\nMake sure you can maintain a social network remotely, such as online, by phone, or by video chat. This can help you stay socially connected and mentally healthy.\nSmoking or vaping tobacco or marijuanaexternal icon could increase your risk of severe respiratory illness. Quitting smoking or vaping may reduce your chances of developing serious complications from COVID-19.\nIf you become sick, make sure you stay in touch by phone or email with people who can help you.\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest586","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nWhat can people with substance use disorder and liver disease do to protect themselves from COVID-19?\nThe best way to avoid COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.\nPeople with liver disease should take the same preventive\nactions\nbeing taken by people with other underlying conditions to avoid getting sick\nwith or spreading COVID-19. In addition, people with substance use disorder\nshould stay in contact with their primary care provider and continue\nprescribed treatments. People who inject drugs should continue to use sterile\ninjection equipment."}
{"_id":"CDCtest587","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nAre people with cancer, like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), at increased risk for severe COVID-19?\nWe do not know whether patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are at\nhigher risk for severe COVID-19 than those without HCC. However, one study\nreported a link between cancer and worse COVID-19 disease or death. Cancer\npatients with\nweakened immune systems after chemotherapy are more likely to get infections\nwith other germs and it is possible that this is the case with SARS-CoV-2 as\nwell. However, SARS-CoV-2 spreads easily, even for people with healthy immune\nsystems. People of all ages with serious underlying medical conditions are at\nhigher risk for severe COVID-19, particularly if\nthe underlying medical conditions are not well controlled."}
{"_id":"CDCtest588","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nWhat can people with hepatitis B or hepatitis C do to protect themselves from COVID-19?\nThe best way to protect yourself from getting COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to\nthe SARS-CoV-2 virus. People with liver disease should take the same\npreventive actions being taken by people with other underlying conditions to avoid\ngetting sick with or spreading COVID-19.\nPeople with hepatitis B or hepatitis\nC should also continue to maintain a healthy\nlifestyle. If you have hepatitis B or hepatitis C and are being treated for\nyour infection, it is important to continue your treatment and follow the\nadvice of your healthcare provider. This is the best way to keep your immune\nsystem healthy."}
{"_id":"CDCtest589","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nAre people who live in areas that have experienced an outbreak of hepatitis A in the past year still at risk for hepatitis A during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nHepatitis A outbreaks are still ongoing in over 30\nstates during the COVID-19\npandemic. People in all states who are at high risk for hepatitis A infection\nshould continue to practice good hand hygiene and avoid large gatherings\nduring the COVID-19 pandemic. They should also request hepatitis A vaccine\nfrom their healthcare providers during their next visit.\nIf you are a member of any of these groups, and if you are contacting your\nprovider for any reason, you should request the hepatitis A vaccine :\n\nPeople who use drugs (injection or non-injection)\nPeople experiencing unstable housing or homelessness\nMen who have sex with men (MSM)\nPeople who are or were recently incarcerated (e.g., in prison)\nPeople with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest590","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nWhat can everyone do to minimize stigma about COVID-19?\nMinimizing stigma and misinformation about COVID-19 is very important. People\nwith liver disease have experience in dealing with stigma and can be allies in\npreventing COVID-19 stigma. Learn how you can reduce stigma and help prevent\nthe spread of rumors about COVID-19."}
{"_id":"CDCtest591","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nDo people living with or at risk of viral hepatitis need to take special precautions to prevent COVID-19\nYes, based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older\nadults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions\nmight be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and\nneed to take special precautions.\n**** CDC offers COVID-19 guidance for some of the groups at risk for viral\nhepatitis or severe illness from viral hepatitis:\n\nPeople with HIV\nPeople experiencing unsheltered homelessness\nPeople who are incarcerated (e.g., in prison)\n"}
{"_id":"CDCtest592","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nAre people with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C at higher risk for COVID-19 than other people?\nCurrently, we have no information about whether people with hepatitis B or\nhepatitis C are at increased risk for getting COVID-19 or having severe\nCOVID-19. However, based on available information and clinical expertise,\nolder adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical\nconditions, including people with liver disease, might be at higher risk for\nsevere illness from COVID-19, particularly if the underlying medical\nconditions are not well controlled."}
{"_id":"CDCtest593","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nShould people with chronic liver disease travel at this time?\nPeople with chronic liver disease, like others with higher risk for severe\nCOVID-19 illnesspdf icon, should stay at home if possible, and avoid unnecessary\ntravel.\nFor the latest CDC travel recommendations, visit CDC\u2019s COVID-19 travel\ninformation page."}
{"_id":"CDCtest594","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nCan antivirals used to treat hepatitis B or hepatitis C be used to treat COVID-19?\nWe do not know at this time. Currently there are no drugs approved by the\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)external\nicon specifically for the treatment of COVID-19, although FDA has\ngranted an Emergency Use Authorization for the use of remdesivir to treat\nsevere cases. Remdesivir is not used to treat hepatitis B or hepatitis C.\nResearchers are studying new drugs and drugs that are already approved for\nother health conditions to determine their safety and effectiveness in\ntreating COVID-19. In the meantime, never take a prescription medicine or drug\nif it is not prescribed for you by your doctor for your health condition."}
{"_id":"CDCtest595","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nWhat should I do if I think I might have COVID-19 or been exposed to a person with COVID-19?\nCall your healthcare provider if you develop\nsymptoms of COVID-19 or if you\nhave been exposed to someone known to have COVID-19. Discuss how to get\nevaluated and how to avoid spreading the virus to others.\nLearn more about COVID-19 and what to do if you get\nsick."}
{"_id":"CDCtest596","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nDoes COVID-19 damage the liver?\nSome patients hospitalized for COVID-19 have had increased levels of liver\nenzymes \u2014 like alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase\n(AST) \u2014 that indicate their livers are at least temporarily damaged. Also,\nliver damage is more common in patients who have severe COVID-19 disease.\nHowever, we do not know if this increase in liver enzyme levels is related\ndirectly to the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) being in the liver or\nif liver damage results from other factors.\nMore research is needed to determine if COVID-19 patients with hepatitis B,\nhepatitis C, cirrhosis, fatty liver, and other chronic liver diseases are more\nlikely to suffer from liver damage than COVID-19 patients without chronic\nliver disease."}
{"_id":"CDCtest597","title":"","text":"What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19\nAre shortages of hepatitis B or hepatitis C medicine expected?\nNo drug shortages or anticipated problems with medicine used to treat\nhepatitis B or hepatitis C have been identified to date.\nThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is closely monitoring the drug\nsupply chain because the COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to disrupt the\nsupply of medical and pharmaceutical products in the United States.\nLearn more about the FDA\u2019s response to COVID-19external\nicon and information on drug shortagesexternal\nicon."}
{"_id":"UKtest0","title":"","text":"Apply for a coronavirus test if you're an essential worker\nWhen to apply for a test\nApply within the first 3 days of having symptoms. The test is best taken\nwithin 5 days of symptoms starting.\nYou might not get a test if you apply - it depends how many tests are\navailable in your area.\n Start now "}
{"_id":"UKtest1","title":"","text":"Apply for a coronavirus test if you're an essential worker\nWhat the test involves\nYou\u2019ll usually have the option of taking the test at home or at a drive-\nthrough testing site.\nThe test involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of\nyour throat, using a long cotton bud.\nSee the NHS 111 online coronavirus service for\nadvice about dealing with the symptoms of coronavirus."}
{"_id":"UKtest2","title":"","text":"Apply for coronavirus tests for a care home\nWhat you need to apply\nYou\u2019ll need:\n\nthe care home\u2019s CQC location ID\ntotal number of residents, including number of residents with coronavirus symptoms\ntotal number of staff, including agency staff\nyour contact details\n\n Start now "}
{"_id":"UKtest3","title":"","text":"Apply for coronavirus tests for a care home\nWhat the test involves\nThe test involves taking a swab of the inside of your resident\u2019s or staff\nmember\u2019s nose and the back of their throat, using a long cotton bud.\nYou can read guidance on how to do the\ntests.\nThis test only tells you if you have coronavirus at the time of taking the\ntest. It doesn\u2019t tell you if you\u2019ve ever had coronavirus in the past."}
{"_id":"UKtest4","title":"","text":"Apply for coronavirus tests for a care home\nWho can make the application\nTo apply, you need to be the care home manager who\u2019s registered with the Care\nQuality Commission (CQC).\nYou can also apply if you\u2019re a Local Director of Public Health or one of their\nrepresentatives."}
{"_id":"UKtest5","title":"","text":"Arrange the funeral\nMoving a body for a funeral abroad\nYou need permission from a coroner to move a body for a funeral abroad. Apply\nat least 4 days before you want the body to be moved.\nFind a local coroner using the Coroners\u2019 Society of England and Wales\nwebsite.\nThere is a different process in Scotland\nand Northern Ireland."}
{"_id":"UKtest6","title":"","text":"Arrange the funeral\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) and arranging or attending a funeral\nThere are restrictions affecting funeral arrangements because of coronavirus.\nContact your funeral director, if you\u2019re using one, for help and guidance\nabout how this could affect you.\nWho can attend\nThere are limitations on who can attend a funeral, and how many people can\nattend. Only members of the person\u2019s household or immediate family should\nusually attend.\nIf no household or family members can attend, a small number of close friends\ncan go to the funeral. Your local council can provide\nmore details about what is allowed.\nIf you\u2019re attending\nYou must respect social distancing guidelines at a funeral and keep 2 metres\napart from people outside your household.\nYou should not attend a funeral if you are unwell with coronavirus symptoms.\nIf you\u2019re self-isolating because someone in your household has symptoms, you\ncan attend if you do not have symptoms yourself."}
{"_id":"UKtest7","title":"","text":"Arrange the funeral\nFuneral directors\nChoose a funeral director who\u2019s a member of either:\n\nNational Association of Funeral Directors\nThe National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)\n\nThese organisations have codes of practice - they must give you a price list\nwhen asked.\nSome local councils run their own funeral\nservices,\nfor example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist\nAssociation and\nInstitute of Civil Funerals can also help with non-\nreligious funerals.\n*[SAIF]: The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors"}
{"_id":"UKtest8","title":"","text":"Arrange the funeral\nFuneral costs\nFuneral costs can include:\n\nfuneral director fees\nthings the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called \u2018disbursements\u2019 or \u2018third-party costs\u2019), for example crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death\nlocal authority burial or cremation fees\n\nFuneral directors may list all these costs in their quote. You can get quotes\nfrom several funeral directors to see what is available within your budget.\nPaying for a funeral\nThe funeral can be paid for:\n\nfrom a financial scheme the person had, for example a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance policy\nby you, or other family members or friends\nwith money from the person\u2019s estate (savings, for example) - getting access to this is called applying for a \u2018grant of representation\u2019 (sometimes called \u2018applying for probate\u2019)\n\nYou can apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment if you have\ndifficulty paying for the funeral."}
{"_id":"UKtest9","title":"","text":"Bereavement Support Payment\nIf your partner died more than 21 months ago\nYou may still be able to claim BSP if your husband, wife or civil partner\u2019s\ncause of death was confirmed more than 21 months after the death. Call the\nBereavement Service helpline.\nIf your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017, you may be\nable to get Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance instead.\n*[BSP]: Bereavement Support Payment"}
{"_id":"UKtest10","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n2. Who should go to work\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nConsider who is needed on site, for example, support staff should work from home if at all possible.\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed to be on site to operate safely and effectively, for example, workers deemed necessary to carry out physical works, supervise work, or conduct work in order to operate safely.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to those operating in an outdoor environment, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest11","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere site visits are required, site guidance on social distancing and hygiene should be explained to visitors on or before arrival.\n\n\nEncouraging visits via remote connection\/working where this is an option.\n\n\nLimiting the number of visitors at any one time.\n\n\nDetermine if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people.\n\n\nMaintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nEnsuring public notices are visible and help inform workers, customers,\nvisitors, contractors and the public to maintain social distancing whilst near\nthe workplace.\nThere is a high likelihood in some areas that working outdoors will draw the\nattention of the public. Visible signage may be used to inform the public of\nthe type of work that is being performed.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding signage to inform the public as to the course of business.\n\n\nProviding signage at entrances to the worksite to remind the public and workers to maintain social distancing.\n\n\nProviding signage on rights of way that cross your workplace to remind the public to maintain social distancing.\n\n\nEstablishing host responsibilities relating to COVID-19, providing any necessary training for people who act as hosts for visitors.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest12","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\n3.3 Making the main workplace safe for people who work statically\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest13","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Making the main workplace safe for people who work statically\nObjective: To maintain social distancing between people who work in one place.\nIt is recognised that in outdoor workplaces it might be rare to have a fixed\nor static place of work. However, there may be some situations where this is\nthe case.\nFor people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain\nsocial distancing wherever possible.\nWorkstations should be assigned to an individual as much as possible. If they\nneed to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of\npeople.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should\nconsider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate,\nand if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of\ntransmission.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChanging layouts to allow people to work further apart from each other.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.\n\n\nUsing a consistent pairing system if people have to work in close proximity, for example, during two-person working, lifting or maintenance activities that cannot be redesigned.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest14","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n1. Thinking about risk\nIn this section\n\n1.1 Managing risk\n1.2 Sharing the results of your risk assessment\n\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest15","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce or eliminate transmission due to face-to-face meetings\nand maintain social distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example, avoid sharing pens and or other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, use floor signage to help people maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest16","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site especially in high volume situations, for\nexample builders\u2019 yard or despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse, for example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest17","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To maintain social distancing while using common areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.\n\n\nUsing safe outdoor areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the workplace freed up by remote working.\n\n\nReconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest18","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n7. Managing your workforce\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers and worker representatives through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers on site are kept up to date with how\nsafety measures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers (including through trades unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example, whiteboards or signage, to explain safe working practices around the working site to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest19","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\nWhat do we mean by \u2018construction and other outdoor work\u2019?\nWorking outdoors includes many people in:\n\nconstruction\nenergy and utilities\nfarming and agriculture (including seasonal labour)\nforestry\nwaste management and other infrastructure\nrailway services\nstreet and highway services\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest20","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency, for example, an accident, fire, break-in or trespass, people\ndo not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing\nhands."}
{"_id":"UKtest21","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, while people\ntravel through the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites. For example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of telephones where permitted, and cleaning them between use.\n\n\nReducing job rotation and equipment rotation, for example, single tasks for the day.\n\n\nImplementing one-way systems where possible on walkways around the workplace.\n\n\nUsing signage such as ground markings or being creative with other objects to mark out 2m to allow controlled flows of people moving throughout the site.\n\n\nReducing occupancy of vehicles used for onsite travel, for example, shuttle buses, and when needed, social distancing measures should be followed within the vehicles.\n\n\nSeparating sites into working zones to keep different groups of workers physically separated as much as practical.\n\n\nPlanning site access and \u2018area of safety\u2019 points to enable social distancing.\n\n\nReducing the number of people in attendance at site inductions and consider holding them outdoors wherever possible with social distancing.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest22","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n7. Managing your workforce\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel \u2013consider remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as markets or\ncustomer premises to maintain social distancing and hygiene practices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where two-person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example, by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest23","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n2. Who should go to work\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who\nhas symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employees and employers relating to statutory sick pay due to COVID-19.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest24","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\nIn this section\n\n6.1 Face coverings\n\nPPE protects the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include\nitems such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility\nclothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory\nprotective equipment, such as face masks.\nWhere you are already using PPE in your work activity to protect against non-\nCOVID-19 risks, you should continue to do so.\nAt the start of this document we described the steps you need to take to\nmanage COVID-19 risk in the workplace. This includes working from home and\nstaying 2m away from each other in the workplace if at all possible.When\nmanaging the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is\nnot beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the\nrisks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social\ndistancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE.\nThe exception is clinical settings, like a hospital, or a small handful of\nother roles for which Public Health England advises use of PPE, for example,\nfirst responders and immigration enforcement officers. If you are in one of\nthese groups you should refer to the advice at:\n\nCOVID-19: personal protective equipment (PPE) plan\nCOVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings\n\nWorkplaces should not encourage the precautionary use of extra PPE to protect\nagainst COVID-19 outside clinical settings or when responding to a suspected\nor confirmed case of COVID-19.\nUnless you are in a situation where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is very\nhigh, your risk assessment should reflect the fact that the role of PPE in\nproviding additional protection is extremely limited. However, if your risk\nassessment does show that PPE is required, then you must provide this PPE free\nof charge to workers who need it. Any PPE provided must fit properly.\n[PPE]: Personal protective equipment\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest25","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n7. Managing your workforce\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other, such as shared tools, materials or job instructions, and find ways to remove direct contact, for example by using drop-off points or transfer zones.\n\n\nFor those workers who are required to travel and stay away from home in onsite accommodation, creating fixed groups of workers so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nMinimising worker congregation at bottlenecks such as timeclocks, entrances and exits and maintaining social distancing during shift handovers.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest26","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected. In the context of COVID-19 this means working\nthrough these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.   \n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:  \n\u2013 increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest27","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n2. Who should go to work\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\nObjective: To treat everyone in your workplace equally.\nIn applying this guidance, employers should be mindful of the particular needs\nof different groups of workers or individuals.\nIt is breaking the law to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against anyone\nbecause of a protected characteristic such as age, sex or disability.\nEmployers also have particular responsibilities towards disabled workers and\nthose who are new or expectant mothers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUnderstanding and taking into account the particular circumstances of those with different protected characteristics.\n\n\nInvolving and communicating appropriately with workers whose protected characteristics might either expose them to a different degree of risk, or might make any steps you are thinking about inappropriate or challenging for them.\n\n\nConsidering whether you need to put in place any particular measures or adjustments to take account of your duties under the equalities legislation.\n\n\nMaking reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being put at a disadvantage, and assessing the health and safety risks for new or expectant mothers.\n\n\nMaking sure that the steps you take do not have an unjustifiable negative impact on some groups compared to others, for example those with caring responsibilities or those with religious commitments.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest28","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, on arrival and\ndeparture and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike-racks to help people walk, run, or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles, for example, work minibuses. This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example, by having more entry points to the workplace.\n\n\nUsing markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities, or hand sanitiser where not possible, at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nDefining process alternatives for entry\/exit points where appropriate, for example deactivating pass readers at turnstiles in favour of showing a pass to security personnel at a distance.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest29","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n2. Who should go to work\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective:To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre-existing conditions) have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on-site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include advice or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest30","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n5. Cleaning and sanitising the workplace\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping your workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling equipment, materials, waste, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nconducting a risk assessment for all sites, or part of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncarrying out cleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser, before restarting work\n\n5.2 Keeping your workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, such as buckets, site equipment and control panels, and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of shift.\n\n\nSanitisation of all hand tools, controls, machinery and equipment after use.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then you should refer to the specific guidance.\n\n\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding additional handwashing facilities, for example, pop-ups, particularly on a large site or where there are significant numbers of personnel on site.\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into a tissue which is binned safely, or into your arm if a tissue is not available.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitisers in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nSpecial care should be taken for cleaning of portable toilets.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items and that social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of the day.\n\n\n5.5 Handling equipment, materials, waste, and onsite vehicles\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nthe workplace and vehicles at the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nCleaning procedures for the parts of shared equipment you touch after each use, thinking about equipment, tools and vehicles, for example, pallet trucks and forklift trucks.\n\n\nEncouraging increased handwashing and introducing more handwashing facilities for workers handling goods and merchandise or providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of vehicles that workers may take home.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of reusable delivery boxes.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest31","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\n6.1 Face coverings\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not developed symptoms.\nA face covering can be very simple and may be worn in enclosed spaces where\nsocial distancing isn\u2019t possible. It just needs to cover your mouth and nose.\nIt is not the same as a face mask, such as the surgical masks or respirators\nused by health and care workers. Similarly, face coverings are not the same as\nthe PPE used to manage risks like dust and spray in an industrial context.\nSupplies of PPE, including face masks, must continue to be reserved for those\nwho need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and\ncare workers, and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust\nhazards.\nIt is important to know that the evidence of the benefit of using a face\ncovering to protect others is weak and the effect is likely to be small,\ntherefore face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing\nrisk, including minimising time spent in contact, using fixed teams and\npartnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing. These\nother measures remain the best ways of managing risk in the workplace and\ngovernment would therefore not expect to see employers relying on face\ncoverings as risk management for the purpose of their health and safety\nassessments.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by law, including in\nthe workplace. If you choose to wear one, it is important to use face\ncoverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them\noff. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by\npolice officers and staff for the purposes of identification.\nEmployers should support their workers in using face coverings safely if they\nchoose to wear one. This means telling workers:\n\nwash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and after removing it\nwhen wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands\nchange your face covering if it becomes damp or if you\u2019ve touched it\ncontinue to wash your hands regularly\nchange and wash your face covering daily\nif the material is washable, wash in line with manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If it\u2019s not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste\npractise social distancing wherever possible\n\nYou can make face-coverings at home. Find guidance on how to wear and make a\nface-covering on GOV.UK.\n*[PPE]: Personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest32","title":"","text":"Construction and other outdoor work\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing the results of your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If\npossible, you should consider publishing the results on your website (and we\nwould expect all businesses with over 50 workers to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you\nhave followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest33","title":"","text":"Entering the UK\nWho does not need to provide their details or self-isolate for 14 days\nYou will not need to fill in the form or self-isolate for 14 days if you\u2019re\ntravelling to the UK from:\n\nIreland\nthe Channel Islands\nthe Isle of Man\n\nThere are other reasons why you might not need to fill in the form or self-\nisolate. Read the list of who does not need to fill in the form or self-\nisolate.\nThe rules about who does not need to fill in the form or self-isolate will\nremain under review and may change in the future. You\u2019ll be able to find more\ninformation on this page when it\u2019s available."}
{"_id":"UKtest34","title":"","text":"Entering the UK\nSelf-isolate for your first 14 days in the UK\nWhen you arrive in the UK, go straight to the place where you will self-\nisolate. Your friends or family can collect you from the airport, port or\nstation. Only use public transport if you have no other option. If you do use\npublic transport, wear something that covers your nose and mouth and stay 2\nmetres apart from other people.\nYou must not leave the place you\u2019re staying for 14 days.\nYou can only leave if:\n\nyou need urgent medical treatment\nyou need support from social services\nyou need food and medicine and cannot get them delivered or get a friend or family member to bring them\nyou\u2019re going to the funeral of a close relative, or for other compassionate reasons\nthere\u2019s an emergency, for example there\u2019s a fire at the place you\u2019re staying\n\nYou cannot have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are\nproviding essential care.\nIf you\u2019re at home or staying with friends or family, avoid contact with the\npeople you\u2019re staying with and minimise the time you spend in shared areas.\nIf you\u2019re staying in a hotel or guest house, you cannot use shared areas such\nas bars, restaurants, health clubs and sports facilities. Stay 2 metres away\nfrom all other guests and staff.\nIf you will not be able to safely self-isolate at the place you\u2019re planning to\nstay, tell Border Force officers when you arrive in the UK. They\u2019ll give you a\nchoice of accommodation to stay at.\nAfter 14 days\nIf you do not have any coronavirus symptoms after 14 days, you can stop self-\nisolating. You will then need to follow the same rules as people who live in\nthe UK. Check the rules for the nation you\u2019re staying in:\n\nEngland\nScotland\nWales\nNorthern Ireland\n\nFind out what to do if you develop coronavirus\nsymptoms."}
{"_id":"UKtest35","title":"","text":"Entering the UK\nProvide your journey and contact details when you travel to the UK\nFrom 8 June, if you\u2019re travelling to the UK you\u2019ll need to fill in an online\nform to provide your journey and contact details before you travel.\nYou\u2019ll be able to find the form on this page when it\u2019s available - check again\nbefore you travel.\nYou might need to show that you\u2019ve completed the form when you arrive at the\nUK border.\nIf you refuse to fill in the form, you may be fined. You also may not be\nallowed to enter the UK (unless you\u2019re either British or a UK resident).\nThe government will use this information to contact you if you or someone\nyou\u2019ve travelled with develops coronavirus symptoms, and to check that you\u2019re\nself-isolating for the first 14 days after you arrive in the UK.\nIf you develop coronavirus symptoms\nDo not travel if you have coronavirus\nsymptoms.\nIf you develop coronavirus symptoms when you\u2019re travelling to the UK, tell the\ncrew or driver on your plane, ferry, train or bus. They\u2019ll let staff in the\nairport, port or station know, so they can tell you what you should do next\nwhen you arrive."}
{"_id":"UKtest36","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing between individuals when they are at\ntheir workstations.\nFor people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain\nsocial-distancing wherever possible.\nWorkstations should be assigned to an individual as much as possible. If they\nneed to be shared they should be shared by the smallest possible number of\npeople.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart, then extra attention\nneeds to be paid to equipment, cleaning and hygiene to reduce risk.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReviewing layouts, line set-ups or processes to allow people to work further apart from each other.\n\n\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side-by-side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, installing screens to separate people from one another.\n\n\nUsing a consistent pairing system if people have to work in close proximity, for example, during 2-person working, lifting or maintenance activities that cannot be redesigned.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest37","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing while using common areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.\n\n\nUsing safe outside areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the worksite or building that have been freed up by remote working.\n\n\nUsing protective screening for staff in receptions or similar areas.\n\n\nProviding packaged meals or similar to avoid opening staff canteens, where possible.\n\n\nReconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.\n\n\nEncouraging staff to stay on-site during working hours.\n\n\nConsidering use of social distance marking for other common areas such as toilets, showers, lockers and changing rooms and in any other areas where queues typically form.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest38","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial-distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example, from sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, using floor signage to help people maintain social-distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest39","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority.\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected. In the context of COVID-19 this means working\nthrough these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.   \n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:  \n\u2013 increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning  \n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn this assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest40","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social-distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible.\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others).\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms and\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest41","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\nWhat do we mean by \u2018factories, plants and warehouses\u2019?\nFactories, plants and warehouses include industrial environments such as:\n\nmanufacturing and chemical plants\nfood and other large processing plants\nwarehouses\ndistribution centres\nport operations\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest42","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, while people\ntravel through the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.\n\n\nReducing job and equipment rotation.\n\n\nIntroducing more one-way flow through buildings.\n\n\nReducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts, and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.\n\n\nMaking sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.\n\n\nReducing occupancy of vehicles used for onsite travel, for example, shuttle buses.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to maintain social-distancing.\n\n\n\nExample lift practices."}
{"_id":"UKtest43","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers and worker representatives through existing communication routes to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers, including through trades unions or employee representative groups, to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example, whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to production schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages, to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest44","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n2. Who should go to work\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre-existing conditions), have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social-distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on-site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include advice or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest45","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n2. Who should go to work\n2.3 People who have protected characteristics\nObjective: To treat everyone in your workplace equally.\nIn applying this guidance, employers should be mindful of the particular needs\nof different groups of workers or individuals.\nIt is breaking the law to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against anyone\nbecause of a protected characteristic such as age, sex or disability.\nEmployers also have particular responsibilities towards disabled workers and\nthose who are new or expectant mothers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUnderstanding and taking into account the particular circumstances of those with different protected characteristics.\n\n\nInvolving and communicating appropriately with workers whose protected characteristics might either expose them to a different degree of risk, or might make any steps you are thinking about inappropriate or challenging for them.\n\n\nConsidering whether you need to put in place any particular measures or adjustments to take account of your duties under the equalities legislation.\n\n\nMaking reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being put at a disadvantage, and assessing the health and safety risks for new or expectant mothers.\n\n\nMaking sure that the steps you take do not have an unjustifiable negative impact on some groups compared to others, for example, those with caring responsibilities or those with religious commitments.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest46","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\nIn this section\n\n6.1 Face coverings\n\nPPE protects the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include\nitems such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility\nclothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory\nprotective equipment, such as face masks.\nWhere you are already using PPE in your work activity to protect against non-\nCOVID-19 risks, you should continue to do so.\nAt the start of this document we described the steps you need to take to\nmanage COVID-19 risk in the workplace. This includes working from home and\nstaying 2m away from each other in the workplace if at all possible. When\nmanaging the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is\nnot beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the\nrisks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social\ndistancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE.\nThe exception is clinical settings, like a hospital, or a small handful of\nother roles for which Public Health England advises use of PPE. For example,\nfirst responders and immigration enforcement officers. If you are in one of\nthese groups you should refer to the advice at:\n\nCOVID-19: personal protective equipment (PPE) plan\nCOVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings\n\nWorkplaces should not encourage the precautionary use of extra PPE to protect\nagainst COVID-19 outside clinical settings or when responding to a suspected\nor confirmed case of COVID-19.\nUnless you are in a situation where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is very\nhigh, your risk assessment should reflect the fact that the role of PPE in\nproviding additional protection is extremely limited. However, if your risk\nassessment does show that PPE is required, then you must provide this PPE free\nof charge to workers who need it. Any PPE provided must fit properly.\n[PPE]: Personal protective equipment\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest47","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency, for example, an accident, fire, or break-in, people do not\nhave to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing\nhands."}
{"_id":"UKtest48","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n5. Cleaning the workplace\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nan assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser, before restarting work\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChecking whether you need to service or adjust ventilation systems, for example, so that they do not automatically reduce ventilation levels due to lower than normal occupancy levels.\n\n\nMost air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings or you are unsure, advice should be sought from your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers or advisers.\n\n\nPositive pressure systems can operate as normal.\n\n\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, such as door handles, pump handles and printers, and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then you refer to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings\n\n\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and the need to cough or sneeze into a tissue which is binned safely, or into your arm if a tissue is not available.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social-distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nSpecial care should be taken for cleaning of portable toilets.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items and that social-distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of the day.\n\n\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nthe workplace and vehicles at the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nCleaning procedures for the parts of shared equipment you touch after each use, thinking about equipment, tools and vehicles, for example, pallet trucks and forklift trucks.\n\n\nEncouraging increased handwashing and introducing more handwashing facilities for workers handling goods and merchandise or providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of vehicles that workers may take home.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of reusable delivery boxes.\n\n\n[HVAC]: heating ventilation and air conditioning\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest49","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to factories, plants\nand warehouses.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEncouraging visits via remote connection or remote working for visitors where this is an option.\n\n\nLimiting the number of visitors at any one time.\n\n\nDetermining if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people, for example, carrying out services at night.\n\n\nMaintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear guidance on social-distancing and hygiene to people, for example, inbound delivery drivers or safety critical visitors, on arrival, for example, signage, visual aids, and before arrival, for example, by phone, on the website, by email.\n\n\nEstablishing host responsibilities relating to COVID-19, providing any necessary training for people who act as hosts for visitors.\n\n\nReviewing entry and exit routes for visitors and contractors to minimise contact with other people.\n\n\nCoordinating and cooperating with other occupiers for those working in facilities shared with other businesses, including with landlords and other tenants.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest50","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n2. Who should go to work\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who\nhas symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employers relating to statutory sick pay due to COVID-19.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest51","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\n6.1 Face coverings\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not developed symptoms.\nA face covering can be very simple and may be worn in enclosed spaces where\nsocial distancing isn\u2019t possible. It just needs to cover your mouth and nose.\nIt is not the same as a face mask, such as the surgical masks or respirators\nused by health and care workers. Similarly, face coverings are not the same as\nthe PPE used to manage risks like dust and spray in an industrial context.\nSupplies of PPE, including face masks, must continue to be reserved for those\nwho need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and\ncare workers, and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust\nhazards.\nIt is important to know that the evidence of the benefit of using a face\ncovering to protect others is weak and the effect is likely to be small,\ntherefore face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing\nrisk, including minimising time spent in contact, using fixed teams and\npartnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing. These\nother measures remain the best ways of managing risk in the workplace and\ngovernment would therefore not expect to see employers relying on face\ncoverings as risk management for the purpose of their health and safety\nassessments.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by law, including in\nthe workplace. If you choose to wear one, it is important to use face\ncoverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them\noff. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by\npolice officers and staff for the purposes of identification.\nEmployers should support their workers in using face coverings safely if they\nchoose to wear one. This means telling workers:\n\nwash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and after removing it\nwhen wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands\nchange your face covering if it becomes damp or if you\u2019ve touched it\ncontinue to wash your hands regularly\nchange and wash your face covering daily\nif the material is washable, wash in line with manufacturer\u2019s instructions; if it\u2019s not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste\npractise social distancing wherever possible\n\nYou can make face-coverings at home. Find guidance on how to wear and make a\nface-covering on GOV.UK.\n*[PPE]: Personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest52","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n1. Thinking about risk\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nIn this section\n\n1.1 Managing risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\n\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest53","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that, where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other, for example, job information, spare parts, samples, raw materials, and find ways to remove direct contact, such as through the use of drop-off points or transfer zones.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest54","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n2. Who should go to work\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 People who have protected characteristics\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nConsider who is essential to be on-site; for example, office staff should work from home if at all possible.\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed on-site to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest55","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site, especially in high volume situations, for\nexample, distribution centres, despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest56","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel \u2013 consider remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social-distancing guidelines.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites, such as factories,\nlogistics sites or customers\u2019 premises, to maintain social distancing and\nhygiene practices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where 2-person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example, by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest57","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your employees. If\npossible, you should consider publishing it on your website (and we would\nexpect all businesses with over 50 employees to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you\nhave followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest58","title":"","text":"Factories, plants and warehouses\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, on arrival and\ndeparture and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike racks to help people walk, run, or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles, for example, work minibuses. This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example, by having more entry points to the workplace.\n\n\nUsing markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities, or hand sanitiser where not possible, at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nDefining process alternatives for entry and exit points where appropriate, for example, deactivating pass readers at turnstiles in favour of showing a pass to security personnel at a distance.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest59","title":"","text":"Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment)\nIf you receive money from the deceased\u2019s estate\nYour Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the\ndeceased\u2019s estate.\nThe estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal\nthings left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner."}
{"_id":"UKtest60","title":"","text":"Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment)\nWhat you\u2019ll get\nFuneral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:\n\nburial fees for a particular plot\ncremation fees, including the cost of the doctor\u2019s certificate\ntravel to arrange or go to the funeral\nthe cost of moving the body within the UK, if it\u2019s being moved more than 50 miles\ndeath certificates or other documents\n\nYou can also get money for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral\ndirector\u2019s fees, flowers or the coffin. You can get up to:\n\n\u00a3700 if the person died before 8 April 2020\n\u00a31,000 if the person died on or after 8 April 2020\n\nThe payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.\nHow much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money\nthat\u2019s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or\nthe deceased person\u2019s estate.\nCheck the claim form notes for full details of what Funeral Expenses Payment covers.\nIf the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only get up to \u00a3120 to\nhelp pay for items not covered by their plan."}
{"_id":"UKtest61","title":"","text":"Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment)\nHow the money is paid\nFuneral Expenses Payment is paid into your bank, building society or credit\nunion account if you\u2019ve already paid for the\nfuneral.\nThe money will be paid directly to the organiser of the funeral (for example,\nthe funeral director) if you have not paid yet."}
{"_id":"UKtest62","title":"","text":"Guidance Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions\nBusiness support helpline\nContact the government\u2019s business support helpline for free advice\nPhone: 0800 998 1098\nWebchat: talk to an adviser using the\nwebchat\nPhoneline and webchat open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm  \nEmail:\nenquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org\nFind more details and helplines in Scotland, Wales and Northern\nIreland."}
{"_id":"UKtest63","title":"","text":"Guidance Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions\nWebinars\nGovernment departments are hosting a series of webinars to help businesses\nunderstand the guidance and support available:\n\n\nto find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure, register here\n\n\nfor topics that cover supporting and retaining staff and the self-employed, register to attend future webinars or watch recorded sessions\n\n\nfor international trade, register here or watch recorded sessions\n\n\nfor small businesses and changes to reporting, regulation and tax, watch recorded webinars\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest64","title":"","text":"Guidance Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions\nFind a Job service\nIf your business needs more workers as a result of COVID-19, such as those in\nfood logistics, preparation and retail, post vacancies on Find a\nJob."}
{"_id":"UKtest65","title":"","text":"Guidance Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions\nThe Skills Toolkit\nFree online courses at all levels to build your digital and numeracy skills:\n\nthe National Careers Service skills toolkit\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest66","title":"","text":"Guidance Additional government resources to support your business during coronavirus disruptions\nGrowth Hubs\nFind your Growth Hub\nfor free advice and information on:\n\nlocal and national business support\nsources of finance\nhelp to build business resilience.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest67","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan\nIf the lender turns you down\nIf one lender turns you down, you can apply to other lenders in the\nscheme.\nYou may want to consider using a broker to find the right type of finance for\nyour needs, or do your own research using the British Business Bank\u2019s finance\nguide."}
{"_id":"UKtest68","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan\nHow long the loan is for\nThe length of the loan is 6 years, but you can repay early without paying a\nfee. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months."}
{"_id":"UKtest69","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan\nHow to apply\nThere are 11 lenders participating in the scheme including many of the main\nretail banks. You should approach a suitable lender yourself via the lender\u2019s\nwebsite.\nThe lender will ask you to fill in a short online application form and self-\ndeclare that you are eligible.\nThe lender will decide whether to offer you a loan or another type of finance\nand you\u2019ll be responsible for repaying 100% of the amount borrowed.\n Find a lender "}
{"_id":"UKtest70","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme\nEligibility\nYou can apply for a loan if your business:\n\nis based in the UK\nhas an annual turnover of up to \u00a345 million\n\nYou need to show that your business:\n\nwould be viable were it not for the pandemic\nhas been adversely impacted by the coronavirus\n\nIf you want to borrow \u00a330,000 or more, you also need to confirm that your\nbusiness wasn\u2019t classed as a business in difficulty on 31 December 2019.\nWho cannot apply\nBusinesses from any sector can apply, except:\n\nbanks, insurers and reinsurers (but not insurance brokers)\npublic-sector bodies\nstate-funded primary and secondary schools\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest71","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme\nHow long the loan is for\nThe maximum length of the facility depends on the type of finance you apply\nfor and will be:\n\nup to 3 years for overdrafts and invoice finance facilities\nup to 6 years, for loans and asset finance facilities\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest72","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme\nHow to apply\nThere are over 50 lenders participating in the scheme including all the main\nretail banks. You should approach a suitable lender yourself via the lender\u2019s\nwebsite.\nYou\u2019ll need to tell the lender:\n\nthe amount you\u2019d like to borrow\nwhat the money is for\nhow long you\u2019d like to pay it back\n\nSupporting documents\nYou\u2019ll need to provide documents that show you can afford to repay the loan.\nThese may include:\n\nmanagement accounts\ncash flow forecast\nbusiness plan\nhistoric accounts\ndetails of assets\n\nThe documents required will vary from lender to lender and depend on how much\nyou\u2019re asking for. If you\u2019re asking your existing lender for a small loan, the\nprocess may be automated and not require all of the documents.\nThe lender will check that the loan is:\n\nfor a suitable business purpose\naffordable for you\nthe right type of finance for your needs\n\nThe lender will decide whether to offer you a loan or another type of finance\nand you\u2019ll be responsible for repaying 100% of the amount borrowed.\n Find a lender "}
{"_id":"UKtest73","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund\nEligibility\nYour business is eligible if:\n\nit is UK-incorporated - if your business is part of a corporate group, only the parent company is eligible\nit has raised at least \u00a3250,000 in equity investment from third-party investors in the last 5 years\nnone of its shares are traded on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or other listing venue\nit was incorporated on or before 31 December 2019\nat least one of the following is true: \nhalf or more employees are UK-based\nhalf or more revenues are from UK sales\n\n\n\nCheck your eligibility."}
{"_id":"UKtest74","title":"","text":"Guidance Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund\nHow to apply\nThe scheme is being delivered by the British Business Bank.\n Find out how to apply "}
{"_id":"UKtest75","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19 advice for accommodation providers\nWhat the exclusions mean\nHotels and other accommodation providers should be able to remain open if:\n\nThey are part of the response to support key workers or vulnerable groups.\nThere is a specific need for some or all of the site to remain open (for example they are housing people who have been flooded out of their homes, being used by public services to provide emergency accommodation or are not able to return to their primary residence).\nIf businesses are providing rooms to support homeless people, through arrangements with local authorities and other public bodies, they should remain open.\nIf a holiday park or caravan park is your primary residence you can remain on site.\n\nGuidance for families in temporary accommodation or B&Bs;\nIf the temporary accommodation is currently the family\u2019s primary residence,\nthey can remain.\nPeople staying in accommodation that have symptoms of COVID-19\nIf anyone is displaying signs of the Covid-19\nvirus, they should not be using public transport. If they are\nnot symptomatic but they need to return to where they live, then using public\ntransport is okay. When using public transport, people should try to adhere to\nthe simple social distancing\nprinciples of being two metres apart.\nGuidance for hotels serving food\nHotels and accommodation providers that are remaining open to house key\nworkers, vulnerable groups and other exempted groups will still be able to\nserve food, subject to the social distancing\nguidelines (for example by providing a takeaway service, \u2018grab and go\u2019\nservice or room service).\nWorkplace canteens can also stay open where required but must adhere to\nsocial distancing\nguidelines.\nRead further guidance for non-essential\ntravel\nduring the COVID pandemic"}
{"_id":"UKtest76","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nClinically extremely vulnerable people\nSome adults and young people have health conditions that mean they are more\nlikely to get very unwell and might have to go to hospital if they catch\ncoronavirus (COVID-19). These people are described as being clinically\nextremely vulnerable and include those who:\n\nhave had a solid organ transplant \u2013 kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, or lung\nare having treatments for some cancers\nhave severe long-term lung disease including cystic fibrosis and severe asthma\nhave rare diseases that increase their risk of infection\nare on medication that compromises their immune system and so are much more likely to get infections and become seriously unwell from them\nare pregnant with significant heart disease\n\nThis guidance is for all adults and young people who are most likely to become\nvery unwell if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19), wherever they live or\nusually spend their time. This could be:\n\nin their own home\nin a care home\nat school\nat a special school (for example a school for young people with special educational needs)\nat university\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest77","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nAdvice for young carers supporting someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable\nHow can people I live with support me to shield?\nFamilies, supporters and carers also need to take precautions to help those\nmost likely to get very unwell from coronavirus (COVID-19). They should read\nthe full guidance for\nmore information.\nMost young people don\u2019t live alone. If you are shielding then the rest of your\nfamily or household do not have to start shielding themselves too, but they\nshould do what they can to support you. This means carefully following\nguidance on social\ndistancing and they\nshould also try to:\n\nminimise the time they spend in shared areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and sitting area, and avoid using the kitchen at the same time as you\nkeep 2 metres away from you\nif possible, use a separate bathroom to you and always use different towels\nclean spaces after every use, including the kitchen and bathroom, using regular cleaning products\nregularly wash their hands and maintain good personal hygiene\n\nEncourage the rest of your family or household to follow the advice as far as\nthey are able."}
{"_id":"UKtest78","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nRegister for support\nIf you receive care or support from other people, this can still carry on\nwhilst you are staying at home. You should avoid contact with anyone who is\nshowing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).\nEveryone who has received a letter advising that they are clinically extremely\nvulnerable can register online to get free extra support. This includes\narranging for essential groceries to be delivered for free to your home. If\nyou are clinically extremely vulnerable, you can register even if you do not\nneed support now. There are two ways to register:\n\nregister online\ncall 0800 028 8327\n\nYou will need to give your NHS number when you register. This will be at the\ntop of the letter you have received letting you know you are clinically\nextremely vulnerable or on any prescriptions."}
{"_id":"UKtest79","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nLooking after your wellbeing whilst shielding\nMake sure you look after your wellbeing for as long as you are advised to\nshield by doing things such as:\n\nspending time doing indoor activities that you enjoy\nlooking for ideas of exercises you can do at home. You can find free, easy 10 minute workouts to try at home from Public Health England or on the NHS website\ntrying to eat healthy meals and drink enough water\ngrowing plants indoors or outdoors, if you have space\nspending time in the garden or other private outdoor space (if you have that) to get some sunlight, keeping at least 2 metres away from your neighbours if you are sitting on your doorstep\ntry spending time with the windows open to let in the fresh air, arranging space to sit and see a nice view (if possible) and get some natural sunlight\nstaying in contact with friends and family by text, phone or video call\nlimiting your time reading the news or being on social media as this can make you feel more worried or anxious\n\nYour mental wellbeing is an important part of adjusting to\nshielding. It might make you feel worried or anxious if you\nare more likely to become very unwell from coronavirus (COVID-19). It can be\nstressful to be away from your friends, change your normal routine and become\nless active. You may find shielding and social distancing boring or\nfrustrating.\nThere are links to support you at this time especially for young people at\nRise Above and Young\nMinds."}
{"_id":"UKtest80","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nRegister for support\nAdvice on preventing the spread of airway and chest infections\nIf you, or someone you\u2019re caring for, is clinically extremely vulnerable,\nthere are some general principles that you can take to reduce the risk caused\nby respiratory viruses.\nEnsure you follow advice on good hygiene, including:\n\nwashing your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Do this after you blow your nose, sneeze or cough, and before you eat or touch food.\nSanitising your hands using an alcohol based hand sanitiser if soap and water is not available, but this should not replace proper handwashing\navoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands\nasking anyone coming into your home to wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser, after entering\ncovering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze\nputting used tissues in the bin immediately and washing your hands afterwards\ncleaning and disinfecting any objects or surfaces in your home that you normally touch a lot\navoiding any contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) (they should be isolating if they show symptoms)\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest81","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nAdvice for young carers supporting someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable\nIf you are a young carer supporting someone who is clinically extremely\nvulnerable, you can help protect them by:\n\nonly providing essential care, unless they are your child\nfollowing all of the advice on preventing the spread of airway and chest Infections [ADD LINK from previous section]\nnot visiting or providing care if you are unwell \u2013 make alternative arrangements for their care\nproviding information on who they should call if they feel unwell and how to use NHS 111 online coronavirus service, and leaving the number for NHS 111 somewhere that is very easy to see\nfinding out about different sources of support that could be used and accessing further advice on creating a back-up plan, which is available from Carers UK\nlooking after your own wellbeing and physical health during this time. There is more information and advice especially for young people at Rise Above and Young Minds\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest82","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nStaying at home and shielding for clinically extremely vulnerable people\nClinically extremely vulnerable people need to take extra action to prevent\nthemselves from coming into contact with the virus, this is known as\n\u2018shielding\u2019.\nIf you are part of this group, the NHS will have sent you or will send you, a\nletter and\/or a text confirming this. The letter may be sent to your parent or\nguardian on your behalf. If you think you are part of this group but you\nhaven\u2019t been contacted by the NHS, you should call your GP or hospital doctor\nfor advice.\nAfter sending you a letter your clinician will be in touch to discuss what\nactions you should take depending on your individual circumstances. These may\ninclude:\n\nDo not leave your house until 30 June, at which point further guidance will be issued - this means staying at home at all times after getting your letter.\nDo not meet up with people outside of your household, including friends and family that don\u2019t usually live with you, even if you are 2 metres apart (3 steps).\nStrictly avoid contact with anyone who is showing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\nTell everyone that is not an essential supporter or carer that they cannot\nvisit you. People from outside of your household must not come into your home,\nand you must not leave your home to meet them.\nYou should arrange for other people to bring you the things you need and leave\nthem outside your door (remember, they should not come into your home and you\nshould not leave home to meet them). To reduce the risk of exposure even more,\nwash your hands after handling the delivery.\nYou can ask friends or family to get your medication for you. If they cannot\ndo this, you can contact your pharmacy and ask them to deliver it as many\npharmacies are already doing this. Otherwise you can use the NHS\nApp.\nIf that is not possible, or you need support to get other things, go to\nwww.gov.uk\/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable and fill in your details for free\nsupport to be arranged for you.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest83","title":"","text":"Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus\nAdvice for young carers supporting someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable\nReceiving care from other people\nIf other people help you with basic or personal care needs, like help with\nwashing, dressing, going to the toilet or eating, this can carry on.\nPaid carers can get more information about how they can protect you from the\nhome care provision\nguidance. Family and friend carers may also find this helpful, so they know\nwhat paid carers should be doing to protect you.\nNurses or doctors can also carry on visiting you. Anyone coming into your home\nshould wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water, or hand sanitiser\nafter entering.\nBut, if anyone who cares for you has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they\nmust not visit you and should self-isolate in line with the stay at home\nguidance.\nMake a plan about who will care for you if the people who usually do are not\nable to because, for example, they are unwell.\nTalk to your parents and\/or carers about this and if you\u2019re not sure who else\nwould be able to care for you, contact your local\ncouncil for advice.\nUse the phone or internet to keep in touch with other people. Health and\nsocial services are all still open so ring if you need them.\nIf you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact NHS 111 online. Do not go\nto hospital or your GP surgery, but if you need treatment, hospitals are still\nthere to support and advise you. If there is an emergency, call 999. Explain\nthat you are extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and are most likely to get\nvery unwell.\nIf you have GP or other health appointments during the time that you are\nshielding, these may be rearranged to be over the phone. Your GP or\npractitioner will be in contact if this is the case.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest84","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme\nHow to claim\nThe online service is now available. Make your\nclaim from the date we gave you.\nIf you\u2019re unable to claim online you should contact HMRC for help.\nIf you receive texts, calls or emails claiming to be from HMRC, offering\nfinancial help or a tax refund and asking you to click on a link or to give\npersonal information, it is a scam. You should email it to\nphishing@hmrc.gov.uk and then delete it."}
{"_id":"UKtest85","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme\nCheck if you\u2019re eligible to claim\nYou can check online to find out if you\u2019re eligible to make a claim. Your tax\nagent or adviser can also check your eligibility on your behalf.\nYou\u2019ll need your:\n\nSelf Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number - if you do not have this find out how to get your lost UTR number\nNational Insurance number - if you do not have this find out how to get your lost National Insurance number\n\nOnline services may be slow during busy times. Find out if there are any\nproblems with this service.\nCheck now\nIf you\u2019re eligible\nWe\u2019ll tell you the date you\u2019ll be able to make your claim from, and ask you to\nadd your contact details.\nIf you can claim straightaway you\u2019ll also need your:\n\nGovernment Gateway user ID and password - if you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you check your eligibility or make your claim\nUK bank details (only provide bank account details where a Bacs payment can be accepted) including: \nbank account number\nsort code\nname on the account\nyour address linked to your bank account\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ll have to confirm to HMRC that your business has been adversely affected\nby coronavirus.\nIf you\u2019re not eligible\nWe have used the information you or your tax agent or adviser sent us on your\nSelf Assessment tax returns to work out your eligibility.\nIf you submitted your returns between 26 March 2020 and 23 April 2020 check\nyour eligibility again as the online service has been updated.\nIf you think you are eligible, you should first check who can claim or contact\nyour tax agent or adviser for help.\nIf you still think you should be able to claim you can ask HMRC to\nreview your\neligibility.\nFind other help and support you can get.\n*[UTR]: Unique Taxpayer Reference"}
{"_id":"UKtest86","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme\nWho can claim\nYou can claim if you\u2019re a self-employed individual or a member of a\npartnership and all of the following apply:\n\nyou traded in the tax year 2018 to 2019 and submitted your Self Assessment tax return on or before 23 April 2020 for that year\nyou traded in the tax year 2019 to 2020\nyou intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020 to 2021\nyou carry on a trade which has been adversely affected by coronavirus\n\nYour business could be adversely affected by coronavirus if, for example:\n\nyou\u2019re unable to work because you: \nare shielding\nare self-isolating\nare on sick leave because of coronavirus\nhave caring responsibilities because of coronavirus\n\n\nyou\u2019ve had to scale down or temporarily stop trading because: \nyour supply chain has been interrupted\nyou have fewer or no customers or clients\nyour staff are unable to come in to work\n\n\n\nYou should not claim the grant if you\u2019re a limited company or operating a\ntrade through a trust.\nTo work out your eligibility we will first look at your 2018 to 2019 Self\nAssessment tax return. Your trading profits must be no more than \u00a350,000 and\nat least equal to your non-trading income.\nIf you\u2019re not eligible based on the 2018 to 2019 Self Assessment tax return,\nwe will then look at the tax years 2016 to 2017, 2017 to 2018, and 2018 to\n2019.\nFind out how we will work out your\neligibility including if we\nhave to use other years.\nGrants under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme are not counted as\n\u2018access to public funds\u2019, and you can claim the grant on all categories of\nwork visa.\nYou must make the claim yourself. Your tax agent or adviser must not claim on\nyour behalf as this will trigger a fraud alert, and you will have to contact\nHMRC. This will cause a significant delay to you receiving your payment.\nHow different circumstances affect the scheme\nCheck if your circumstances affect your\neligibility for the following:\n\nif your return is late, amended or under enquiry\nif you\u2019re a member of a partnership\nif you\u2019re on or took parental leave\nif you have loans covered by the loan charge\nif you claim averaging relief\nif you\u2019re non-resident or chose the remittance basis\nstate aid\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest87","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme\nHow much you\u2019ll get\nYou\u2019ll get a taxable grant based on your average trading profit over the 3 tax\nyears:\n\n2016 to 2017\n2017 to 2018\n2018 to 2019\n\nWe will work out your average trading profit by adding together your total\ntrading profits or losses for the 3 tax years, then we will divide by 3.\nThe grant will be 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a\nsingle instalment covering 3 months, and capped at \u00a37,500 altogether. The\nonline service will tell you how we\u2019ve worked your grant out.\nThe grant amount we work out for you will be paid directly into your bank\naccount, in one instalment.\nFind out how we will work out your average trading profits including if you\nhave not traded for all 3 years."}
{"_id":"UKtest88","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme\nOther help you can get\nGet other financial support\nYou can make a claim for Universal Credit while you wait for the grant. The grant may\naffect the amount of Universal Credit you get, but will not affect claims for\nearlier periods.\nThe government is also providing the following help for the self-employed:\n\ndeferral of Self Assessment Income Tax and VAT payments\ngrants for businesses that pay little or no business rates\nBusiness Interruption Loan Scheme\nBounce Back Loan\n\nIf you have other employment as a director or employee paid through PAYE your\nemployer may be able to get support using the Coronavirus Job Retention\nScheme.\nGet help online\nYou can watch videos and register for free\nwebinars to learn more about the support available to\nhelp you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus.\nUse HMRC\u2019s digital assistant to find more\ninformation about the coronavirus support schemes.\nContacting HMRC\nWe are receiving very high numbers of calls. Contacting HMRC unnecessarily\nputs our essential public services at risk during these challenging times.\nBut you can contact HMRC if you cannot get the help you need online."}
{"_id":"UKtest89","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWho can use the scheme\nYou can use the scheme as an employer if:\n\nyou\u2019re claiming for an employee who\u2019s eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus\nyou have a PAYE payroll scheme that was created and started on or before 28 February 2020\nyou had fewer than 250 employees on 28 February 2020 across all your PAYE payroll schemes\n\nEmployees do not have to give you a doctor\u2019s fit note for you to make a claim.\nBut you can ask them to give you either:\n\nan isolation note from NHS 111 - if they are self-isolating and cannot work because of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nthe NHS or GP letter telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks because they\u2019re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus\n\nThe scheme covers all types of employment contracts, including:\n\nfull-time employees\npart-time employees\nemployees on agency contracts\nemployees on flexible or zero-hour contracts\nfixed term contracts (until the date their contract ends)\n\nWe will let you know when the scheme will end.\nIf you\u2019re claiming for wage costs through the Coronavirus Job Retention\nScheme\nYou can claim back from both the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the\nCoronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme for the same employee but not for\nthe same period of time.\nState aid limits\nYour claim amount should not take you above the state aid limits under the EU\nCommission temporary\nframework.\nThis is when combined with other aid received under the framework. The maximum\nlevel of state aid that a business may receive is \u20ac800,000. There is a lower\nmaximum for agriculture at \u20ac100,000 and aquaculture and fisheries at \u20ac120,000.\nConnected companies and charities\nConnected companies and charities can also use the scheme if their total\ncombined number of PAYE employees was fewer than 250 on the 28 February 2020.\nUsing an agent to do PAYE online\nIf you use an agent who is authorised to do PAYE online for you, they will be\nable to claim on your behalf. You should speak to your agent about whether\nthey are providing this service.\nIf you would like to use an agent, but do not have one authorised to do PAYE\nonline for you, you can do that by accessing your HMRC online\nservices and selecting\n\u2018Manage Account\u2019.\nYou must be enrolled in PAYE online for employers to do this and will need to\nask your agent for their agent ID. Your agent can get this from their HMRC\nonline service for agents by selecting \u2018authorise client.\u2019\nYou can also use this service to remove authorisation from your agent if you\ndo not want it to continue after they have submitted your claim(s).\nIf an agent makes a claim on your behalf, you will need to tell them which\nbank account you would like the grant to be paid into. You must only provide\nbank details where a BACS payment can be accepted."}
{"_id":"UKtest90","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nOther help you can get\nGet help online\nUse HMRC\u2019s digital assistant to find more\ninformation about the coronavirus support schemes.\nContacting HMRC\nWe are receiving very high numbers of calls. Contacting HMRC unnecessarily\nputs our essential public services at risk during these challenging times.\nYou can contact HMRC about the\nCoronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme if you cannot get the help you\nneed online."}
{"_id":"UKtest91","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat you can claim\nThe repayment will cover up to 2 weeks Statutory Sick Pay starting from the\nfirst qualifying day of sickness, if an employee is unable to work because\nthey:\n\nhave coronavirus symptoms\nare self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms\nare self-isolating because they\u2019ve been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they\u2019ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus\nare shielding and have a letter from the NHS or a GP telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks\n\nYou can claim from the first qualifying day your employee is off work if the\nperiod of sickness started on or after:\n\n13 March 2020 - if your employee had coronavirus or the symptoms or is self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms\n16 April 2020 - if your employee was shielding because of coronavirus\n28 May 2020 - if your employee has been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they\u2019ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus\n\nA \u2018qualifying day\u2019 is a day an employee usually works on.The weekly rate was\n\u00a394.25 before 6 April 2020 and is now \u00a395.85. If you\u2019re an employer who pays\nmore than the weekly rate of Statutory Sick Pay you can only claim up to the\nweekly rate paid.\nUse the SSP calculator to\nwork out the actual amount.\nRecords you must keep\nYou must keep records of Statutory Sick Pay that you\u2019ve paid and want to claim\nback from HMRC.\nYou must keep the following records for 3 years after the date you receive the\npayment for your claim:\n\nthe dates the employee was off sick\nwhich of those dates were qualifying days\nthe reason they said they were off work - if they had symptoms, someone they lived with had symptoms or they were shielding\nthe employee\u2019s National Insurance number\n\nYou can choose how you keep records of your employees\u2019 sickness absence. HMRC\nmay need to see these records if there\u2019s a dispute over payment of SSP.\nYou\u2019ll need to print or save your state aid declaration (from your claim\nsummary) and keep this until 31 December 2024.\n*[SSP]: Statutory Sick Pay"}
{"_id":"UKtest92","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to claim\nYou must have paid your employees\u2019 sick pay before you claim it back.\nYou can claim back coranvirus-related Statutory Sick Pay using the online\nservice.\nIf you use an agent who is authorised to do PAYE online for you, they will be\nable to claim on your behalf.\nEmployers who are unable to claim online should have received a letter on an\nalternative way to claim. Contact\nHMRC if you\nhave not received a letter and are unable to make any eligible claims online."}
{"_id":"UKtest93","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you\u2019re on furlough\nIf your employer has no work for you they might be able to keep you on the\npayroll and put you on temporary leave instead. This is known as being put \u2018on\nfurlough\u2019 and you\u2019re paid 80% of wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention\nScheme.\nYou should apply, or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account, if\nyour wage, and your partner\u2019s wage if you have one, is:\n\nat least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week\nbelow the normal minimum income requirement, but you\u2019d normally expect to meet the income requirement\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest94","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you\u2019re a critical worker\nIf you missed the 31 March deadline\nIf you\u2019re a critical worker and you\u2019ve missed the reconfirmation or\napplication deadline for 30 hours free childcare, you should apply or\nreconfirm if you already have a childcare account.\nLocal authorities will be able to extend the validity dates on 30 hours codes\nfor eligible critical worker parents during the summer term.\nIf you\u2019re working more\nIf you\u2019re a critical worker you may have exceeded the maximum income threshold\nof \u00a3100,000 per year. If this is because of increased hours as a direct result\nof coronavirus, you\u2019ll still be eligible for 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare\nfor the current tax year."}
{"_id":"UKtest95","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you\u2019re not able to work or you\u2019re working less\nYou should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if\nyou\u2019re:\n\ngetting sick pay or statutory sick pay (SSP) \u2013 time spent on sick pay or SSP will count as working and meeting the minimum income requirement\ntaking unpaid leave to care for others, such as your children - if you expect your income to meet the minimum income requirement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus\nliving with someone who has coronavirus - you must stay at home - if you expect your income to meet the minimum income agreement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus\nworking less, your hours have been reduced and your wage: \nmeets the minimum earnings requirement\nis below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re made redundant\nIf you\u2019re made redundant you\u2019re not eligible to apply or reconfirm you have a\nchildcare account because you\u2019re:\n\nno longer in work\nnot meeting the minimum income requirement\n\nIf you start employment again and expect to earn above the minimum income\nrequirement you can apply 31 days before you start your new job."}
{"_id":"UKtest96","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you can get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you\u2019re self-employed\nYou should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if you\nare:\n\ncontinuing to work, and your earnings: \nare above the minimum earnings requirement\nare below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it\n\n\nnot able to get work because of coronavirus: \nyou may be eligible to claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme - payments made to you through the scheme will count as earnings\nand you\u2019re not eligible for self-employed income support but would expect to earn at least the minimum income requirement\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re claiming Universal Credit\nIf you are now claiming Universal Credit and were getting:\n\n\nTax-Free Childcare, you cannot apply or reconfirm for Tax-Free Childcare - if you stop claiming Universal Credit you can apply for Tax-Free Childcare again\n\n\n30 hours free childcare, and you meet the revised minimum income requirement or would expect to normally, you should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest97","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund\nHow to claim\nYou do not need to take any action. If you\u2019re an eligible business, your local\ncouncil will contact you and provide details of how to claim.\nContact your local council if you think you\u2019re eligible for a grant but have not\nyet received it."}
{"_id":"UKtest98","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund\nWhat you get\nIf your business has a property with a rateable value of \u00a315,000 or under, you\nmay be eligible for a grant of \u00a310,000.\nIf your business has a property that has a rateable value of over \u00a315,000 but\nless than \u00a351,000, you may be eligible for a grant of \u00a325,000."}
{"_id":"UKtest99","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund\nEligibility\nYou\u2019re eligible if your business:\n\nis based in England\nis in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector\nhad a rateable value of under \u00a351,000 on 11 March 2020\n\nChanges made to a business\u2019s rateable value or rating assessment after 11\nMarch 2020 will not affect eligibility.\nProperties covered by the fund\nProperties eligible for the grant will be those that are wholly or mainly\nbeing used as a hospitality, retail, or leisure venue, such as a:\n\nshop\nrestaurant, caf\u00e9, bar or pub\ncinema or live music venue\nestate agent or letting agency\nassembly or leisure property - for example, a bingo hall, a sports club, a gym or spa\nhospitality property - for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation\n\nEligible charities which have received charitable rate\nrelief or discretionary relief can still get the grant.\nProperties excluded from the fund\nYou cannot get funding for:\n\nproperties occupied for personal uses, such as private stables, beach huts and moorings\ncar parks and parking spaces\n\nIf you use more than one property\nEligible businesses can get one grant per property.\nYou cannot claim both the retail, hospitality and leisure grant and the small\nbusiness grant on the same property.\nIf you already get state aid\nThe retail, hospitality and leisure grant counts as state aid under the\nCOVID-19 Temporary\nFramework.\nYour local council will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that:\n\nyou will not exceed the state aid temporary framework threshold of \u20ac800,000\nyou were not an \u2018undertaking in difficulty\u2019 on 31 December 2019\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest100","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if you're eligible for the coronavirus Small Business Grant Fund\nEligibility\nYou\u2019re eligible if your business:\n\nis based in England\noccupies property\nwas eligible for small business rate relief (including tapered relief) or rural rate relief on 11 March 2020\n\nChanges made to a business\u2019s rateable value or rating assessment after 11\nMarch 2020 will not affect eligibility.\nProperties excluded from the fund\nYou cannot get funding for:\n\nproperties occupied for personal uses, such as private stables, beach huts and moorings\ncar parks and parking spaces\n\nIf you use more than one property\nEligible businesses can get one grant per property.\nYou cannot claim both the small business grant and the retail, hospitality\nand leisure grant on the same\nproperty.\nIf you already get state aid\nThe small business grant counts towards the total de minimis state aid you\u2019re\nallowed to get over a 3 year period.\nYour local council will ask you to complete a de minimis declaration\nconfirming that you will not exceed the de minimis state aid threshold of\n\u20ac200,000.\nIf you exceed the de minimis threshold you may still be eligible for funding\nunder the COVID-19 Temporary\nFramework.\nYour local council will ask you to complete a declaration confirming that:\n\nyou will not exceed the state aid temporary framework threshold of \u20ac800,000\nyou were not an \u2018undertaking in difficulty\u2019 on 31 December 2019\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest101","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if your nursery is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nEligibility\nYou\u2019re eligible if your business:\n\nis on Ofsted\u2019s Early Years Register\nprovides care and education for children up to 5 years old (early years foundation stage)\n\nLocal authority-run nurseries are not eligible."}
{"_id":"UKtest102","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if your nursery is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhen it applies\nThe relief will apply to your business rates bills for the 2020 to 2021 tax\nyear. Your local council may have to reissue your bill, but will do this as\nsoon as possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest103","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if your nursery is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to apply\nYou do not need to take any action. Your local council will apply the discount\nautomatically.\nYou can estimate the business rate relief using the business rates\ncalculator.\nContact your local council if you\u2019re not getting a relief you think you\u2019re entitled\nto."}
{"_id":"UKtest104","title":"","text":"Guidance Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nEligibility\nYou\u2019re eligible if your property is a:\n\nshop\nrestaurant, caf\u00e9, bar or pub\ncinema or live music venue\nassembly or leisure property - for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa\nhospitality property - for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest105","title":"","text":"Guidance Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nType of equipment, service or supply\nMobile phones and SIM cards (no restriction on private use)\nIf you provide a mobile phone and SIM card without a restriction on private\nuse, limited to one per employee, this is non-taxable.\nBroadband\nIf your employee already pays for broadband, then no additional expenses can\nbe claimed.\nIf a broadband internet connection is needed to work from home and one was not\nalready available, then the broadband fee can be reimbursed by you and is non-\ntaxable.\nIn this case, the broadband is provided for business and any private use must\nbe limited.\nLaptops, tablets, computers, and office supplies\nIf these are mainly used for business purposes and not significant private\nuse, these are non-taxable.\nReimbursing expenses for office equipment your employee has bought\nIf your employee needs to buy home office equipment to allow them to work from\nhome, they will need to discuss this with you in advance.\nIf you reimburse your employee the actual costs of the purchase, then this is\nnon-taxable provided there is no significant private use.\nIf you do not reimburse your employee, then they can claim tax relief for\nthese purchases on their tax return or P87 as long as the amount claimed is\nincurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of their\nduties of employment.\nYour employees will need to keep records of their purchase and claim for the\nexact amount. For more information on the strict tests that need to be passed\nin order to qualify for tax relief see the guidance on Employment\nIncome.\nAdditional expenses like electricity, heating or broadband\nPayment or reimbursement to your employees of up to \u00a34 a week (\u00a36 a week from\n6 April 2020) is non-taxable for the additional household expenses incurred\nwhen your employee is working from home.\nIf the claim is above this amount, then your employee will need to:\n\ncheck with you beforehand to see if you will make these payments\nkeep receipts\n\nEmployer provided loans\nA salary advance or loan to help your employee at a time of hardship counts as\nan employment-related loan.\nLoans provided with a value less than \u00a310,000 in a tax year are non-taxable.\nFurther information on loans.\nTemporary accommodation\nIf your employee needs to self-isolate but cannot do so in their own home, you\ncan reimburse hotel expenses and subsistence costs, these are taxable.\nFurther information on accommodation expenses.\nEmployees using their own vehicle for business\nYou can pay approved mileage allowance payments of 45p per mile up to 10,000\nmiles (25p per mile thereafter) free of tax and National Insurance\ncontributions.\nIf you do not pay mileage allowance, your employee can claim tax relief\nthrough their Personal Tax Account.\nFurther information on approved mileage allowance\npayments."}
{"_id":"UKtest106","title":"","text":"Guidance Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSignificant private use\nFor items which are taxable, exemptions for work related benefits must show\nthat there is no significant private use.\nHMRC accepts that where:\n\nyour policy about private use is clearly stated to your employee and sets out the circumstances in which private use may be made (this may include making the conditions clear in employment contracts or asking employees to sign a statement acknowledging company policy on what use is allowed and any disciplinary consequences if the policy is not followed)\nany decision of the employer not to recover the costs of private use is a commercial decision, rather than rewarding your employee\n\nSignificant private use should not be based on the time spent on different\nuses. It should be based on your employee\u2019s duties and the need for them to\nhave the equipment or services provided so they can do their job.\nRecord keeping\nYou do not have to keep detailed records of every instance of private use to\nprove a claim for exemption."}
{"_id":"UKtest107","title":"","text":"Guidance Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to report to HMRC\nTaxable expenses or benefits\nAny expenses or benefits which are related to coronavirus can be reported on\nyour PAYE Settlement Agreement.\nThis means you can settle tax and National Insurance contributions on any\nexpenses or benefits, even though the responsibility would usually be on your\nemployee, or on both you and your employee.\nThis applies to coronavirus related items only, for example, a new desk can go\nonto the PAYE Settlement Agreement, but a new sofa cannot.\nIf you are currently payrolling benefits in\nkind, you may continue to report expenses and\nbenefits through your payroll. You may also continue to report expenses and\nbenefits through P11D returns.\nNon-taxable expenses or benefits\nDo not report to HMRC.\nFurther information on non-taxable expenses or benefits for\nemployees."}
{"_id":"UKtest108","title":"","text":"Guidance Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nContact HMRC\nContact HMRC if you\u2019re an employer and need\nhelp and support on paying tax due to coronavirus.\nGet help online\nUse HMRC\u2019s digital assistant\nto find more information about the coronavirus support schemes."}
{"_id":"UKtest109","title":"","text":"Guidance Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nContacting HMRC\nWe are receiving very high numbers of calls. Contacting HMRC unnecessarily\nputs our essential public services at risk during these challenging times.\nDo not contact HMRC unless it has been more than 10 working days since you\nmade the claim and you have not received it in that time.\nGet help online\nUse HMRC\u2019s digital assistant to find more\ninformation about the coronavirus support schemes.\nYou can also contact HMRC\nabout the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, if you cannot get the help you\nneed online."}
{"_id":"UKtest110","title":"","text":"Guidance Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nHow to claim\nYou\u2019ll need the Government Gateway user ID and password you got when you\nregistered for PAYE online.\nIf you do not finish your claim in one session, you can save a draft. You must\ncomplete your claim within 7 days of starting it.\nOnline services may be slow during busy times. Check if there are any\nproblems with this\nservice.\nClaim now"}
{"_id":"UKtest111","title":"","text":"Guidance Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nAfter you\u2019ve claimed\nOnce you\u2019ve claimed, you\u2019ll get a claim reference number. HMRC will then check\nthat your claim is correct and pay the claim amount by BACs into your bank\naccount within 6 working days.\nYou must:\n\nkeep a copy of all records for 6 years, including: \nthe amount claimed and claim period for each employee\nthe claim reference number for your records\nyour calculations in case HMRC need more information about your claim\n\n\ntell your employees that you have made a claim and that they do not need to take any more action\npay your employee their wages, if you have not already\n\nYou must pay the full amount you are claiming to your employee, even if your\ncompany is in administration. If you\u2019re not able to do that, you\u2019ll need to\nrepay the money back to HMRC. The same applies in relation to employer NICs\nand pension contributions you claim regarding your employee. The full amount\nyou claim in respect of these must be paid or you will need to repay the money\nback to HMRC.\nEmployers cannot enter into any transaction with the worker which reduces the\nwages below this amount. This includes any administration charge, fees or\nother costs in connection with the employment. Where an employee had\nauthorised their employer to make deductions from their salary, these\ndeductions can continue while the employee is furloughed provided that these\ndeductions are not administration charges, fees or other costs in connection\nwith the employment.\nWhen the government ends the scheme\nWhen the government ends the scheme, you must make a decision, depending on\nyour circumstances, as to whether employees can return to their duties. If\nnot, it may be necessary to consider termination of employment (redundancy).\nTax Treatment of the Coronavirus Job Retention Grant\nPayments received by a business under the scheme are made to offset these\ndeductible revenue costs. They must therefore be included as income in the\nbusiness\u2019s calculation of its taxable profits for Income Tax and Corporation\nTax purposes, in accordance with normal principles.\nBusinesses can deduct employment costs as normal when calculating taxable\nprofits for Income Tax and Corporation Tax purposes.\nIndividuals with employees that are not employed as part of a business (such\nas nannies or other domestic staff) are not taxable on grants received under\nthe scheme. Domestic staff are subject to Income Tax and NICs on their wages\nas normal.\nHow to report grant payments in Real Time Information\nFind out how to report Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant payments on\nReal Time Information submissions."}
{"_id":"UKtest112","title":"","text":"Guidance Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nWhat you\u2019ll need\nTo make a claim, you will need:\n\nto be registered for PAYE online\nyour UK bank account number and sort code (only provide bank account details where a BACS payment can be accepted)\nthe billing address on your bank account (this is the address on your bank statements)\nyour employer PAYE scheme reference number\nthe number of employees being furloughed\neach employee\u2019s National Insurance number (you will need to search for their number if you do not have it or contact HMRC if your employee does not have a number)\neach employee\u2019s payroll or employee number (optional)\nthe start date and end date of the claim\nthe full amounts that you\u2019re claiming for including: \nemployee wages\nemployer National Insurance contributions\nemployer minimum pension contributions\n\n\nyour phone number\ncontact name\n\nYou also need to provide either:\n\nyour name (or the employer\u2019s name if you\u2019re an agent)\nyour Corporation Tax unique taxpayer reference\nyour Self Assessment unique taxpayer reference\nyour company registration number\n\nUsing an agent to do PAYE online\nIf you use an agent who is authorised to do PAYE online for you, they will be\nable to claim on your behalf.\nIf you would like to use an agent, but do not have one authorised to do PAYE\nonline for you, you can do that by accessing your HMRC online\nservices and selecting\n\u2018Manage Account\u2019.\nYou must be enrolled in PAYE online for employers to do this and will need to\nask your agent for their agent ID. Your agent can get this from their HMRC\nonline service for agents by selecting \u2018authorise client.\u2019\nYou can also use this service to remove authorisation from your agent if you\ndo not want it to continue after they have submitted your claim(s).\nIf an agent makes a claim on your behalf you will need to tell them which bank\naccount you would like the grant to be paid into. You must only provide bank\ndetails where a BACS payment can be accepted.\nIf you\u2019re putting 100 or more employees on furlough\nIf you\u2019re claiming for 100 or more furloughed employees, you\u2019ll need to upload\na file containing the following for each employee:\n\nfull name\nNational Insurance number\npayroll number (optional)\nfurlough start date\nfurlough end date (if known)\nfull amount claimed\n\nYou\u2019ll need ensure that you:\n\nprovide only the employee information requested here - if you provide more or less information than required, you may risk delaying your payment and\/or be asked to provide the information again\nsubmit one line per employee for the whole period\ndo not break up the calculation into multiple periods within the claim\ndo not split data by contract type\nupload your file as an .xls, .xlsx, .csv or .ods\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest113","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nCompliance\nAs of 26 March\n2020 these\nrestrictions became enforceable by law in England. These Regulations where\nthen amended on 22 April\n2020 and 13 May\n2020 due to the threat to\npublic health.\nEveryone is required to comply with these Regulations issued by the government\nin relation to coronavirus, in order to protect both themselves and others.\nAn owner, proprietor or manager carrying out a business (or a person\nresponsible for other premises) who contravenes the Regulations, without\nreasonable excuse, commits an offence.\nIn England, Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor\ncompliance with these regulations, with police support provided if\nappropriate. Businesses and venues that breach them will be subject to\nprohibition notices, and a person, who is 18 or over, carrying on a business\nin contravention of the Regulations may be issued with a fixed penalty. The\ngovernment is introducing higher fines for those who do not comply, to reflect\nthe increased risk to others of breaking the rules.\nWith the support of the police, prohibition notices can be used to require\ncompliance with the Regulations including requiring that an activity ceases.\nIt is also an offence, without reasonable excuse, to fail to comply with a\nprohibition notice.\nIf prohibition notices are not complied with, or fixed penalty notice not\npaid, you may also be taken to court with magistrates able to impose\npotentially unlimited fines."}
{"_id":"UKtest114","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nBusiness rates\nIn England, as announced on Monday 16 March, the government will provide a\nbusiness rates holiday for businesses and venues in the retail, hospitality\nand\/or leisure sector. This includes the businesses and venues in scope for\nclosure listed above. The relief will apply to business rates bills for the\n2020 to 2021 tax year."}
{"_id":"UKtest115","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nBusinesses and venues that must remain closed to members of the public\nTo reduce social contact, the government has required by law the businesses\nand venues in the left-hand column to close to members of the public. Legal\nexceptions, and guidance on their scope, are set out in the right-hand column.\nWhen using or operating any exemptions to closures listed below, you should\nfollow relevant social distancing guidance.\nFood and drink\nRestaurants and public houses, wine bars or other food and drink\nestablishments including within hotels and members\u2019 clubs, such as dining\nrooms\nExceptions\nFood delivery and takeaway can remain operational. This can be a new activity\nsupported by the new permitted development rights in England. This covers the\nprovision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for\ncollection or delivery to be consumed, reheated or cooked by consumers off the\npremises. Room service in hotels and accommodation.\nFood and drink\nCaf\u00e9s and canteens\nExceptions\nFood delivery and takeaway can remain operational (and as above). Caf\u00e9s and\ncanteens at hospitals, police and fire services\u2019 places of work, care homes or\nschools; prison and military canteens; services providing food or drink to the\nhomeless may remain open. Where there are no practical alternatives, other\nworkplace canteens can remain open to provide food for their staff. For\nexample, this could include canteens at police or fire services\u2019 places of\nwork. However, where possible, the government advises that staff should be\nencouraged to bring their own food, and distributors can move to takeaway.\nEmployers are encouraged to take measures to minimise the number of people in\nthe canteen, for example by using a rota.\nRetail\nHairdressers, barbers, beauty and nail salons, including piercing and tattoo\nparlours\nExceptions\nRetail\nAll retail, other than those exempt, must close their premises to members of\nthe public. However, staff may be present to make deliveries or provide\nservices in response to orders such as those through telephone, online, or\nmail. Click and collect services can also operate, though customers must not\nenter premises listed in the left-hand column.\nExceptions\n\u2022 Food retailers, including supermarkets \u2022 Dental services, opticians,\naudiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or\nhealth services (including physiotherapy and podiatry services), and services\nrelating to mental health 1 \u2022 Pharmacies and chemists, including non-\ndispensing pharmacies \u2022 Petrol stations \u2022 Bicycle shops \u2022 Homeware, building\nsupplies and hardware stores, including where those stores supply equipment\nfor hire \u2022 Garden centres and plant nurseries \u2022 Veterinary surgeries and pet\nshops \u2022 Agricultural supplies shops \u2022 Convenience stores, corner shops and\nnewsagents \u2022 Off-licences and licensed shops selling alcohol, including those\nwithin breweries \u2022 Laundrettes and dry cleaners \u2022 Post offices \u2022 Taxi or\nvehicle hire businesses \u2022 Car repair and MOT services \u2022 Car parks \u2022 Banks,\nbuilding societies, short-term loan providers, credit unions, savings clubs,\ncash points, currency exchange offices, businesses for the transmission of\nmoney, and businesses which cash cheques. \u2022 Storage and distribution\nfacilities, including delivery drop off or collection points where they are on\nthe premises of any of the above businesses \u2022 Public toilets \u2022 Shopping\ncentres may stay open but only units of the types listed above may trade\nRetail\nCar showrooms\nExceptions\nRetail\nOutdoor markets\nExceptions\nLivestock markets and stalls selling food\nRetail\nAuction houses\nExceptions\nLivestock auctions\nAccommodation\nHoliday accommodation including hotels, hostels, B&Bs;, holiday rentals,\ncampsites and boarding houses\nExceptions\nWhere people live in these as interim abodes whilst their primary residence is\nunavailable, or they live in them permanently, they may continue to do so.\nNon-UK residents who are unable to travel to their country of residence during\nthis period can continue to stay in hotels or similar where required. Hotels\nand other accommodation listed can be provided to any person who is unable to\nreturn to their main residence, and to non-UK residents unable to travel.\nHotels and other accommodation listed can provide services to any critical\nworker that is part of the effort to deal with coronavirus, if the stay is\nnecessary for their work. The list of critical workers was published by the\nCabinet Office and Department for Education on 19 March 2020. People who are\nunable to move into a new home due to the current restrictions can also stay\nat hotels. Where hotels, hostels, and B&Bs; are providing rooms to support\nhomeless and other vulnerable people such as those who cannot safely stay in\ntheir home, through arrangements with local authorities and other public\nbodies, they may remain open. Those attending a funeral will be able to use\nhotels when returning home would be impractical. Hotels and other\naccommodation listed are allowed to host blood donation sessions.\nAccommodation\nCaravan parks\/sites for commercial uses\nExceptions\nWhere people live permanently in caravan parks or are staying in caravan parks\nas interim abodes where their primary residence is not available, they may\ncontinue to do so. Caravan parks also have the same exemptions as hotels and\nother forms of accommodation listed above.\nNon-residential institutions\nLibraries\nExceptions\nDigital library services and those where orders are taken electronically, by\ntelephone or by post (for example no-contact Home Library Services) may\ncontinue.\nNon-residential institutions\nCommunity centres\nExceptions\nCommunity centres can open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary\nactivities and urgent public services, such as food banks, homeless services.\nA community centre can open temporarily to host a blood donation session for\nthese services only. The government strongly advises that Public Health\nEngland guidelines are followed.\nNon-residential institutions\nPlaces of worship\nExceptions\nFunerals may be held but attendees must follow the restrictions as per\nRegulation 6(1)(g), and it is advised that funerals be conducted in line with\nguidance from Public Health England. Burial grounds and cemeteries can remain\nopen. Grounds surrounding crematoria may also remain open, including gardens\nof remembrance. Providers of funeral services, such as funeral directors and\nfuneral homes, may remain open. A minister of religion or worship leader may\nleave their home to travel to their place of worship. A place of worship may\nbroadcast an act of worship, whether over the internet or otherwise. A place\nof worship can remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary\nactivities and urgent public services, such as food banks, homeless services,\nand blood donation sessions.\nAssembly and leisure\nMuseums and galleries\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nNightclubs\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nCinemas, theatres and concert halls\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nBingo halls, casinos and betting shops\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nSpas and massage parlours\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nSkating rinks\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nIndoor fitness studios, gyms, swimming pools or other indoor leisure centres\nExceptions\nAny suitable assembly or leisure premises may open for blood donation\nsessions.\nAssembly and leisure\nIndoor arcades, bowling alleys, soft play centres and similar facilities\nExceptions\nAssembly and leisure\nFunfairs\nExceptions\nOutdoor recreation\nPlaygrounds, outdoor gyms and outdoor swimming pools\nExceptions\nOutdoor sports courts, including public and private outdoor enclosed areas\nsuch as tennis courts, golf courses, basketball courts, bowling greens and\nfootball pitches, can open. The government strongly advises that social\ndistancing guidance is followed when using these facilities. Bars and\nclubhouses at outdoor sports facilities must remain closed other than for\ntakeaway to be consumed off site. Parks, open countryside, beaches and\nwaterways can remain open. See further government guidance on access to green\nspaces and outdoor recreation.\nLocal authorities are also urged to open waste and recycling centres. The\nCoronavirus Restriction\nRegulations have been\nupdated to make clear that people can leave their home to visit such centres."}
{"_id":"UKtest116","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nBusiness support\nIn England, under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) announced\non Monday March 16, businesses and venues in England in the retail,\nhospitality and leisure sectors will be eligible for cash grants of up to\n\u00a325,000 per property.\nEligible businesses and venues in these sectors with a property that has a\nrateable value of up to \u00a315,000 will receive a grant of \u00a310,000. Eligible\nbusinesses and venues in these sectors with a property that has a rateable\nvalue of between \u00a315,001 and \u00a351,000 will receive a grant of \u00a325,000.\nBusinesses and venues with a rateable value of over \u00a351,000 are not included\nin this scheme.\nFor more information please visit the government\u2019s business support\npage."}
{"_id":"UKtest117","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nHome moving and work carried out in people\u2019s homes\nThere is updated separate guidance on home\nmoving and associated activities during the\ncoronavirus outbreak.\nThere is also separate guidance on work carried out in other people\u2019s\nhomes, for example, by tradespeople carrying out\nrepairs and maintenance, cleaners, or those providing paid-for childcare in a\nchild\u2019s home."}
{"_id":"UKtest118","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nTakeaway food and food delivery facilities may remain open and operational\nThis means people can continue to enter premises to access takeaway services,\nincluding delivery drivers.\nBusinesses are encouraged to take orders online or by telephone, and\nbusinesses must not provide seating areas, indoors and outdoors, for customers\nto consume food and drink on. Ordering in advance is strongly encouraged to\navoid waiting in, as per Public Health England guidelines.\nPlanning regulations have been changed to enable restaurants, caf\u00e9s and pubs\nwhich do not currently offer delivery and hot or cold food takeaway to do so.\nThe legislation can be accessed\nonline.\nPeople must not consume food or drinks on site at restaurants, caf\u00e9s or pubs\nwhilst waiting for takeaway food. Those venues offering takeaway or delivery\nservices must not include alcoholic beverages in this list if their licence\ndoes not already permit."}
{"_id":"UKtest119","title":"","text":"Guidance Closing certain businesses and venues in England\nLength of closure\nWe asked the businesses and venues outlined above not to open for trade from\nclose of trade 23 March 2020.\nFollowing the second point of review of these measures on 7 May 2020, the\ngovernment has set out its\nplan to rebuild, including easing existing\nrestrictions in phases. As part of this, the government has provided clear\nguidance on staying alert and\nsafe."}
{"_id":"UKtest120","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19) essential international travel guidance\nGet travel insurance\nIf your travel is essential, make sure you have appropriate insurance for\noverseas travel, and purchase it as soon as you book your travel. You should\ncheck the detail of your travel insurance to see what it covers, and contact\nyour insurance provider if you have any questions.\nYou may need to consider a specialist policy. It\u2019s your responsibility to make\nsure you\u2019re covered. Read our guidance on purchasing\ninsurance.\nThe Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published information on the\ntravel insurance implications of\ncoronavirus."}
{"_id":"UKtest121","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19) essential international travel guidance\nEntry restrictions\nMany countries and territories have introduced screening measures (temperature\nchecks, health\/travel questions, quarantine) and entry restrictions at border\ncrossings and transport hubs.\nIf you have recently been in a country affected by the virus you may need to\nbe quarantined, or you may not be allowed to enter or travel through a third\ncountry. If you decide to travel, contact the local immigration authorities or\nthe embassy, high commission or consulate of the country you\u2019re travelling\nto."}
{"_id":"UKtest122","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19) essential international travel guidance\nChecklist for before you travel\n\ncontact your airline, travel company, or other transport and accommodation providers to make sure you can still travel\nread the details of your travel insurance carefully, and check that you are covered, and contact your insurer if you are uncertain. You may need to consider a specialist policy\nmake sure you can access money to cover emergencies and unexpected delays. Take more than one means of payment with you\nbe prepared to follow the advice of local authorities abroad. Be ready to comply with local isolation or quarantine requirements, and to rely on the local health system\nmake sure you have enough medication with you in case you are abroad longer than planned\nbe prepared for logistical and financial disruption to your travel\narrange extra support for family members, dependants or pets who may need care if you are abroad longer than planned\ncheck travel advice for your destination regularly and sign-up to email alerts\nsee what you will need to do when you return to the UK until 7 June. The rules will change on 8 June: see what you will need to do to enter the UK from 8 June\n\nIf you are older, or if you have pre-existing medical conditions (such as\nasthma, diabetes, heart disease), you are more likely to become severely ill\nif you catch the virus. Check the NHS\nguidance before you\ntravel."}
{"_id":"UKtest123","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): Accessing food and essential supplies\nIf you\u2019re not clinically extremely vulnerable or self isolating\nYou can shop for food and other essentials in person unless you:\n\nhave been told to stay at home because you\u2019re clinically extremely vulnerable (you\u2019re shielding)\nare self isolating because your or someone in your household has symptoms\nyou\u2019re finding it difficult to leave your home for any other reason (for example, because of a disability)\n\nSupermarkets are disinfecting trolleys and baskets to protect you.\nMake sure you use the markings on the floor and advice in store to follow\nsocial distancing rules.\nYou should shop in store if you can so that supermarket delivery slots are\navailable for those who need them most. Supermarkets are working with\ngovernment to prioritise access to online delivery slots for the vulnerable as\nfar as their capacity for deliveries allows.\nTry to plan what your household and anyone you\u2019re supporting needs for a\nnumber of days ahead so that your trips to buy food and essentials are as\ninfrequent as possible.\nShopping for others\nConsider offering to shop for people you know who are self-isolating and\nunable to get to the shops.\nIf you\u2019ve signed up for the NHS Volunteer Responders\nprogramme, you can volunteer to support those in your\ncommunity other than family and friends.\nIf you\u2019re shopping for someone else, most of the major supermarkets have ways\nthat you can pay on behalf of\nothers, such as\ne-vouchers and gift cards. The person you\u2019re shopping for can buy these online\nand you can use them in store. Local convenience stores may also have options\navailable, so check what is on offer.\nRead guidance on helping others safely.\nFind out about the different ways to volunteer during the coronavirus\n."}
{"_id":"UKtest124","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): Accessing food and essential supplies\nIf you cannot go out because you\u2019re clinically extremely vulnerable, self isolating or for any other reason\nIf you can, ask friends, family or neighbours who are well to go out and get\nfood and other essentials for you. If you do not have others to help you,\nthere may be community groups who can help in your area or your local shops\nmay be able to provide orders for delivery (by phone or by email).\nIf someone is going to the shops for you, most of the major supermarkets have\nways you can pay for your shopping, such as e-vouchers or gift cards. You can\nbuy these online and the person shopping for you can use them in store. To\nfind out about payment options, visit:\n\nyour supermarket\u2019s website\nUK Finance (the collective voice for the banking and finance industry)\n\nIf you or a family member meet the criteria to get support from the NHS\nVolunteer Responders\nprogramme, you can call 0808 196 3646 and ask for help with\nfood, prescriptions and essential items.\nIf you need urgent help and have no other means of support, contact your\nlocal authority to find out what\nsupport services are available in your area."}
{"_id":"UKtest125","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): Accessing food and essential supplies\nIf you\u2019re clinically extremely vulnerable\nIf you\u2019re clinically extremely\nvulnerable you\nshould have received a letter from the NHS asking you to self isolate.\nThe letter tells you how to register on a government website or an automated\nhelpline for support to get essential food supplies if friends or family\ncannot help you.\nIf you\u2019ve received this letter and have registered as having no means of\ngetting food:\n\nyou\u2019ll be eligible for a government food parcel to be delivered to your home\nDefra will pass your details to supermarkets\n\nIf you think you should have received a letter but have not had one, you\nshould contact your GP.\nIf you want to stop getting your government food parcel, you can:\n\ntell your delivery driver you do not need it\nre-register on GOV.UK and answer \u2018yes\u2019 to the question \u2018Do you have a way of getting essential supplies delivered at the moment?\u2019\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest126","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you\u2019re sponsoring a student who is distance learning\nYou can continue to sponsor existing Tier 4 students who are continuing their\nstudies through distance learning, whether they are in the UK or another\ncountry.\nIf a student has permanently withdrawn from their studies or deferred their\nstudies for reasons unrelated to coronavirus, you must report this as usual.\nYou do not need to withdraw sponsorship for new students who have been issued\na Tier 4 visa but are distance learning because they have been unable to\ntravel to the UK.\nNew international students who have not yet applied for a visa but want to\nstart a course by distance learning do not require sponsorship under Tier 4.\nThis is because they do not need to travel to the UK.\nYou do not need to tell the Home Office when students have moved to distance\nlearning.\nThese arrangements will apply until 31 May 2020, when they will be reviewed."}
{"_id":"UKtest127","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you\u2019re sponsoring employees who are working from home\nYou do not have to notify us if you\u2019re sponsoring employees who are working\nfrom home due to coronavirus.\nOther changes to their working arrangements must still be reported as usual."}
{"_id":"UKtest128","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you have issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) and the sponsored employee or student has not yet applied for a visa\nThe employee or student will still be able to apply for a visa.\nThe start date for the course or employment stated on the CoS or CAS may have\nchanged. We will not automatically refuse such cases.\nFor example, we may accept a CoS or CAS if they have become invalid because\nthe employee or student was unable to travel as a result of coronavirus. We\nwill consider this on a case by case basis.\n[CoS]: Certificate of Sponsorship\n  [CAS]: confirmation of acceptance for studies"}
{"_id":"UKtest129","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf your student or employee is absent\nWe will not take enforcement action against sponsors who continue to sponsor\nstudents or employees despite absences due to coronavirus.\nYou do not need to report student or employee absences related to coronavirus.\nThis can include absences due to illness, their need to isolate or inability\nto travel due to travel restrictions.\nYou do not need to withdraw sponsorship if because of coronavirus:\n\na student is unable to attend for more than 60 days\nan employee is absent from work without pay for more than 4 weeks\n\nWe will keep this under review."}
{"_id":"UKtest130","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you cannot pay the salaries of sponsored employees because you\u2019ve temporarily reduced or ceased trading\nYou can temporarily reduce the pay of your sponsored employees to 80% of their\nsalary or \u00a32,500 per month, whichever is the lower.\nAny reductions must be part of a company-wide policy to avoid redundancies and\nin which all workers are treated the same.\nThese reductions must be temporary, and the employee\u2019s pay must return to at\nleast previous levels once these arrangements have ended."}
{"_id":"UKtest131","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you\u2019re sponsoring a student who\u2019s waiting for their Tier 4 visa application to be decided\nYou may allow students to start their studies before their visa application\nhas been decided if:\n\nyou are a Tier 4 sponsor (other than Tier 4 Legacy Sponsors)\nyou have assigned the student a CAS\nthe student submitted their application before their current visa expired and has shown you evidence of this\nthe course they start is the same as the one listed on their CAS\nthe student has a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required\n\nYour reporting responsibilities start from the date that you issue the CAS,\nnot from the date that their application is granted.\nIf the student\u2019s application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused you\nmust terminate the student\u2019s studies.\n*[CAS]: confirmation of acceptance for studies"}
{"_id":"UKtest132","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nCoronavirus Immigration Help Centre\nIf you have immigration queries related to coronavirus, please email the\nCoronavirus Immigration Help Centre.\nEmail: CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk. Your email must\nbe in English."}
{"_id":"UKtest133","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors\nIf you\u2019re sponsoring an employee who\u2019s waiting for their Tier 2 or 5 visa application to be decided\nYou may allow employees to start work before their visa application has been\ndecided if:\n\nyou have assigned them a CoS\nthe employee submitted their application before their current visa expired\nthe role they are employed in is the same as the one on their CoS\n\nYour reporting responsibilities for an employee start from the date you have\nassigned them a CoS, not from the date that their application is granted. You\nwill not be able to report information to us using the sponsor management\nsystem. You must however ensure that you record and maintain all the relevant\ninformation set out in the sponsor guidance on your own systems. Any changes\nthat will impact the eventual consideration of the migrant\u2019s visa application\nshould be updated on the CoS, as normal.\nIf the employee\u2019s application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused you\nmust terminate their employment.\n*[CoS]: Certificate of Sponsorship"}
{"_id":"UKtest134","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents\nIf you\u2019re outside the UK\nThere will be changes at the border because of coronavirus. Check what you\nneed to do before you travel.\nSome UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) are resuming services, where local\nrestrictions allow. For updates to the status of VACs in your country,\ncontact:\n\nTLS contact if you\u2019re in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East\nVFS global for all other countries\n\nOngoing global restrictions mean some UKVI services will remain closed.\nContact your local VAC to find out the latest status. Where services are\nresuming, existing customers will be contacted.\nSome English Testing Centres are also resuming services. Visit the\nInternational English Language Testing System (IELTS)\u2019s\nwebsite, the Pearson Test of English\nwebsite or the LanguageCert\nwebsite or contact your test\ncentre for more information on where we are reopening and how you can book\nyour Secure English Language Test.\nGetting your documents\nDue to worldwide border, travel and public health restrictions it may not be\npossible to return your passport at this time. Contact the VAC where you\nlogged your application to see if courier return is available in your\nlocation.\nBritish nationals abroad who need to apply for a passport\nIf your country\u2019s VAC is still closed, you won\u2019t be able to apply for a\nBritish passport. You can find your nearest visa application centre and check\nif it\u2019s open. We will\nprioritise customers who have been waiting for a decision before accepting new\napplications.\nIf you urgently need to travel to the UK, you can apply for an emergency\ntravel document.\nIf you are applying for a Global Talent, Start-up or Innovator visa\nIf your endorsement from an endorsing body has expired because you have not\nbeen able to travel to the UK you may still be eligible for a visa. You should\nmake your application as planned and we will consider all applications on a\ncase by case basis.\nIf your 30 day visa to work, study or join family has expired\nIf your 30 day visa to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family has\nexpired, or is about to expire, you can request a replacement visa with\nrevised validity dates free of charge until the end of this year.\nTo make a request, contact the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre. You\u2019ll\nneed to include your name, nationality, date of birth and your GWF reference\nnumber with \u2018REPLACEMENT 30 DAY VISA\u2019 in the subject line. If you\u2019ve already\ncontacted us about this, please let us know in your email.\nYou\u2019ll be contacted when our VACs reopen to arrange for a replacement visa to\nbe endorsed in your passport.\nYou will not be penalised for being unable collect your BRP while coronavirus\nmeasures are in place.\nThis process will be in place until the end of 2020.\n[VACs]: UK Visa Application Centres\n  [VAC]: UK Visa Application Centre"}
{"_id":"UKtest135","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents\nIf you\u2019re working for the NHS\nSome frontline health workers and their families will get their visas\nautomatically extended because of coronavirus.\nThere are also changes to the conditions of visas for some frontline health\nworkers. These changes will apply to you if you work for the NHS or\nindependent health and care providers as a:\n\nbiochemist\nbiological scientist\ndental practitioner\nhealth professional\nmedical practitioner\nmedical radiographer\nmidwife\nnurse\noccupational therapist\nophthalmologist\nparamedic\npharmacist\nphysiotherapist\npodiatrist\npsychologist\nsocial worker\nspeech and language therapist\ntherapy professional\n\nCheck with your employer if you\u2019re not sure whether you work in an eligible\nprofession.\nIf you will be working at a different NHS site than your usual place of\nwork because of coronavirus\nYou can work at any NHS hospital during the coronavirus outbreak if your\nsponsor can maintain their sponsorship duties.\nSponsors will not need to notify UKVI of the change in your place of work.\nIf you do any different or extra frontline work due to coronavirus\nYou can carry out supplementary work in any role at any skill level during the\ncoronavirus outbreak. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can\nwork.\nChanges to the current restrictions on the number of hours you can work or\nvolunteer\nThere is no longer a limit on the number of hours you can work or volunteer\neach week if you are a:\n\ntier 4 student\ntier 2 worker and your NHS job is a second job\nvisiting academic researcher\nholder of a short-term visa and are permitted to volunteer\n\nIf you\u2019re a pre-registration nurse in the UK, the deadline for you to sit the\nOccupational Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been extended to 31\nDecember 2020.\nIf you do not pass on the first attempt, you will have until 31 May 2021 to\npass the exam."}
{"_id":"UKtest136","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents\nCoronavirus Immigration Help Centre\nIf you have immigration queries related to coronavirus, please email the\nCoronavirus Immigration Help Centre.\nEmail: CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk. Your email must\nbe in English.\nYou will usually get a reply within 5 working days. Do not send follow up\nemails - they may delay you getting a reply.\nYou can also call the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre. If you\u2019ve emailed\nthe help centre already, please do not contact them by phone.\nTelephone: 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)\nCalls to this number are free of charge within the UK.\nCheck call charges with your phone provider if you\u2019re calling from abroad.\nIf your query doesn\u2019t relate to immigration provisions associated with\ncoronavirus, please contact the general immigration\nhelpline."}
{"_id":"UKtest137","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents\nIf you\u2019re in the UK and your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020\nYour visa will be extended to 31 July 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because\nof travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19).\nYou must request an extension by updating your records with the Coronavirus\nImmigration Team\n(CIT) if\nyour visa is expiring and you cannot leave the UK at present but are not\nplanning to stay in the UK in the long term.\nIf you have already had your visa extended to 31 May 2020 you visa will be\nextended automatically to 31 July 2020.\nYou will be expected to return to your home country as soon as it is safe and\npossible to do so.\nIf you\u2019re applying to stay in the UK long-term\nYou can apply from the UK to switch to a long-term UK visa until 31 July 2020\nif your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020. This includes\napplications where you would usually need to apply for a visa from your home\ncountry.\nYou\u2019ll need to meet the requirements of the route you are applying for and pay\nthe UK application fee.\nThis includes those whose leave has already been extended to 31 July 2020.\nYou can apply online. The terms of your leave will remain the same until your\napplication is decided.\nApplication and Service Centres in the UK\nSome UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) will reopen for\nexisting customers on 1 June 2020. You can check which UKVCAS centres are\nopen.\nService and Support Centres (SSCs) are temporarily closed because of\ncoronavirus (COVID-19).\nIf you\u2019ve already made an appointment\nWe have contacted you if you made an appointment to attend a UKVCAS or SSC\nthat is still temporary closed to let you know it has been postponed. You\u2019ll\nbe contacted when you can book a new appointment.\nYour immigration status in the UK will not change as a result of you not being\nable to attend an appointment.\nIf you are on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa and your business has been\ndisrupted\nYou no longer need to employ at least 2 people for 12 consecutive months. The\n12 month period you are required to employ someone for can be made up of\nmultiple jobs across different months.\nTime when your employees were furloughed will not count towards the 12 month\nperiod.\nIf you have not been able to employ staff for 12 months by the time your visa\nexpires, you will be allowed to temporarily extend your stay to give you time\nto meet the requirement.\nThese arrangements will continue for applications made after 31 May 2020,\nwhere the jobs you are relying on were disrupted due to COVID-19.\nIf you\u2019ve applied for a Tier 4 visa and are waiting for a decision on your\napplication\nYou can start your course or studies before your visa application has been\ndecided if:\n\nyour sponsor is a Tier 4 sponsor\nyou have been given a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)\nyou submitted your application before your current visa expired and you show your sponsor evidence of this\nthe course you start is the same as the one listed on your CAS\nyou have a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required\n\nIf your application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused you must stop\nyour course or studies.\nIf you\u2019ve applied for a Tier 2 or 5 visa and are waiting for a decision on\nyour application\nYou can start work before your visa application has been decided if:\n\nyou have been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)\nyou submitted your application before your current visa expired and you show your sponsor evidence of this\nthe job you start is the same as the one listed on your CoS\n\nIf your application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused your sponsor\nwill stop sponsoring you and you must stop working for them.\nIf you need more information about the measures in place for students and\ntheir sponsors\nYou can read detailed guidance on the temporary measures in place for Tier 4\nsponsors, their students and short-term students in response to the COVID-19\noutbreak.\n[UKVCAS]: UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres\n  [SSC]: Service and Support Centres"}
{"_id":"UKtest138","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n\nthe Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) is a government-backed loan scheme administered by commercial lenders\nviable UK-based businesses, with a turnover of more than \u00a345 million per year, will be able to apply for up \u00a325 million of finance. Firms with a turnover of more than \u00a3250 million will be able to apply for up to \u00a350 million of finance\nloans backed by a guarantee under CLBILS will be offered at commercial rates of interest\nread more about the scheme and how to apply\n\n*[CLBILS]: Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme"}
{"_id":"UKtest139","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nStatutory Sick Pay (SSP) relief for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises\n\nthe government has introduced a rebate scheme to allow small and medium-sized businesses to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for staff sickness absence due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This refund will cover up to 2 weeks\u2019 SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because they have been ill with the virus or have had to self-isolate because of it\nemployers must maintain records of staff absences\nread more about the scheme\n\n*[SSP]: statutory sick pay"}
{"_id":"UKtest140","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nIndependent schools\nIndependent special schools\nThe majority of pupils in independent special schools have been placed there\nby local authorities under an EHC plan, funded from the high needs block of\nthe DSG.\nAs noted above, local authorities will continue to receive their high needs\nbudgets and should continue to pay top-up and other high needs funding to\nindependent special schools, so that the employment and payment of staff\nsupporting children and young people with SEND can continue. Some independent\nspecial schools also have pupils who are funded privately instead of under an\nEHC plan. These institutions should only access the support schemes identified\nabove in relation to the proportion of staff that is not supported through\npublic funding, and only to the extent that the school is facing a loss of\nincome because the children have been withdrawn by their parents leading to a\nloss of fee income.\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [DSG]: dedicated schools grant\n  *[SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest141","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nChildren\u2019s social care providers\nEnsuring that vulnerable children remain protected is a top priority for\ngovernment. Our aim is to ensure that children\u2019s social care providers are\nable to continue to provide care to vulnerable children and to operate\neffectively during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nWe are asking providers to remain open and to continue to deliver care and\nsupport to their vulnerable children and young people. We would anticipate\nlocal authorities continuing to fund any contracted or commissioned providers,\nbut where appropriate, providers may wish to consider accessing support\nmeasures for which they may be eligible to help them remain operational during\nthis period, such as the business interruption loan schemes. Please refer to\nthe respective guidance page as linked above for more information.\nAs placements will continue to be needed, local authorities will continue to\npay fees to children\u2019s social care providers. As these payments for essential\nservices will continue, we would expect providers not to furlough staff, and\nfor provision to remain available to support vulnerable children. The\ngovernment has also announced \u00a31.6 billion of extra funding for local\nauthorities to help address pressures arising from coronavirus (COVID-19),\nincluding in children\u2019s social care.\nIn the rare circumstances that providers feel they have no choice but to\nfurlough staff, they should only seek support through the Coronavirus Job\nRetention Scheme if they meet the following conditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and whose salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded\nthe employee is not required to deliver provision for a vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not duplicate other public grants received and would not lead to financial reserves being created.\n\nResidential provision\nState-funded residential children\u2019s social care provision is offered in state-\nmaintained schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools.\nWhile the educational costs are funded from the DSG, the residential costs are\nmet from social care budgets. Local authorities will continue to receive\nfunding for social care provision and should continue to pay residential costs\nso that the employment and payment of staff supporting children and young\npeople who require residential provision can continue.\nSome independent schools have joint registration as a children\u2019s home, and are\neffectively funded by local authorities that place the children in those\nsettings. This funding should continue.\n*[DSG]: dedicated schools grant"}
{"_id":"UKtest142","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n\nthe Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will help to support long-term viable businesses which may need to respond to cash-flow pressures as a result of the virus by seeking additional finance\nthe scheme supports SMEs with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to \u00a35 million and for up to 6 years\nthe scheme is administered by commercial lenders, designed for UK-based organisations not classified as public sector\nread more about the scheme and how to apply\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest143","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nCOVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility\n\nthe COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) is a facility designed to support liquidity among larger firms, helping them to bridge coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption to their cash flows through the purchase of short-term debt in the form of commercial paper\nthe CCFF provides funding to businesses by purchasing commercial paper of up to one-year maturity, issued by firms making a material contribution to the UK economy. This facility will primarily provide bridging support to businesses to see them through the temporary nature of coronavirus (COVID-19)-related disruption\nread more about the scheme and how to apply\n\n*[CCFF]: COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility"}
{"_id":"UKtest144","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nIndependent schools\nSpecial post-16 institutions\nAs noted above, local authorities will continue to receive their high needs\nbudgets and should continue to pay top-up and other high needs funding to\nspecial post-16 institutions, so that the employment and payment of staff\nsupporting young people with SEND can continue. The ESFA will continue to\nprovide high needs place funding. Similarly, local authorities should continue\nto support the residential costs of those students that are in residential\nprovision.\nAs with colleges, special post-16 institutions may rely on non-grant income\nfor young people with EHC plans. If such income has ceased or reduced, it may\nbe appropriate for special post-16 institutions to seek support from the\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff who are working on\nactivities relating to those non-grant income streams, in the same way as\nproviders as set out above.\n[SEND]: special educational needs and disability\n  [ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency\n  *[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest145","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nHigher Education\nCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes (CLBILS) and COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF)\nIf HE providers meet the published criteria for the Coronavirus Business\nInterruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), or the Coronavirus Large Business\nInterruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), they should consider approaching their bank\nto apply for the scheme, if they judge that is needed. Some HE providers may\nalso meet the criteria for the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF)\nand should liaise with their bank to discuss eligibility. If their bank does\nnot issue commercial paper, UK Finance has published a list of those banks\nthat are able to assist.\n[HE]: higher education\n  [CBILS]: Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n  [CLBILS]: Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n  [CCFF]: COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility"}
{"_id":"UKtest146","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nHigh needs funding\nLocal authorities have an important role in making sure that the high needs\nfunding they receive as part of their DSG is used effectively in making\neducational provision for children and young people up to the age of 25 with\nEducation, Health and Care (EHC) plans, and other vulnerable children and\nyoung people. Authorities will continue to receive their high needs budgets\nand should continue to pay top-up and other high needs funding so that the\nemployment and payment of staff supporting children and young people with\nspecial educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those requiring\nalternative provision, can continue. High needs funding will therefore\ncontinue to be paid to the following types of setting, whether from local or\ncentral government:\n\nlocal authority-maintained schools (mainstream, special and pupil referral units)\nacademies and free schools (mainstream, special and alternative provision)\nnon-maintained special schools\nindependent schools, including independent special schools\nindependent alternative provision\nhigh needs places in further education (FE) colleges and sixth form colleges\nspecial post-16 providers\nhospital schools\n\nFunding will be maintained and should not be reduced because some or all\nchildren and young people are not in attendance (because of sickness or self-\nisolation, or where the institution has temporarily or partially closed).\nSimilarly, where settings pay top-up or other funding for pupils attending\nalternative provision, or pay for other SEND or alternative provision\nservices, these payments should continue to be made so that teachers and other\nstaff in all types of setting can be paid in accordance with their existing\nemployment contracts. If placements and services for the summer term have not\nyet been agreed, settings should be willing to fund on the basis of previous\npatterns of placements and commissioning. Where changes to the delivery of\nspecial provision and alternative provision are required, the first response\nshould be to redeploy existing resources, if necessary between settings and\nother institutions as well as within settings.\nTeaching and non-teaching staff (administration, operations, maintenance and\ncatering) should not be furloughed where they are funded from continued high\nneeds funding, and where necessary and feasible, should be available for\nredeployment within settings and in other settings to assist in maintaining\nprovision for vulnerable children and young people, and the children of\ncritical workers.\n[DSG]: dedicated schools grant\n  [EHC]: education, health and care\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disability\n  [FE]: further education"}
{"_id":"UKtest147","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nIndependent schools\nFurther education and apprenticeships\nFurther education and apprenticeship providers include further education\ncolleges, sixth form colleges, designated institutions, independent training\nproviders, adult and community learning providers, and higher education\ninstitutions to the extent that they provide further education or\napprenticeships. They are funded in 3 main ways: by grant; under a direct\ncontract for services with ESFA; or through a funding agreement with the ESFA\n(where provision is delivered under a contract for services between a levy\npaying employer and an apprenticeships training provider, or advanced learner\nloan funded learning).\nWhere the provider is continuing to receive public funding through any of\nthese routes they should continue delivering this provision where feasible,\nincluding through remote delivery. They should not furlough staff whose\nsalaries are paid from continuing Education and Skills Funding Agency (or any\nother public) income. This applies to both teaching and non-teaching staff.\nWe recognise that many providers rely on funding from a mix of public sources\nand other income streams such as fees, employer contributions and commercial\nincome. Where public income has reduced or non-public income has ceased or\nreduced, it may be appropriate for providers to seek support from the\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff. Providers should only\nfurlough employees if they meet the following conditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and whose salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not duplicate other public grants received and would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nIf it is difficult to distinguish whether staff are funded through continuing\npublic funding, for the purposes of meeting the first 3 conditions listed\nabove, then the total proportion of teaching and non-teaching staff (based on\ngross payroll) that are retained (for example, not furloughed) should, as a\nminimum, be equivalent to the continuing public income, as a proportion of all\nincome that the provider usually receives. For example, if the only source of\npublic funding is through a grant, and non-grant income makes up 25% of total\nincome, then this should be the total maximum proportion of staff (based on\ngross payroll) that could be furloughed.\nWhere providers consider furloughing staff, they should ensure that they take\na fair and reasonable approach to part-time, sessional and temporary staff,\nreflective of good HR practice and legal requirements.\nWhere a provider receives Adult Education Budget (AEB), or apprenticeship\nfunding, as part of a direct contract for services with ESFA, and is at risk\nfinancially, they may be eligible for support (subject to meeting additional\ncriteria) as part of DfE\u2019s response to the Cabinet Office\u2019s Procurement Policy\nNote 02\/20. Support provided through that mechanism would count as public\nfunding for the purposes of conditions covering the Coronavirus Job Retention\nScheme.\nFurther guidance on the operation of any supplier relief scheme for providers\nfunded under a contract for services with ESFA will be published when\navailable. Providers should email\nESFA.PPN220Queries@education.gov.uk\nto register their interest in the scheme.\nIn instances where public funding is not delivered under a contract for\nservices with the ESFA, the Cabinet Officer\u2019s Procurement Policy Note 02\/20 is\nnot applicable.\nThe DfE is considering appropriate measures to monitor use of these schemes in\norder to detect any duplication of funding, and will be considering potential\noptions to recover misused public funding as required.\nSome providers may also be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption\nLoan Scheme or Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. For more\ninformation on eligibility, please consult your commercial bank or refer to\nthe financial support for businesses\nguidance.\n[ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency\n  [DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest148","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nWhich options should be used\nDue to the variety of organisations in the education, early years and\nchildren\u2019s social care sectors and the different types of support on offer, it\nmay be appropriate for organisations to access a mixture of different support.\nHowever, we expect that all relevant organisations should first consider any\npotential options to reduce their operating cost and secure commercial loans\n(including CBILS, CLBILS and CCFF outlined above) before seeking to access\ngrant paying schemes like the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or seeking\nspecific support from the Department for Education (DfE).\nFor organisations that are classified as public sector, and where there is\ncontinued public funding, staff that are supported by that public funding\nshould not be furloughed. For public sector organisations where there is also\nprivate income which ceases or has reduced, it may be appropriate to furlough\nstaff who would typically be paid from that private income, subject to the 5\nconditions below.\nWe would encourage organisations to first consider how they would be able to\nredeploy their existing workforce to help support the coronavirus (COVID-19)\nresponse. Educational settings that are in receipt of some public funding\nshould only furlough employees, and therefore seek support through the\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme, if they meet the following conditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and where their salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nIt is also essential that the grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nshould not be duplicative of other public grants that your organisations may\nreceive. DfE is considering appropriate measures to monitor use of these\nschemes in order to detect any duplication of funding, and will be considering\npotential options to recover misused public funding as required.\nWe are also developing an online tool that will support the education, early\nyears, and children\u2019s social care sectors, in working through this guidance,\nand understanding the different funding and financial measures available to\nsupport them, and their workforce, through this period of disruption caused by\ncoronavirus (COVID-19).\n[CBILS]: Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n  [CLBILS]: Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme\n  [CCFF]: COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility\n  [DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest149","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nState-funded schools\nThis includes maintained schools, academy trusts, alternative provision, non-\nmaintained special schools, state funded boarding schools and school-based\nnursery provisions. Maintained nursery schools should refer to the early years\nsection above.\nMainstream state-funded schools\nLocal authority maintained schools (including pupil referral units) and\nacademies (including free schools) will continue to receive their budgets for\nthe coming year, as usual, regardless of any periods of partial or complete\nclosure. That will ensure that they are able to continue to pay their staff,\nand meet their other regular financial commitments, as we move through these\nextraordinary times. We know that schools may face additional costs as a\nresult of coronavirus (COVID-19). We have put in place additional support to\nhelp schools meet these costs; guidance is\navailable on this additional funding.\nWe do not, in general, expect schools to furlough staff. However, we\nunderstand that, in some instances, schools may have a separate private income\nstream (for example, catering, sports facilities lettings, or boarding\nprovision funded by parents in state boarding schools). Where this income has\neither stopped or been reduced and there are staff that are typically paid\nfrom those private income streams, it may be appropriate to furlough staff.\nSchools should first seek to make the necessary savings from their existing\nbudget or consider options to redeploy these staff before furloughing them.\nOnly after all other potential options have been fully considered should\nschools furlough those members of staff and seek support through the\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme.\nThe following conditions need to be met:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and whose salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\n\u2022 the employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not duplicate other public grants received and would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nWhere these conditions are met, schools should receive a grant from the CJRS\nwhich is in line with the proportion of its paybill which could be considered\nto have been funded by a school\u2019s private income.\nTo illustrate:\nIf a school\u2019s average monthly private income stream (for example, from parent-\npaid school meals) provides 4% of the schools\u2019 overall income, the school\ncould claim support through the CJRS for up to 4% of its paybill, after\nexhausting options to meet costs from existing budgets and redeployment This\nwould be done by furloughing staff (for example, catering staff) whose usual\nsalary or combined salaries are linked with the income lost and come to no\ngreater than 4% of the provider\u2019s total paybill.\nSchools are not expected to consider each stream of private income separately\nso a school should consider its total income from private sources, as a\nproportion of its overall income, and the pay of all the staff it proposes to\nfurlough, as a proportion of its total paybill.\nThe DfE is considering appropriate measures to monitor the use of this scheme\nin order to detect any duplication of funding, and will be considering\npotential options to recover misused public funding as required.\n[CJRS]: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\n  [DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest150","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nSupport for business that pay business rates\nIn addition to existing business rates reliefs, the government has outlined\nfurther support via the business rate system which may be relevant to the\neducation, early years and children\u2019s social care sectors:\n\nan additional Small Business Grant Scheme to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBRR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of \u00a310,000 to eligible properties\na business rates holiday for many nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied by providers on Ofsted\u2019s Early Years Register, and wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Billing authorities may not grant the relief to themselves\n\nAny enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the grants or holidays\nshould be directed to the relevant billing authority.\n[SBRR]: small business rate relief\n  [RRR]: rural rate relief"}
{"_id":"UKtest151","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nResidential special schools\nState-funded residential special provision is delivered in various types of\nsetting, including state-maintained schools, non-maintained special schools,\nindependent schools and special post 16 institutions. While the educational\ncosts will continue to be funded from the DSG, the residential costs are met\nfrom social care budgets. Local authorities will continue to receive funding\nfor social care provision and should continue to pay residential costs so that\nthe employment and payment of staff supporting children and young people who\nrequire residential provision can continue.\n*[DSG]: dedicated schools grant"}
{"_id":"UKtest152","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nHigher Education\nDuring and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, our aim is for Higher\nEducation (HE) providers to continue to:\n\ndeliver HE provision\nsupport the needs of students, both on and off campus\n\nWe will work with HE providers to help them access the range of measures on\noffer to:\n\nsupport financial viability and sustainability\nsafeguard jobs (including those staff on casual, hourly paid or fixed-term contracts)\n\nWe have confirmed that the Student Loans Company is planning to make Term 3\ntuition fee payments as scheduled.\nWe expect that in most circumstances, HE providers will be able to continue\npaying their staff as usual because HE delivery has largely moved online, and\nstaff are maintaining key services, including those for students remaining on\ncampus.\n*[HE]: higher education"}
{"_id":"UKtest153","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nContinued government funding for activities\nFor many programmes, government will continue to provide funding at normal\nrates, for example core funding for schools through the Dedicated Schools\nGrant (DSG), to ensure business continuity and payment of staff. Local\nauthorities will also continue to receive high needs funding as part of the\nDSG and should continue to pass this on to providers (including the top-up\nfunding in respect of individual children and young people) at the normal\nrates.\nWhere funding continues to be paid, we expect providers to continue to provide\nthat service in so far as is possible, and in accordance with the relevant\nguidance. Where activities have changed, staff should be redeployed as best\nsupports the coronavirus (COVID-19) response and should continue to be paid as\nnormal, even if typical duties cannot be carried out.\n*[DSG]: dedicated schools grant"}
{"_id":"UKtest154","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nIndependent schools\nMainstream independent schools\nIn line with other settings, independent schools have been asked to remain\nopen for the children of critical workers and the most vulnerable children.\nIndependent schools are, in general, funded by fee income paid by parents.\nSince schools have closed to the majority of pupils, they, like other\nbusinesses, may be facing a sudden and substantial loss of income. These\ninstitutions should access the support schemes referred to above, in order to\nretain staff and enable the school to reopen fully in due course.\nHowever, if there are any activities for which schools continue to receive\npublic funding, such as looked after children placed by a local authority, or\nlocal authority support for pupils with EHC plans, we expect schools to use\nthat money to continue to pay those staff in the usual fashion \u2013 and therefore\nnot furlough them or seek support via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest155","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme for furloughed workers\n\nthe Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) by providing them with a grant to help them to continue paying part of their employees\u2019 wages who would otherwise have been laid off during this outbreak\nthe scheme will ensure furloughed staff receive up to 80% of their usual monthly wage costs, up to \u00a32,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contribution and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contribution on that wage\nthe scheme is available to all UK employers, including charities, which had created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020\nthe government expects that the scheme will not be used by many public sector organisations, as most public sector employees are continuing to provide essential public services or contribute to the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nwhere employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, we expect employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion \u2013 and correspondingly not furlough them. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public funding for staff costs\norganisations that are receiving public funding specifically to provide services necessary to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) are expected not to furlough staff\nin a small number of cases, for example where organisations are not primarily funded by the government and whose staff cannot be redeployed to assist with the coronavirus response, the scheme may be appropriate\nfind out more about the scheme\n\n*[CJRS]: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme"}
{"_id":"UKtest156","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nEarly years\nThis section will be relevant to early years providers that are employers, and\nthat usually have a mix of public income (largely this will be funding for the\nfree early education entitlements, also known as \u2018DSG funding\u2019) and private\nincome (largely this will be the fees that parents pay for childcare beyond\nthe free entitlements).\nChildminders are less likely to be employers, and therefore are less likely to\nbe eligible for support via the CJRS. Childminders may find the Self\nEmployment Income Support Scheme more\nrelevant. Maintained nursery schools should take account of the guidance in\nthis section. For school-based nursery provision, please refer to the\n\u2018schools\u2019 section below.\nOn 17 March 2020, the Chancellor confirmed that the government will continue\nto pay local authorities for free early years entitlement places for 2, 3 and\n4 year olds to support providers at this time. On 18 March 2020, the\ngovernment also announced a business rates holiday for many nurseries in\nEngland for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Read the\nguidance.\nEarly years settings should remain open where they are needed to provide\nchildcare for the children of critical workers who cannot be cared for safely\nat home, and vulnerable children.\nA private provider should only furlough employees, and therefore seek support\nthrough the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, if they meet the following\nconditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and where their salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded (free entitlement funding)\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not duplicate other public grants received, and would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nIf it is difficult to distinguish whether staff are funded through free\nentitlement or private income for the purposes of meeting the first 3\nconditions as listed above, then an early years provider can access the CJRS\nto cover up to the proportion of its paybill which could be considered to have\nbeen paid for from that provider\u2019s private income. This would typically be\nincome received from \u2018parent-paid\u2019 hours, and excludes all income from the\ngovernment\u2019s free entitlements (or \u2018DSG income\u2019) for all age groups. In line\nwith the conditions of the scheme listed above, providers should initially use\nthe month of February 2020 to represent their usual income in calculating the\nproportion of its paybill eligible to be covered by the scheme. Providers\nshould adjust these proportions in subsequent furloughing applications if\ntheir income from the government\u2019s free entitlements changes, but are not\nexpected to make any adjustments in relation to changes in parent-paid income.\nTo illustrate:\nIf a provider\u2019s average monthly income is 40% from DSG and 60% from other\nincome, the provider could claim CJRS support for up to 60% of their paybill.\nThis would be done by furloughing staff whose usual salary \/ combined salaries\ncome to no greater than 60% of the provider\u2019s total paybill.\nThese proportions could change in subsequent furlough applications as a result\nof DSG income changing (but not where income from parents increased or\ndecreased). For example, if this provider subsequently receives additional DSG\nincome from a local authority as a result of providing additional hours of\nchildcare, such that its new DSG income would represent 55% of its total\nincome in February 2020, then its maximum use of the furlough scheme should,\nfrom that point, be reduced to 45% of its paybill.\nSome early years settings may also be eligible for the Small Business Grant\nFund (SBGF). The details and eligibility criteria for SBGF can be found in\nthe\nguidance. For more information, and to find out how to apply for the\nCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, please refer to the Financial\nsupport for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nguidance.\nFurther guidance for early years\nproviders is available.\nThe DfE is considering appropriate measures to monitor the use of these\nschemes in order to detect any duplication of funding, and will be considering\npotential options to recover misused public funding as required.\n[DSG]: dedicated schools grant\n  [CJRS]: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\n  *[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest157","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nFunding and financial support for businesses\nPublic Procurement Note 02\/20\n\nin March 2020, the Cabinet Office published the \u2018Procurement Policy Note 02\/20 \u2013 Supplier relief due to COVID-19\u2019. This confirmed that contracting authorities would act to support critical suppliers \u2018at risk\u2019 due to coronavirus (COVID-19) on a continuity and retention basis so they are better able to cope with current challenges and to resume normal service delivery and fulfil their contractual obligations when the outbreak is over\nit covers procurements carried out under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016\ncontracting authorities will need to ensure that spending is regular, proper and value for money and conduct appropriate and proportionate due diligence is carried out to ensure any relief is necessary for the continuity of supply of a critical service\nread more about the Cabinet Office PPN 02\/20 guidance\n\nThe guidance below is intended to offer a view of the likely suitability of\neach of the schemes above, based on provider type. For further guidance on\neligibility criteria of the above support packages, please refer to their\nrespective guidance page as linked above."}
{"_id":"UKtest158","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nHigher Education\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)\nWhere the above schemes are not appropriate, HE providers are eligible for the\nCJRS. HE providers should only furlough employees and seek support through the\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they meet the following conditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and whose salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not be duplicative to other public grants that the HE provider receives and would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nAny grant from the CJRS should not duplicate other sources of public funding\nwhere these are being maintained, such as UK home student tuition fees.\nHowever, we do recognise the complexity of HE revenue and the role that cross-\nsubsidy plays. If it is difficult to distinguish whether staff are funded\nthrough public or commercial income for the purposes of meeting the first 3\nconditions as listed above, and some staff will be funded through multiple\nsources, as a guiding principle, HE providers should not seek to furlough a\nhigher proportion of their wage bill than could reasonably be considered to\nhave been generated through commercial income, including from non-public\nresearch grants and contracts.\nIt is likely that decisions on whether to furlough staff will need to be taken\non a case by case basis. To be eligible for the CJRS, when on furlough, an\nemployee cannot undertake work for, or on behalf of, their employer.\nWhere research work has been paused (for example, where grant holders have\nrequested a no-cost extension to UK Research & Innovation grants) and\ntherefore providers are not able to receive payments towards staff costs for a\nperiod, resulting in a loss of income due to ceased or reduced delivery of\nresearch programmes, providers should consider their eligibility and apply for\nthe wide range of financial support that HM Treasury has already announced for\nbusinesses, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in line with the\nabove conditions.\nThe DfE is considering appropriate measures to monitor the use of these\nschemes in order to detect any duplication of funding, and will be considering\npotential options to recover misused public funding as required.\nWe will continue to engage with the sector and update this guidance, and\nprovide further clarification as necessary.\n[HE]: higher education\n  [CJRS]: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme\n  *[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest159","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children\u2019s social care\nSector-specific guidance\nSupply teachers and other contingent workers in state-funded schools\nThe below guidance sets out the general principles that state-funded schools\n(hereafter referred to as \u2018schools\u2019 in this section) and employment\nintermediaries (hereafter referred to as\n\u2018agencies\u2019 in this section) should follow for contingent workers during the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nWhere schools are the workers\u2019 direct employer\nSchools will continue to receive their budgets for the coming year as usual,\nregardless of any periods of partial or complete closure. This will ensure\nthat they are able to continue to pay for staff and meet their other regular\nfinancial commitments.\nHence, we expect schools to ensure any employees funded by public money\ncontinue to be paid in the usual fashion from their existing staff budgets,\nand correspondingly not furloughed, in line with the HM Revenue and Customs\nguidance for public sector organisations.\nWhere schools have live assignments with contingent workers, and where the\nschool is the workers\u2019 employer, schools should continue to pay these workers\nfrom their existing school budgets and not furlough them.\nWhere schools have terminated contracts with contingent workers due to\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) earlier than the original terms set out, and where the\nschool was the workers\u2019 employer under that contract, schools should reinstate\nthese contracts on the terms previously agreed, as long as the contractor is\nnot already accessing alternative support through another government support\nscheme.\nWhere schools are not the workers\u2019 direct employer\nSchools are advised to refer to all parts of the Procurement Policy Note\n02\/20 (PPN 02\/20), which provides\nguidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers for the purposes of\nensuring the continuity of critical service during and after the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\nWhere schools have agency workers on live assignments who can continue to\nwork, they may continue to make previously agreed payments for the supply of\nworkers in line with the approach set out in PPN 02\/20. Agencies who receive\nmoney for workers in line with this guidance should not furlough these\nworkers, and should follow the open book accounting rules set out in PPN 02\/20\nto provide schools with proof that workers are continuing to be paid as\nnormal.\nWhere schools have agency workers on live assignments who cannot continue to\nwork due to coronavirus (COVID-19), schools and agencies should refer to the\nguidance set out in Procurement Policy Note 02\/20: Contingent Workers\nImpacted by\nCOVID-19.\nThe supplier relief\nguidance covers the length of existing live\nassignments up to the end date that had been previously agreed. It does not\nrequire these assignments to be extended further if the resource will not be\nrequired.\nWhere agency workers are not on live assignments with schools, or where a\npreviously agreed assignment is due to end, schools and agencies should\ndiscuss any further demand for the worker. If there is no further demand, the\nemployer can apply to furlough the worker via the Coronavirus Job Retention\nScheme.\nOnce a worker has been furloughed, they become unavailable to work and cannot\nprovide services for their employer for a minimum of 3 weeks. Schools and\nagencies should bear this in mind when discussing ongoing resource\nrequirements and agencies should keep this under regular review. Please refer\nto the supplier relief\nguidance for more information.\nWhere a worker is self-employed\nSelf-employed workers who are unable to work because of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nwill be able to access support through the Self-Employment Income Support\nScheme.\nStarting new temporary contracts\nWe expect schools will use their existing staff to maintain necessary\nprovision, but schools may also continue to need supply teachers and other\ntemporary workers throughout this period. We encourage schools and agencies to\ncontinue to liaise about any potential need to ensure workers are available\nwhere required.\nSchool workforce employers can find additional guidance on the school\nworkforce in the guidance on temporary school\nclosures."}
{"_id":"UKtest160","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested\nWho can be tested\nIf you\u2019re in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and have any of the\nsymptoms of coronavirus, you can ask for a test through the NHS\nwebsite.\nThe following groups of people can access priority testing through GOV.UK:\n\nessential workers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland\nanyone in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over 5 years old who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with an essential worker\nchildren under 5 years old in England who have symptoms of coronavirus and live with an essential worker (this test must be performed by a parent or guardian)\n\nSee the guidance on testing for essential workers and the list of essential\nworkers below.\nTests for essential workers are prioritised over the tests available for the\nwider public through the NHS.\nIn England, you can get tested if you\u2019re a social care worker or resident in a\ncare home whether you have symptoms or not. See the guidance below on testing\nfor care home residents and workers.\nThere is further information available on tests in\nScotland, Wales and Northern\nIreland."}
{"_id":"UKtest161","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested\nCare home residents and workers (England only)\nIf a care home suspects a resident has coronavirus symptoms\nYou should contact your local Health Protection Team\n(HPT) if:\n\nyou suspect your care home has a new coronavirus outbreak\nit has been 28 days or longer since your last case and you have new cases\n\nYour HPT will provide advice and arrange the first tests.\nFor testing in other situations, you should apply for testing kits following\nthe instructions below.\nHow to test care home residents and workers\nYou can apply for coronavirus testing kits to test the residents and staff of\nyour care home. You can apply whether or not any of your residents or staff\nhave coronavirus symptoms.\nThis testing is currently only available in England.\nAt the moment, you can only get tests if your care home looks after older\npeople or people with dementia.\nApply for coronavirus tests for a care home\nWorkers with symptoms\nCare home workers with symptoms should be self-isolating and can access\ntesting through the self-referral or employer referral portals, above.\nSee a visual guide to adult social care\ntesting\n(PDF, 68.4KB, 1 page).\nInformation about testing kits\nThere are 2 types of test kits delivered to care homes:\n\nRandox test kits\nall other types, known as Kingfisher test kits\n\nThe test kits look similar and test for whether someone currently has\ncoronavirus in the same way. You will be told which test kits you will be\nusing when you receive confirmation of your delivery. All of these kits are\nthroat and nose swab tests and will tell a person whether they had coronavirus\nat the time the test took place. They cannot tell a person if they have had\ncoronavirus in the past.\nWatch a video on how to administer nasal and throat swabs for residents:\nCoronavirus test tutorial for care homes with Dr Sarah\nJarvis\nCarers and nurses who will be swabbing residents in care homes should complete\nthe online care home swabbing competency assessment before carrying out\nswabbing.\nIndividuals can register at\nwww.genqa.org\/carehomes or care home\nmanagers can create an organisational account by contacting\ninfo@genqa.org.\n*[PDF]: Portable Document Format"}
{"_id":"UKtest162","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested\nList of essential workers and those prioritised for testing (England only)\n\nall NHS and social care staff, including: \ndoctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff, including volunteers and unpaid carers\nthe support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK\u2019s health and social care sector\nthose working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines, and medical and personal protective equipment\nNHS Blood and Transplant frontline staff (blood donation staff, specialist nurses for organ donation, staff running therapeutic apheresis services in NHS hospitals)\nthose providing ancillary support to NHS workers (such as hotel accommodation for NHS staff)\npersonal care assistants\n\n\nessential public services staff, including: \nprisons, probation, courts and tribunals staff, judiciary\nreligious staff\ncharities and workers delivering critical frontline services\nthose responsible for the management of the deceased\njournalists and broadcasters covering coronavirus or providing public service broadcasting\npublic health and environmental staff, such as specialist community public health nursing\n\n\npublic safety and national security staff, including: \npolice and support staff\nMinistry of Defence civilians, contractors and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of critical defence and national security outputs and critical to the response to the coronavirus pandemic), including defence medical staff\nfire and rescue service employees (including support staff),\nNational Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas\nBritish Transport Police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency\n\n\ntransport workers, including: \nthose who keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the coronavirus response\nthose working on transport systems through which supply chains pass\n\n\neducation and childcare workers, including: \nsupport and teaching staff\nsocial workers\nspecialist education professionals\n\n\ncritical personnel in the production and distribution of food, drink and essential goods, including: \nthose involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery\nthose critical to the provision of other essential goods, such as medical supply chain and distribution workers, including community pharmacy and testing (such as PHE labs), and veterinary medicine\nworkers critical to the continuity of essential movement of goods\n\n\nlocal and national government staff critical to the effective delivery of the coronavirus response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits\npublic and environmental health staff, including in government agencies and arm\u2019s length bodies\nfuneral industry workers\nfrontline local authority staff and volunteers, including \nthose working with vulnerable children and adults, victims of domestic abuse, and the homeless and rough sleepers (and hotel staff supporting these groups)\nvoluntary sector organisations providing substance misuse treatment\n\n\nutilities, communication and financial services staff, including: \nstaff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure)\nthe oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage)\ninformation technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the coronavirus response\nessential staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 essential services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors\n\n\n\nRead the privacy notice on coronavirus testing for essential\nworkers."}
{"_id":"UKtest163","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested\nThe testing process\nThe test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat, which\ncan be done by the person themselves (self-administered) or by someone else\n(assisted).\nThe different ways you can get tested are covered below.\nRegional testing sites\nWe are establishing a network of drive-through regional testing sites.\nWatch a video explaining the process for drive-through testing:\nCoronavirus tests for essential workers\nHome testing\nHome test kits can be delivered to someone\u2019s door so they can test themselves\nand their family without leaving the house. Home test kit availability will be\ninitially limited, but more will become available.\nIf you have been delivered a home testing kit or have been given a self-test\nkit at a regional test site, here is a tutorial video that supports the\nwritten instructions in your pack, from Dr Amir Khan:\nHow to take a coronavirus self-test\nswab\nMobile testing units\nMobile testing units travel around the UK to increase access to coronavirus\ntesting. They respond to need, travelling to test essential workers at sites\nincluding care homes, police stations and prisons.\nNew units are being brought into operation each day.\nSatellite centres\nNHS capability is being increased by providing test kits directly to\n\u2018satellite\u2019 centres at places like hospitals that have a particularly urgent\nor significant need.\nNHS facilities\nTesting within an NHS facility such as a hospital is available for patients\nand some NHS workers.\nAcross all these testing methods, there is a network of couriers who collect\nthe completed samples and deliver them safely to one of our laboratories. The\nswab samples are analysed at our labs and the result is communicated back to\nthe individual.\nWe aim to return test results within 48 hours of a swab being taken, or within\n72 hours for a home test."}
{"_id":"UKtest164","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested\nArrange a test if you\u2019re an essential worker\nThe self-referral and employer referral test booking routes for essential\nworkers are available for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.\nSelf-referral\nApply for a coronavirus test if you\u2019re an essential\nworker\nYou should be able to choose between a drive-through appointment and home test\nkit.\nBook a drive-through test appointment if you have a verification\ncode\nEmployer referral\nThe employer referral portal allows employers to refer essential workers who\nare self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have\ncoronavirus symptoms, for testing.\nThe employer referral portal is a secure portal for employers to use to upload\nthe full list of names and contact details of self-isolating essential\nworkers.\nIf referred through this portal, essential workers will receive a text message\nwith a unique invitation code to book a test for themselves (if symptomatic) or their\nsymptomatic household member(s) at a regional testing site.\nIn order to obtain a login, employers of essential workers should email\nportalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk with:\n\norganisation name\nnature of the organisation\u2019s business\nregion\nnames (where possible) and email addresses of the 2 users who will load essential worker contact details\n\nOnce employer details have been verified, 2 login credentials will be issued\nfor the employer referral portal."}
{"_id":"UKtest165","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on drivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nDrivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nIf a journey doesn\u2019t fall under the emergency provisions the drivers\u2019 hours\nrules must be complied with. If the situation is still urgent and an operator\nbelieves a temporary relaxation of the drivers\u2019 hours rules would be\napplicable, they should contact in the first instance an organisation\nrepresentative of their part of the broader supply chain. Temporary, urgent\nrelaxations will only be put in place on a systematic basis and only when\nother measures in the supply chain cannot be used."}
{"_id":"UKtest166","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on drivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nEmergency relaxations\nBoth the GB and EU drivers\u2019 hours rules automatically cease to apply in\nemergency situations where immediate preventative action is needed to avoid,\namongst other things, danger to the life or health of people. The definition\nof an emergency is contained in domestic legislation (The Drivers\u2019 Hours\n(Goods Vehicles) (Exemptions) Regulations\n1986 and the Drivers\u2019\nHours (Passenger Vehicles) (Exemptions) Regulations\n1970).\nThe department\u2019s advice about emergency situations is if your journey is\nnecessary to enable someone to:\n1) provide goods or services to protect public health, and\/or\n2) meet their or others\u2019 basic needs for day to day living, and\/or\n3) provide medical treatment\nand there is a risk of danger to the life or health of people if your journey\nis not carried out; then you should make use of the emergency exemption.\nOperators do not need to ask the department for a temporary \u2018urgent\u2019 exemption\nfor these type of journeys. The emergency exemptions cease to apply once the\nsituation is under control and there is no longer a need for immediate\npreventative action.\nThe department would not normally expect drivers in emergencies to:\n\ndrive for more than 11 hours in one day\nhave less than 9 hours of daily rest\nwork for more than 7 days before the start of the regular or reduced weekly rest (if operating under the EU rules), or\nhave less than 24 hours weekly rest\n\nIn addition, drivers operating under the EU drivers\u2019 hours rules should ensure\nthey take a 45 minute break after 4.5 hours driving.\nThe relevant provisions of the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations\n2005 will not\napply, to the extent that they conflict with the requirements of responding to\nthe emergency. Drivers will, however, remain subject to all other requirements\nof the Working Time Regulations in an emergency event.\nThe practical implementation of any changes should be through agreement\nbetween employers, employees and (where available) driver representatives.\nEmployers must, where possible, agree any extension of working time with\nemployees or other workers, before that work starts.\nThe drivers in question must note on the back of their tachograph charts or\nprintouts the reasons why they are exceeding the normally permitted limits.\nThis is usual practice in emergencies and is, of course, essential for\nenforcement purposes.\nOperators should maintain records of when standard drivers\u2019 hours have been\ndeviated from, along with a justification of why this was needed. The\nresponsibilities of operators, transport managers and the wider supply chain\nmay be examined after the current events. It is important that on subsequent\ninspections and checks it can be clear that a relaxation was used\nappropriately, was well implemented and in a way to reduce fatigue (for\nexample in relation to shift patterns).\n[GB]: Great Britain\n  [EU]: European Union"}
{"_id":"UKtest167","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on drivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nDrivers\u2019 hours rules for goods vehicles\nFor journeys within Great Britain (GB), either the GB or EU rules may apply.\nFor international journeys either the EU rules or the European Agreement\nConcerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road\nTransport (AETR) may apply. Which set of rules applies depends on the type of\ndriving and the type of vehicle being used, and, in the case of international\njourneys, the countries to be visited.\nMost vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and with a maximum\npermissible weight (including any trailer or semi-trailer) of over 3.5 tonnes\nare in scope of the EU rules.\nDetailed information is available covering the GB, EU and AETR rules.\nInformation is also available on working time rules. The working time rules\nthat apply depend on whether you drive a vehicle in scope of the EU or GB\ndomestic drivers\u2019 hours rules.\n[GB]: Great Britain\n  [EU]: European Union\n  *[AETR]: European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport"}
{"_id":"UKtest168","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on drivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nHealth and safety legislation\nAs well as the drivers\u2019 hours and working time rules, transport operators, as\nemployers, are required, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the\nhealth and safety of their employees while at work and others who may be put\nat risk by their work activities. In addition, they have a legal duty as an\nemployer to manage risks from fatigue.\nThat is why when the department does relax the drivers\u2019 hours and working time\nrules we remind operators, in our notification of the relaxation, that as\nemployers, they remain responsible for the health and safety of their drivers\nand other road users and that they must ensure that driver safety is not\ncompromised by expecting them to drive whilst tired.\nThe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have issued\nadvice on managing the risks of fatigue and this includes good practice advice\non shift lengths. HSE guidance on managing shift work advises that employers\nshould avoid shifts that are longer than 8 hours where work is demanding,\nsafety critical or monotonous and that they should limit shifts to a maximum\nof 12 hours (including overtime). It also advises that they should encourage\nand promote the benefit of frequent and regular breaks to reduce the risk of\nfatigue.\n\nDrivers\u2019 hours: rules, guidance and list of temporary relaxations\n\n*[HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest169","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on drivers\u2019 hours relaxations\nRelaxation of drivers\u2019 hours rules\nThis document provides advice on the relaxation of drivers\u2019 hours rules, in\nthe context of the COVID-19 outbreak. This document should be considered in\nconjunction with the extensive existing guidance provided on drivers\u2019\nhours.\nThe drivers\u2019 hours and working time rules are in place to protect road safety\nand the working conditions of drivers and to reduce the risk of drivers being\ninvolved in fatigue-related accidents. As such, any relaxation of these rules\nshould only be considered where genuinely necessary and when other supply\nchain management interventions are unable to alleviate issues. The Department\nfor Transport wishes to make clear that driver safety must not be compromised.\nDrivers should not be expected to drive whilst tired - employers remain\nresponsible for the health and safety of their employees and other road users."}
{"_id":"UKtest170","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nMaintaining good hygiene practices\nKeep up to date with announcements and advice on GOV.UK and follow the latest\nadvice set out in the guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK\nand protecting older people and vulnerable\nadults, which includes tips on how to help\nprotect a vulnerable person you live with.\nCleaning your hands frequently throughout the day by washing with soap and\nwater for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser is one of the most\neffective ways of reducing the risk of infection for you and other people.\nThis includes when you arrive at the home of the person you care for, if you\ndo not live with them, or have been out.\nThe stay at home\nguidance provides information on washing your hands, cleaning and disposing\nof waste, and cleaning laundry, as well as other information for those living\nwith a vulnerable person. You should also refer to the guidance on hygiene on\nthe NHS website."}
{"_id":"UKtest171","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nSupporting the person through change\nCommunication\nChanges in routines and care can be particularly stressful for people with\nlearning disabilities and autistic people, and it is important that accessible\ninformation is provided to support them to understand the outbreak and the\nmeasures introduced. You may also need to consider how to manage behaviour\nthat challenges, particularly if usual techniques are not appropriate or\npossible during the outbreak.\nThere are some steps you can take and guidance you can follow to support the\nperson you care for through change:\n\nTry to explain in simple and familiar terms why things are changing, emphasising what will remain normal and how long change will likely last for.\nConsider where you can support them to continue doing what they enjoy and that can support their wellbeing. The guidance on mental health and wellbeing offers examples of activities that can be done at home.\nThe Challenging Behaviour Foundation has helpful resources, including a visual summary of what to do if the behaviour of the person you support changes and begins to challenge.\n\nIt is important to use resources which are accessible and can best explain the\noutbreak and latest guidance to the person, such as:\n\neasy read overview of COVID-19\neasy read explanation of social distancing\neasy read overview of shielding the clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019\nMENCAP resources\nWorld Health Organization guide to effective hand-washing\nMusic video made by people with learning disabilities to support effective handwashing\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest172","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nPlanning in case of an emergency\nAs set out in the guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or\nfamily, we advise all carers to create an emergency\nplan with the person they care for, to use in circumstances where other people\nmay need to help deliver care. Depending on the circumstances, this could be\nhelp from family or friends, or a care provider.\nIn order to create an emergency plan that fits the needs of the person you\ncare for, you will need to set out:\n\nthe name and address and any other contact details of the person you look after\nwho you and the person you look after would like to be contacted in an emergency\ndetails of any medication the person you look after is taking\ndetails of any ongoing treatment they need\ndetails of any medical appointments they need to keep\ndetails of their preferences and usual routine\n\nYou should also ensure that it is in a format that can readily be shared with\nother people who will need to discuss the plan with the person you care for.\nFor more support on contingency planning, see Carers UK\nguidance on practical support and planning in an emergency, including\ninformation about local carer organisations. You can also find information out\nabout local services on the Carers Trust website."}
{"_id":"UKtest173","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nSupporting the person through change\nSocial distancing\nThe guidance on social\ndistancing sets out\nthe restrictions in place during the COVID-19 outbreak and the reasons for\nwhich you can leave your home.\nIt is important that the person you care for understands why it is important\nto maintain a social distance, and what may happen if they do not. An easy\nread\nexplanation\nof the current guidance is available.\nHowever, if the person in your care has a specific health condition which\nrequires them to leave their home to maintain good health \u2013 including if that\ninvolves reasonable specific travel beyond your local area \u2013 then they can do\nso. This could, for example, include where people with learning disabilities\nor autistic people require specific exercise in an open space 2 or 3 times\neach day \u2013 ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical\nprofessional.\nWherever possible, you should support the person to continue their usual\nactivities outside, in line with the guidance on social\ndistancing. If it\nis not possible to continue their usual activities outside, alternative\narrangements should be considered. These may include accessing online services\nsuch as food delivery or online prescription orders.\nYou may be able to access help from COVID-19 Mutual Aid\nUK which provides voluntary support to those who\nare in need. You may want to approach your local authority, who are\nstrategically supporting these groups, so you can access safe, appropriate\nsupport."}
{"_id":"UKtest174","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nIf you have symptoms of COVID-19\nIf you or someone in your household has symptoms, you should follow the stay\nat home guidance. The guidance provides detailed advice on when and how to self-\nisolate and information on cleaning and hygiene.\nHowever, we appreciate that the advice above may not be easy to achieve where\nyou provide close contact care for a spouse or relative such as washing and\nbathing. Where possible and needed, ask friends and family who can support you\nin providing care, or find out about local carer organisations at Carers\nUK or\nthrough your local authority\nYou should also review the guidance on social distancing for everyone in the\nUK and protecting older people and vulnerable\nadults for\ninformation about those people who are considered at increased risk of severe\nillness from COVID-19. These people are not being advised to follow the\nguidance for clinically extremely vulnerable\ngroups, but should be\nparticularly stringent in complying with social distancing guidance."}
{"_id":"UKtest175","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nIf the person you care for is concerned about their usual paid carer coming in and out of their home\nThe government has issued guidance to home care\nproviders to ensure that appropriate levels of hygiene are achieved to reduce\nthe risk of infection. Speak to the care provider about the processes they are\nfollowing to maintain good hygiene.\nIf the person you care for receives regular health or social care from an\norganisation, either through your local authority or paid for by themselves, inform their care provider that they\nare reducing social contacts and agree on a plan for continuing their care,\nidentifying essential care tasks that should continue.\nAs a carer, the guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and\nprotecting older people and vulnerable\nadults provides\nadvice on the extra precautions you can take to help keep the person you care\nfor safe."}
{"_id":"UKtest176","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nIf you are clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019\nIf you are in the group clinically defined as \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019, you\nshould follow the measures set out in the guidance for clinically extremely\nvulnerable groups. The\nadvice should still be followed even if you do not have symptoms."}
{"_id":"UKtest177","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nCaring for someone who is clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019 (shielding)\nSome people with learning disabilities or autistic people may have a specific\nhealth condition and may be clinically defined as \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019. The\nguidance on shielding and protecting the clinically extremely\nvulnerable and the\nguidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or\nfamily provides detailed advice on how to care for\nsomeone who falls into this category.\nThe NHS in England is directly contacting people with these conditions to\nprovide further advice. If you think the person you care for falls into the\nclinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019 group and they have not received a letter or\nbeen contacted by their GP, you should discuss your concerns with their GP."}
{"_id":"UKtest178","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nIf the person you care for has symptoms of COVID-19\nIf the person being cared for has symptoms or is part of a household that is\nisolating, you must follow the advice set out in the stay at home\nguidance and the Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or\nfamily.\nIf you do not live in the same home as the person you care for, you should\nprovide information on who the person should call if they feel unwell, how to\nuse the NHS 111 online coronavirus service and\nleave the number for NHS 111 prominently displayed."}
{"_id":"UKtest179","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nSupporting the person through change\nCoping with bereavement\nIt is possible that the person you care for may experience the death of\nsomeone they know during this period or may experience anxiety at deaths\nreported in the media. In this instance, it is important to have open and\nhonest discussions about death and coping with the person you care for.\nThe links below provide accessible resources to support communicating death to\npeople with learning disabilities and autistic people:\n\nNHS advice on coping with bereavement\nBeyond Words guide for when someone dies from coronavirus\nCWP NHS Trust bereavement guide for carers\nMENCAP guide to dealing with bereavement\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest180","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nCollecting prescriptions if you are self-isolating\nIf you normally collect prescriptions for the person you care for, you will\nnot be able to do this if you are self-isolating. Most pharmacies provide a\nhome delivery service. Telephone them to see if this is available or if there\nis another scheme running locally to help you access prescriptions.\nPharmacy delivery services will be under pressure at the moment, so it is\nimportant that you order your repeat prescriptions in good time, to avoid\ndelays in dispensing. Information on repeat prescriptions and delivery\nservices may also be available via your GP practice website."}
{"_id":"UKtest181","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nMaintaining your own health and wellbeing\nIt is important that you look after your own health and wellbeing as well as\nsupporting others you care for, especially given the potential for additional\nstresses at the current time and the potential for reduced access to support\nsuch as respite care.\nThere is information in the stay at home\nguidance and the guidance on social\ndistancing about looking after your wellbeing, as\nwell as more detailed guidance on self-care and sources of support for mental\nhealth and wellbeing during the\noutbreak.\nTips include taking care of your mind as well as your body and getting support\nif you need it. Daily physical activity is important for many aspects of\nhealth and wellbeing, including managing stress, encouraging positive\nfeelings, and promoting good sleep habits. The One You website has suggestions\nfor exercises you can do at home.\nDraw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks\nduring this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone,\nby post, or online. Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and\nbuild that into your routine.\nRemember it is ok to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so\nyou may be able to provide support to them too. There are sources of support\nand information that can help, such as NHS recommended\nhelplines, and the Every Mind\nMatters website.\nIt may also be helpful to contact your local carers support organisation who\ncan help with contingency planning. You can find out about local carer\norganisations at Carers UK. There is also an online forum on Carers\nUK.\nAccessing alternative care quickly if you are unable to provide care\nHaving to organise alternative care can be difficult and concerning. Where\npossible, you should contact friends and family who may be able to give\nimmediate help in providing care. You should follow the guidelines set out in\nthe stay at home\nguidance and the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and\nprotecting older people and vulnerable\nadults to\nprotect those coming into the home of the person who needs care.\nIf you cannot organise alternative care you can contact your local\nauthority or health care\nprovider.\nIf you do not know how to do this, you can contact NHS 111.\nIf you need time off work to care for a relative who has symptoms or is\nself-isolating\nYou should talk to your employer about your caring needs and what arrangements\ncan be put in place. Information regarding statutory sick pay entitlements can\nbe found in the guidance for\nemployees.\nSome people may be entitled to benefits as a carer, such as Carer\u2019s\nAllowance."}
{"_id":"UKtest182","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nIf the person you care for is in a care home\nIf you have no symptoms, you should keep in contact with the care home to\nunderstand any local arrangement to keep in touch with residents and follow\nthe guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older\npeople and vulnerable\nadults. This\nguidance includes tips on how to maintain contact with relatives or friends\nsuch as staying in touch via phone or post where you are unable, or it is not\nadvisable, to visit."}
{"_id":"UKtest183","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nCleaning\nTouch points (for example buttons to open doors, hand rails) across the\ntransport network should be particular areas of focus for increased cleaning.\nOrganisations should follow guidance on cleaning and waste\ndisposal and implement cleaning protocols to limit coronavirus transmission\nand consider who will carry out the cleaning activity."}
{"_id":"UKtest184","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nQueues and protecting passenger flows\nTo protect passengers and workers on the transport network, it is essential,\nas far as possible, to enable social distancing. These measures should cover\ndifferent types of vehicles, car parks, service areas, airports, station\nconcourses and platforms as well as considering how people act in different\ncircumstances (for example consider wet weather, indoor, outdoor, security\nprocedures). Transport operators are also advised to consider and mitigate the\nsecurity implications of any temporary interventions to support social\ndistancing.\nParticular attention should be given to queues that may occur, including at\ninterchanges and busy times of day, or when there are unanticipated delays. It\nis important that passengers can queue safely (observing social distancing\nwhere possible) and that workers stay safe while passengers queue.\nOrganisations could consider:"}
{"_id":"UKtest185","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nQueues and protecting passenger flows\nCrowd management\n\nConsider whether queues can be moved to locations with more space for safe queues. Liaise as appropriate with other bodies (such as other transport operators, landlords and local authorities) to safely manage queues and any impact on public spaces. Consider how to provide passengers and services users with information on the service.\nIf services, concourses or interchanges become too crowded, or queues become too long, operators should consider the full range of operational responses available, recognising the knock-on effects on other transport modes in making these decisions.\nUse social media, apps and other digital methods to alert passengers before they leave home, and to help passengers stay away or disperse until there is sufficient capacity available.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest186","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nEmergency incidents\nEmergency procedures\nEnsure that your emergency procedures are followed during an emergency or\nsituation requiring an evacuation. You should consider how to maintain social\ndistancing in these situations, recognising that people may not always be able\nto stay 2 metres apart. Review and update existing queuing, crowd management\nand emergency plans and the situations when these are instigated.\nWhat to do if someone develops symptoms of coronavirus in a transport\nsetting\nIf anyone becomes unwell with the symptoms of coronavirus in a transport\nsetting they should be sent home and advised to follow the stay at home\nguidance. They should also arrange to have a test to see if they have\nCOVID-19.\nIf they need clinical advice, they should go online to NHS\n111 (or call 111 if they don\u2019t have internet access). In\nan emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is\nat risk. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.\nThere is currently no requirement to self-isolate if you have been in\nproximity with someone showing coronavirus symptoms in the workplace and have\nbeen following social distancing measures.\nWorkers should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact\nwith someone who is unwell.\nIt is not necessary to close the transport setting or send any staff home.\n*[GP]: General Practitioner"}
{"_id":"UKtest187","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nRisk assessment\nA risk assessment is about identifying sensible measures to control the risks\nin your workplace and the service you provide. Your risk assessment will help\nyou decide whether you have addressed all necessary points. Review your risk\nassessment regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and appropriate under\nchanging circumstances.\nWe recommend that your risk assessment identifies risks resulting from\ncoronavirus and that you use this guide to ensure that your risk assessment\naddresses the risks of coronavirus. It will help inform your decisions and\ncontrol measures. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy\n(BEIS) also has guidance on how a coronavirus risk assessment can be\nundertaken.\nAll existing non-coronavirus related health and safety requirements continue\nto apply. The Health and Safety\nExecutive and other transport\nregulators can help you comply with health and safety legislation.\nEmployers have a duty to consult employees on health and safety. Workers\nshould be involved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review\nof workplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployees should be encouraged to identify, speak up and feed back on risks\nand control measures.\nWe recommend you consider the following when conducting a coronavirus risk\nassessment:\n\nRisks to workers, passengers, customers and the public, along with the control measures required.\nThe impact of control measures and whether they result in additional, different risks or non-compliance with other requirements (for example health and safety or equalities legislation).\nApplying the hierarchy of controls set out in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.\nConsultation with workers, or bodies representing workers, and the public.\nThe visibility of the results of any risk assessment.\nService providers have duties to ensure individuals with protected characteristics, for example disabled people, the elderly and pregnant women, are able to access transport networks. Individuals should be supported to comply with social distancing. All equality and discrimination law continues to apply. Organisations need to ensure that the actions taken as a result of the assessment do not disproportionately impact those with protected characteristics.\n\n*[BEIS]: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
{"_id":"UKtest188","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nVentilation\nOrganisations should consider how to increase ventilation and air flow. Where\npossible, transport operators and businesses should ensure that a fresh air\nsupply is consistently flowing through vehicles, carriages, transport hubs and\noffice buildings.\nTo achieve this, organisations could consider:\n\nAir conditioning. Most air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings or you are unsure, advice could be sought from HVAC engineers.\nFresh ventilation systems can operate as normal, but recirculating air systems may require adjustments to increase fresh air flow.\nHigh-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration.\nOpening doors and windows where possible and safe to do so.\n\n[HVAC]: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning\n  [HEPA]: High-Efficiency Particulate Air"}
{"_id":"UKtest189","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nCleaning\nHygiene \u2013 handwashing, sanitation facilities, toilets and showers\nTo help workers and passengers maintain good hygiene, organisations could\nconsider:\n\nUse signs and messages to build awareness of good handwashing technique and other hygiene behaviours for example around coughing and sneezing.\nProviding paper towels in hand washing facilities.\nSufficient provision of hand sanitiser onsite in addition to washrooms, and for those working away from hand washing facilities.\nConfiguration of toilet and shower facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing where possible and with best practice handwashing followed between each use.\nEnhanced cleaning for facilities that are heavily used.\nKeeping showers and changing rooms closed until clear use and cleaning guidance is set.\nMinimising use of portable toilets.\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection and disposal.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest190","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nWho should be at work\nPeople who need to self-isolate\nWorkers who have symptoms of\ncoronavirus or workers living in a household with someone\nshowing symptoms of coronavirus should self-isolate, stay at home and arrange\nto have a test to see if they have\nCOVID-19.\nOrganisations should:\n\nEnable people to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate. See current guidance for employees and employers relating to statutory sick pay due to coronavirus.\nEnsure that individuals stay at home for 7 days from when symptoms started. After 7 days if there is no high temperature there is no need to continue to self-isolate. If there is still a high temperature, self-isolate until temperature returns to normal. If living with others and the individual is the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then they must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill.\nEncourage workers to apply for a coronavirus test if symptomatic.\nEnsure there are processes in place if someone attending the workplace shows symptoms or is infected.\n\nThere is currently no requirement to self-isolate if you have been in\nproximity with someone showing coronavirus symptoms in the workplace and have\nbeen following social distancing measures. If a worker\u2019s symptoms match those\nof coronavirus, encourage them to apply for a coronavirus\ntest."}
{"_id":"UKtest191","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nCleaning\nCleaning before increasing capacity or re-opening\nOrganisations should ensure that any site or location that has been closed or\nkept partially open during the coronavirus outbreak is assessed and\nappropriate steps taken to prepare for restart or ongoing operation.\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nConducting a working environment assessment for all sites that have been closed, before restarting work.\nCarrying out cleaning procedures, providing hand sanitiser, adjusting ventilation before restarting work.\nUsing Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and\/or opening windows and doors to encourage ventilation, where possible and safe to do so.\nDefining and communicating consistent procedures for standard and deep cleaning.\n\n*[HVAC]: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning"}
{"_id":"UKtest192","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nWorkforce planning\nProtecting workers arriving at and leaving the workplace\nWhen arriving and leaving the workplace, there may be occasions when workers\nare in the same space or are using entrances and exits at the same time. You\nshould consider opportunities to reduce risk in these situations.\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work where possible to reduce crowding on routes to and from the workplace.\nReducing queues, for example by having more entry points to the workplace.\nProviding more storage for workers for clothes and bags.\nManaging queues, for example through floor markings, signs and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points, considering the impact on public spaces, and working collaboratively with other operators and local authorities.\nHand sanitation at building entry\/exit points and not using touch-based security devices (such as keypads).\nReviewing workplace access points and entry requirements (for example deactivating turnstiles requiring pass checks in favour of showing a pass to security personnel at a distance). Organisations need to make sure that alternative checks provide the same level of security.\nLimiting passengers in business vehicles (for example, work minibuses), leaving seats empty.\nCollaborating with other organisations that share the premises to minimise people on site.\nAssigning fixed groups of workers to the same transportation routes where sole travel is not possible.\nProviding additional safe facilities for runners\/walkers\/cyclists as well as alternative means of transport such as coaches.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest193","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nCleaning\nKeeping public and private areas and modes of transport clean\nKeep public and private areas and vehicles clean and prevent the transmission\nof coronavirus as a result of touching contaminated surfaces.\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nIdentifying higher risk areas such as areas that are touched more regularly.\nSupplying standard cleaning products for regular cleaning and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements for used cleaning products.\nCleaning regularly-touched objects and surfaces (like door handles, handrails and ticket machines) more often than usual using standard cleaning products.\nClearing workspaces, removing and appropriately disposing of waste and removing belongings from the work area at the end of each shift.\nCleaning all workstations, shared vehicles, hand tools, controls, machinery and equipment after use and between each shift and user.\nEncouraging a reduction in paper-based processes and replacing these with digital forms of communication where possible.\nEncouraging workers to wash hands before boarding vehicles.\nRetaining sufficient quantities of hand sanitiser\/wipes within vehicles to enable workers to clean hands after each delivery\/drop-off.\nUsing wipes to clean fuel pumps before and after use.\nCleaning vehicle keys before and after handling.\nRegular cleaning of work areas consistent with published guidance.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest194","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nWorkforce planning\nProtecting workers in the workplace\nWhere workers are unable to work from home, you should be taking steps to\nreduce transmission from face-to-face interaction and enable social distancing\nin the workplace.\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nMaking workforce travel plans in advance of workers returning to work.\nAs far as possible, where workers are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\nWhere shift patterns are not already in place, consider introducing these to enable more workers to work during a 24-hour period while having as few workers as possible on-site at any one time.\nIdentifying areas where people must pass things directly to each other (for example documents, spare parts, cargo, raw materials) or share tools\/equipment, and look for ways to remove direct contact through use of drop-off points or transfer zones.\nUsing remote working tools to avoid meetings with lots of people.\nIf meetings are necessary, keeping all attendees 2 metres apart, ensure they do not share objects, such as pens and paper, and have hand sanitiser accessible.\nUsing digital means to communicate shift patterns.\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or canteens.\nDesignating outside areas as common areas if safe to do so.\nCreating additional space from other parts of the worksite or building freed up by remote working.\nUsing protective screening for workers in reception or similar areas.\nUsing packaged meals or similar to avoid opening canteens.\nReconfiguring seating and tables to optimise spacing and reduce face-to-face situations.\nEncouraging workers to stay on-site during working hours.\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2 metre distance.\nAvoiding use of hot desks where possible. Otherwise cleaning workstations and shared equipment between different occupants.\nLimiting use of high-touch items and shared office equipment (for example, printers, whiteboards).\nOnly essential meeting participants should attend.\nProviding hand sanitiser in workspaces.\nReducing job and location rotation.\nUpdating first aid training.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest195","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nWho should be at work\nIf people can, they should work from home\nWhen deciding who can work from home, organisations could consider:\n\nWho is essential to be on site; for example, office workers should work from home if possible.\nThe minimum number of people needed in vehicles, on site and\/or in the office to operate safely and effectively.\nThe wellbeing of people working from home and how to help them stay connected.\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\nProviding equipment to enable working from home safely and effectively.\nLooking at what roles and tasks can be done from home and supporting workers to do this where possible, for example, administrative tasks or customer communications.\nReallocating tasks between workers, to increase the opportunity for home working.\nRegularly reviewing how different working arrangements are impacting workers, and how to improve the arrangements.\nLet workers know in advance if they are required to travel or not.\nWhether support workers are needed to make their networks accessible (for example to operate ramps or lifts) and consider categorising these workers as \u2018essential\u2019.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest196","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nQueues and protecting passenger flows\nSocial distancing in vehicles and at service areas, stations, stops, ports and airports\n\nRearranging, limiting or removing seating to try and ensure social distancing is observed and that it can be cleaned regularly using a rota or some other tracker. This may include: \nBlocking off seats that are in close proximity to a driver or other workers and passengers.\nRemoving face-to-face seating.\nMaximising separation for example by sitting in back left hand seat of a car.\n\n\nUsing floor tape, signs or paint in passenger areas to help people keep 2 metres apart, where appropriate. Using screens to create a physical barrier between people where appropriate, such as in ticket offices.\nIntroducing more one-way flow through areas and vehicles.\nRevising maximum occupancy for lifts and ways of operating lifts.\nMaking arrangements for monitoring compliance to assist with further planning (for example appointment of a social distancing marshal).\nKeeping in mind particular needs of workers and passengers who have protected characteristics, for example disabled people, the elderly and pregnant women.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest197","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nSocial distancing and face coverings\nPassengers and people working on the transport network should keep their\ndistance from people outside their household, recognising that this will not\nalways be possible. The risk of infection increases the closer you are to\nanother person with the virus and the amount of time you spend in close\ncontact. You are very unlikely to be infected from walking past another\nperson. Public Health England (PHE) recommends trying to keep 2 metres away\nfrom people, where\npossible, as a precaution. However, this is not a rule and the\nscience is complex. The key thing is to not be too close to people for more\nthan a short amount of time, as much as you can.\nEmployers should advise staff and passengers on ways of working to keep their\ndistance from other people as much as possible. There are situations where\nthis may not be possible, for example when boarding or alighting, during\nsecurity checks, on busier services, busier times of day, when walking through\ninterchanges and when undertaking maintenance work that requires two people\nfor the task. Where social distancing is not possible try to minimise the time\nspent within 2 metres of others, and keep groups of workers in teams that are\nas small as possible (\u201ccohorting\u201d). For example, keeping maintenance crews\nworking together, rather than mixing crew members on different shifts.\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nCreating and agreeing a single, clear approach to social distancing for all workers and passengers.\n\nAgreeing and maintaining clear rules for workers and passengers that meet social distancing guidelines, for example:\n\nClear rules for interacting with passengers, receiving goods, and testing equipment.\nSupport individual workers who choose to use face coverings in situations where social distancing is not possible.\n\nOrganising the workspace and how people work in a single space to follow social distancing guidelines, such as:\n\n\nSeparating workspaces 2 metres apart from one another, where possible.\n\nUse of screens or barriers.\nEliminating face-to-face seating, for example, shift to \u2018bench\u2019 style.\nRepositioning workspaces to allow for optimal ventilation.\nReducing occupancy of group interaction spaces, including spaces shared with other organisations.\nAdjustments for those with specific needs or protected characteristics, for example disabled people, the elderly and pregnant women. Consider groups of people who process information differently or who may not be able to distance from others.\n\n\n\nWorkplaces should not encourage the precautionary use of extra personal\nprotective equipment (PPE) to protect against coronavirus outside of clinical\nsettings or when responding to a suspected or confirmed case.\nWhere you are already using PPE in your work activity to protect against non-\nCOVID-19 risks, you should continue to do so. When managing the risk of\nCOVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is not beneficial. This\nis because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the risks you normally face\nin a workplace, and needs to be managed through social distancing, hygiene and\nfixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas.\nGovernment guidance is for passengers, if they can, to wear a face covering\nif they need to use public transport.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If workers\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings properly and wash\nhands before putting them on and taking them off. Use the guidance on face\ncoverings.\nIf workers choose to use face coverings, you should support them in using face\ncoverings safely. For example:\n\nWash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and after removing it.\nWhen wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands.\nChange your face covering if it becomes damp or if you\u2019ve touched it.\nContinue to wash your hands regularly.\nChange and wash your face covering daily.\nIf the material is washable, wash in line with manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If it\u2019s not washable, dispose of it in your usual waste.\nPractise social distancing wherever possible.\n\n[PHE]: Public Health England\n  [PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest198","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nWho should be at work\nProtecting people who are at higher risk\n\nConsider the guidance on clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable people at work.\nEmployers should offer support to their workers, particularly around wellbeing and mental health.\n\nOrganisations could consider:\n\nRe-deploying clinically vulnerable people into roles where they can work from home.\nIf clinically vulnerable individuals cannot work from home, they and their employer should consider the level of risk, both on their journey to work and in line with the wider risk assessment of their working situation, as set out in the guidance for employers.\nIf re-deployment would mean not having enough people on- site to run the operations, move vulnerable workers into lower risk activities where they have the highest chance of remaining 2 metres away from others, where possible.\nProviding support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include guidance or telephone support for example.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest199","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nCommunications and training\nTransport operators should keep workers and passengers informed of the latest\ncoronavirus related safety procedures. Organisations should share the\ngovernment\u2019s most recent guidance to all workers and organise training\nsessions on how to work or interact safely with colleagues and the public.\nOperators and businesses should carefully consider the best ways to share\nadvice on how to travel safely and social distancing guidelines to passengers.\nFor workers, organisations could consider:\n\nEngaging with workers through unions, work councils and other workers\u2019 bodies to quickly explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\nLet workers know in advance if they are required to travel or not, ensuring where possible workers continue to work at home.\nClear and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of how ways of working are applied.\nCommunication and training materials on new procedures. Some of these may need to be delivered online to maintain social distancing between workers.\nUsing posters and announcements to remind workers to wash their hands often and follow general hygiene advice.\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty.\nThe use of visual and digital communications (for example whiteboards, signs, websites, intranets, emails) to explain changes to schedules, breakdowns, materials shortages without the need for face-to-face communications.\n\nFor passengers and travellers, organisations could consider:\n\nCommunicating with passengers through social media and websites to help passengers prepare for their journeys and what to expect.\nProviding passengers with information on timetables, expected journey times, expected capacity (accounting for social distancing), delays and changes to normal routes.\nUsing posters and announcements to remind travellers and passengers to wash their hands often and follow general hygiene advice.\nPromoting online ticket purchases.\nSigns and announcements to help passengers understand what they need to do to travel safely and maintain social distancing when entering or exiting a site or vehicle, in consultation with other operators and local authorities for public highways and thoroughfares.\nInformation on provision and any changes to assistance services for those with protected characteristics, for example disabled people, the elderly and pregnant women, and how they can continue to access transport in a safe way.\nThe use of simple, clear and accessible messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups whose first language may not be English or where alternative formats may be required.\nProviding clear information to the public on how this guidance is being implemented.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest200","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nQueues and protecting passenger flows\nCommunications\n\nDisplaying messages, signs and making announcements to discourage non-essential trips and that where possible people should work from home.\nPromoting other active travel modes (for example walking, cycling) or other demand management techniques.\nCommunicating with passengers through social media and websites to help passengers prepare for their journeys and know what to expect.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest201","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer transport guidance for operators\nQueues and protecting passenger flows\nPlanning\n\nAnyone that does need to travel to work can use public transport if they need to, but they should be very strongly encouraged to use other forms of transport where possible.\nUndertaking joint planning with other transport organisations at transport interchanges to ensure aligned approaches.\nIdentifying areas where there is increased risk of congestion or crowding due to reduced capacity because of social distancing requirements and identifying mitigations with other operators and local authorities. Following guidance on public places and considering arrangements that other shops and business may need to implement for their circumstances and how these plans interact.\nIdentifying in advance areas where queues may occur. In these and surrounding areas, consider physical infrastructure, passenger signage, road safety signage, communications and other controls to achieve safe queuing. For example, operators could introduce floor markings, signs and one-way flow at entry and exit points.\nProviding guidance for workers assisting people with protected characteristics, for example disabled people, the elderly and pregnant women.\nFor security searches, PHE recommends first asking passengers if they have any recognised symptoms of coronavirus. PHE recommend that staff consider wearing gloves for each search and wash their hands as frequently as possible.\n\n*[PHE]: Public Health England"}
{"_id":"UKtest202","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nOn your journey\nSome routes may be busier than usual due to social distancing measures or\nchanges to previous timetables or schedules. Keep your distance from people\noutside your household. Public Health England recommends keeping a distance\nof 2 metres, where\npossible. The key thing is\nto not be too close to other people for more than a short amount of time, as\nmuch as you can.\nThe risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the\nvirus and the amount of time you spend in close contact: you are very unlikely\nto be infected from just walking past another person.\nThere may be situations where you can\u2019t keep a suitable distance from people,\nfor example when boarding or alighting, on busier services, at busier times of\nday and when walking through interchanges. In these cases you should avoid\nphysical contact, try to face away from other people, and keep the time you\nspend near others as short as possible. If you can, wear a face covering on\npublic transport. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked\nto do so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of\nidentification.\nBe aware of the surfaces you touch. Be careful not to touch your face. Cover\nyour mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.\nTreat transport staff with respect and follow instructions from your transport\noperator. This may include:\n\nnotices about which seats to use or how to queue\nadditional screens, barriers or floor markings\nrequests to board through different doors or to move to less busy areas\n\nHelp keep yourself, other passengers and transport staff safe:\n\nwait for passengers to get off first before you board\nensure you maintain social distancing, where possible, including at busy entrances, exits, under canopies, bus stops, platforms or outside of stations\nbe prepared to queue or take a different entrance or exit at stations\nwait for the next service if you cannot safely keep your distance on board a train, bus or coach\nrespect other people\u2019s space while travelling\navoid consuming food and drink on public transport, where possible\nbe aware of pregnant, older and disabled people who may require a seat or extra space\nbe aware that some individuals may have hidden disabilities\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest203","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nIs your journey necessary?\nTo help keep yourself and your fellow passengers safe, you should not travel\nif you:\n\nare experiencing any coronavirus symptoms\nare self-isolating as a result of coronavirus symptoms or sharing a household with somebody with symptoms\nare clinically extremely vulnerable\n\nIf you have any symptoms of\ncoronavirus you should self-isolate at home and arrange to\nhave a test to see if you have\nCOVID-19.\nBefore you travel, consider if your journey is necessary and if you can, stay\nlocal. Try to reduce your travel. This will help keep the transport network\nrunning and allow people who need to make essential journeys to travel. You\ncan reduce your travel by:\n\nworking from home where possible\nshopping less frequently and shopping locally\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest204","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nTaxis and private hire vehicles\nAt taxi ranks try to keep your distance from people outside your household,\nwhere possible. Public Health England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance\nfrom others, where\npossible.\nTaxi and private hire vehicle (for example minicab) operators are likely to\nhave put in place new measures to help with social distancing. When traveling\nin taxis or private hire vehicles follow the advice of the driver. For\nexample, you may be asked to sit in the back left hand seat if travelling\nalone. You may want to check with your taxi operator before travelling if they\nhave put any additional measures in place.\nIf you need to be near other people you should avoid physical contact, try to\nface away from other people, and keep the time you spend near other people as\nshort as possible. Be aware of the surfaces you or others touch.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas.\nIf you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing\nisn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not\nnormally meet. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to\ndo so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If you\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings\nproperly and wash your\nhands before putting them on and after taking them off.\nWhen finishing your journey, we recommend you:\n\nfollow local guidance\nwash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands as soon as possible\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest205","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nChecklists for safer travel\nPlan your journey\n\ncan I walk or cycle to my destination?\nhave I checked the latest travel advice from my transport operator?\nhave I booked my travel ticket online, bought a pass or checked if contactless payment is possible?\nhave I planned my journey to minimise crowded areas and allow for delays?\nam I taking the most direct route to my destination?\n\nWhat to take with you\n\na plan for my journey\ncontactless payment card or pass\nphone (if needed for travel updates, tickets, contactless payments)\ntickets\nhand sanitiser\nessential medicines\ntissues\na face covering, if required\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest206","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nWalking and cycling\nWalking and cycling will reduce\npressure on the public transport system and the road network. Consider walking\nand cycling if you can. Local cycling schemes can be used. Your local council\ncan help you plan your journey by providing maps showing dedicated paths and\nroutes.\nWhere possible, try to maintain social\ndistancing when you walk or\ncycle, for example when approaching or passing other pedestrians or waiting at\ncrossings and traffic lights.\nWhere using bikes (private, docked or dockless) wash your hands for at least\n20 seconds or sanitise your hands before and after cycling.\nConsider making a list of items to take with you."}
{"_id":"UKtest207","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nSeek assistance if you need it\nIf you require assistance when travelling and would normally contact your\ntransport operator ahead of time, continue to do so.\nIf any problems arise or you feel ill during your journey, speak to a member\nof transport staff. In the case of an emergency, contact the emergency\nservices as you normally would.\nIf you need help, maintain a short distance from members of staff, where\npossible. If this isn\u2019t possible, you should try to avoid physical contact and\nkeep the time you spend near staff as short as possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest208","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nAviation, ferries and maritime transport\nOn your journey\nSome routes may be busier than usual due to social distancing measures or\nchanges to timetables and schedules.\nYou should try to keep a short distance from others not in your household,\nwhere possible. Public Health England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance\nfrom other people. There\nmay be situations where this is not possible. If you need to be near other\npeople, you should avoid physical contact, try to face away from others, and\nkeep the time you spend close to other people as short as possible.\nBe aware of the surfaces you touch. Be careful not to touch your face. Cover\nyour mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas.\nIf you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing\nisn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not\nnormally meet. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to\ndo so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If you\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings\nproperly and wash your\nhands before putting them on and after taking them off.\nFollow instructions from your transport operator. This may include:\n\nnotices about which seats to use or how to queue\nadditional screens, barriers or floor markings\nrequests to board through different doors or to move to less busy areas\n\nBe considerate to your fellow passengers and to transport staff:\n\ndo not congregate near entrances or exits while waiting\nbe aware of pregnant, older, disabled people or people with prams who may require extra space or a seat during parts of their journey\nbe aware that some individuals may have hidden disabilities\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest209","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPrivate cars and other vehicles\nPlan your journey\nPlan your route, including any breaks, before setting out. Routes may be\ndifferent as local areas make changes to enable social distancing on pavements\nand cycle routes.\nIf you normally share a vehicle with people from other households for\nessential journeys, we recommend you find a different way to travel. For\nexample, consider walking, cycling or using your own vehicle if you can.\nIf you have to travel with people outside your household group, try to share\nthe transport with the same people each time and keep to small groups of\npeople at any one time.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas.\nIf you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing\nisn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not\nnormally meet. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to\ndo so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If you\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings\nproperly and wash your\nhands before putting them on and after taking them off.\nConsider making a list of items to take with you.\nCheck that your vehicle is safe and\nroadworthy if you\nhaven\u2019t used it for several weeks."}
{"_id":"UKtest210","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nWhat to take with you\nIf you can, wear a face covering if you need to use public transport.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas. You should be prepared to remove your face\ncovering if asked to do so by police officers and police staff for the\npurposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If you\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings\nproperly and wash your\nhands before putting them on and after taking them off.\nConsider making a list of items to take with you and minimise the luggage you\ntake."}
{"_id":"UKtest211","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nAviation, ferries and maritime transport\nCompleting your journey\nWhen finishing your journey, we recommend you:\n\nfollow local guidance\nwash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands as soon as possible\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest212","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nChildren on public transport\nWhere travel is necessary, consider whether children could walk or cycle,\naccompanied by a responsible adult or carer, where appropriate.\nSocial distancing applies to children as well as adults. Children should keep\ntheir distance from others who are not in their household, where possible.\nPublic Health England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance from\nothers. If this isn\u2019t\npossible children should avoid physical contact, face away from others, and\nkeep the time spent near others as short as possible.\n\nStaying alert and safe: social distancing guidance for young people\n\nIf you are the responsible adult or carer travelling with children, please\nhelp them follow this guidance, wear face coverings, minimise the surfaces\nthey touch and maintain their distance from others, where possible.\nChildren under 2 years old are not recommended to wear face coverings.\nSchools may have additional guidance in place for children on transport which\nwe recommend you follow."}
{"_id":"UKtest213","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nInternational travel\nIf travelling abroad is essential, make sure you check the latest Foreign and\nCommonwealth Office (FCO) advice\nand coronavirus essential international travel\nguidance before travelling. Check your specific plans\nwith your airline, ferry, train operator or accommodation provider, and inform\nyour insurance provider.\nAt all points in your journey it is important that you follow social\ndistancing guidelines and keep a short distance from others where possible.\nPublic Health England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance from\nothers. Where this may\nnot be possible you should keep the time you spend near other people as short\nas possible and avoid physical contact.\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not yet developed symptoms. This is most relevant for short\nperiods indoors in crowded areas.\nIf you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing\nisn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not\nnormally meet. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to\ndo so by police officers and police staff for the purposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by the law. If you\nchoose to wear one, it is important to use face coverings\nproperly and wash your\nhands before putting them on and after taking them off.\nYou should review and follow any rules and government guidance set by your\ndestination country, and check public health advice when returning to the UK.\nYour transport provider may put measures in place to help you follow the\nguidance of the destination country.\nWhen finishing your journey, we recommend you:\n\nfollow all local guidance\nwash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands as soon as possible\n\n*[UK]: United Kingdom"}
{"_id":"UKtest214","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPrivate cars and other vehicles\nOn your journey\nIf driving, you should anticipate more pedestrians and cyclists than usual,\nespecially at peak times of day. Allow other road users to maintain social\ndistance, where possible. For example, give cyclists space at traffic lights.\nPublic Health England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance from others,\nwhere possible.\nLimit the time you spend at garages, petrol stations and motorway services.\nTry to keep your distance from other people and if possible pay by\ncontactless. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands\nwhen arriving and leaving.\nBe aware of the surfaces you or others touch. If people from different\nhouseholds use a vehicle (for example through a car share scheme), you should\nclean it between journeys using gloves and standard cleaning products. Make\nsure you clean door handles, steering wheel and other areas that people may\ntouch.\nWhere people from different households need to use a vehicle at the same time,\ngood ventilation (keeping the car windows open) and facing away from each\nother may help to reduce the risk of transmission. Where possible, consider\nseating arrangements to optimise distance between people in the vehicle.\nIf you are in close proximity to people outside your household, you should:\n\navoid physical contact\ntry to face away from them\nkeep the time you spend close to them as short as possible\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest215","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nAviation, ferries and maritime transport\nPlan your journey\nBefore you travel, check with your travel operator and port, or airline and\nairport for the latest travel advice on your route.\nConsider making a list of items to take with you."}
{"_id":"UKtest216","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nTravel safely during the coronavirus outbreak\nThis guide will help you understand how to travel safely during the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in England. It provides guidance for walking,\ncycling, using private vehicles (for example cars and vans), and travelling by\ntaxis and public transport (for example trains, buses, coaches and ferries).\nYou should avoid using public transport where possible. Instead try to walk,\ncycle, or drive. If you do travel, thinking carefully about the times, routes\nand ways you travel will mean we will all have more space to stay safe."}
{"_id":"UKtest217","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nCompleting your journey\nWhen finishing your journey, we recommend you:\n\nconsider walking or cycling from the station or stop you arrived at\nfollow local guidance\nwash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands as soon as possible - do the same for children within your care if they have travelled\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest218","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers\nPublic transport\nPlan your journey\nConsider all other forms of transport before using public transport.\nBefore and during your journey, check with your transport operator for the\nlatest travel advice on your route:\n\nbus, coach, tram and ferry operators\nTfL\nNational Rail\n\nTravel may take longer than normal on some routes due to reduced capacity and\nsocial distancing measures. Allow sufficient time if your journey involves\nchanges between different forms of transport.\nPlan ahead by identifying alternative routes and options in case of unexpected\ndisruption.\nIf you can, travel at off-peak times. Your transport operator can advise on\noff-peak times. Your employer may agree alternative or flexible working hours\nto support this.\nWhere possible, book your travel online through your transport provider\u2019s\nticketing app or website. Consider contactless payment to buy tickets.\nTaking a less busy route and reducing the number of changes (for example\nbetween bus and train) will help you keep your distance from others. Public\nHealth England recommends keeping a 2 metre distance from other people, where\npossible. Where this is not\npossible you should keep the time you spend nears others as short as possible\nand avoid physical contact.\nTry to start or end your journey using a station or mode of transport you know\nto be quieter or more direct. For instance, walk the first or last mile of\nyour journey, or alight at an earlier station, where this is possible.\n*[TfL]: Transport for London"}
{"_id":"UKtest219","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for UK businesses trading internationally\nNo import duty and VAT on medical supplies, equipment and protective garments\nFind out how to pay no import duty and VAT on protective equipment and\nrelevant medical devices or equipment from non-EU\ncountries during the outbreak.\n*[EU]: European Union"}
{"_id":"UKtest220","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for UK businesses trading internationally\nExport controls regarding personal protective equipment (PPE)\nThe Department of Health and Social Care have published guidance outlining\nthe PPE export control\nprocess.\nThe guidance is aimed at economic operators, including manufacturers and\ndistributors, wishing to export PPE goods to a destination outside of the EU,\nEFTA, or certain dependent and other\nterritories.\n[PPE]: personal protective equipment\n  [EU]: European Union\n  *[EFTA]: European Free Trade Association"}
{"_id":"UKtest221","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for UK businesses trading internationally\nDIT support for UK businesses\nDIT can advise on:\n\nsmooth clearance of products with customs authorities\nintellectual property (IP) and other issues with business continuity\nexport plans and exploring market opportunities\nfinding new routes to markets\ndealing with agents and distributors\nfinding alternative suppliers\nselling online and updating your digital (online) presence\n\nYou can access DIT support by:\n\ncontacting your international trade adviser where you have an existing relationship\nfinding your local trade office in the UK to discuss specific trade issues\n\nFor UK businesses with overseas presence, or operating projects in other\ncountries, our worldwide DIT\noffices can\nprovide information on trade issues specific to that region or country.\nDIT provides cross-border e-commerce support, including connecting businesses\nto e-commerce advisers for tailored one-to-one advice. Contact\ne-exporting@trade.gov.uk for more\ninformation.\nUK Export Finance can help businesses facing disruption due to coronavirus\n(COVID-19) with finance and insurance support for\nexporters.\nFor more information, visit the government\u2019s business support\nhub.\nYou can also subscribe to GOV.UK coronavirus (COVID-19) email\nalerts.\n[DIT]: Department for International Trade\n  [IP]: intellectual property"}
{"_id":"UKtest222","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nCyberbullying\nIf you are concerned about cyberbullying, you can find government advice and\ninformation about how you can protect your\nchild and tackle it if it happens."}
{"_id":"UKtest223","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nWhat harms might my child experience online?\nYou may have concerns about specific harms which children can experience\nonline. There are more resources to help you understand and protect your child\nfrom different harms online, including:\n\nchild sexual abuse \u2013 a definition\nexposure to radicalising content\nyouth-produced sexual imagery (\u2018sexting\u2019)\ncyberbullying\nexposure to age-inappropriate content, such as pornography\nexposure to harmful content, such as suicide content\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest224","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nSuicide content\nIf you are worried about your child\u2019s mental health, the government has\npublished guidance for parents and\ncarers on supporting children\nand young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\nIf you are worried that someone you know is suicidal, including your child,\nSamaritans provides advice on how you can support\nothers."}
{"_id":"UKtest225","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\n\u2018Sexting\u2019 (youth-produced sexual imagery)\nIf you are worried about your child sending nude images or videos (sometimes\nreferred to as \u2018youth-produced sexual imagery\u2019or sexting),\nNSPCC provides advice to help you understand the risks and support\nyour child.\nIf your child has shared nude images,\nThinkuknow by National Crime Agency-CEOP\nprovides advice on talking to your child and where to get help."}
{"_id":"UKtest226","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nAge-inappropriate content and parental controls\nIf you have downloaded new apps or bought new technology to help stay\nconnected at this time, remember to review and adjust privacy and safety\nsettings if you or your child is signing up to a new online service.\nInternet Matters has provided step-by-step\nguides on how to set up\nparental controls so that you can control what content your child can access\nonline.\nThe UK Safer Internet Centre has developed guidance on how to switch on family-friendly filters\nto prevent age-inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home.\nThe NSPCC provides more information for parents\nor carers with concerns about their child seeking inappropriate or explicit\ncontent online."}
{"_id":"UKtest227","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nChild sexual abuse\nIf you are concerned call 999 or report it to the National Crime Agency-\nCEOP.\nIf your child has been a victim of child sexual abuse \u2013 online or offline \u2013\nand you believe they are in immediate danger, you should call 999 and ask for\nthe police. The police will continue to respond to emergency calls.\nIf you are concerned that your child has been a victim of online sexual abuse\nor you are worried about the way someone has been communicating with your\nchild online, you can report it to National Crime Agency-\nCEOP (Child Exploitation and\nOnline Protection).\nThese resources provide information and support for parents and carers on what\nto do if you\u2019re worried about child sexual abuse:\n\nyou can contact the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) for support and advice if you have concerns about your own or another child\u2019s safety. The Together, we can tackle child abuse campaign also provides information on the signs of child abuse and neglect\nThinkuknow by National Crime Agency-CEOP has developed activities to support your child\u2019s safe use of the internet and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation\u2019s Parents Protect website also provides advice on how to help protect children from child sexual abuse\nif you see sexual images or videos of someone under 18 online, report it anonymously to the Internet Watch Foundation who can work to remove them from the web and help to identify victims and survivors\nyou can contact Stop It Now! for information and advice if you have concerns about someone\u2019s behaviour, including children who may be displaying concerning sexual behaviour\nyou can contact The Marie Collins Foundation help@mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk for support, including advice and individual counselling, for your child if they have been subjected to online sexual abuse - support is also offered to parents and carers\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest228","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nSupport for children\nIf your child is worried or needs support, they can receive advice and support\nfrom Childline (0800 1111) or download the\n\u2018For Me\u2019 app.\nIf you need help to support your child\u2019s mental wellbeing, this list of\nonline education resources for home\neducation includes mental\nwellbeing resources which provide guidance on how to support the wellbeing of\nchildren and young people."}
{"_id":"UKtest229","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nKeep your child safe online\nIt is important to have regular conversations about staying safe online and to\nencourage children to speak to you if they come across something worrying\nonline.\nThese resources provide guidance for parents and carers to keep children safe\nonline. They will, amongst other things, support you to talk to your child\nabout a range of online safety issues, set up home filtering in a child-\nfriendly way and set up age-appropriate parental controls on digital devices:\n\nThinkuknow by National Crime Agency-CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) provides resources for parents and carers and children of all ages to help keep children safe online\nChildnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, as well as guidance on keeping under-fives safe online\nParent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP, providing support and guidance for parents and carers related to the digital world from leading experts and organisations\nNSPCC has guidance for parents and carers to help keep children safe online\nUK Safer Internet Centre provides tips and advice for parents and carers to keep children safe online - you can also report any harmful content found online through the UK Safer Internet Centre\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest230","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online\nRadicalising content\nIf you are concerned that any family member, friend or loved one is being\nradicalised, you can call the police or 101 to get advice or make a Prevent\nreferral, so that they can get safeguarding support. Support is tailored to\nthe individual\u2019s needs and works in a similar way to safeguarding processes\ndesigned to protect people from gangs, drug abuse and physical and sexual\nexploitation. Receiving support through Prevent is voluntary, confidential and\nnot any form of criminal sanction. If you need further help, you can also\ncontact your local authority safeguarding team.\nEducate Against Hate Parents\u2019 Hub\nprovides resources and government advice for parents and carers on keeping\nyoung people safe from extremism, including online.\nLet\u2019s Talk About It provides\nsupport for parents and carers to keep children safe from online\nradicalisation.\nAny member of the public can report terrorist content they find online\nthrough the GOV.UK referral tool. More\ninformation about what to report and what happens when you make a report can\nbe found on the Action Counters Terrorism\ncampaign."}
{"_id":"UKtest231","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWelfare benefits and housing advice\nThe Department for Work and Pensions has published up-to-date coronavirus-\nrelated welfare benefits\ninformation.\nIf you are concerned about your financial situation, you can contact\nTurn2us. They help people to access the money\navailable to them through welfare benefits and grants. Their website has an\nincome-related benefits checker enabling you to check that you are receiving\nall the benefits you are entitled to.\nShelter provide free confidential housing\ninformation, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues.\nThey also have an emergency helpline."}
{"_id":"UKtest232","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nSexual assault referral centres\nSexual assault referral centres continue\nto provide non-judgmental advice and support services to victims and survivors\nof sexual assault or abuse.\nInterviews, forensic examinations and sexual health and counselling services\nare offered in a comfortable environment where staff will ensure that victims\nand survivors will be managed safely to comply with coronavirus guidance.\nPlease call your local sexual assault eferral centre to arrange care and\nsupport, which may be provided in person or remotely depending on your needs."}
{"_id":"UKtest233","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nGalop - for members of the LGBT+ community\nGalop runs the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse specialist helpline.\nTelephone: 0800 999 5428\nEmail: help@galop.org.uk"}
{"_id":"UKtest234","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nSupport for children and young people\nWitnessing and experiencing domestic abuse can have a serious impact on a\nchild\u2019s long-term health. It is a top priority that vulnerable children and\nyoung people remain safe during this uncertain period. If you are concerned\nthat a child is at risk of harm, you should refer this information to\nchildren\u2019s social care or to the police if you believe the child is in\nimmediate danger.\nNSPCC\nThe NSPCC has issued guidance for\nspotting and reporting the signs of abuse on their website.\nThe NSPCC Helpline is available\nfor anyone with concerns about a child to contact for professional advice and\nsupport.\nTelephone: 0808 800 5000\nEmail: help@nspcc.org.uk\nChildline\nChildline is available for children and young\npeople to reach out for help and support by phone or using their online chat\nservice. They also provide specific guidance for young people on how to get\nhelp and what to do if they are worried about a friend.\nTelephone: 0800 1111\nBarnardo\u2019s\nBarnardo\u2019s provides support to\nfamilies affected by domestic abuse.\nFamily Lives\nFamily Lives also provide support through\nonline forums.\nInformation on child contact arrangements\nRights of Women provides guidance about child\ncontact arrangements relating to coronavirus."}
{"_id":"UKtest235","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nSupport for professionals\nSafeLives is providing\nguidance and support to professionals and those working in the domestic abuse\nsector, as well as additional advice for those at risk."}
{"_id":"UKtest236","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nNational Domestic Abuse Helpline\nRefuge runs the National Domestic Abuse\nHelpline, which you can call for\nfree, and in confidence, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. Its website provides\nguidance and support for potential victims, as well as those who are worried\nabout friends and loved ones. It also has a form through which you can book a\nsafe time for a call from the team.\nRefuge\u2019s website includes a range of resources\non identifying the signs of domestic abuse, and a safety guide for women and\nchildren who are living with a perpetrator. It also features a tech abuse\nchat-bot with step-by-step instructional videos on how to secure devices such\nas phones and laptops. Look for the pink button in the bottom-right corner."}
{"_id":"UKtest237","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nIf you believe you are being abused, or worried you may commit domestic abuse,\nplease use the services on this page.\nIf you suspect that your neighbours or those in your community are victims of\ndomestic abuse, we encourage you to report it to the police."}
{"_id":"UKtest238","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nSupport for employers\nIf you are an employer, it is important that you signal to all your workforce\nthat if they are facing domestic abuse you want to help them to get help. Keep\nin regular contact with employees you know, or fear, may be facing abuse and\nif you lose contact with them, take swift action to visit them. If you believe\nthere is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, you\nshould always call 999.\nEncourage employees to look out for others who may be facing domestic abuse\nand signpost them to support. Your staff may also be worried about their own\nabusive behaviour at this time. There is no excuse for domestic abuse, no\nmatter what stresses you are under and support is available.\nThe Employers\u2019 Initiative on Domestic Abuse\nwebsite has a range of resources to support employers. Business in the\nCommunity also have a toolkit with information for\nemployers."}
{"_id":"UKtest239","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhat is domestic abuse?\nDomestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include, but is\nnot limited to:\n\ncoercive control and \u2018gaslighting\u2019\neconomic abuse\nonline abuse\nverbal abuse\nemotional abuse\nsexual abuse\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest240","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nMen\u2019s Advice Line\nThe Men\u2019s Advice Line is a confidential\nhelpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them.\nTelephone: 0808 801 0327"}
{"_id":"UKtest241","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nCall 999\nIf you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police - the police\nwill continue to respond to emergency calls.\nIf you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, dial 999, listen to the\nquestions from the operator and respond by coughing or tapping the handset if\nyou can. Then follow the instructions depending on whether you are calling\nfrom a mobile or a landline.\nIf you call from a mobile\nIf prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself\nHeard - this will transfer your call to the\npolice.\nPressing 55 only works on mobiles and does not allow police to track your\nlocation.\nIf you call 999 from a landline\nIf only background noise can be heard and BT operators cannot decide whether\nan emergency service is needed, then you will be connected to a police call\nhandler.\nIf you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds\nin case you pick up again.\nWhen 999 calls are made from landlines, information about your location should\nbe automatically available to the call handlers to help provide a response."}
{"_id":"UKtest242","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nBME specialist services\nImkaan\nImkaan is a women\u2019s organisation addressing\nviolence against black and minority women and girls.\nSouthall Black Sisters\nSouthall Black Sisters offer\nspecialist support, advocacy and information to Asian and Afro-Caribbean women\nsuffering abuse."}
{"_id":"UKtest243","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nWomen\u2019s Aid\nWomen\u2019s Aid has a range of direct services for survivors, including a live\nchat service and an online Survivors\u2019 Forum. They have developed additional\nadvice specifically designed for the current coronavirus outbreak. You can\nalso find your local domestic abuse\nservice on their\nwebsite. They also provide information on the support helplines available in\nWales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."}
{"_id":"UKtest244","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nEconomic abuse\nIf you are concerned about how coronavirus may affect your finances and leave\nyou vulnerable to economic abuse, please see the advice provided by HM\nTreasury\non what support is on offer.\nThe charity Surviving Economic\nAbuse has also provided\nadditional guidance and support."}
{"_id":"UKtest245","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nSupport if you are worried about hurting someone\nIf you are worried about hurting the ones you love while staying at home, call\nthe Respect Phoneline for support and help\nto manage your behaviour. This is an anonymous and confidential helpline for\nmen and women who are harming their partners and families. It takes calls from\npartners or ex-partners, friends, and relatives who are concerned about\nperpetrators.\nTelephone: 0808 802 4040"}
{"_id":"UKtest246","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nChayn\nChayn provides online help and resources in a number of\nlanguages about identifying manipulative situations and how friends can\nsupport those being abused."}
{"_id":"UKtest247","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nDisability specialist services\nThese services are run by deaf and\/or disabled people.\nStay Safe East\nStay Safe East provides specialist and\nholistic advocacy and support services to disabled victims and survivors of\nabuse.\nSignHealth\nSignHealth provides domestic abuse service\nsupport for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).\nWhatsApp or Facetime: 07970 350366\nTelephone: 020 3947 2601\nEmail: da@signhealth.org.uk"}
{"_id":"UKtest248","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\nHestia\nHestia provides a free mobile app,\nBright Sky, which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an\nabusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know."}
{"_id":"UKtest249","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhat signs to look for\nIf you believe that you or someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse,\nthere are signs that you can look out for including:\n\nbeing withdrawn\nhaving bruises\ncontrolling finances\nnot being allowed to leave the house\nmonitoring technology use such as social media platforms\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest250","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse\nWhere to get help\n\u2018Honour\u2019-based abuse\nIf you are suffering abuse from your family or community because they say that\nyou have compromised their \u2018honour\u2019, or if they are trying to force you into\nmarriage, you can get help. Karma Nirvana runs the national honour-based abuse\nhelpline.\nTelephone: 0800 5999 247\nEmail: support@karmanirvana.org.uk"}
{"_id":"UKtest251","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nTime period\nThe extension of free school meal eligibility to these groups will take place\nimmediately. It will end when schools have reopened to all children."}
{"_id":"UKtest252","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nProviding an application form\nWe have provided a sample application\nform including a self-declaration form that you can provide to carers for\nassessing eligibility.\nThough the form is designed for applicants to complete themselves, we\nappreciate that individual circumstances may make this difficult and schools\ncan assist with the completion if required.\nUse of the sample application\nform is not mandatory. You can create your own form if you prefer."}
{"_id":"UKtest253","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nAssessing documentation\nDue to current restrictions and safety precautions, you can review documents\nelectronically if the family are comfortable and able to provide them in this\nway.\nWe are aware that under the current circumstances, it may be difficult for a\nfamily to provide the required evidence. We are also aware that teachers and\nschools are already likely to be familiar with the circumstances of the\nchildren under their care. As such, you can be flexible and use your\ndiscretion when asking for supplementary evidence.\nWe do not require schools or local authorities to retain copies of evidence\nprovided. You should advise applicants of their individual data protection\nregulations and processes and ensure that these are abided to."}
{"_id":"UKtest254","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nWho is eligible\nZambrano carers\nA Zambrano carer is the primary carer of a British citizen child or dependent\nadult, where requiring the primary carer to leave the UK would force that\nBritish citizen to leave the European Economic Area (EEA).\nThey must be able to show:\n\nthat the carer\/parent is not a British citizen\nthat the child is a British citizen\nthat the carer is a direct relative or legal guardian of the child\nthat they have primary responsibility of the child\nthat there are no other members of the carer\u2019s family in the UK or the EEA who could look after the child\n\nMore detailed information on Zambrano carers is available in the Home Office\nguidance on derivative rights of\nresidence.\nZambrano carers are able to work, and as such are subject to a maximum annual\nhousehold earnings threshold of \u00a37,400 to be eligible to receive free school\nmeals.\nSee confirming household income for further guidance on assessing this.\nSuggested evidence\nYou should ask families to sign a self-declaration form as part of their\napplication for free school meals. A sample application\nform including a self-declaration is available, but you can use an\nalternative if you prefer.\nAt present, Zambrano carers are not required to apply to the Home Office for\nconfirmation of their status, however many will choose to apply for a\nderivative residence card to demonstrate their right to reside and work in the\nUK. As this is not a mandatory requirement, not being in receipt of this card\ndoes not necessarily mean that the carer does not hold this status.\n*[EEA]: European Economic Area"}
{"_id":"UKtest255","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nWho is eligible\nArticle 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights\nArticle 8 states that everyone has the right to respect for his private and\nfamily life, his home and his correspondence.\nCarers with leave to remain under article 8 are able to work, and as such are\nsubject to a maximum annual household earnings threshold of \u00a37,400 in order\nfor their child to be eligible to receive free school meals.\nSee confirming household income for further guidance on assessing this.\nSuggested evidence\nYou should ask families to sign a self-declaration form as part of their\napplication for free school meals. A sample application\nform including a self-declaration is available, but you can use an\nalternative if you prefer.\nCarers who have leave to remain under article 8 will be able to provide a\nletter from the Home Office granting them leave to remain in the UK and\/or a\nbiometric residence card."}
{"_id":"UKtest256","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nWho is eligible\nSection 17 of the Children Act 1989\nSection 17 places a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote\nthe welfare of children in need by providing a range and level of services\nappropriate to those children\u2019s needs.\nA child will be considered in need if:\n\nthey are unlikely to achieve or maintain or to have the opportunity to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by the local authority\nthe child\u2019s health or development is likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired without the provision of such services\nthe child is disabled.\n\nThe support local authorities provide will vary depending on the individual\nneeds of the child and\/or family.\nThis support is not provided exclusively to people with NRPF \u2013 however, the\nextended eligibility for free school meals is available only to families with\nNRPF.\nSome families receiving Section 17 support are able to work, and as such are\nsubject to a maximum annual household earnings threshold of \u00a37,400 to be\neligible to receive free school meals.\nSee confirming household income for further guidance on assessing this.\nSuggested evidence\nYou should ask families to sign a self-declaration form as part of their\napplication for free school meals. A sample application\nform including a self-declaration is available, but you can use an\nalternative if you prefer.\nFamilies receiving Section 17 support should have a child in need pack from\nthe local authority which lists the support that they will be providing to the\nfamily. This is updated and reassessed every 3 to 6 months. Schools can ask to\nview a copy of this dated within the last 6 months to verify that this support\nis being received.\n*[NRPF]: no recourse to public funds"}
{"_id":"UKtest257","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nConfirming household income\nTo be eligible for free school meals, the maximum annual household earnings\nthreshold is \u00a37,400 after tax. This equates to \u00a3616 per month.\nYou should ask families wishing to apply to fill out a self-declaration.\nTo verify this, we suggest asking to view either a:\n\npayslip\nP60\nbank statement\nletter from their bank\nletter from their employer\n\nFamilies who are receiving Section 4 support are not able to work, and as such\ntheir earnings do not need to be verified."}
{"_id":"UKtest258","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups\nWho is eligible\nSection 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999\nSection 4 allows the Home Office to provide support to a subset of refused\nasylum seekers who are classed as destitute and meet their\ncriteria.\nPeople receiving Section 4 support are not able to work, and as such there is\nno requirement to confirm earnings.\nSuggested evidence\nYou should ask families to sign a self-declaration form as part of their\napplication for free school meals. A sample application\nform including a self-declaration is available, but you can use an\nalternative if you prefer.\nCarers who are receiving Section 4 support will be able to provide a letter\nfrom the Home Office or local authority confirming Section 4 support and\/or an\nASPEN card."}
{"_id":"UKtest259","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you were employed and have lost your job\nFinancial support\nApply online for Universal Credit to get financial support if you\u2019ve lost your job.\nYou might also be able to:\n\napply online for New Style Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance\napply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work\n\nYou might also be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance if\none for the following applies:\n\nyou or your child might have coronavirus or you\u2019re recovering from it\nyou or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have coronavirus\nyou have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks by the NHS because you\u2019re at high risk of severe illness\n\nYou do not need to go into a Jobcentre Plus office to apply or get a payment.\nProcessing your application\nBecause of coronavirus, it might take longer than usual to process your\napplication and answer questions about it. We apologise for these delays \u2013 we\nknow this is a difficult time.\nAdvance payments\nIf you do not have enough money to live on while you wait for your first\nUniversal Credit payment you can ask for an advance\npayment."}
{"_id":"UKtest260","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you were employed and have lost your job\nIf you lost your job after 28 February\nYour employer might be able to re-employ you and put you on temporary leave\ninstead. This is known as being \u2018on furlough\u2019.\nYour employer could get a grant using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to\nhelp them pay for some of your wages. Check if your employer can use\nit."}
{"_id":"UKtest261","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re already getting benefits\nUniversal Credit\nYou\u2019ll continue to get Universal Credit as normal during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\nIf you\u2019re working while claiming Universal Credit, your payment will be\nadjusted if you can no longer work due to coronavirus. Tell us about the hours\nyou\u2019re working in the usual way in your online\naccount.\nThe standard allowance increased on 6 April 2020. For example, for a single\nUniversal Credit claimant (aged 25 and over) it has increased from \u00a3317.82 to\n\u00a3409.89 a month.\nYou must still tell us about changes to your\ncircumstances.\nInterviews and medical assessments\nYou do not need to attend any Jobcentre Plus appointments or medical\nassessments during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nYou should not attend a Jobcentre Plus unless asked to do so for an\nexceptional purpose, for example to collect your Payment Exception\nService vouchers.\nIf you\u2019re self-employed and claiming Universal Credit\nSince 30 March 2020, the way your Universal Credit payment is worked out has\nchanged because of coronavirus (COVID-19).\nPayments are no longer calculated using an assumed level of earnings, called a\nMinimum Income Floor. They are now based on your actual earnings.\nIf your payments were calculated using the Minimum Income Floor, they may\nchange.\nYou must still tell us about changes to your\ncircumstances."}
{"_id":"UKtest262","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re already getting benefits\nOther benefits\nYour payments will not be affected if you get:\n\nJobseeker\u2019s Allowance\n\u2018New style\u2019 Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance\nEmployment and Support Allowance\n\u2018New style\u2019 Employment and Support Allowance\nDisability Living Allowance\nPersonal Independence Payment\n\nYou do not need to attend any Jobcentre Plus appointments or health\nassessments in person during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nYou should not attend a Jobcentre Plus unless asked to do so for an\nexceptional purpose, for example to collect your Payment Exception\nService vouchers.\nYou must still tell us about changes to your\ncircumstances."}
{"_id":"UKtest263","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re already getting benefits\nWorking Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit\nIf you\u2019re currently getting tax credits and you cannot work or you\u2019re working\nfewer hours because of coronavirus, you do not need to tell HMRC about this\nchange as long as you\u2019re still employed or self-employed.\nYou must still tell HMRC about other changes to your\ncircumstances. This includes\nif you or your partner lose your job, are made redundant or cease trading.\nThe basic element of Working Tax Credit has increased by \u00a31,045 to \u00a33,040 from\n6 April 2020 until 5 April 2021. Find out what this means for\nyou.\nYou cannot claim Universal Credit and tax credits at the same time. If you get\ntax credits, they will stop when you or your partner applies for Universal\nCredit and you will be unable to claim them again, even if your Universal\nCredit claim is unsuccessful. Check how tax credits and Universal Credit\naffect each other.\n*[HMRC]: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs"}
{"_id":"UKtest264","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re employed and cannot work\nIf your employer has no work for you to do (you\u2019ve been put \u2018on furlough\u2019)\nYour employer might be able to keep you on the payroll if they\u2019re unable to\noperate and put you on temporary leave instead. This is known as being put \u2018on\nfurlough\u2019.\nYour employer could get a grant using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to\nhelp them pay for some of your wages. Check if your employer can use\nit.\nIf your salary is reduced because of these changes, check if you\u2019re eligible\nfor Universal Credit."}
{"_id":"UKtest265","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re employed and cannot work\nIf you\u2019re not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay\nYou can apply online for Universal Credit if you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay.\nYou might also be able to:\n\napply online for New Style Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance\napply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work\n\nYou might also be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance if\none of the following applies:\n\nyou or your child might have coronavirus or you\u2019re recovering from it\nyou or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have coronavirus\nyou have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks by the NHS because you\u2019re at high risk of severe illness\n\nYou do not need to go into a Jobcentre Plus office to apply or get a payment.\nProcessing your application\nBecause of coronavirus (COVID-19), it might take longer than usual to process\nyour application and answer questions about it. We apologise for these delays\n\u2013 we know this is a difficult time.\nAdvance payments\nIf you do not have enough money to live on while you wait for your first\nUniversal Credit payment you can ask for an advance\npayment."}
{"_id":"UKtest266","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re employed and cannot work\nIf someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus\nYou must stay at home if someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus\n(COVID-19). This is sometimes known as \u2018self-isolating\u2019.\nIf you can work from home\nYou should work from home if you can. Speak to your employer about working\nfrom home.\nIf you cannot work from home\nTell your employer that a member of your household has symptoms of coronavirus\n(COVID-19) and that you must self-isolate. They should tell you if you\u2019re\ncovered by their sick leave or special leave policy.\nIf you cannot get sick pay from your employer, you might be able to get\nStatutory Sick Pay from day one of\nself-isolation."}
{"_id":"UKtest267","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re employed and cannot work\nFinancial support if you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nTell your employer that you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). They\nshould tell you if you\u2019re covered by their sick leave policy.\nAfter the first 7 days of absence, they may also ask you for an isolation note\nto show you cannot work because of coronavirus. You can get an isolation note\nfrom NHS 111 online.\nStatutory Sick Pay (SSP)\nIf you cannot get sick pay from your employer, you could get Statutory Sick\nPay (SSP) for every day you\u2019re in\nisolation. You must self isolate for at least 4 days to be eligible.\nIf your self-isolation began before 13 March 2020\nIf you were self-isolating before 13 March 2020 because you had symptoms, your\nSSP will begin from the fourth day.\nIf you were self-isolating before 13 March because someone in your household\nhad symptoms, you cannot get SSP.\nCheck you\u2019re eligible for SSP.\n*[SSP]: Statutory Sick Pay"}
{"_id":"UKtest268","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re self-employed and getting less work or no work\nClaim a grant if you\u2019ve lost income\nIf you\u2019re getting less work or no work because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you\nmight be able to claim a grant through the coronavirus Self-employment Income\nSupport Scheme."}
{"_id":"UKtest269","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re self-employed and getting less work or no work\nIf you cannot make a Self Assessment payment on account\nIf you are due to make a Self Assessment payment on account by 31 July 2020,\nyou can put off your payment\nuntil January 2021."}
{"_id":"UKtest270","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): what to do if you\u2019re self-employed and getting less work or no work\nOther financial support\nIf you\u2019re getting less work or no work because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you\ncan also:\n\napply online for Universal Credit\napply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work\n\nYou might also be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance if\none for the following applies:\n\nyou or your child might have coronavirus or you\u2019re recovering from it\nyou or your child are self-isolating because you came into contact with someone who might have coronavirus\nyou have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks by the NHS because you\u2019re at high risk of severe illness\n\nYou do not need to go into a Jobcentre Plus office to apply or get a payment.\nYour Universal Credit payment is based on your actual earnings. You need to\nreport any self-employed earnings and expenses at the end of each monthly\nassessment period.\nProcessing your application\nBecause of coronavirus (COVID-19), it might take longer than usual to process\nyour application and answer questions about it. We apologise for these delays\n\u2013 we know this is a difficult time.\nAdvance payments\nIf you do not have enough money to live on while you wait for your first\nUniversal Credit payment you can ask for an advance\npayment."}
{"_id":"UKtest271","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: How to help safely\nStay safe as a volunteer\nYou can leave the house to help someone, for example to take them food and\nmedicine.\nIf you are doing this, you must:\n\nstay outside their home if you do not live with them, especially if they are at a higher risk from coronavirus or have symptoms\nlimit the time you spend outside your home for example by picking up their food or medicine with yours\nstay 2 metres (6 ft) away if you do not live with them\nnot share a car with them\nregularly wash your hands with soapy water for at least 20 seconds\n\nIf you do not follow this advice, you could put yourself at risk of infection,\nor risk spreading it to others.\nIf you or someone in your household starts to show symptoms, or if you are at\nhigh risk of severe symptoms yourself, then you must stay at home. If you\nstill want to help, you can donate to the National Emergency\nTrust.\nIf you\u2019re worried about someone\u2019s health\nContact the NHS:\n\nOnline: NHS 111 online Coronavirus service (for help and advice)\nPhone: 111 (if symptoms get worse)\nPhone: 999 (if someone\u2019s life is at risk)\n\nIf you are worried about someone\u2019s mental health, tell them to get help and\nsupport from Every Mind Matters."}
{"_id":"UKtest272","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: How to help safely\nStay safe if a volunteer is helping you\nRead the guidance on staying at\nhome.\nIf a volunteer is helping you while you stay at home:\n\ndo not give them your credit or debit card numbers or other financial information\nask for ID if someone you do not know calls at your home\nonly share your phone number or address if you need to\nonly give your information on a need-to-know basis\ndo not let them pressure you into giving information\n\nRemember that volunteers should not enter your home.\nIf you have serious concerns about the behaviour of someone who is helping\nyou, report this to the police."}
{"_id":"UKtest273","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nEligibility\nYour MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months if it was due to expire on\nor after 30 March 2020 and your vehicle is a:\n\ncar\nmotorcycle\nlight van\nother light vehicle\n\nFirst MOT due\nThe extension also applies to these types of vehicles that are due their first\nMOT test on or after 30 March 2020.\nThere are different rules if your MOT expiry date was on or before 29 March\n2020."}
{"_id":"UKtest274","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nKeep your vehicle safe to drive\nYou must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (\u2018roadworthy\u2019). It can be\nunsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.\nFind out:\n\nhow to check your vehicle is safe\nwhat rules you need to follow to maintain your vehicle\n\nGet unsafe vehicles repaired\nTake your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage if it\u2019s unsafe.\nThese are allowed to stay open during the coronavirus outbreak.\nYou can be fined up to \u00a32,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points\nfor driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition."}
{"_id":"UKtest275","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nHow the 6-month extension works\nYour vehicle\u2019s MOT expiry date will be automatically extended by 6 months if\nit\u2019s eligible. This will be done about 7 days before it\u2019s due to expire.\nThis means that:\n\nyour vehicle will still have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 months\nyou can still tax your vehicle - you might need to wait to do this until later in the month if both your MOT and vehicle tax run out this month\nyour insurance will still be valid\nyour vehicle\u2019s record will be updated so the police can see you have a valid MOT\n\nYou will not get a new paper MOT certificate with the new expiry date on it.\nYou must still keep your vehicle safe to drive.\nExample Your vehicle\u2019s MOT was due to expire on 3 May 2020.\nThis will automatically be extended to 3 November 2020. You will need to get\nyour MOT by this date."}
{"_id":"UKtest276","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nWhat you need to do\nYour vehicle\u2019s MOT expiry date will be updated about 7 days before it was\noriginally due to expire.\n\n\nThree days before your MOT was originally due to expire, check the expiry date has been extended.\n\n\nIf the expiry date has not been extended 3 days before it was due to expire, email covid19mot@dvsa.gov.uk.\n\n\nYou need to include these details in the email:\n\nthe date your MOT expired\nyour vehicle registration number (number plate)\n\nThe Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then:\n\nupdate your vehicle\u2019s record\nemail you to tell you this has been done\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest277","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nIf your vehicle tax and MOT run out in May\nYou cannot renew your vehicle tax until your MOT expiry date has been\nextended. It will be extended a few days before it was originally due to\nexpire.\nThis means you might need to wait until later in May to tax your vehicle.\nCheck that the MOT expiry date has been extended before you tax your vehicle."}
{"_id":"UKtest278","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020\nIf you take your vehicle for its MOT and it fails\nYour MOT extension will no longer apply if you take your vehicle for its MOT\nand it fails.\nYour vehicle will need to be fixed and pass its MOT before you can use it\nagain.\nExample Your vehicle\u2019s MOT was originally due to expire on 3 May 2020, but\nhas been extended to 3 November 2020.\nYou take your vehicle for its MOT in August and it fails. You must stop using\nthe vehicle until it\u2019s fixed and passes another MOT test."}
{"_id":"UKtest279","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: specialist vehicle approval tests\nApply for a priority IVA test\nHow to apply\n\n\nApply for vehicle approval in the normal way if you have not already done this.\n\n\nDownload and fill in the Application for a priority examination form (PDF, 1.26MB, 4 pages)\n\n\nEmail the form to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).\n\n\nPriority IVA tests\nemergency.iva.test@dvsa.gov.uk\n[PDF]: Portable Document Format\n  [DVSA]: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency\n  *[ IVA]: individual vehicle approval"}
{"_id":"UKtest280","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: specialist vehicle approval tests\nApply for a priority IVA test\nYou can apply for a priority IVA test before 22 June 2020. Tests will be\nallocated on a priority basis.\nA limited number of tests are available. This means that:\n\nyou might not get an appointment for a test\nyour appointment might be changed if a higher-priority vehicle needs to be tested\n\nDepending on your vehicle, you might need:\n\na full inspection\na partial inspection\nto send photo or video evidence\n\n*[IVA]: individual vehicle approval"}
{"_id":"UKtest281","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: specialist vehicle approval tests\nIf your approval test was cancelled in March because of coronavirus\nYou\u2019ll get an email to tell you that your test has been rebooked. It will tell\nyou the new date and time of your test.\nYou will not get this email immediately - it should arrive around 2 weeks\nbefore your new test date.\nIt\u2019s likely that your new test date will be around 3 months after your\noriginal date."}
{"_id":"UKtest282","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus: specialist vehicle approval tests\nApply for a priority IVA test\nEligible vehicles\nWhen you apply, you need to say which of these 6 categories your vehicle is\nin.\nIf your vehicle is being used to support the coronavirus response you\u2019ll also\nneed to provide proof with your application - for example, a statement from\nthe vehicle operator saying what the vehicle will be used for.\n1. Vehicles critical to the coronavirus response\nA vehicle is critical to the coronavirus response if it is:\n\nan ambulance\nan emergency services vehicle\na hearse\nspecifically designed and built to transport patients that need medical treatment (it cannot have more than 8 seats in addition to the driver\u2019s seat)\n\n2. Goods vehicles being used to support the coronavirus response\nYou need to prove the goods vehicle will be used to support the coronavirus\nresponse (for example, transporting food products, household essentials,\nclinical or medical supplies).\n3. Vehicles manufactured in Great Britain\nThis includes vehicles that have had a second stage manufactured in Great\nBritain.\n4. European approved vehicles with an expired certificate of conformity\n5. Imported vehicles\nThis includes imported vehicles approved to a non-European standard.\n6. Amateur built or rebuilt vehicles\nFor example kit cars"}
{"_id":"UKtest283","title":"","text":"Guidance Critical workers who can access schools or educational settings\nCritical workers\nParents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work\nin health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many\nparents working in these sectors may be able to look after their child at\nhome, but attendance is strongly encouraged.\nPlease, therefore, also follow these key principles:\n\n\nIf a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.\n\n\nParents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.\n\n\nParents must do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially outside of school. They must observe the same social distancing principles as adults, as far as possible.\n\n\nResidential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.\n\n\nIf your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the\ncritical sectors listed below, then your children will be prioritised for\neducation provision and are strongly encouraged to attend.\nHealth and social care\nThis includes, but is not limited to, doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics,\nsocial workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff\nincluding volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain\nthe UK\u2019s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health\nand social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of\nmedicines and medical and personal protective equipment.\nEducation and childcare\nThis includes:\n\nchildcare\nsupport and teaching staff\nsocial workers\nspecialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach\n\nKey public services\nThis includes:\n\nthose essential to the running of the justice system\nreligious staff\ncharities and workers delivering key frontline services\nthose responsible for the management of the deceased\njournalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting\n\nLocal and national government\nThis only includes:\n\nthose administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response\nor delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies\n\nFood and other necessary goods\nThis includes those involved in food:\n\nproduction\nprocessing\ndistribution\nsale and delivery\nas well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines)\n\nPublic safety and national security\nThis includes:\n\npolice and support staff\nMinistry of Defence civilians\ncontractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 outbreak)\nfire and rescue service employees (including support staff)\nNational Crime Agency staff\nthose maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas\n\nTransport\nThis includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and\nfreight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including\nthose working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.\nUtilities, communication and financial services\nThis includes:\n\nstaff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure)\nthe oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage)\ninformation technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response\nkey staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services)\npostal services and delivery\npayments providers\nwaste disposal sectors\n\nIf your school is closed, then please contact your local\nauthority, who will seek to redirect\nyou to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.\nWe are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings\nfor continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of\nour country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this\ndisease."}
{"_id":"UKtest284","title":"","text":"Guidance Critical workers who can access schools or educational settings\nVulnerable children and young people\nDuring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, for the purposes of continued\nattendance at educational settings, vulnerable children and young people are\ndefined as those who:\n\nare assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child\nhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment\nhave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children\u2019s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued education provision - this might include children on the edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (\u2018not in employment, education or training\u2019), those who are young carers and others at the provider and local authority\u2019s discretion\n\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest285","title":"","text":"Guidance Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you choose to defer paying your VAT\nIf you choose to defer your VAT payment as a result of coronavirus, you must\npay the VAT due on or before 31 March 2021.\nYou do not need to tell HMRC that you\u2019re deferring your VAT payment.\nPayments made by Direct Debit\nIf you normally pay by Direct Debit you should cancel your Direct Debit\nthrough your bank as soon as possible so that HMRC will not automatically\ncollect any VAT due. You can cancel online if you\u2019re registered for online\nbanking."}
{"_id":"UKtest286","title":"","text":"Guidance Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nVAT payments you can defer\nYou can only defer:\n\nquarterly and monthly VAT returns\u2019 payments for the periods ending in February, March and April\npayments on account due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020\nannual accounting advance payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020\n\nThe deferral does not cover payments for VAT MOSS or import VAT.\nVAT repayments and returns\nHMRC will continue to process VAT reclaims and\nrefunds as normal and most repayments are\npaid within 5 working days.\nRepayments will not be offset against any deferred VAT, but they will be\noffset against existing debts.\nYou can apply online to move to monthly returns to improve your\ncashflow if you\u2019re in a repayment position.\nHow deferring VAT affects payments on account\nIf you defer a payment on account between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 but the balancing payment\nis outside of these dates, the amount you must pay is the balancing payment\nless any deferred payments. Deferring payments will not create a repayment.\nYou will still need to submit your VAT returns to HMRC on time."}
{"_id":"UKtest287","title":"","text":"Guidance Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to get help\nTime to pay arrangements are available to all businesses and individuals who\nare in temporary financial distress as a result of coronavirus. Time to pay\narrangements that started before 20 March 2020 should still be paid.\nIf you\u2019re struggling to pay your tax bill on time, or you\u2019re experiencing\nfinancial difficulties you can contact HMRC\u2019s Time to\nPay service.\nGet help online\nUse HMRC\u2019s digital assistant to find more\ninformation about the coronavirus support schemes.\nYou can also contact the HMRC coronavirus\nhelpline for help and advice."}
{"_id":"UKtest288","title":"","text":"Guidance Deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAfter the VAT deferral ends\nVAT payments that are due after the end of the deferral period will need to be\npaid as normal."}
{"_id":"UKtest289","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhen laptops and tablets will be delivered\nOrders will be delivered in May and June."}
{"_id":"UKtest290","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHow to apply for this support\nLocal authorities, academy trusts and other relevant organisations overseeing\nschools and social care can apply. These organisations have been sent\ninformation on how to order a device.\nSchools, parents and pupils do not need to apply for internet access or\ndigital devices themselves."}
{"_id":"UKtest291","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nGet help using online education platforms\nSchools can apply for government-funded support through The Key for School\nLeaders and access one of\ntwo free-to-use digital education platforms: G Suite for Education or Office\n365 Education. The Key also provides feature comparison and case studies on\nhow schools are making the most of these platforms.\nOrganisations can use the EdTech Demonstrator Programme to contact a network of schools and colleges who are\nalready using remote education technology resources for help and support.\nRead the other guidance on remote education during coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nRead other guidance on social care during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"UKtest292","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nLocal authority and academy trust responsibilities\nLocal authorities are responsible for ordering and distributing laptops and\ntablets to:\n\ncare leavers and children with a social worker\nyear 10 pupils in maintained schools, including voluntary aided schools, who do not have a social worker\n\nLocal authorities should work with schools to assess which pupils require a\nlaptop or tablet.\nAcademy trusts are responsible for ordering and distributing laptops and\ntablets to year 10 pupils who:\n\ndo not have a social worker\nare not a care leaver\ndo not have access to a laptop or tablet through another source\n\nLocal authorities and academy trusts will own the laptops and tablets they\nreceive, and loan them to children and young people."}
{"_id":"UKtest293","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat happens during the application and ordering process\nAll local authorities and academy trusts should follow the same steps to apply\nfor and receive devices. The timelines will be different for each\norganisation, because we\u2019re prioritising delivery in this order:\n\ncare leavers and children with a social worker\ndisadvantaged year 10 children\n\nThe application and ordering steps are:\n\nOrganisations are asked to complete an online form from the Department for Education\u2019s delivery partner. The form asks the organisation to forecast the number of laptops and tablets they need, and choose between a Google or Microsoft operating system.\nOrganisations will be contacted by the Department for Education to confirm the number of laptops and tablets they have been allocated.\nOrganisations will be asked to register with the delivery partner\u2019s online system ready to place their order when stock is available. It may take a few weeks for devices to be prepared and loaded onto the ordering system.\nThe delivery partner will notify each organisation when laptops and tablets are available to be ordered.\nLaptops and tablets will be delivered within 5 working days of placing the order.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest294","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWho can receive digital devices and internet access\nLaptops and tablets will be provided for disadvantaged families, children and\nyoung people who do not currently have access to them through another source,\nsuch as their school. Digital devices can be requested for:\n\ncare leavers\nchildren and young people aged 0 to 19 with a social worker\ndisadvantaged year 10 pupils\n\nInternet access will be provided through 4G hotspot devices for any of the\nfollowing people who do not currently have it:\n\ncare leavers\nyoung people aged 11 to 19 with a social worker\ndisadvantaged year 10 pupils\n\nPeople aged 16 to 19 without a suitable device for education may be eligible\nfor support through the 16 to 19 Bursary\nFund."}
{"_id":"UKtest295","title":"","text":"Guidance Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nGetting laptops and tablets to children and young people\nLaptops and tablets will be delivered directly to the schools or local\nauthorities named in the application.\nOrganisations can:\n\narrange for them to be collected by families from school (with a social worker present where relevant)\norganise for them to be delivered to children\u2019s and care leavers\u2019 homes\n\nThis should be done in accordance with social distancing\nguidelines."}
{"_id":"UKtest296","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n4. Property searches and surveys\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nYour legal representative should be able to carry out searches on your\nproperty online in order to progress your transaction and you can contact them\nto discuss likely timescales.\nYour surveyor can undertake surveys of the property you wish to purchase.\nThere are no restrictions on the types of survey that can be carried out and\nyou should talk to your surveyor to understand the most appropriate type of\nsurvey for the home you intend to purchase.\nOn custom and self build projects, surveyors can visit plots you wish to\npurchase and undertake valuations to support the release of staged payment\nmortgages.\n\nSurveyors should not enter a property where a member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating.\nWhere possible we encourage inspections to take place by appointment only, with one person visiting the property at any time. Surveyors should follow government guidance for professionals working in other people\u2019s homes and guidance on social distancing.\nIf your home is being surveyed, you should ensure the surveyor has access to all the parts of the property they need to inspect, and make efforts to minimise contact with the surveyor, for example by staying in another room whilst they are inspecting your home.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest297","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nSurveyors and EPC assessors\nSurveyors and EPC assessors are free to visit properties to carry out surveys.\nSurveyors should follow the latest government guidance for working in other\npeople\u2019s homes. Where surveys are carried out, all public health guidance on\nsocial distancing must be\nfollowed. Companies should ensure employees understand how to operate safely\nand communicate this to customers.\n\nSurveyors should contact the owners of the property to be surveyed prior to the survey to make sure they understand which areas will be surveyed and ensure that all doors and access panels are open and surfaces have been cleaned with household cleaning products in line with public health advice. During a visit, members of the household should follow social distancing guidance, staying 2 metres away wherever possible, for example by staying in another room.\nNo work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild or anyone who has been asked to self-isolate.\nSurveyors should wash their hands immediately upon entering the property, using separate towels or paper towels which need to be washed or disposed of safely after use.\nSurveyors should be clear in any reports about areas which they weren\u2019t able to inspect due to public health limitations.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest298","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nDevelopers and new build sales\nDevelopers can continue with sales during this period but should ensure that\ntheir sales teams follow the government\u2019s safer working\nguidance. Developers should inform consumers and their own staff about their\nprocedures, so that they are safe throughout the sales process.\n\nWhere possible, developers should promote virtual viewings.\nWhere physical viewings do take place, including visits to show homes, these should be by appointment with one household visiting one property at a time.\nDevelopers should clean surfaces between viewings.\nFor new reservations and contracts, developers should work with conveyancers to ensure contracts take account of the risks posed by coronavirus, including building in flexibility in case move dates need to change as a result of someone falling ill with coronavirus or needing to self-isolate.\nDevelopers should do what they can to support anyone with coronavirus symptoms or self-isolating, and those they are in chain with, to agree a new date.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest299","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nTradespeople\nMoving home is often a time when people want to undertake work to improve\ntheir new home or prepare their old home for sale. This work can involve\nfitting new kitchens, redecorating, and other home improvement work. This work\nis also important when people aren\u2019t moving home. It is a key way for\nhouseholds and landlords to improve the home environment and address poor\nquality accommodation while also providing important work for tradespeople\nwho\u2019s businesses have been affected by the virus.\nTradespeople should follow the follow the government\u2019s safer working guidance.\nCompanies should ensure employees understand how to operate safely and\ncommunicate this to customers.\n\nTradespeople should contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If they are, works should be delayed.\nNo work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.\nTradespeople should wash their hands on entering the property using separate towels of paper towels which need to be washed or disposed of safely after use.\nTradespeople should seek to minimise contact with homeowners and remain 2 metres apart from householders at all times.\nTradespeople should implement a buddy system and ensure that the same people work together where this is needed.\nTradespeople should bring their own refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest300","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n2. Viewings\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nPeople should use virtual viewings before visiting properties in person where\npossible, in order to minimise public health risks. If any member of either\nthe household being viewed, or the household undertaking a viewing is showing\nsymptoms of coronavirus or is self-isolating, then a physical viewing should\nbe delayed. All viewings should take place by appointment and only involve\nmembers of a single household.\n\nWe encourage people to do their property searching online wherever possible. Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and physical viewings should only be conducted where buyers are seriously considering making an offer on a property.\nTo support this, agents may ask home occupiers to conduct virtual viewings. This will help reduce the number of properties people need to visit before finding their future home.\nViewings should be conducted by appointment only and no open house viewings should take place.\nIf your property is being viewed, you should open all the internal doors prior to the viewing, and allow access to handwashing facilities and ideally separate towels\/paper towels.\nAs most people choose to do, we encourage that you vacate your property whilst viewings are taking place in order to minimise your contact with those not in your household.\nWhen viewing a property, all parties should wash their hands and avoid touching surfaces where possible. Agents will ask you to restrict the number of people who accompany you on a viewing so that social distancing can be practised, and only those in your immediate household should be there.\nWe expect agents to accompany clients on a viewing but follow social distancing rules wherever possible. Where viewings are unaccompanied, agents should make sure viewers and homeowners understand how they should conduct themselves.\nOnce the viewing has taken place, the homeowner should ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned with standard household cleaning products and towels disposed of safely or washed as appropriate.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest301","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nNew Build Home Warranty Assessments and claims against the warranty\nInspectors can carry out warranty assessments on new build properties\nincluding self and custom build. Inspectors should follow public health\nguidance on social\ndistancing and guidance for\nworking in other people\u2019s homes. Companies should ensure employees\nunderstand how to operate safely and communicate this to customers.\n\nNew build warranty providers can continue to provide a normal service to homebuilders and consumers, including site visits and inspections.\nNo work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild or anyone who has been asked to self-isolate.\nInspectors should contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If they are, works should be delayed.\nWhere residents are making a claim against their new build warranty, in the first instance they should speak with the warranty provider. Where possible the warranty providers should investigate claims remotely using video or photo evidence. If this is not possible and an inspector needs to visit an occupied property, this should be done by appointment and measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised, for example with residents staying in another room during the visit.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest302","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\nWhat does this mean for my property move or purchase which is scheduled whilst measures to fight coronavirus apply?\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nPeople are free to move home, however the process of finding and moving into a\nnew home is likely to be different, as those involved in the process will need\nto adapt practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of\ncoronavirus is reduced as far as possible. It is vital that everyone stays\nalert and safe.\n\nInitial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and property agents should help you to do this.\nAll physical viewings should be limited to members of the same household and open house viewings should not take place.\nWhen physically viewing properties, where possible, you should avoid touching surfaces, wash your hands regularly, and bring your own hand sanitiser. The number of people on a viewing should be minimised to those from your household that absolutely have to be there. If you need to be accompanied by small children, you should try to keep them from touching surfaces and ensure they wash their hands regularly.\nIf people are being shown around your current home, you should open all internal doors and ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned after each viewing with standard household cleaning products.\nAs most people choose to, we recommend that you vacate your property whilst viewings are taking place in order to minimise your contact with those not in your household.\nAnyone involved in any aspect of the home moving process should practice social distancing in line with public health advice.\nWhen moving between properties, you and those in your household should try to do as much of the packing yourself as you can. Where this is not possible, you should speak to removal firms in advance. There is further advice about this below.\nIf you are particularly worried about the risk of infection, then speak to the professionals involved, your landlord, estate agent or removers as they may be able to put in place extra measures.\n\nEveryone involved in the moving process must follow social\ndistancing to minimise the\nspread of the virus."}
{"_id":"UKtest303","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nConveyancers\nConveyancers can open for business and can take on new instructions. They\nshould make sure their clients are aware of the differences in completing\ntransactions during this period.\n\nConveyancers should aim to conduct as much of their business remotely as possible.\nWhere client meetings need to take place, measures should be put in place to ensure appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures.\nConveyancers should do what they can to promote flexibility making provisions for the risks presented by coronavirus, for example when advising their clients who are ready to move not to exchange contracts on an occupied property unless they have made explicit provision for the risks presented by the virus.\nConveyancers should prioritise support for anyone who is clinically vulnerable or shielding, or with symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating to agree a new date to move.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest304","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\nPeople self-isolating or having tested positive for coronavirus\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nMoving home is not appropriate whilst you pose a direct risk of transmitting\ncoronavirus. People who have coronavirus or are self-isolating with their\nfamily member should not leave their home to either move home, or undertake\nproperty viewings.\nIf you are contractually committed to move home, you should delay your move\nuntil all members of your household have come to the end of their self-\nisolation period. All parties involved in home buying and selling should\nprioritise agreeing amicable arrangements to change move dates for\nindividuals, or where someone in a chain or their family member is self-\nisolating or has tested positive for coronavirus.\nShould a move be essential for people in this category, for instance due to an\nurgent health and safety risk, please contact Public Health England\/local\npublic health teams for advice."}
{"_id":"UKtest305","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nSocial landlords\nAllocation by local housing authorities is governed by Part 6 of the Housing\nAct 1996 and\nauthorities must have regard to statutory guidance. Registered providers of\nsocial housing should refer to the relevant regulatory\nstandards\nset out by the Regulator of Social Housing.\nLandlords will need to consider how to carry out their activities in line with\nthe government\u2019s advice on social distancing in the\nworkplace). Practices should also be altered in line with this wider\nguidance, including:\n\nproperty inspections for vacating tenants\ncollecting returned keys\nconducting viewings\nconducting tenancy sign-ups\npreparing homes to be re-let\n\nSome applicants and tenants may be anxious about moving at this time. It will\nbe important to ensure that they are not put under undue pressure to move, if\nthey are not ready or able to do so.\nIt will also be important to discuss with applicants and tenants their state\nof health, level of vulnerability and their arrangements for moving (including\nany assistance required) before proceeding with the move.\nLandlords should avoid moving tenants who are showing symptoms of coronavirus\nor self-isolating. There may be exceptions to this (e.g. safety reasons) and\nin these scenarios landlords should speak to the local Public Health team\nabout appropriate infection control measures before taking any action.\nLandlords should also avoid moving residents who are shielding because they\nhave been notified they are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group. If a\nhome move is required, the landlord should speak to the local Public Health\nteam for advice on appropriate measures to protect the resident.\nTenants seeking mutual exchange should be directed to the Advice to the public\nsection above.\nRight to Buy\nThe Right to Buy is governed by Part 5 of the Housing Act\n1985 which sets out the\nright of eligible social tenants to purchase the home they currently rent and\noccupy; and the timescales for doing this.\nTenants have the right to purchase their home within the provisions of the\nlegislation. The government recognises that the measures put in place to\ncombat coronavirus are likely to make it difficult for councils to process\nRight to Buy applications within the statutory timescales.\nLandlords will want to consider how best they can manage the application\nprocess to ensure tenants are able to take up their Right to Buy within a\nreasonable timescale, while acting in accordance with government guidelines on\nsocial distancing.\nThis could include options around:\n\nvaluations of properties\nfraud prevention measures\nthe issuing of documentation\nusing the discretion provided to them within the legislation\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest306","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\nVulnerable people or those shielding\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nWe recognise people who are shielding or otherwise vulnerable may also have\npressing needs to move home; however, this should be balanced with the\nincreased risks presented by coronavirus.\nIn line with government\u2019s advice, those who are shielding or otherwise\nclinically vulnerable should ensure they are aware of the medical\nadvice, including on\nstaying at home and avoiding unnecessary contacts over this period, if at all\npossible. All parties involved in home buying and selling should prioritise\nagreeing amicable arrangements to change move dates for individuals in this\ngroup, or where someone in a chain is in this group.\nClinically vulnerable and shielded individuals (ie those who have received a\nletter advising they are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group) will\nneed to carefully consider their personal situation and the circumstances of\ntheir own move and may wish to seek medical advice before deciding whether to\ncommit to or go ahead with a move. Some moves are likely to be lower risk -\nfor instance if the home is empty, all travel can take place in their own\ntransport and they can avoid contact with others.\nWe would encourage everyone in these categories who does intend to move, to\nmake clear their status to all of the professionals involved in the process.\nThey may be able to implement additional precautionary measures to further\nprotect you."}
{"_id":"UKtest307","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n5. Agreeing to move\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nOnce you have agreed to move home by exchanging contracts or signing a tenancy\nagreement, you have entered into a legal agreement to move. We encourage all\nparties to be as flexible as possible over this period and be prepared to\ndelay moves if needed, for example if someone becomes ill with coronavirus\nduring the moving process or has to self-isolate. You should not expect to\nmove into any home where people are ill or self-isolating.\n\nYour legal adviser should be able to help you to ensure that any contract you enter into has sufficient flexibility to allow the purchase to be delayed in the event that an individual in one of the parties contracts coronavirus or has to self-isolate.\nWe encourage you to be as flexible as possible if you are asked to delay your move, and in turn, you can speak to your legal advisor about this.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest308","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n3. Making offers or reservations\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nYou are free to make or accept an offer or reserve a property as normal.\n\nThere is a greater risk that parties may need to delay their move because someone is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. Where needed your legal adviser should advise you and help make sure that any contracts or agreements are as flexible as possible to accommodate this risk.\nProspective purchasers may wish to visit a property again once they have agreed a sale, for example to measure up. Where this has been agreed to, the above advice on prioritising virtual visits, hygiene measures, maintaining social distancing at all times and mitigating contact where possible should be followed.\nPurchasers may also want to send in tradespeople to carry out inspections. Where possible these should be scheduled with one person visiting the property at any time. No tradespeople should enter a property where a member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. Where a tradesperson is visiting the property, the occupier should maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and minimise contact as far as possible, for example by staying in another room. These visits should be carried out in line with government safer working guidance.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest309","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n1. Preparing to buy, sell or move home\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nYou can put your home on the market and start to look for properties you want\nto move into. If any member of the household being viewed is showing symptoms\nor is self-isolating then estate agents should not physically visit the\nproperty.\n\nYou can begin to market your home and estate agents are able to visit in order to take photos\/videos of the property.\nTo help prevent the spread of infection, we encourage people to do the majority of their property searching online; for example only physically viewing those properties which you believe you are most likely to want to move into.\nAs usual, you can also start to bring together the documentation necessary to sell your property (more information on these documents is available in the government\u2019s guidance on how to sell homes).\nIf you wish to buy a new build property you should make contact with the developer in the usual way. You should be able to view the show home or visit the particular plot you are interested in purchasing, although there will be appointment systems in place.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest310","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nAll businesses should follow the government\u2019s latest guidance for employers\nand businesses on coronavirus and safer working\nguidance.\nAs well as government guidance, we encourage all professionals to speak to\ntheir representative bodies and familiarise themselves with the guidance that\nthese bodies have prepared for their specific sectors.\nIt is important that all businesses work together to ensure we stay alert and\nsafe to minimise the\nspread of infection and we expect all sectors to consider how they can operate\nin a way which minimises the need for face to face contact."}
{"_id":"UKtest311","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to the public\n6. Moving your belongings\nMore detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and\nselling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out\nin the next section.\nRemoval firms are able to operate, although they may need to adjust usual\nprocedures in order to ensure moves happen as safely as possible.\n\nWe encourage you to contact removal firms as early as possible in advance of your move.\nYou and your household should also try and do as much of the packing yourself as possible. However, where you are using a removals firm, you may wish to talk to them in advance to discuss packing and in particular, the arrangements for packing fragile items.\nWe ask that, where possible, you clean your belongings, with standard domestic cleaning products before they are handled by others, including removal firms.\nWhilst the removers are in your home, you should ensure any internal doors are open and seek to minimise your contact with the crew, maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres where possible.\nAll parties should wash their hands and avoid touching surfaces where possible to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.\nYou should not provide refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest312","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nEstate agents\nEstate agents can open for business but should consider how and when to reopen\ntheir premises given government guidance on safer\nworking. Estate agents should inform customers and their own staff about\ntheir procedures, so that they are safe throughout the sales process.\n\nAgents should ask whether any party is showing symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate before going ahead with any viewing, or visits to offices.\nAgents should operate using an appointment system for visits to their offices and when conducting viewings.\nAgents should not carry out any open house viewings.\nAgents should strongly encourage clients to view properties virtually in the first instance and then only physically inspect properties which they have a strong interest in.\nAgents can accompany physical viewings and seek to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from others wherever possible. Where social distancing is not possible and the visit is within an enclosed space, they should consider wearing a face covering in line with government guidance.\nWhere they do not accompany the visit, they should make sure that both buyers and sellers clearly understand how the viewing should be conducted safely.\nAgents should not drive clients to appointments.\nAll parties viewing a property should wash their hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser if not available) immediately after entering the properties, with internal doors opened and surfaces having been wiped down before they enter. Separate towels or paper towels should be used if possible and washed or disposed of safely after use.\nAgents should do what they can to promote flexibility when arranging move dates, for example advising clients to ensure contracts have explicit terms to manage the timing risks presented by coronavirus.\nAgents should work with their clients and other agents to broker a new date to move where sales are due to complete and one of the parties falls ill with coronavirus or has to self-isolate.\nAgents should ensure that any keys are appropriately cleaned before handover.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest313","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nRemovals firms\nRemoval firms are able to operate and should follow the latest government\nguidance on safer working. Where moves are carried out, social\ndistancing should be\nfollowed. Companies should ensure employees understand how to operate safely\nand communicate this to customers.\n\nRemovers should contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If they are, works should be delayed.\nThey should also encourage households to ensure all internal doors are open and surfaces and possessions have been cleaned with household cleaning products prior to them entering the property.\nNo work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.\nRemovers should wash their hands on entering the property using separate towels of paper towels which need to be washed or disposed of safely after use.\nRemovers should seek to minimise contact with homeowners and remain 2 metres apart from householders at all times.\nRemovers should implement a buddy system and ensure that the same people work together when moving bulky items and furniture.\nRemovers should bring their own refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest314","title":"","text":"Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdvice to industry\nLetting agents and private landlords\nTenants\u2019 safety should be letting agents\u2019 and landlords\u2019 first priority. The\ngovernment has put in place protections for tenants during the coronavirus\noutbreak, including legislation to delay when landlords are able to start\nproceedings to evict tenants. This means until 30 September 2020, most\nlandlords will not be able to start possession proceedings unless they have\ngiven their tenants three-months\u2019 notice.\nThis guidance for landlords and letting agents is to help them safely let\nempty properties, or properties which tenants are voluntarily vacating. While\nbroader measures to protect tenants during the coronavirus outbreak remain in\nplace, letting agents and landlords should endeavour to avoid ending tenancies\nwhere the tenant wants and is able to stay.\nLetting agents and landlords should be aware of and follow government\nguidance on coronavirus and\nrenting, which explains these\nprotections in greater detail, and make sure tenants are aware of this\nguidance.\n\nPrivate landlords and letting agents should not conduct viewings in properties where tenants are symptomatic or self-isolating, or where it has been determined that they are clinically extremely vulnerable and are shielding.\nIn other cases, where viewings can proceed, they should be conducted in line with the guidance on viewings earlier in this document.\nAny visits to a property must be made in accordance with government\u2019s guidelines on working in other people\u2019s homes and social distancing.\nIf possible, necessary repairs, gas and electrical safety checks should be conducted in the period between a property being vacated and a new tenant moving in. If this is not possible and visits are needed to an occupied property, this should be done by appointment with measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised, for example with residents staying in another room during the visit.\nLandlords should make every effort to abide by gas and electrical safety requirements, which continue to be of great importance for tenants\u2019 safety. This may be more difficult due to restrictions associated with the coronavirus outbreak, for example where a tenant has coronavirus symptoms, is self-isolating or shielding. Under such circumstances, provided the landlord can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to comply, they would not be in breach. See further Health and Safety Executive guidance on how to deal with specific circumstances. Letting agents may also want to consider obtaining landlord and tenant consent for inventory clerk appointments to also occur before a tenant moves in or after a tenant moves out during vacant periods if possible.\nLetting agents and landlords should take steps to ensure any properties are prepared ready for new tenants, this may include cleaning to minimise any potential spread of the virus in line with government advice.\nLetting agents and landlords should consider how best to conduct tenancy check-ins for new tenancies agreed while broader measures remain in place, taking care to follow government advice on social distancing to minimise possible spread of coronavirus.\nLetting agents and landlords are reminded of the temporary COVID-19 measures that adjust right to rent checks, temporarily allowing these checks to be conducted remotely. Lettings agents and landlords should consider other areas where in person payments, referencing or checks can be conducted remotely instead and take further advice if required.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest315","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nEnding household isolation\nIf living with others, then all household members who remain well may end\nhousehold-isolation after 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day\nillness began in the first person to become ill. Fourteen days is the\nincubation period for coronavirus; people who remain well after 14 days are\nunlikely to be infectious.\nAfter 7 days, if the first person to become ill feels better and no longer has\na high temperature, they can return to their normal routine. If any other\nfamily members become unwell during the 14-day household-isolation period,\nthey should follow the same advice - that is, after 7 days of their symptoms\nstarting, if they feel better and no longer have a high temperature, they can\nalso return to their normal routine.\nA COVID-19 cough or anosmia may persist for several weeks in some people,\ndespite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough or\nanosmia does not mean someone must continue to self-isolate for more than 7\ndays\nShould a household member develop coronavirus symptoms late in the 14-day\nhousehold-isolation period (for example, on day 13 or day 14) the isolation\nperiod does not need to be extended, but the person with the new symptoms has\nto stay at home for at least 7 days. The 14-day household-isolation period\nwill have greatly reduced the overall amount of infection the rest of the\nhousehold could pass on, and it is not necessary to restart 14 days of\nisolation for the whole household. This will have provided a high level of\ncommunity protection. Further isolation of members of this household will\nprovide very little additional community protection.\nAt the end of the 14-day period, any family member who has not become unwell\ncan leave household isolation. See the explanatory\ndiagram.\nAll members of the household should continue to follow government guidelines\non Staying at home and away from others (social\ndistancing) and Social distancing for everyone in the\nUK."}
{"_id":"UKtest316","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nLooking after your wellbeing while staying at home\nWe know that staying at home for a prolonged period can be difficult,\nfrustrating and lonely for some people and that you or other household members\nmay feel low. It can be particularly challenging if you don\u2019t have much space\nor access to a garden.\nIt\u2019s important to remember to take care of your mind as well as your body and\nto get support if you need it. Stay in touch with family and friends over the\nphone or on social media. There are also sources of support and information\nthat can help, such as the Every Mind Matters\nwebsite.\nThink about things you can do during your time at home. People who have not\nminded staying at home for a week have kept themselves busy with activities\nsuch as cooking, reading, online learning and watching films.\nDaily physical activity is important for health and wellbeing, including\nmanaging stress, positive feelings and sleep. You can look for ideas of\nexercises you can do at home on the NHS website. If you feel well enough you can take\npart in light exercise within your home. For family members who are 70 or over\nand are not symptomatic, it is important to avoid contact with other family\nmembers as much as possible (see guidance above on persons age 70 or over.\nMany people find it helpful to remind themselves why what they are doing is so\nimportant. Hopefully, none of your family will suffer more than flu-like\nsymptoms. But some people are badly affected by coronavirus, and particularly\nthe elderly and those with certain medical conditions. By staying home, you\nare protecting the lives of others, as well as making sure the NHS does not\nget overwhelmed.\nRemember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so\nyou may end up providing support to them too. Or you can use a NHS\nrecommended helpline.\nSee more Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects\nof coronavirus\n(COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"UKtest317","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWill my household be tested if we think we have coronavirus symptoms?\nNo, testing for coronavirus is not needed if you\u2019re staying at home and remain\nwell enough to stay at home."}
{"_id":"UKtest318","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nIf you have a person aged 70 or over living with you\nYou should take the following actions:\nMinimise as much as possible the time they spend in shared spaces such as\nkitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.\nAim to keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from the person(s) aged 70 or over and\nencourage them to sleep in a different bed where possible. If they can, they\nshould use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. Make sure they\nuse separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying\nthemselves after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.\nIf you do share a toilet and bathroom with a person aged 70 or over, it is\nimportant that you clean the facilities every time you use them (for example,\nwiping surfaces you have come into contact with). Another tip is to consider\ndrawing up a rota for bathing, with the older person using the facilities\nfirst.\nIf you share a kitchen with a person aged 70 or over, avoid using it while\nthey are present. If they can, they should take their meals back to their room\nto eat. If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family\u2019s used\ncrockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual\nwashing up liquid and warm water and dry them thoroughly. If the person aged\n70 or over is using their own crockery and cutlery, remember to use a separate\ntea towel for drying these.\nWe understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves\nfrom others at home. You should do your very best to follow this guidance and\neveryone in your household should:\n\nwash their hands more frequently, for 20 seconds, with soap and water; and avoid touching their face\nregularly clean frequently touched surfaces\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest319","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nAdvice for the children in the household\nThis guidance applies to children of all ages.\nKeep following the Stay at home guidance for households with possible\ncoronavirus to the best of your ability, however, we are aware that\nnot all these measures will be possible.\nWhat we have seen so far is that children with coronavirus appear to be less\nseverely affected. It is nevertheless important to do your best to follow this\nguidance.\nChildren who are part of a household that is following guidance on staying at\nhome due to possible coronavirus should take exercise within their home.\nChildren who are part of a household that is following guidance on staying at\nhome due to possible coronavirus should not be attending school or any\nchildcare settings even if they are children of key workers.\nChildren should also be encouraged to follow good hygiene \u2013 frequent\nhandwashing with soap and water and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth\nwith unwashed hands."}
{"_id":"UKtest320","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhat can you do to reduce the risk of becoming unwell with coronavirus (COVID-19)?\nIf you are aged 70 or over, or are otherwise clinically vulnerable, you should\nrefer to our guidance on social distancing for everyone in the\nUK.\nIf you live with someone who is aged 70 or over, or is otherwise clinically\nvulnerable, you should refer to our household\nguidance and guidance on Staying at home and away from\nothers.\nIf you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you should follow the guidance on\nshielding.\nMembers of a household, living with someone who is extremely vulnerable should\nbe very strict in following guidance on social\ndistancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest321","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nMake a plan for your household or family\nMake a plan for how you can adapt your daily routine, and that of others in\nyour household, in case a member of your household develops symptoms of\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) and you are required to undertake household isolation.\nSome of the ways in which you could prepare include:\n\ntalk to your neighbours and family and exchange phone numbers\nconsider and plan for those in your home who are aged 70 or over, or otherwise clinically vulnerable.\ncreate a contact list with phone numbers of neighbours, schools, employer, chemist, NHS 111\nset up online shopping accounts if possible\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest322","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nIf you or your family need to seek medical advice\nSeek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness in any household\nmembers is worsening. If it\u2019s not an emergency, contact NHS 111\nonline. If you have no internet access, you should call\nNHS 111. For any emergency conditions, if you need to call an ambulance, dial\n999 and inform the call handler or operator if you or your relative have\ncoronavirus symptoms as well as any emergency conditions.\nAll routine medical and dental appointments should usually be cancelled whilst\nyou and the family are staying at home. If you are concerned or have been\nasked to attend in person within the period you are home isolating, discuss\nthis with your medical contact first (for example, your GP, local hospital or\noutpatient service), using the number they have provided. If your concerns are\nrelated to your coronavirus symptoms contact NHS 111\nonline. If you have no internet access, you should call\nNHS 111."}
{"_id":"UKtest323","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nSymptoms\nThe most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any\nof the following:\n\na new continuous cough\na high temperature\na loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)\n\nFor most people coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you\nhave any of the symptoms above you should self-isolate at home."}
{"_id":"UKtest324","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhy staying at home is very important\nIt is very important that individuals with symptoms that may be due to\ncoronavirus and their household members stay at home. Staying at home will\nhelp control the spread of the virus to friends, the wider community, and\nparticularly the most vulnerable.\nThose with symptoms should remain at home for at least 7 days after the onset\nof their symptoms as set out in the stay-at-home\nguidance. This will reduce the risk of you\ninfecting others.\nIf one of you has symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus, then household\nmembers must also stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days as set out\nin the stay-at-home\nguidance and the ending household isolation\nsection below. You should not go out even to buy food or other essentials\nunless you have no other means to secure them, and any exercise should be\ntaken within your home. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first\nperson in your house became ill.\nIf you are having food or other essentials delivered to your house, the person\nwho is delivering the items should not come into your home. Staying at home\nfor 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household\ncould pass on to others in the community.\nStaying at home may be difficult and frustrating, but there are things that\nyou can do to help make it easier. These include:\n\nplan ahead and think about what you will need in order to be able to stay at home for the full 7 or 14 days\ntalk to your employer, friends and family to ask for their help to access the things you will need to make your stay at home a success\nthink about and plan how you can get access to food and other supplies such as medications that you will need during this period\nask friends or family to drop off anything you need or order supplies online, but make sure these are left outside your home for you to collect\nmake sure that you keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media\nthink about things you can do during your time at home. People who have successfully completed a period of staying at home have kept themselves busy with activities such as cooking, reading, online learning and watching films\nmany people find it helpful to plan out the full 14 days, such as on a make-shift calendar. You may also find it helpful to plan in advance what you will do if, for example, someone in the household were to feel much worse, such as have difficulties breathing\nwhen you are feeling better, remember that physical exercise can be good for your wellbeing. Look for online classes or courses that can help you take light exercise in your home\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest325","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nHelping children and young people cope with stress\nThere are some key points you can consider about how to support your child or\nyoung person, including:\nListen and acknowledge: Children and young people may respond to stress in\ndifferent ways. Signs may be emotional (for example, they may be upset,\ndistressed, anxious, angry or agitated), behavioural (for example, they may\nbecome more clingy or more withdrawn, or they may wet the bed), or physical\n(for example, they may experience stomach aches).\nLook out for any changes in their behaviour. Children and young people may\nfeel less anxious if they are able to express and communicate their feelings\nin a safe and supportive environment. Children and young people who\ncommunicate differently to their peers may rely on you to interpret their\nfeelings. Listen to them, acknowledge their concern and give them extra love\nand attention if they need it.\nMindEd is a free online educational resource on\nchildren and young people\u2019s mental health for all adults, which can support\nparents and carers through these exceptional circumstances.\nProvide clear information about the situation: Children and young people\nwant to feel assured that their parents and carers can keep them safe. One of\nthe best ways to achieve this is by talking openly about what is happening and\nproviding honest answers to any questions they have. Explain what is being\ndone to keep them and their loved ones safe, including any actions they can\ntake to help, such as washing their hands more often than usual. Use words and\nexplanations that they can understand. There are resources available to help\nyou do this, including the Children\u2019s Commissioner\u2019s Children\u2019s Guide to\nCoronavirus, or the Inter-\nAgency Standing Committee (IASC) have produced a storybook developed by and\nfor children around the world affected by coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nMake sure you use reliable sources of information such as\nGOV.UK or the NHS\nwebsite \u2013 there is a lot\nof misleading information from other sources that can create stress for you\nand your family. It will not always be possible to provide answers to all the\nquestions that children and young people may ask, or to address all their\nconcerns, so focus on listening and acknowledging their feelings to help them\nfeel supported.\nBe aware of your own reactions: Remember that children and young people\noften take their emotional cues from the important adults in their lives, so\nhow you respond to the situation is very important. It is important to manage\nyour own emotions and remain calm, listen to and acknowledge children and\nyoung people\u2019s concerns, speak kindly to them, and answer any questions they\nhave honestly. For further information on how to look after your own mental\nwellbeing during the pandemic, see the guidance on how to look after your own\nmental health and\nwellbeing or visit Every\nMind Matters.\nConnect regularly: If it is necessary for you and your children to be in\ndifferent locations to normal (for example, due to staying at home in\ndifferent locations or hospitalisation) make sure you still have regular and\nfrequent contact via the phone or video calls with them. Try to help your\nchild understand what arrangements are being made for them and why in simple\nterms. Support safe ways for children and young people to maintain social\ninteraction with their friends, for example via phone or video calls.\nCreate a new routine: Life is changing for all of us for a while. Routine\ngives children and young people an increased feeling of safety in the context\nof uncertainty, so think about how to develop a new routine, especially if\nthey are not at school:\n\nmake a plan for the day or week that includes time for learning, playing and relaxing\nif they have to stay home from school, ask teachers what you can do to support continued learning at home. The Department for Education have published a list of recommended online educational resources for home schooling\nencourage maintaining a balance between being on and offline and discover new ideas for activities to do from home. The Children\u2019s Commissioner guide signposts to some ideas to help fight boredom\nchildren and young people ideally need to be active for 60 minutes a day, which can be more difficult when spending longer periods of time indoors. Plan time outside if you can do so safely or see Change4Life for ideas for indoor games and activities\ndon\u2019t forget that sleep is important for mental and physical health, so try to keep to existing bedtime routines\nit may be tempting to give children and young people treats such as sweets or chocolate but this is not good for their health, especially as they may not be as physically active as normal. See Change4Life for ideas for healthy treats\n\nLimit exposure to media and talk more about what they have seen and heard:\nLike adults, children and young people may become more distressed if they see\nrepeated coverage about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the media. A\ncomplete news blackout is also rarely helpful as they are likely to find out\nfrom other sources, such as online or through friends. Try to avoid turning\nthe television off or closing web pages when children or young people come\ninto the room. This can peak their interest to find out what is happening and\ntheir imagination can take over. Instead, consider limiting the amount of\nexposure you and your family have to media coverage.\nYoung people will also hear things from friends and get information from\nsocial media. Talk to them about what is happening and ask them what they have\nheard. Try to answer their questions honestly and reassure them appropriately."}
{"_id":"UKtest326","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nHow children and young people of different ages may react\nAll children and young people are different, but there are some common ways in\nwhich different age groups may react to a situation like the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) pandemic. Understanding these may help you to support your family.\nThe common reactions to distress will fade over time for most children and\nyoung people, though could return if they see or hear reminders of what\nhappened.\nFor infants to 2-year olds\nInfants may become more easily distressed. They may cry more than usual or\nwant to be held and cuddled more.\nFor 3 to 6-year olds\nPreschool and nursery children may return to behaviours they have outgrown.\nFor example, toileting accidents, bed-wetting, or being frightened about being\nseparated from their parents or carers. They may also have tantrums or\ndifficulty sleeping.\nFor 7 to 10-year olds\nOlder children may feel sad, angry, or afraid. Peers may share false\ninformation but parents or carers can correct the misinformation. Older\nchildren may focus on details of the situation and want to talk about it all\nthe time, or not want to talk about it at all. They may have trouble\nconcentrating.\nFor preteens and teenagers\nSome preteens and teenagers respond to worrying situations by acting out. This\ncould include reckless driving, and alcohol or drug use. Others may become\nafraid to leave the home. They may cut back on how much time they connect with\ntheir friends. They can feel overwhelmed by their intense emotions and feel\nunable to talk about them. Their emotions may lead to increased arguing and\neven fighting with siblings, parents, carers or other adults. They may have\nconcerns about how the school closures and exam cancellations will affect\nthem."}
{"_id":"UKtest327","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nEating disorders\nChildren and young people with an eating disorder may find aspects of the\ncurrent situation particularly challenging, for example reduced availability\nof specific foods, exercise limits, social isolation and significant changes\nto routine.\nIf your child or young person has an eating disorder, you can seek support and\nadvice from your local community eating disorder\nteam. Most community\neating disorder teams support direct access that is not reliant on a referral\nfrom your GP.\nFor children and young people with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder\n(ARFID), take care about issues that arise if there is:\n\nreduced availability of specific foods. This may mean your child or young person who is on a limited diet cannot get the foods they eat. Many will go without rather than have something else but with risk of weight loss or further nutritional deficiency\nsignificant changes to your child or young person\u2019s routine \u2013 for those with ARFID this can be extremely distressing and challenging to manage. Seek advice on how you can reduce the distress and risk of further reduction of their food intake\ngeneral heightened anxiety \u2013 monitor existing anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviours that are associated with distress and how this is interfering with eating\n\nThe eating disorder charity BEAT provide a helpline and have developed\nguidance with clinicians on how to support your child or young person during\nthis difficult time.\n[GP]: general practitioner\n  [ARFID]: avoidant restrictive food intake disorder"}
{"_id":"UKtest328","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people with learning disabilities\nChildren and young people with learning disabilities can feel a loss of\ncontrol in times of uncertainty such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.\nThey may need more support or adapted explanations about the outbreak. See the\neasy-read coronavirus (COVID-19) guide to looking after your feelings and\nyour\nbody\nfor ideas.\nA good way to help them could be by supporting their decisions, representing\nchoices visually through written words, pictures, symbol systems or objects if\nhelpful, supporting them to express their emotions and letting them know they\nare not alone. While listening, take their feelings seriously and don\u2019t judge\ntheir emotions. They may feel anxious about big changes, such as the\npossibility of having to stay at home for a long period. Where possible, it\ncan be helpful to explain any upcoming changes to routine and circumstances\nbefore they happen and help them to plan and come up with solutions, such as\nfinding a hobby or doing exercises to relax and cope with anxiety.\nFor useful tips for talking about feelings, see Skills for Care\nadvice. For further guidance on\ncoronavirus (COVID19) for those with learning disabilities please see the\nMencap website (includes easy read materials). BILD (the Learning\nDisability Professional Senate) have also published a collection of\nresources that may be useful to\nsupport families or carers of people with learning disabilities during the\ncoronavirus restrictions.\nIf your child or young person has a specific health condition that requires\nthem to leave the house to maintain their\nhealth - including if that involves travel beyond your local area\n- then you can if safe to do so. For example, if your child or young person\nrequires specific exercise in an open space 2 or 3 times each day. This should\nideally be in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional. Even\nin such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those\nexercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your\nlocal area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from\nanyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times."}
{"_id":"UKtest329","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people who are accessing mental health services\nPlan how you will access medication\nYou might be able to order repeat prescriptions by phone. Or you may be able\nto do this online using an app or website, if your doctor\u2019s surgery offers\nthis.\nAsk your pharmacy about getting medication delivered or think about who you\ncould ask to collect it for you. The NHS website has more information about\ngetting prescriptions for someone else and checking if you have to pay for\nprescriptions.\nContinue to order repeat prescriptions in your usual timeframe. There is no\nneed to order for a longer duration or larger quantities.\nYour GP might convert your child or young person\u2019s repeat prescription to one\nthat is supplied under the repeat dispensing arrangements. This means you can\ngo back to the pharmacy for a certain number of repeats without having to get\na repeat prescription from the practice.\nBe careful about buying medication online. You should only buy from registered\npharmacies. You can check if a pharmacy is registered on the General\nPharmaceutical Council\nwebsite.\nYou might also want to make arrangements for your child or young person if you\nbecome unwell, for example making sure a partner, friend, family member or\nneighbour is aware of important information including their care plan,\nmedications and emergency numbers.\n*[GP]: general practitioner"}
{"_id":"UKtest330","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people who are accessing mental health services\nChildren and young people with an existing mental health problem may find the\ncurrent uncertainty around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic particularly\ndifficult. Their increased stress may lead to a change in their behaviours and\ntheir mental health needs. If you are concerned about how to access support if\nthey need to stay at home, you may want to think about the following actions:"}
{"_id":"UKtest331","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nLooking after your own mental health\nAs well as thinking about the children or young people in your care, it is\nimportant to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing. Children and\nyoung people react, in part, to what they see from the adults around them.\nWhen parents and carers deal with a situation calmly and confidently, they can\nprovide the best support for their children and young people. Parents and\ncarers can be more supportive to others around them, especially children, when\nthey are better prepared.\nSee guidance on how to look after your mental health and\nwellbeing during the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or visit Every Mind\nMatters for clear advice and\nactions to take care of your mental health and wellbeing"}
{"_id":"UKtest332","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people who care for others\nSome children and young people may also have existing caring responsibilities\nfor adults or siblings. They may be anxious about what will happen if the\nperson they care for becomes unwell, or what will happen if they themselves\nbecome unwell and are unable to support the person they care for. Even if they\ndon\u2019t currently act as a carer, it is possible that they may become one if\nthey are in a household with one adult.\nPlanning with your child or young person what will happen if you or another\nmember of the family they care for or may need to care for becomes unwell,\nincluding contact details for others who can step in and support them, will\nhelp to reduce anxiety."}
{"_id":"UKtest333","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren or young people with physical health issues\nChildren or young people with long term physical health issues, such as those\nwho need continuous use of a breathing machine or are confined to a wheelchair\nor bed, may have stronger reactions to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.\nThey might have more intense distress, worry or anger than children without\nthese issues because they have less control over day-to-day wellbeing than\nother people. Support them by listening to their concerns, providing open and\nhonest explanations about the situation, and giving them information about\nwhat is being done to protect them.\nYou may also be concerned about how you will continue their care if you have\nto stay at home, or you may be worried about infecting them. If you usually\nhave support in your home, check with your local authority or care provider\nwhat alternative arrangements are in place. Make sure it is clear if support\nis still needed for your child or young person.\nFor further information about the conditions that put children and young\npeople at increased risk please see the guidance on shielding and protecting\npeople defined on medical grounds as extremely\nvulnerable."}
{"_id":"UKtest334","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nExperiencing grief or bereavement\nWhenever it happens, experiencing the loss of a friend or loved one can be an\nextremely difficult and challenging time. Children and young people may not be\nable to say goodbye in the way they would have wanted and it may be harder to\nconnect with their usual support networks.\nGrief affects children and young people in different ways depending on their\nage, their level of understanding, and the changes the death means for their\ndaily life. They often feel waves of powerful emotions such as sadness, guilt,\nshock and anger, which they may struggle to express. It is very common for\ntheir behaviour to change and for them to worry a lot about other people.\nIt can be challenging to support a child when you are grieving yourself.\nListening carefully, answering questions honestly in an age appropriate way,\ncontinuing routines where possible, and providing lots of love and support\nwill help. The NHS has advice about grief and the support\navailable, and the Childhood Bereavement\nNetwork has information and links to national and local support\norganisations."}
{"_id":"UKtest335","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nAutistic children and young people\nAutistic children and young people may struggle to identify any physical\nsymptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as having difficulty talking about\nthe emotions the situation will create. Keep an eye out for changes in\nbehaviour which may help you to identify their emotional state, as well as\nphysical symptoms.\nThere is going to be disruption for all of us during the pandemic, for example\nit will not be possible to follow normal routines, or visit older family\nmembers. If your child or young person becomes ill, they may struggle to\nmanage the physical experience. You can help to manage these changes using any\nstrategies that you know work for your family, or see sources of further\nadvice and support at the bottom of this section.\nIt is important to be honest when communicating with your child or young\nperson about the changing situation, measures they can take to stay safe, and\nthe symptoms of the virus. Try to avoid giving definitive statements about the\nfuture - this is a rapidly developing situation and your child or young person\nmay be more distressed if things change when they were told they would not.\nKeep up to date with official information about coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nYou should continue to access support of local autism groups online or via\nphone. The National Autistic Society guidance on managing\nanxiety might also be\nhelpful - you can call the Autism\nHelpline on\n0808 800 4104 for further advice.\nIf your child or young person has a specific health condition that requires\nthem to leave the house to maintain their\nhealth - including if that involves travel beyond your local area\n- then you can if safe to do so. For example, if your child or young person\nrequires specific exercise in an open space 2 or 3 times each day. This should\nideally be in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional. Even\nin such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those\nexercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your\nlocal area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from\nanyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times."}
{"_id":"UKtest336","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nWhere to get further support\nIf you are worried about your or your child or young person\u2019s symptoms, see\nthe NHS website. If you\nhave no internet access, you should call NHS 111.\nIf you are worried about your child or young person\u2019s mental health, seek help\nfrom a professional. You may have services attached to your child or young\nperson\u2019s school or college who can help. You could also contact your GP, or\nlook up information on children and young people\u2019s mental health services on\nyour local CCG website or on the NHS website.\nIn a medical emergency call 999. This phone line should\nbe used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. A\nmental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical health\nemergency and is a situation where your child or young person requires\nimmediate professional care. For more advice on where to get support for a\nmental health crisis please see this NHS page.\nIf you do not feel safe at home there is help and support available to you and\nyour family. The household isolation instruction as a result of coronavirus\ndoes not apply if you need to leave your home to escape domestic abuse.\nAbuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what stresses you or others\nare under. If you or others are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the\npolice - the police will continue to respond to emergency calls.\nThe Home Office has produced guidance on further support available during the\ncoronavirus pandemic for those who\nfeel at risk of abuse, and to help perpetrators to change their behaviours.\n[GP]: general practitioner\n  [CCG]: Clinical Commissioning Group"}
{"_id":"UKtest337","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people who are accessing mental health services\nSpeak to your child or young person\u2019s mental health team\nContact your child or young person\u2019s mental health team to discuss any\nconcerns and check how care will continue to be accessed while you are at\nhome. Update any safety and care plans as agreed."}
{"_id":"UKtest338","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nChildren and young people who are accessing mental health services\nIdentify how the support your child or young person normally receives can be maintained\nAsk about having appointments by phone, text or online, and how their health\nprofessional can offer extra support if your child or young person needs it.\nIf you usually have support in your home, check with your local authority or\ncare provider what alternative arrangements are in place. Make sure it is\nclear if support is still needed for your child or young person.\nIf your child or young person has been admitted to an inpatient mental health\nunit, talk to the staff about their policies on access to mobile phones and\nthink about how you can stay in contact, particularly if you have to stay at\nhome. Ask the unit if you could participate in a virtual ward round to keep in\ntouch with your child or young person\u2019s mental health team. If you need to\nstay at home this will also impact on whether your child or young person can\ncome home on leave, so talk to your child or young person about what might\nhappen so they are fully informed.\nIf your child or young person becomes affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) they\nwill need to be cared for appropriately, so talk to the unit about what plans\nare in place should this happen and how best to communicate these to your\nchild or young person."}
{"_id":"UKtest339","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nBullying\nThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may lead to some individuals experiencing\nbullying, discrimination or harassment, for example due to their ethnicity or\nnationality, or perceived illness. It is important to check that your children\nand young people are not experiencing bullying or bullying others.\nRemind your children and young people that everyone deserves to be safe\nwherever they are - including online and at home. Bullying is always wrong,\nand we should each do our part to spread kindness and support each other. If\nthey have been called names or bullied, they should feel comfortable telling\nan adult whom they trust.\nFor more help and advice resources, please see the Anti-Bullying Alliance\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"UKtest340","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\nFor support as a parent or carer\nYoung Minds for Parents and Carers\nYoung Minds provides advice about mental health\nand behaviour problems in children and young people up to the age of 25. You\ncan call the Parents\u2019 and Carers\u2019 Helpline on 0808 802 5544. Please be aware Young\nMinds do not provide any direct psychological services and cannot make\nreferrals to the NHS or Children and Young People\u2019s Mental Health Services\n(CYPMHS).\nHelplines and websites for your child and or young person\nIf your child or young person would like to speak to someone anonymously, they\ncould try calling a helpline or visiting websites such as ChildLine and The\nMix.\nShout provides free, confidential support,\n24\/7 via text for anyone at crisis anytime, anywhere.\nYou can:\n\ntext SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer\ntext with someone who is trained and will provide active listening and collaborative problem-solving\n\nChildLine provides a helpline\nfor any child with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects.\nYou can:\n\ncall 0800 1111 any time for free\nhave an online chat with a counsellor\ncheck out the message boards\n\nThe Mix provides a free confidential helpline and\nonline service that aims to find young people the best help, whatever the\nproblem.\nYou can:\n\ncall 0808 808 4994 for free \u2013 lines are open from 11am to 11pm every day\naccess the online community\nemail The Mix\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest341","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nManaging panic and anxiety\nIf you have panic attacks or flashbacks, it might help to plan a \u2018safe space\u2019\nin your home that you\u2019ll go to.\nYou can also find ways to comfort yourself if you\u2019re feeling anxious. For\nexample, Mind has games and puzzles you can use to distract\nyourself, and breathing exercises which may help."}
{"_id":"UKtest342","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nSpeaking to your mental health team\nIf you are already receiving mental health care, contact your mental health\nteam to discuss how care will continue, and to update safety\/care plans."}
{"_id":"UKtest343","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nExisting mental health problems\nIf you already have a mental health problem, then you may be finding the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak particularly challenging. The advice above\nshould help, but here are a few extra things that you may want to think about.\nThis advice is part of comprehensive\nguidance provided by Mind."}
{"_id":"UKtest344","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAutistic people\nYou may be finding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak stressful and be\nworried about getting the virus or changes that might happen because of it,\nincluding having to stay at home. There are ways you can take care of yourself\nand prevent spreading the virus:\nUnderstand what is happening\nKeep up to date with information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) from sources you\ncan trust, such as the NHS\nwebsite.\nHelp to stop the virus from spreading\nThere are 4 easy steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting coronavirus\nor spreading it to others:\n\nwash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water\nuse a tissue for coughs and sneezes and bin it\navoid touching your face, including your mouth and eyes\nget up to date information about staying at home or what to do if you feel unwell on the NHS 111 website. If you are unsure about your symptoms speak to someone you trust about them, like a support worker\n\nPlan to keep mentally well\nDo the things you would usually do to keep well, like eating food you enjoy\nand taking exercise, once a day outside if you can. If you have support from\nothers, plan with them how you can remain well and relaxed. There are also\nother things you can do to help to manage your emotions if you feel you are\nlosing control, such as:\n\nkeeping a diary\nusing apps like Brain in Hand\nlearning relaxation techniques\ncreating a plan with your carer for when you feeling anxiety\n\nYou know what strategies have helped in the past, so use them again now. The\nNational Autistic Society guidance on managing\nanxiety might also be\nhelpful.\nGet help if you are struggling\nHearing about coronavirus (COVID-19), and the changes it causes in your daily\nlife, might make you feel like you don\u2019t have control, or make you worried or\nscared about your health. These feelings are common. Try to speak to someone\nyou trust such as a friend, family member or supporter.\nIf you do become unwell and need medical treatment, share your hospital\npassport or autism diagnosis so staff know the best way to support you.\nIf you are still feeling worried and want more help. You can call the Autism\nHelpline on\n0808 800 4104."}
{"_id":"UKtest345","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nStaying at home\nPractical issues\nRecent guidance is clear about the need for people to stay at\nhome. If you are feeling anxious it might\nhelp to think about potential challenges and make a plan for them.\nSupplies: Think about how you can get any supplies you need \u2013 either from\na neighbour, family friends or a delivery service so you don\u2019t worry about\nrunning out. Try to pick healthy food, especially as you might not get as much\nexercise as normal.\nFinancial concerns: You may be worried about work and money if you have to\nstay home \u2013 these issues can have a big impact on your mental health. For\nguidance on what your rights are at work, what benefits you are entitled and\nwhat further support is available please see our guidance for\nemployees or advice from\ncitizens advice or the National Debt\nline.\nIf you care for other people: You may be worried about how to ensure care\nfor those who rely on you \u2013 either your dependants at home or others that you\nregularly visit. Let your local authority know if you provide care, or support someone you don\u2019t live with.\nFurther advice on creating a contingency plan is available from Carers\nUK."}
{"_id":"UKtest346","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nManaging feelings of being trapped or claustrophobia\nYou are probably spending more time than usual at home so try to get outside\nif you can, once a day. You could also open the windows to let in fresh air,\nfind a place to sit with a view outside, or sit on your doorstep or in your\ngarden if you have one. It can also help to regularly change the rooms you\nspend time in (if possible). This can help to give you a sense of space."}
{"_id":"UKtest347","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nIf you are reducing your drinking significantly\nIf you are reducing your drinking, remember it can be dangerous to stop too\nquickly without proper support. If you have physical withdrawal symptoms (like\nshaking, sweating or feeling anxious until you have your first drink of the\nday) you should seek medical advice. For further advice available in your area\n(including remote services) see NHS\nadvice."}
{"_id":"UKtest348","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhat can help your mental health and wellbeing\nConsider how to connect with others: Maintaining relationships with people\nyou trust is important for your mental wellbeing. Think about how you can stay\nin touch with friends and family via telephone, video calls or social media\ninstead of meeting in person \u2013 whether it\u2019s people you normally see often or\nconnecting with old friends.\nHelp and support others: Think about how you could help those around you \u2013\nit could make a big difference to them and can make you feel better too. Could\nyou message a friend or family member nearby? Are there community groups that\nyou could join to support others locally? Remember it\u2019s important to do this\nin line with guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) to keep yourself and everyone\nsafe. And try to be accepting of other people\u2019s concerns, worries or\nbehaviours.\nTalk about your worries: It is quite common to feel worried, scared or\nhelpless about the current situation. Remember that this is a difficult time\nfor everyone and sharing how you are feeling and the things you are doing to\ncope with family and friends can help them too. If you don\u2019t feel able to do\nthat, there are people you can speak to via NHS recommended\nhelplines or you could find support groups online to connect with.\nLook after your physical wellbeing: Your physical health has a big impact\non how you are feeling emotionally and mentally. At times like these, it can\nbe easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make\nyou feel worse. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water,\nexercise inside where possible and outside once a day, and try to avoid\nsmoking, alcohol and drugs.\nIf you are able to go outside, consider walking or gardening (keeping the\nrecommended 2 metres from others as outlined in the social distancing\nguidance). If you are staying at home, you can\nfind free easy 10 minute work outs from Public Health England or other\nexercise videos to try at home on the NHS Fitness\nStudio. Sport England also\nhas good tips for keeping active at home.\nLook after your sleep: Feeling anxious or worried can make it harder to\nget a good night\u2019s sleep. Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how you\nfeel mentally and physically, so it\u2019s important to get enough.\nTry to maintain regular sleeping patterns and keep good sleep hygiene\npractices \u2013 like avoiding screens before bed, cutting back on caffeine and\ncreating a restful environment. The Every Mind Matters sleep\npage provides practical\nadvice on how to improve your sleep.\nTry to manage difficult feelings: Many people find the news about\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) concerning. However, some people may experience such\nintense anxiety that it becomes a problem. Try to focus on the things you can\ncontrol, including where you get information from and actions to make yourself\nfeel better prepared.\nIt is okay to acknowledge some things that are outside of your control right\nnow but constant repetitive thoughts about the situation which lead you to\nfeel anxious or overwhelmed are not helpful. The Every Mind Matters page on\nanxiety and NHS\nmental wellbeing audio guides provide further\ninformation on how to manage anxiety.\nManage your media and information intake: 24-hour news and constant social\nmedia updates can make you more worried. If it is affecting you, try to limit\nthe time you spend watching, reading, or listening to media coverage of the\noutbreak. It may help to only check the news at set times or limiting to a\ncouple of checks a day.\nGet the facts: Gather high-quality information that will help you to\naccurately determine your own or other people\u2019s risk of contracting\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) so that you can take reasonable precautions. Find a\ncredible source you can trust such as\nGOV.UK, or the NHS\nwebsite, and fact check\ninformation that you get from newsfeeds, social media or from other people.\nThink about how possibly inaccurate information could affect others too. Try\nnot to share information without fact-checking against credible sources.\nThink about your new daily routine: Life is changing for us all for a\nwhile. Whether you are staying at home or social distancing, you are likely to\nsee some disruption to your normal routine.\nThink about how you can adapt and create positive new routines \u2013 try to engage\nin useful activities (such as cleaning, cooking or exercise) or meaningful\nactivities (such as reading or calling a friend). You might find it helpful to\nwrite a plan for your day or your week.\nDo things you enjoy: When you are anxious, lonely or low you may do things\nthat you usually enjoy less often, or not at all. Focussing on your favourite\nhobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax indoors should\ngive you some relief from anxious thoughts and feelings and can boost your\nmood.\nIf you can\u2019t do the things you normally enjoy because you are staying at home,\ntry to think about how you could adapt them, or try something new. There are\nlots of free tutorials and courses online and people are coming up with\ninnovative online solutions like online pub quizzes and streamed live music\nconcerts.\nSet goals: Setting goals and achieving them gives a sense of control and\npurpose \u2013 think about things you want or need to do that you can still do at\nhome. It could be watching a film, reading a book or learning something\nonline.\nKeep your mind active: Read, write, play games, do crossword puzzles,\nsudokus, jigsaws or drawing and painting. Find something that works for you.\nTake time to relax and focus on the present: This can help with difficult\nemotions, worries about the future, and can improve wellbeing. Relaxation\ntechniques can also help some people to deal with feelings of anxiety. For\nuseful resources see Every Mind Matters and NHS\u2019 mindfulness\npage.\nIf you can, once a day get outside, or bring nature in: Spending time in\ngreen spaces can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. If you can\u2019t\nget outside much you can try to still get these positive effects by spending\ntime with the windows open to let in fresh air, arranging space to sit and see\na nice view (if possible) and get some natural sunlight, or get out into the\ngarden if you can.\nRemember that social distancing\nguidelines enable you to go outside to exercise\nonce a day as long as you keep 2 metres apart from others who are not members\nof your household group."}
{"_id":"UKtest349","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdditional advice for groups with specific mental health needs\nManaging difficult feelings or behaviours to do with hygiene, washing or fears of infection\nSome mental health problems can cause difficult feelings or behaviours to do\nwith washing or hygiene. If you experience this, you might find it hard to\nhear advice about washing your hands.\nIt is important to follow government advice on helping to avoid the spread of\ncoronavirus (COVID-19), but if you find you are going beyond the\nrecommendations, if this is making you feel stressed or anxious, or if you are\nhaving intrusive thoughts here are some things you could try:\n\ndon\u2019t keep re-reading the same advice if this is unhelpful for you\nlet other people know you\u2019re struggling, for example, you could ask them not to discuss the news with you\nbreathing exercises can help you cope and feel more in control. You can find a simple breathing exercise on the NHS website and Mind\u2019s pages on relaxation have some relaxation tips and exercises you can try\nset limits, like washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds\nplan something to do after washing your hands, which could help distract you and change your focus\nit could also help to read some of Mind\u2019s tips in their information on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest350","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nDealing with a mental health crisis or emergency\nYou may find that the added stress of the current situation could have a big\nimpact on your mental health. In some cases, you may feel that you are having\na mental health crisis as you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of\nyour situation.\nYou may: feel great emotional distress or anxiety, feel that you cannot cope\nwith day-to-day life or work, think about self-harm or even suicide, or\nexperience or hear voices (hallucinations).\nIf this sort of situation happens, you should get immediate expert assessment\nand advice to identify the best course of action:\n\n\nif you have already been given a Crisis Line number from a health professional, please call it\n\n\nif you\u2019re under the care of a mental health team and have a specific care plan that states who to contact when you need urgent care, follow this plan\n\n\nMind also provides information about how to plan for a crisis\n\n\nSamaritans has a free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if you want to talk to someone in confidence. Call them on 116 123\n\n\nfind local crisis support services near you that can support you\n\n\nyou can contact NHS 111 if you need urgent care but it\u2019s not life-threatening\n\n\nin a medical emergency, call 999 if you are seriously ill or injured and your life is at risk. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical health emergency\n\n\nSee further advice from the NHS on dealing with a mental health\ncrisis."}
{"_id":"UKtest351","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nOlder people\nGovernment\nguidance is that older people are at increased\nrisk of severe illness and need to be particularly stringent in following\nsocial distancing measures and staying at home. Given this, it is natural for\nolder people, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions, to feel\nconcerned or affected by changes you have to make to your daily life. The\nfollowing suggestions may help with any difficult feelings and look after your\nmental health:\nStay connected\nDraw on support you might have through your friends, family and other\nnetworks. Try to stay in touch with those around you, this might be over the\nphone, by post, or online. If you have been advised to stay at home, let\npeople know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your\nroutine.\nGet practical help\nIf you need help, for example with shopping or running errands, ask for it and\nlet those around you know what they can do. If you need help but you\u2019re not\nsure who to contact, Age UK runs an advice\nline (0800 678 1602 \u2013\nlines are open every day, 8am to 7pm) that can put you in touch with local\nservices."}
{"_id":"UKtest352","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nStaying at home\nIf you are being treated or taking medication for existing conditions\nRecent guidance is clear about the need for people to stay at\nhome. If you are feeling anxious it might\nhelp to think about potential challenges and make a plan for them.\nContinue accessing treatment and support where possible: Let relevant\nservices know that you are staying at home, and work out how to continue\nreceiving support during this time:\n\n\nask about having appointments by phone, text or online. For example, this could be with your counsellor, therapist or support worker, nurse, care worker or befriender\n\n\nif you use care services that will be affected by staying at home, you should let your local authority and care provider know so alternative arrangements can be put in place\n\n\nmake it clear if any support is still needed. Tell them that alternative arrangements are required if any of the usual support can\u2019t continue. This may include things like carers visiting, day centre sessions, or friends and family coming over to help\n\n\nKeep taking your medication: You might be able to order repeat\nprescriptions by phone, or online using an app or website if your doctor\u2019s\nsurgery offers this.\n\n\nask your pharmacy about getting your medication delivered or think about who you could ask to collect it for you. The NHS website has more information about getting prescriptions for someone else and checking if you have to pay for prescriptions\n\n\ncontinue to order your repeat prescriptions in your usual timeframe. There is no need to order for a longer duration or larger quantities\n\n\nyour GP practice (or clinical team) may move your prescriptions to repeat dispensing arrangements so you only have to contact your pharmacy to get a repeat of your medicine rather than your practice\n\n\nbe careful about buying medication online. You should only buy from registered pharmacies. You can check if a pharmacy is registered on the General Pharmaceutical Council website\n\n\nyou can contact NHS 111 in England if you\u2019re worried about accessing medication\n\n\n*[GP]: general practitioner"}
{"_id":"UKtest353","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhere to get further support\nManaging physical symptoms that are triggered by stress and anxiety\nIt is quite common to experience short-lived physical symptoms when your mood\nis low or anxious, for example:\n\nfaster, irregular or more noticeable heartbeat\nfeeling lightheaded and dizzy\nheadaches\nchest pains or loss of appetite\n\nIt can be difficult to know what is causing these symptoms, but often people\nwho experience them due to stress, anxiety or low mood find that they get\nworse when they focus on them. See advice from the NHS on managing the\nphysical symptoms.\nIf you are concerned about your physical symptoms, then do contact NHS 111\nonline.\nFor advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) and any symptoms see the NHS\nwebsite.\nIf you are experiencing stress, feelings of anxiety or low mood, you can use\nthe NHS mental health and wellbeing advice\nwebsite for self-\nassessment, audio guides and practical tools Every Mind\nMatters also provides simple\ntips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health. If you are\nstill struggling after several weeks and it is affecting your daily life,\nplease contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet\naccess, you should call NHS 111.\nIn a medical emergency call 999. This is when someone is\nseriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. A mental health emergency\nshould be taken as seriously as a physical health emergency."}
{"_id":"UKtest354","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nPeople with a learning disability\nYou may be finding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak stressful. You may be\nworried about changes that might happen because of it, including having to\nstay at home. You may also be worried about your family or those close to you.\nPublic Health England has easy read\nguidance\non coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may affect you. There is also other\ninformation available about coronavirus (COVID-19) from\nMencap and\nhow to manage difficult feelings you are having.\nThere are ways you can take care of yourself and prevent spreading the virus:\n\nas you are asked to now stay at home you should keep in touch with people you trust (like friends, family and employer) over the phone or internet - follow the advice from the stay at home and social distancing guidance\nthere may also be self-advocacy groups in your area offering more support online or by phone - you can ask your families or carers for help to search for these groups\nit is also important to get information about coronavirus (COVID-19) only from places you can trust, such as the NHS website\n\nWhile it is important to be aware of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important\nnot to forget about any other health conditions you might have. Make sure you\ntake any medication you have been prescribed, keep any hospital appointments\nyou have (unless you have been told otherwise by the hospital) and tell people\nif you can\u2019t attend appointments."}
{"_id":"UKtest355","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nPeople living with dementia\nYou may feel concerned about coronavirus how it could affect you. Alzheimer\u2019s\nSociety has published information on coronavirus for people affected by\ndementia.\nIf you\u2019d like to connect and talk with other people affected by dementia, you\ncan visit the Alzheimer\u2019s Society online community Talking\nPoint.\nA range of information on information on dementia is also available from\nAlzheimer\u2019s Research UK.\nIf you are still feeling worried and want more help you can call the\nAlzheimer\u2019s Society Helpline on 0300 222 11 22.\nYou can also speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse on Dementia UK\u2019s\nHelpline, on 0800\n888 6687."}
{"_id":"UKtest356","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nFacemasks\nWe do not recommend the use of facemasks as an effective means of preventing\nthe spread of infection, unless advised by a healthcare professional.\nFacemasks play an important role in clinical settings, such as hospitals,\nwhere staff are trained in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) but\nthere is little evidence of benefit from their general use outside of these\nsettings."}
{"_id":"UKtest357","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nMaintaining your own health while you are looking after others\nIt is important that you look after your own health and wellbeing as well as\nsupporting others you care for, especially given the potential for additional\nstresses at the current time and the potential for reduced access to support\nsuch as respite care. There is information in the Stay at home\nguidance and the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and\nprotecting older people and vulnerable\nadults about looking after your wellbeing, as\nwell as more detailed guidance on self-care and sources of support for mental\nhealth and wellbeing during the\noutbreak.\nTips include taking care of your mind as well as your body and getting support\nif you need it. Daily physical activity is important for health and wellbeing,\nincluding managing stress, and encouraging positive feelings and sleep. You\ncan look for ideas of exercises you can do at\nhome\nfrom Public Health England (PHE).\nDraw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks\nduring this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone,\nby post, or online. Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and\nbuild that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your\nmental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are\nfeeling.\nThere are sources of support and information that can help, such as the Every\nMind Matters website.\nRemember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so\nyou may end up providing support to them, too. Or you can use a NHS\nrecommended helpline.\nIt may also be helpful to contact your local carers support organisation who\ncan help with contingency planning. You can find out about local carer\norganisations at Carers UK. There is also an online forum on Carers\nUK."}
{"_id":"UKtest358","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nIf you or the person you care for has symptoms\nIf the person you care for has symptoms\nThe person you care for has symptoms, and you are not in a clinically\n\u2018vulnerable group\u2019 or clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable group\u2019 with increased\nrisk of severe illness\nIf someone in your household has symptoms you should follow the Stay at home\nguidance which states that if you live alone and you have symptoms of\nCOVID-19, however mild, you should stay at home for 7 days from when your\nsymptoms started or until you are better, whichever is the longer.\nIf you live with others and you are the first in the household to have\nsymptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, or until your\nsymptoms have gone, but all other household members who remain well must stay\nat home and not leave the house for 14 days.\nThe 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house\nbecame ill. For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms,\nthey need to stay at home for 7 days from when their symptoms appeared \u2013 or\nuntil their symptoms have gone, whichever is the longer \u2013 regardless of what\nday they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.\nHowever, we appreciate following the Stay at Home guidance may not be easy to\nachieve where you provide close contact care, such as washing and bathing, for\na spouse or relative.\nIf you do not fall into the clinically \u2018vulnerable group\u2019 or the clinically\n\u2018extremely vulnerable group\u2019 you can continue to provide care. You should\nreview the above guidelines to take measures to protect yourself and others in\nthe household as best you can by following advice on hygiene and distancing\nwhere possible.\nInformation on cleaning and hygiene when caring for someone with symptoms\nThe Stay at home\nguidance provides information on washing your hands, cleaning and disposing\nof waste, and cleaning laundry, as well as other information for those living\nwith a vulnerable person.\nThe person you care for has symptoms and you are in a clinically\n\u2018vulnerable group\u2019 (see above)\nIf someone in your household has symptoms you should follow the Stay at home\nguidance which states that if you live alone and you have symptoms of\nCOVID-19, however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms\nstarted.\nIf you live with others and you are the first in the household to have\nsymptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other\nhousehold members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house\nfor 14 days.\nThe 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house\nbecame ill. For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms,\nthey need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared,\nregardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.\nYou should also review the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the\nUK and protecting older people and vulnerable\nadults for information about those people who\nare considered at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus\n(COVID-19). If you are within this group, you should be particularly stringent\nin following social distancing measures set out in the guidance.\nHowever, we appreciate this may not be easy to achieve where you provide close\ncontact care for a spouse or relative such as washing and bathing.\nWhere possible ask friends and family who can support you in providing care.\nYou should distance yourself from the person you care for as much as possible\nand follow the above guidance.\nYou can find out about local carer organisations at Carers\nUK or\nthrough your local authority.\nThe person you care for has symptoms and you are in a clinically\n\u2018extremely vulnerable group\u2019 (see above)\nAs per the guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable\ngroups, you should\nstrictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWhere possible, ask friends and family who can support you in providing care\nfor their help. You should distance yourself from the person you care for as\nmuch as possible and follow the above guidance.\nIf you cannot organise alternative care you can contact your local\nauthority or health care\nprovider. If you do not know how to do\nthis you can contact NHS 111. It may also be helpful to contact your local\ncarers support organisation. You can find out about local carer organisations\nat Carers UK."}
{"_id":"UKtest359","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nProtecting yourself and the person you care for\nKeep up to date with announcements and advice on GOV.UK and follow the latest\nadvice set out in the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK\nand protecting older people and vulnerable\nadults, which includes tips on how to help\nprotect a vulnerable person you live with.\nCleaning your hands frequently throughout the day by washing with soap and\nwater for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser will help protect you\nand the people you live with. This step is one of the most effective ways of\nreducing the risk of infection for you and other people. This includes when\nyou arrive at the home of the person you care for, if you do not live with\nthem, or have been out.\nSee specific situations below for what to do if you or the person you care for\ndisplay symptoms."}
{"_id":"UKtest360","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nCaring for someone who is clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019\nThe guidance on shielding and protecting the clinically extremely\nvulnerable people\nfrom COVID-19 gives details. From the week of 23 March, those in the\nclinically \u2018extremely vulnerable\u2019 group should also have received a letter\nfrom the relevant GP or specialist with further information.\nIf you are caring for someone who falls into the clinically \u2018extremely\nvulnerable\u2019 category for risk of severe illness from COVID-19, there are some\nsimple steps that you can take to protect them and to reduce their risk.\nEnsure you follow advice on good hygiene:\n\nonly care that is essential should be provided\nwash your hands when you arrive at the home of the person you care for and often thereafter, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser\ncover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze\nput used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards\ndo not visit if you are unwell and make alternative arrangements for their care\nprovide information on who they should call if they feel unwell, how to use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service and leave the number for NHS 111 prominently displayed\nfind out about different sources of support that could be used and access further advice on creating a contingency plan is available from Carers UK\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest361","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nWhat you should be doing to prepare\nWhere you or the person you care for have no symptoms then please refer to the\nguidance on hygiene on the NHS\nwebsite.\nWe advise all carers to create an emergency plan with the person they care\nfor, to use in circumstances where help from other people to deliver care may\nbe needed. Depending on the circumstances, this could be help from family or\nfriends, or a care provider.\nIn order to create an emergency plan that fits the needs of the person you\ncare for, you will need to set out:\n\nthe name and address and any other contact details of the person you look after\nwho you and the person you look after would like to be contacted in an emergency\ndetails of any medication the person you look after is taking\ndetails of any ongoing treatment they need\ndetails of any medical appointments they need to keep\n\nYou should also ensure that it is in a format that can readily be shared with\nother people who will need to discuss the plan with the person you care for.\nFurther information can be found at Carers\nUK.\nYou may be able to arrange help and support from family and friends, but it\ncan be reassuring to have the involvement of your local authority or\nhealthcare provider in case informal\narrangements fall through. It may also be helpful to contact your local carers\nsupport organisation who can help with contingency planning. You can find out\nabout local carer organisations at Carers UK.\nYou can also find information out about local services on the Carers Trust\nwebsite."}
{"_id":"UKtest362","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nIf you need time off work to care for a relative who has symptoms or is self-isolating\nYou should talk to your employer about your caring needs and what arrangements\ncan be put in place. Information regarding statutory sick pay entitlements can\nbe found in the Guidance for\nemployees.\nSome people may be entitled to benefits as a carer, such as Carer\u2019s Allowance.\nYou should check on GOV.UK for further details."}
{"_id":"UKtest363","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nIf you or the person you care for has symptoms\nIf you are a carer and you have symptoms\nIf someone in your household has symptoms you should follow the Stay at home\nguidance which states that if you live alone and you have symptoms of\nCOVID-19, however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms\nstarted.\nIf you live with others and you are the first in the household to have\nsymptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other\nhousehold members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house\nfor 14 days.\nThe 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house\nbecame ill. For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms,\nthey need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared,\nregardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.\nHowever, we appreciate this may not be easy to achieve where you provide close\ncontact care for a spouse or relative such as washing and bathing.\nIf you care for a person in a clinically \u2018vulnerable group\u2019 do not visit if\nyou are unwell and make alternative arrangements for their care with family\nmembers and friends. If you cannot organise alternative care you can contact\nyour local authority or NHS\ntrust.\nIf you care for a person in a clinically \u2018extremely vulnerable group\u2019, you\nshould strictly avoid contact with the person you care for and, where\npossible, ask friends and family who can support you for help in providing\ncare. You should distance yourself from the person you care for as much as\npossible and follow the above guidance.\nIf you cannot organise alternative care you can contact your local\nauthority or health care\nprovider. If you do not know how to do\nthis, you can contact NHS 111. It may also be helpful to contact your local\ncarers support organisation. You can find out about local carer organisations\nat Carers UK."}
{"_id":"UKtest364","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nIf the person you care for is concerned about their usual paid carer coming in and out of their home and the risk of infection\nThe government has issued guidance to home care providers to ensure that\nappropriate levels of hygiene are achieved to reduce the risk of infection.\nSpeak to the care provider about the processes they are following to maintain\ngood hygiene.\nIf the person you care for receives regular health or social care from an\norganisation, either through your local authority or paid for by themselves, inform their care provider that they\nare reducing social contacts and agree on a plan for continuing their care.\nAs a carer, the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and\nprotecting older people and vulnerable\nadults provides advice on the extra precautions\nyou can take to help keep the person you care for safe."}
{"_id":"UKtest365","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nIf the person you care for is in a care home\nIf you have no symptoms, you should keep in contact with the care home to\nunderstand any local arrangement to keep in touch with residents and follow\nthe Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older\npeople and vulnerable\nadults. This guidance includes tips on how to\nmaintain contact with relatives or friends such as staying in touch via phone\nor post where you are unable, or it is not advisable, to visit."}
{"_id":"UKtest366","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family\nGeneral advice\nAccessing alternative care quickly if you are unable to provide care\nHaving to organise alternative care can be difficult and concerning. Where\npossible, you should contact friends and family who may be able to give\nimmediate help in providing care. You should follow the guidelines set out in\nthe Stay at home\nguidance and the Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and\nprotecting older people and vulnerable\nadults to protect those coming into the home of\nthe person who needs care.\nIf you cannot organise alternative care you can contact your local\nauthority or health care\nprovider.\nIf you do not know how to do this, you can contact NHS 111."}
{"_id":"UKtest367","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nStaying at home and shielding\nIf you\u2019re clinically extremely vulnerable, you\u2019re strongly advised to stay at\nhome at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact to protect yourself.\nThis is called \u2018shielding\u2019 and the advice is:\n\nDo not leave your house.\nDo not attend any gatherings, including gatherings of friends and families in private spaces, for example, family homes, weddings and religious services.\nStrictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\nThe Government is currently advising people to shield until 30 June 2020 and\nis regularly monitoring this position."}
{"_id":"UKtest368","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nIf you develop symptoms\nIf you think you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), seek clinical advice\nusing the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call\nNHS 111. Do this as soon as you get symptoms. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy,\nurgent care centre or a hospital but if you need treatment, hospitals are\nstill there to support and advise you.\nIn an emergency, call 999 if you\u2019re seriously ill. Explain that you are\nclinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and are likely to get very\nunwell.\nPrepare a single hospital bag. This will help the NHS provide you with the\nbest care if you need to go to hospital as a result of catching coronavirus\n(COVID-19). Your bag should include:\n\nyour emergency contact\na list of the medications you take (including dose and frequency)\nany information on your planned care appointments\nthings you would need for an overnight stay (for example, medication, pyjamas, toothbrush and snacks)\nyour advanced care plan (only if you have one)\n\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest369","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nLooking after your mental wellbeing\nSocial isolation, reduction in physical activity, unpredictability and changes\nin routine can all contribute to increasing stress.\nMany people, including those without existing mental health needs, may feel\nanxious. Reasons for increased anxiety may include potential effects on\nsupport with daily living, ongoing care arrangements with health providers,\nsupport with medication and changes in daily routines. It is important that\nyou take care of your mind as well as your body and that you get further\nsupport if you need it.\nIf you\u2019re receiving services for your mental health, learning disability or\nautism and are worried about the impact of isolation, contact your key worker\nor care coordinator or provider to review your care plan. If you have\nadditional needs, contact your key worker or care coordinator to develop a\nsafety or crisis plan.\nUnderstandably, you may find that shielding and distancing can be boring or\nfrustrating. You may find your mood and feelings are affected and you may feel\nlow, worried, anxious or have problems sleeping, and you might miss being\noutside with other people. Follow the advice that works for you in the\nguidance on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during\ncoronavirus\n(COVID-19). At times like\nthese, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in\nturn can make you feel worse.\nConstantly watching the news can make you feel more worried. If you think it\nis affecting you, try to limit the time you spend watching, reading or\nlistening to media coverage of the outbreak. It may help to only check the\nnews at set times or limit this to a couple of times a day.\nTry to focus on the things you can control, such as where you get information\nfrom and actions you can take to help you feel prepared. The Every Mind\nMatters page on anxiety and\nNHS mental wellbeing audio guides provide further\ninformation on how to manage anxiety.\nIf you\u2019re still struggling after several weeks and it\u2019s affecting your daily\nlife, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet\naccess, you should call NHS 111.\nStaying mentally and physically active\nThere are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and\nphysically active during this time such as:\n\nyou can find free 10 minute workouts from PHE or other exercise videos to try at home on the NHS Fitness Studio\nspend time doing things you enjoy such as reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to favourite radio programmes or watching TV\ntry to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water, exercise regularly, and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs\ntry spending time with the windows open to let in the fresh air, arranging space to sit and see a nice view if possible, and get some natural sunlight or get out into any private space, keeping at least 2 metres away from your neighbours and household members at all times\n\n*[PHE]: Public Health England"}
{"_id":"UKtest370","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nUnpaid carers who provide care for someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable\nIf you\u2019re caring for someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, there are\nsome simple steps that you can take to protect them and to reduce their risk.\nEnsure you follow advice on good hygiene:\n\nonly provide care that is essential\nwash your hands when you arrive and often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser\ncover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze\nput used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards\ndo not visit or provide care if you are unwell and make alternative arrangements for their care\nprovide information to the person you care for about who they should call if they feel unwell, how to use NHS 111 online coronavirus service and leave the number for NHS 111 prominently displayed\nfind out about different sources of support that could be used; further advice on creating a contingency plan is available from Carers UK\nlook after your own wellbeing and physical health during this time. See further information from Every Mind Matters\n\nMore information on providing unpaid\ncare is available."}
{"_id":"UKtest371","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nHandwashing and respiratory hygiene\nThere are general principles you should follow to help prevent the spread of\nairway and chest infections caused by respiratory viruses, including:\n\nwash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser. Do this after you blow your nose, sneeze or cough, and before you eat or handle food\navoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands\ncover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin\nclean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest372","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nIf you do not want to be shielded\nShielding is for your personal protection. It\u2019s your choice to decide whether\nto follow the measures we advise.\nFor example, if you have a terminal illness, or have been given a prognosis of\nless than 6 months to live, or have some other special circumstances, you may\ndecide not to undertake shielding.\nThis will be a deeply personal decision but we advise calling your GP or\nspecialist to discuss this.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest373","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nHelp with food and medicines if you\u2019re shielding\nAsk family, friends and neighbours to support you and use online services.\nIf you cannot get the help you need, the government can help by delivering\nessential groceries and support. It may take time for support offered through\nthis service to arrive. If you have not received a letter from the NHS then\nyou may not be able to receive the support offered through this service. If\nyou urgently need food or care, contact your local council.\nGetting your prescriptions\nPrescriptions will continue to cover the same length of time as usual.\nIf you do not currently have your prescriptions collected or delivered, you\ncan arrange this by:\n\nAsking someone who can pick up your prescription from the local pharmacy (this is the best option, if possible).\nContacting your pharmacy to ask them to deliver your prescription to you or to help you find a volunteer (who will have been ID checked) to deliver it.\n\nYou may also need to arrange for collection or delivery of hospital specialist\nmedication that is prescribed to you by your hospital care team.\nIf you receive support from health and social care organisations, such as\nhaving care provided for you through the local authority or health care\nsystem, this will continue as normal.\nYour health or social care provider will be asked to take additional\nprecautions to make sure that you are protected. The advice for formal carers\nis included in the home care\nprovision."}
{"_id":"UKtest374","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nVisits from essential carers\nAny essential carers or visitors who support you with your everyday needs can\ncontinue to visit unless they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus\n(COVID-19). Essential carers coming to your home should follow advice on good\nhygiene: wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds on\narrival to your house and often while they are there (or use hand sanitiser),\navoid touching their face, catch any coughs or sneezes in a tissue (or their\nsleeve), and put used tissues immediately in the bin and wash their hands\nafterwards. They should keep 2 metres away where close or personal contact is\nnot required and where this is possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest375","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nLiving with other people\nThe rest of your household do not need to start shielding themselves, but they\nshould do what they can to support you in shielding and to carefully follow\nguidance on staying alert and safe (social\ndistancing).\nAt home you should:\n\n\nMinimise the time other people living with you spend in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.\n\n\nKeep 2 metres (3 steps) away from people you live with and encourage them to sleep in a different bed where possible. If you can, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. Use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.\n\n\nIf you share a toilet and bathroom with others, it\u2019s important that they are cleaned every time after use (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with). Consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first.\n\n\nIf you share a kitchen with others, avoid using it while they\u2019re present. If you can, take your meals back to your room to eat. If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing-up liquid and water and dry them thoroughly. If you are using your own utensils, remember to use a separate tea towel for drying these.\n\n\nEveryone in your household should regularly wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, avoid touching their face and clean frequently touched surfaces.\n\n\nEncourage the rest of your family or household to follow the advice as far as\nthey are able. There is no need for them to follow the shielding measures\nthemselves."}
{"_id":"UKtest376","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nLetters to clinically extremely vulnerable people\nThe NHS in England has contacted clinically extremely vulnerable people to\nprovide further advice.\nIf you have not received a letter or been contacted by your GP but you\u2019re\nstill concerned, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital\nclinician.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest377","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nSymptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nThe most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any\nof the following:\n\na new continuous cough\na high temperature\na loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)\n\nIf you have any of the symptoms above you should self-isolate at\nhome."}
{"_id":"UKtest378","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nRegister for support\nEveryone who has received a letter advising that they are clinically extremely\nvulnerable should register online if you need any extra support, for example, essential groceries\ndelivered to your home.\nIf you haven\u2019t yet registered, you may receive a call from our call centre on\n0333 3050466. The purpose of this call is to see whether you need support and\nto help you to register. Please note that this is an outbound call centre\nonly. To register via a phone call, please dial the number below.\nRegister even if:\n\nyou do not need support now\nyou\u2019ve received your letter from the NHS\n\nRegister for support\n\nregister online\ncall 0800 028 8327\n\nHave your NHS number with you when you register. This will be at the top of\nthe letter you have received letting you know you are clinically extremely\nvulnerable or on any prescriptions."}
{"_id":"UKtest379","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nStaying connected with family and friends\nUse support you might have through your friends, family and other networks\nduring this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone,\nby post or online.\nLet people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your\nroutine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you\nmay find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.\nRemember, it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing\nso you may end up providing support to them, too. Alternatively, you might\nwant to try an NHS recommended\nhelpline."}
{"_id":"UKtest380","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nWho is \u2018clinically extremely vulnerable\u2019?\nExpert doctors in England have identified specific medical conditions that,\nbased on what we know about the virus so far, place someone at greatest risk\nof severe illness from COVID-19.\nClinically extremely vulnerable people may include the following people.\nDisease severity, history or treatment levels will also affect who is in this\ngroup.\n\n\nSolid organ transplant recipients.\n\n\nPeople with specific cancers: \n\npeople with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy\npeople with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy\npeople with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment\npeople having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer\npeople having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors\npeople who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs\n\n\n\nPeople with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).\n\n\nPeople with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).\n\n\nPeople on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.\n\n\nWomen who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.\n\n\nPeople in this group should have been contacted to tell them they are\nclinically extremely vulnerable.\nIf you\u2019re still concerned, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or\nhospital clinician.\nCheck this is the right guidance for you\nIf you are not clinically extremely vulnerable.\n\nyou do not have any of the conditions that makes you clinically extremely vulnerable\nyou have not been told by your GP or specialist that you\u2019re clinically extremely vulnerable or received a letter\n\nYou should follow the guidance on staying alert and safe (social\ndistancing)\n[COPD]: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease\n  [SCID]: Severe combined immunodeficiency\n  *[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest381","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nHospital and GP appointments if you\u2019re shielding\nEveryone should access medical assistance online or by phone wherever\npossible.\nHowever, if you have a scheduled hospital or other medical appointment during\nthis period, talk to your GP or specialist to ensure you continue to receive\nthe care you need and determine which of these appointments are absolutely\nessential.\nYour hospital may need to cancel or postpone some clinics and appointments.\nYou should contact your hospital or clinic to confirm appointments.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest382","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19\nIf your main carer becomes unwell\nSpeak to your carers about back-up plans for your care in case your main carer\nis unwell and\/or needs to self-isolate.\nYou should have an alternative list of people who can help you with your care\nif your main carer becomes unwell. You can also contact your local council for\nadvice on how to access care."}
{"_id":"UKtest383","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nSpecific advice for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)\nEHC plans \u2013 temporary legislative changes\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) may make it more difficult for a local authority or\nhealth commissioning body to secure or arrange all the elements of the\nspecified special educational and health provision in an EHC plan as required\nby section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Due to the unprecedented\ncircumstances presented by coronavirus (COVID-19), the section 42 duty has\nbeen temporarily modified, so that local authorities and health commissioning\nbodies can discharge this duty by using their \u2018reasonable endeavours\u2019. We have\npublished detailed guidance on these temporary legislative\nchanges.\nThe duty on education settings \u2013 including colleges and other providers \u2013 to\nco-operate with the local authority in the performance of its SEND duties\nremains in place. Close working and communication between all parties is a\ncentral element in ensuring that young people do receive appropriate\nprovision.\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disabilities"}
{"_id":"UKtest384","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nWorking together to safeguard young people\nColleges, other providers, social workers, local authorities and other\nprofessionals will want to work together to ensure adequate and appropriate\narrangements are in place to keep in touch with vulnerable young people\n(whether they are attending provision, or not attending for an agreed or non-\nagreed reason).\nLocal authorities have the key day-to-day responsibility for delivery of\nchildren and young people\u2019s social care. Social workers and Virtual School\nHeads (VSH) will continue to work with vulnerable young people in this\ndifficult period.\nWhere vulnerable young people with a social worker do not take up their place\nin educational settings or discontinue attendance, the provider should notify\ntheir social worker.\nIf there are challenges contacting and engaging looked after children,\nproviders should discuss concerns with their local virtual school heads (VSH)\nin the first instance.\nColleges and other providers are encouraged to share their lists of vulnerable\nyoung people who should be attending provision with their local authority.\nIt is particularly important for college and provider staff to work with and\nsupport children\u2019s social workers and the local authority VSH for looked-after\nand previously looked-after children.\nColleges and other providers should continue to have regard to statutory\nsafeguarding guidance on inter-agency working, set out in Working Together to\nSafeguard Children. Providers should also refer to Keeping\nChildren Safe in Education\n2019\nand Coronavirus (Covid-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other\nproviders.\n*[VSH]: virtual school head"}
{"_id":"UKtest385","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nFunding\n19 funding arrangements (grant-funded providers)\nAs we will use data from the 2019\/20 academic year to calculate 16 to 19\nallocations for 2021\/22, the ESFA may need to apply a different approach to a\nnumber of elements within 16 to 19 funding. Where appropriate we will\ntherefore use alternative data sources to calculate allocations for 2021\/22 to\nensure as far as possible that there is not a disproportionate impact on\nfunding.\n*[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest386","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nRegulation, accountability and audit\nWe have suspended routine Ofsted inspections and FE Commissioner Intervention\nvisits and non-critical ESFA intervention. The Secretary of State for\nEducation has allowed Her Majesty\u2019s Chief Inspector to do\nthis.\nGuidance from Ofsted has confirmed that urgent inspections where specific\nconcerns have been raised can still go ahead. This will allow Ofsted to\nprioritise the immediate safety of young people where necessary.\n[FE]: further education\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest387","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nMental health\nMany learners will be feeling uncertain and anxious and it is vital that they\ncan still access the mental health support they need. Providers will need to\nconsider their learners\u2019 mental health and wellbeing and identify learners who\nmay need additional support.\nAll NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24\/7 helplines and seeking to use\ndigital and virtual channels to continue delivering support during the\npandemic.\nSocial connections, alongside exercise, sleep, a healthy diet and routine, are\nimportant protective factors for mental health. Resources to promote and\nsupport mental wellbeing are included in the list of online\nresources we have published to help children\nand young people to learn at home.\nPublic Health England have also published more extensive\nguidance on\nsupporting children and young people\u2019s mental health and the Department of\nHealth and Social Care (DHSC) is providing \u00a35m of additional funding for\nmental health charities (to support adults and children).\nDigital support includes:\n\nan educational resource for adults about children and young people\u2019s mental health, which is relevant for teachers, other professionals working with children, volunteers, parents and carers\nThe Every Mind Matters platform from Public Health England has specific advice on maintaining good mental wellbeing during the outbreak\nThe Association of Colleges has produced a coronavirus resource hub\n\nMental health is also covered in the interim safeguarding\nguidance, and the principles in Keeping children\nsafe in\neducation\n(KCSIE) continue to apply. Below are some suggestions as to how providers have\nsupported their learners with their mental health:\n\nMaking effective use of remote one-to-one counselling.\nEncouraging young people to identify their own self-care strategies during this uncertain time; online resources can help with this. Some providers are running live mindfulness classes to improve learner wellbeing.\nCompleting welfare checks at the start of each session to ensure that all learners are engaged and supported.\nPHSE lessons have been delivered remotely and focused on topics relevant to learners being at home, including mental health awareness, healthy living and online safety.\nThere are many studies which have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health. Sport England has enlisted 450 School Games Organisers to help deliver a programme of free daily digital content to help keep young people active.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest388","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nImpact on benefit claimants for extended programmes\nPeople receiving benefits do not have to attend Jobcentre appointments for 3\nmonths, starting from Thursday 19 March 2020. People will continue to receive\ntheir benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the Jobcentre in\nperson are suspended. People can still make applications for benefits online\nif they are eligible. Trainees in receipt of benefits should not attend the\nJobcentre unless directed to do so for an exceptional purpose.\nBenefit claimants therefore are eligible to participate in longer spells of\nlearning in accordance with extending traineeship duration as part of this\nguidance - where the learning forms part of their traineeship, and where there\nare clear advantages in doing so, in relation to a claimant\u2019s future job\ngoals.\nFor more information see employment and benefits\nsupport."}
{"_id":"UKtest389","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nAdult education budget (AEB) and advanced learner loans bursary contract for services\nEducation and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), adult education budget (AEB) funding (grant funded providers) and advanced learner loans bursary fund\nYear-end reconciliation\nFor 2019 to 2020 only, the ESFA will not carry out the final reconciliation\nfor grant funded providers in receipt of ESFA funded AEB (adult skills,\ncommunity learning, learner and learning support and 19 to 24 traineeships)\nand the advanced learner loans bursary fund. These providers will be funded in\nline with the current agreement schedule with no clawback.\nProviders must:\n\ncontinue to deliver learning online wherever possible including for ESFA funded AEB via existing subcontracting arrangements to support existing learners to successfully complete their courses\/qualifications or retain evidence where this is not possible\nsupport furloughed workers to enhance existing or develop new skills\n\nWhere it is not possible to deliver online, for example where learning\nrequires physical access to specialist equipment or materials, providers\nshould keep and provide records of where this applies and keep evidence of\nefforts made to remain in contact with learners and prepare them for a return\nto learning in the future.\nHowever, there will be exceptions for grant funded providers who had already\nforecast significant under-delivery in their mid-year returns for ESFA funded\nAEB and\/or advanced learner loans bursary fund, in advance of the impact of\ncoronavirus (COVID-19). ESFA will contact affected providers to discuss their\nforecasts and potential clawback. We also reserve the right to clawback funds\nwhere it can be demonstrated that a grant funded provider has not sought to\ncontinue delivery wherever possible online or otherwise, either directly or\nfor ESFA funded AEB through their existing subcontractors.\nWhen planning ESFA funded AEB allocations for 2021 to 2022, we will consider\nhow we set a fair baseline given our default position would have been to use\nfunded delivery in 2019 to 2020.\n[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [AEB]: adult education budget"}
{"_id":"UKtest390","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nOngoing learning\nSupport for young people unable to access remote education\nOn 19 April, the Secretary of State for Education announced new support for\nschools, colleges and young people to access remote education. 16 to 19 year\nolds in education without a suitable device and\/or connectivity to study\nremotely, and whose family cannot afford these costs, will be eligible for\nsupport via the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. Providers should consider supporting\nthem, for example, by providing a device where necessary to access remote\neducation.\nAs set out in 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guidance, decisions on support should\ncontinue to be made on the basis of an individual assessment, in line with\nbursary fund rules that all support must be based on individual circumstances\nand needs.\nProviders should use their existing 16 to 19 Bursary Fund (and any spare\nresources from their FE free meals grant) to pay for this support. Where\nproviders need additional resources to support young people to access\neducation remotely, they should submit a business case to the\nESFA setting out:\n\nthe amount of bursary fund and\/or free meals funding carried forward from previous years\nthe amount of funding already spent in the 2019 to 2020 academic year\nthe amount of funding already irrevocably committed but not yet spent\nthe amount of funding the provider has available to support disadvantaged students, in line with the criteria above\nthe number of students assessed as requiring additional support\nthe support and funding the provider has assessed is required to support the needs of individual students, in line with the criteria set out in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guidance\n\nLocal authorities will receive devices for children and young people who have\na social worker or are care leavers. 16 to 19 education providers should work\nwith local authorities to ensure that any students in these categories can\naccess education and to ensure that support for them from the local authority\nand education institution is co-ordinated.\n[FE]: further education\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest391","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nReduced work experience duration\nThe unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is\ncurrently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and\ndeliver work placements within traineeships. We are therefore relaxing the\nrequired work placement duration.\nIf the trainee has completed more than 70 work experience hours AND the\nprovider is satisfied that the learner has gained sufficient work skills, then\nproviders can record the work experience learning aim as complete within the\nILR and census returns during this temporary period of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nsocial distancing measures. This should be evidenced in the learner file. The\ntrainee should continue with other traineeship learning aims via alternative\nmethods such as online learning in order to complete these elements of their\ntraineeship.\nIf the trainee has completed less than 70 work experience hours, or the\nprovider is not satisfied with their progression, given these exceptional and\nunprecedented circumstances, providers will not be penalised for not\ndelivering the required 100 hours for this academic year.\nProviders should demonstrate how they have continued to support trainees to\ndevelop their work experience skills in the absence of a work placement in the\nlearner file and we may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.\nActivities we would expect to continue to go ahead:\n\npreparing students for work and\/or work placements through alternative distance and online training that develops their skills for work\ncontinuing to build relationships with employers and developing engagement strategies for different industries for apprenticeships and other employment\ndeveloping traineeship content that aligns with apprenticeship provision to facilitate smooth transitions from traineeship to apprenticeship\ndeveloping matching processes for when students can go on placements again\n\nThese are temporary flexible measures that apply while learners are unable to\nundertake work placement activity due to social distancing measures.\n*[ILR]: individualised learner record"}
{"_id":"UKtest392","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nDependants of critical workers\nParents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response include\nthose who work in health and social care, in the education and children sector\n(including further education) and in other key sectors outlined in the\ncritical worker list.\nWe recommend you ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a\ncritical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip. It would be overly\nburdensome on key sectors at this critical time to ask employers to write a\nletter on behalf of their employees."}
{"_id":"UKtest393","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nOngoing learning\nDue to the need to maintain social distancing, FE providers will continue to\ndeliver much of their provision remotely. Over time, as restrictions are\nlifted, providers will begin to re-introduce classroom and workshop-based\nlearning. For many learners, this will mean a transition from remote learning\nto blended learning (e.g. a combination of remote and traditional classroom,\nworkshop or workplace learning).\nGiven resources are finite - estate, equipment and staff - the varied needs of\ndifferent learner groups and courses will need to be balanced, providers will\nneed flexibility in deciding the optimal mix of online and face to face\ncontent across their curriculum to maximise learner engagement, support\nvulnerable learners, and enable the provider as a whole to minimise the\ntransmission risk. Providers will also need to take account of learners who\nmay have family members who are shielding and therefore do not wish to\nphysically attend.\nTwo DfE grant funded organisations - Jisc and The Education and Training\nFoundation (ETF) \u2013 are well-placed to advise and support colleges and staff\nregarding remote teaching and learning.\nSupport available includes free content, blogs, and community support. The\nETF\u2019s Enhance Digital Learning Platform offers free training to teachers in\nhow to use technology to support the continuity of teaching and learning. ETF\nis also running webinars for FE providers\non how to make the most of online learning.\nProviders\u2019 strategies for ongoing learning should be informed by the needs of\nteachers and students, and their respective home teaching and learning\nenvironments. Where possible, colleges and other providers should:\n\n\nPrepare staff on remote learning practice through bitesize\/refresher training sessions focused on how to use college virtual learning environments (VLEs), communication tools and digital and non-digital resources.\n\n\nUse tools already available at your college including physical and digital resources, and how to make use of cloud storage systems (for example, Office 365 or Google G Suite). Ensure staff and students have log-in details and know how to access online content.\n\n\nProvide students with accessible guides on remote learning, focusing on where, when and how they are expected to engage and demonstrate their learning and how assessment and feedback will be delivered. Consider how to support disadvantaged learners.\n\n\nConsider provision for partnership working with the relevant agencies (including Health and Social Care) to help ensure support for vulnerable children and children with special educational needs and disabilities.\n\n\nConsider how you will deploy your staff to ensure safeguarding, Prevent and security policies are maintained. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides guidance on how to work from home while adhering to these policies.\n\n\nConsider lesson capture to allow students to dip in and out of lessons at their own pace.\n\n\nBe sensitive and adaptive to the wellbeing and wellness of both students and teachers, recognising that health and caring responsibilities will disrupt the teaching delivery and learning journey for individuals during the closure period. Jisc has produced a guide to the Digital Wellbeing of Learners which curates a number of resources and guides.\n\n\nWe understand that what providers can offer during this period will vary. Some\ncolleges and FE providers have shifted much of their provision online and are\ndelivering classes and other teacher led activity to a regular timetable. This\nis excellent practice if it can be reasonably maintained.\nThe local ESFA teams will also provide support and you can submit enquiries\nthrough the ESFA enquiries service.\nRichard Atkins, the FE Commissioner (FEC), and his team of highly experienced\ndeputy FECs and FE advisers have offered their services to college leaders\nthat would like to talk through plans, concerns and issues. Our pool of\nNational Leaders of Governance (NLGs) also stand ready to offer any support\nthey can. If you would like to arrange a phone conversation between yourself\nand a member of the FEC team or a NLG, email\nFEC.OPERATIONS@education.gov.uk.\nWe continue to collect examples of good practice and will share these through\nour usual communications channels.\n[FE]: further education\n  [DfE]: Department for Education\n  [ETF]: Education and Training Foundation\n  [VLEs]: virtual learning environments\n  [NCSC]: National Cyber Security Centre\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [FEC]: further education commissioner\n  [NLGs]: National Leaders of Governance\n  *[NLG]: National Leader of Governance"}
{"_id":"UKtest394","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nEuropean Social Fund\nFor European Social Fund (ESF) provision, the following easements have been\nagreed.\nDelivery postcode for remote learning\nThe managing authority has confirmed that where delivery is occurring\nremotely, ESF providers can now use the postcode of their physical base within\nthe local enterprise partnership (LEP) area relating to the contract as the\ndelivery postcode recorded on the ILR. This means that where remote delivery\nis taking place that is now falling outside the LEP area relating to the\ncontract, it will be considered eligible.\nEvidencing remote enrolment and remote learning\nCurrently projects must have wet signatures from participants, on both\nenrolment forms and any contact sheets, demonstrating they are in receipt of\nsupport and to declare relevant information. The ESF managing authority\nrecognises that this is not possible given current social distancing measures.\nTherefore, ESF providers can, from 1 February 2020, provide participant\nverification by alternative means, such as email.\nprogression requirement\nIt is a requirement of the ESF programme, that all programme progression\nrelated deliverables are achieved within 28 days of leaving the ESF programme.\nThis timeline starts when all ESF funded intervention \/ activity has ceased.\nProviders may wish to consider how they utilise non-regulated activity to\ncontinue to engage and support learners regularly during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\nContract extensions\nIt is still our intention to extend ESF contracts to March 2023, where funding\nis available and with consideration to contract performance. It is planned to\naction this as part of the April 2020 performance management process. This is\ncurrently in development, along with the associated timelines which we will\nshare as soon as possible. We are proposing to implement a simplified and\nstreamlined process to minimise the burden and input required from the\nprovider base during this challenging period.\nExternal audit testing\nThe Government Internal Audit Agency (AS GIAA the ESF Audit Authority (AA)),\nhas agreed that all provider level (AA based) audit testing, relating to ESF\nprovision, funded through the ESFA, will be temporarily paused until the\ncurrent restrictions are lifted. This extends beyond physical visits to cover\nremote audit testing approaches, based on the wider potential impacts. We will\nupdate providers in due course regarding the resumption of this work, as it\ncontinues to constitute a key requirement within the current regulatory\nframework.\nCompliance and performance reviews\nCompliance and performance visits (unless previously agreed) have been\nsuspended until further notice. This is in recognition of the difficulties in\naccessing physical documentation and premises currently.\n[ESF]: European Social Fund\n  [LEP]: local enterprise partnership\n  [ILR]: individualised learner record\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest395","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nExtending 19 to 24 adult education budget and 16 to 18 traineeships without 16 to 19 study programme funding\nWhere learners need longer than originally planned to complete their\ntraineeship, programme providers should stretch their existing planned\nlearning aims over a longer duration.\nThe planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended\nwithin the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the\nprogramme using \u2018Learning Actual End Date\u2019.\nAdditional funding demand in 2020 to 2021, as a result of the programme\u2019s\nactual end date extending from the original planned end date in 2019 to 2020,\nmay impact on the availability of growth in 2020 to 2021 if there is not\nsufficient budget available to support demand. It is your responsibility to\nensure you meet the cost of trainees that continue into the following year\nwithin your funding year allocation.\nThis is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social\ndistancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.\nFor more information, we are publishing a traineeship addendum to the ESFA\nadult education budget funding rules 2019 to\n2020 on 13 May.\n[ILR]: individualised learner record\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest396","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nToolkit for engaging vulnerable young people\nWe have collected examples from providers who are successfully engaging\nvulnerable young people: both keeping in contact to ensure vulnerable young\npeople working remotely are safe and engaging vulnerable young people in\nlearning.\nThis information is intended to provide an opportunity for colleges and other\nproviders to learn from each other\u2019s emerging practice and develop their\napproach to engaging vulnerable learners in education.\nKeeping in contact with vulnerable learners\nProviders have found that the most effective method of communication can vary\nby learner, but could take place via telephone, video call, email, text or\nsocial media. In some cases, providers have reported that social media has\nbeen more effective than traditional channels, although appropriate safeguards\nmust be applied."}
{"_id":"UKtest397","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nChanges to delivery\nOn-site provision should continue to be offered to vulnerable young people and\nthe children of key workers in accordance with the published definitions, and\nthis should have priority over other learning.\nFrom the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, FE providers should offer\nsome face to face contact for 16 to 19 learners on the first year of two-year\nprogrammes (e.g. a two year vocational course, equivalent to year 12 in\nschools), alongside the provision they are offering to priority groups.\nThis will primarily impact schools and colleges, but will also include a small\nnumber of Local Authority providers, specialist post-16 institutions and\nindependent training providers.\nWe understand that there may need to be some flexibility in place due to the\nvariety of learners and courses offered in FE settings, therefore:\n\nalthough the main face to face contact is for 16 to 19 learners, there may be some courses that include learners within a class that are over 19\nsome 16 to 19-year-olds will have been due to finish this academic year, but not been able to because their assessments have been deferred (typically where they involve a license to practice). These learners can be included in on-site delivery if they would benefit from face to face contact;\nwe will be expecting colleges and providers to treat 16 to 19-year-old apprentices consistently with other learners for their off the job training where possible and appropriate, so that they can be offered some face to face contact;\nin addition to colleges, this guidance also applies to the smaller proportion of 16 to 19 learners in other further education settings \u2013 including Local Authority delivery, Special Post-16 Designated Institutions and independent providers\n\nIn order to determine what level of attendance is appropriate within any of\nthe options stated above, colleges and other providers should conduct risk\nassessments in order to understand:\n\nthe number of learners and staff likely to be included in a learning space\nwhether they can be safely accommodated in accordance with guidance to implement protective measures\nthe availability of teaching and non-teaching staff and required ratios, including contingency plans should individuals be shielding or self-isolating\nsupporting services required in increasing the number of individuals on-site (for example, catering) and how they can be safely provided\nwhat measures in addition to those that have already been undertaken during the current lockdown will need to be in place to accommodate additional numbers (including additional cleaning required of spaces and equipment following use)\n\nLearners will need to stay within their new class\/group wherever possible and\nwe will ask settings to implement a range of protective\nmeasures\nincluding increased cleaning, reducing \u2018pinch points\u2019 (such as at the start\nand end of day), and utilising outdoor space. Any additional costs arising\nfrom wider opening, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) will be funded\nfrom existing college budgets. Staff and learners will be eligible for testing\nif they become ill with coronavirus symptoms, as will members of their\nhouseholds. A negative test will enable learners and staff to get back to\ntheir education. A positive test will ensure rapid action to protect their\nclassmates and staff in their setting. Those who are clinically vulnerable, or\nare living with someone who is, should follow our protective measures\nguidance.\nIn line with implementing protective measures and reducing contacts, colleges\nand other providers should limit the attendance of learners in the setting at\nany one time and keep learners in small groups. They should also consider ways\nto minimise use of public transport to get to and from the FE provider at peak\ntimes in consultation with local authorities. We will be consulting with\nsector representatives in order to develop some \u2018models\u2019 of how this could\noperate, and this will be published along with further guidance for secondary\nschools and colleges and other providers in the week commencing 18 May.\nThe Department\u2019s guidance on implementing protective measures in education\nand childcare\nsettings\ncontains detailed advice on:\n\ncleaning, including supplies of cleaning and handwashing products\ntesting and tracing\nPPE\nwhat settings should do in response to a case of coronavirus being confirmed\n\nWe recognise that for some programmes, online learning will be working\neffectively with a high degree of learner engagement (while some families may,\nfor example, include family members who are shielding and therefore learners\nare not able to physically attend). Colleges and other providers will have\nflexibility to decide the appropriate mix of online and face to face content\nfor each programme, reflecting what will maximise learner engagement as well\nas supporting more vulnerable learners, and enabling the provider as a whole\nto minimise transmission risk.\nFor 16 to 19-year-old learners eligible to return, in balancing on-site and\nonline delivery, colleges may consider the following issues:\n\nWhich learners are most at risk of disengagement through online learning (typically at lower academic levels).\nLearners that require on-site provision in order to undertake technical instruction which requires the use of equipment.\nThe impact on the risk of transmission (for example it may be easier to undertake instruction in outside settings or larger spaces). Some types of vocational instruction may be more challenging where they by their nature involve personal contact.\nWhere online learning is working well with high engagement, colleges may wish to maintain a larger element of online delivery.\nIt may be advantageous to offer all learners some face to face contact, even if to varying degrees.\n\n[FE]: further education\n  [PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest398","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nRegulation, accountability and audit\nAlternative evidence for wet signatures\nThis guidance applies to evidence for learners who are funded through\napprenticeship, 16 to 19 education, adult education budget (AEB) and advanced\nlearner loans funding rules.\nIt is expected that where providers already have a digital\/electronic\nsignature process, they must continue to utilise their existing processes in\naccordance with the respective funding rules above for 16 to 19, adults and\napprenticeship learners.\nA wet signature is created when a person physically \u2018marks\u2019 a document. Where\na provider has no digital or electronic systems and processes in place to\ncapture a learner or employer signature, then under normal circumstances a wet\nsignature is required for recruitment and evidence of continuing learning.\nIt is recognised that providers delivering training and\/or recruiting learners\nduring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will experience difficulty in\nobtaining learner and employer wet signatures. Therefore, for the funded\nprogrammes listed above, where providers do not have systems and processes in\nplace for electronic\/digital signatures, during the Covid-19 restrictions, we\nwill allow confirmation \/ evidence to be obtained through email as detailed\nbelow.\nFor the purpose of audit evidence, we expect a record of acknowledgement or\nadoption of a genuine electronic message or document. Acceptable alternative\nevidence includes:\n\nan email from the learner and\/or employer email address with details of the confirmation and their typed name at the end of the message\na typed name on an electronic form or document emailed from the learner and\/or employer\na signed scanned document attached to an email from the learner and\/or employer\na photo taken on a camera\/digital medium of the signed document attached to an email from the learner and\/or employer\n\nWe are allowing providers to use this type of electronic confirmation (as\ndetailed above) during the period of restrictions due to coronavirus\n(COVID-19) only where no other usable digital or electronic processes exist.\nThis is not to be used as alternative evidence as part of the provider\u2019s\nbusiness as usual process once the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are\nlifted.\nFollowing the period of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, providers using\nthe above alternative evidence must resume their usual process for obtaining\nwet signatures on relevant documentation. Providers must ensure that all\nalternative evidence replacing wet signatures received during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) restrictions is genuine and irrefutable, and the evidence is\nretained for audit purposes.\n*[AEB]: adult education budget"}
{"_id":"UKtest399","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nAdult education budget (AEB) and advanced learner loans bursary contract for services\nDevolved AEB\nFrom 1 August 2019, the AEB is apportioned between the ESFA and 6 mayoral\ncombined authorities (MCAs) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the\nESFA is no longer accountable for administering AEB in those devolved areas.\nThe MCA or GLA will be responsible for agreeing arrangements with their\nproviders in respect of devolved AEB.\n[AEB]: adult education budget\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [MCAs]: mayoral combined authorities\n  [GLA]: Greater London Authority"}
{"_id":"UKtest400","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nInformation on vulnerable young people\nVulnerable children and young people for the purposes of continued educational\nprovision during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are those across all year\ngroups who:\n\nare assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child and are up to age 19\nhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan up to age 25 and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment\nhave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children\u2019s social care services), are up to age 19 and who are therefore in need of continued education provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (\u2018not in employment, education or training\u2019), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers and others at the provider and local authority\u2019s discretion.\n\nMore information, including the expectations around attendance and encouraging\nattendance for different groups of vulnerable young people, can be found in\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\nFrom the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking colleges\nand other providers to invite increasing numbers of young people to return to\non-site provision, alongside priority groups (vulnerable young people and\nchildren of critical workers). Special post-16 institutions will work towards\na phased return of more young people without a focus on specific year groups.\nThe government has set out guidance on staying alert and safe (social\ndistancing) to help educational settings support safe provision\nfor everyone who attends.\nMany colleges and other providers have already taken steps to support\nvulnerable young people, and the children of critical workers who cannot be\nsupported elsewhere, and we are grateful to providers for the vital role they\nare playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus.\nSpecifically, we are asking that colleges and other providers:\n\n\ncontinue to provide a safe space and encourage attendance: Being in an educational setting can be an important lifeline for many vulnerable young people, particularly where their needs cannot be met safely at home or where they may be at risk of harm.\n\n\nThere is a continuing expectation now and throughout the period from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest that vulnerable young people \u2013 regardless of year group \u2013 will attend educational provision, where it is safe and appropriate for them do so.\n\n\nFrom the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, young people in returning year groups \u2013 including vulnerable young people - are strongly encouraged to attend their educational setting where possible, unless they are ill, or guidance says they should not attend.\n\n\nProviders are expected to follow the process set out on encouraging, enabling and monitoring attendance and following up on non-attendance, see Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\n\n\nWe appreciate that decisions on attendance will likely be based on finely balanced discussions between the education provider, the parent\/carer and others, including social workers, local authorities and other relevant professionals where applicable. The decision might be taken that the learner should attend the educational setting on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the needs of the individual. We also appreciate that circumstances do change and therefore attendance decisions should be kept under review. For young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, colleges and other providers should ensure that existing risk assessments are up to date. \n\nWhere vulnerable young people are already attending educational settings, they should continue to do so. Where young people are currently not attending but attendance is appropriate, we expect providers and local authorities to consider how to encourage their attendance.\nIf it is not possible for a vulnerable young person to attend a provider due to public transport routes being closed, then providers should speak to the local authority to consider what alternative transport arrangements could be put in place.\n\n\nMake alternative arrangements: We are asking colleges and other providers that have been closed to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, so we expect the number of colleges and other providers that are closed to decline. However, in the meantime if a college or another provider is closed, the provider should notify the local authority\/social worker. Providers should work with the local authority to ensure that the vulnerable young people who normally attend can be found a place in another educational setting. Providers can also contact their local ESFA team to discuss wider opening and which other local providers it may be possible for them to work with.\nKeep in contact with all vulnerable learners: As per the existing guidance on vulnerable children and young people, all vulnerable young people continue to be expected and encouraged to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so. Colleges and other providers which are currently closed are being asked to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest.\nHowever, where it is not safe for vulnerable learners to attend, or vulnerable learners cannot be persuaded to attend education settings, colleges and other providers should maintain regular communication with social workers, vulnerable leaners and their families to ensure they know where their vulnerable learners are and that they are safe. Colleges and other providers should continue to encourage attendance where appropriate. The frequency of contact required will depend on the individual\u2019s circumstances and needs and will be based on the assessment of risk. Social workers will remain in contact with vulnerable learners and their families, including remotely if needed.\n\nSection 15 below is a collection of examples from providers who are\nsuccessfully engaging vulnerable young people. It is intended to provide an\nopportunity for colleges and other providers to learn from each other\u2019s\nemerging practice and develop their approach to engaging vulnerable learners\nin education.\nColleges and other providers should continue to comply with the Keeping\nchildren safe in education statutory\nguidance. There is further information on safeguarding in Coronavirus\n(COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other\nproviders.\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest401","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nExtending 16 to 19 study programme traineeships\nOur funding guidance sets out that planned hours should not be changed after\nthe qualifying period unless correcting an error or starting a new study\nprogramme in-year. However, we recognise that in the current circumstances\nsome students may need more hours than originally planned in order to complete\ntheir traineeship programme.\nWhere learners need longer than originally planned to complete their\ntraineeship programme, we expect, in most cases, stretching their existing\nplanned hours over a longer duration should provide the flexibility providers\nneed.\nIn exceptional circumstances, where a learner with part-time hours requires\nsignificant extra delivery, while they are unable to deliver work experience\nwith an employer, providers can increase the planned hours. Providers should\nrecord where an increase of planned hours is required in the learner file and\ndemonstrate the need for increased hours to ensure learners remain engaged. We\nmay ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.\nThe planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended\nwithin the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the\nprogramme using \u2018Learning Actual End Date\u2019.\nWe expect providers to arrange alternative provision to cover the delivery\nthat cannot take place. The alternative delivery needs to be above the already\nplanned work experience hours as these cannot be funded again within the same\ntime period.\nThis is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social\ndistancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.\n*[ILR]: individualised learner record"}
{"_id":"UKtest402","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nGovernance\nHolding meetings online or by telephone\nSome FE and sixth form college corporations, and other providers which are\ncharities, may not be able to make amendments to their governing documents to\nallow for board meetings online or by telephone, rather than face to face. We\nrecommend following the Charity Commission advice to record your decision to\nproceed with other ways of meeting in the interests of good governance.\nUsing reserves and restricted funds\nWe recommend that FE and sixth form college corporations, together with other\nproviders which are charities, read the Charity Commission guidance on using\nreserves to cope with the current\ncrisis. The guidance also tells you about the\nlimitations on using any restricted funds.\n*[FE]: further education"}
{"_id":"UKtest403","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nAdult education budget (AEB) and advanced learner loans bursary contract for services\nAdvanced learner loans\nWith regard to advanced learner loans, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will\ncontinue to make scheduled fee payments to all providers with a loans\nfacility. Providers must continue to inform the SLC if and when a learner\u2019s\ncircumstances change.\n*[SLC]: Student Loan Company"}
{"_id":"UKtest404","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nFunding\nHigh needs funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)\nColleges and other providers will continue to receive from the ESFA\nallocations of high needs place funding (at \u00a36,000 per place per annum) for\nthe remainder of the academic year 2019 to 2020.\nLocal authorities will also continue to receive their high needs funding for\nthe financial year beginning April 2020, and should continue to pay high needs\ntop-up funding to colleges, special post-16 institutions and other providers\nat the rates they have determined. This will ensure that the institution\u2019s\nemployment and payment of staff supporting students with special educational\nneeds and disabilities (SEND) can continue. If placements for the summer term,\nand top-up funding, were anticipated but have not yet been agreed, the local\nauthority should consider funding the institution on the basis of previous\npatterns of placements and commissioning, so as to make sure that the staff\ncan remain in employment and be available for when the special provision is\nneeded. Staff in institutions who support vulnerable students should also be\navailable for redeployment if their services are needed elsewhere, or they can\nprovide support in different ways. Co-ordination between institutions, and\nwith local authorities, will be important in arranging this.\n[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disabilities"}
{"_id":"UKtest405","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nRegulation, accountability and audit\nAudit\nPrior to the Prime Minister\u2019s announcement of the new coronavirus (COVID-19)\nrestrictions on Monday 23 March 2020, we made the decision to pause the start\nof any new routine funding audits for all post-16 providers for the short\nterm, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have now extended\nthis pause to cover the period for, at least, the duration of the lockdown.\nWhere funding audits and investigations were already in progress, we have\nsought to complete the work, taking into account providers\u2019 capacity to\nresolve any issues. We understand the challenges providers face as a result of\nthe coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and have been sensitive to these\nchallenges when contacting providers.\nIt may be necessary for the ESFA to contact providers during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak in order to continue to maintain effective oversight and\nprotection of public funds. Where such contact is necessary, we will continue\nto be sensitive to the challenges providers face as a result of coronavirus\n(COVID-19).\nWe will continue to monitor and review the situation in the light of the\ncircumstances. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are reduced and\nthere is a return to office-based working across the country, we will assess\nwhen it is appropriate to restart routine funding audits.\n*[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest406","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nIncreasing attendance in FE colleges and other providers: a checklist\nOn 11 May, the Department for Education published guidance on a phased wider\nopening of schools, colleges and\nnurseries and setting out actions for education and\nchildcare settings to prepare for wider\nopening. Because the transmission rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) has\ndecreased, we anticipate that with further progress, from the week commencing\n1 June at the earliest, more 16-19 learners in key assessment years, in\naddition to vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers, will be\nable to attend further education settings. We are therefore asking schools,\ncolleges and childcare providers to plan on this basis.\nProvision would also continue for:\n\nvulnerable learners (as defined)\nchildren of critical workers (as defined) in any year group\ncolleges are also asked to work towards provision for certain groups of learners, as identified in the Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers guidance published by the Department for Education.\n\nThis checklist is intended to provide support to colleges preparing their\nshort term response to increasing attendance and face-to-face contact for some\ngroups of learners. The list is not exclusive and should be seen as a set of\nguiding principles for college leaders and governing bodies to assist their\ndecision making when approving their detailed plans for extending attendance\nof learners in their college. The checklist outlines considerations that need\nto be taken account of in order to ensure that appropriate assessment of risk\nhas been taken to secure the safety of learners and staff, as well as ensuring\nthat due consideration has been given to any wider impact on the college\u2019s\narea and community.\nImplementation of the checklist may well have financial implications; care\nmust be exercised to ensure these are taken into account with due regard for\nthe impact on the college\u2019s overall budget and financial position. Regular\nupdates should be provided to the Education and Skills Funding Agency ESFA\nterritorial teams as appropriate.\nGiven the varied nature of colleges it is not possible for the government to\nbe prescriptive and provide a blueprint that could apply to every college. A\ntailored approach, within these guiding principles, will be required to ensure\nan approach that is practicable, safe and which meets, as far as is possible,\nthe needs of the learners, staff and wider community. This guidance will not\nbe exhaustive and there may be particular circumstances which necessitate the\nconsideration of factors not covered here.\nIt is recognised that many college leaders and boards have already been\nscenario planning for this eventuality, taking measures to risk assess and\nprepare in general terms, whilst awaiting further detail of proposals. This\nguidance aims to further assist preparations.\nGuidance documents that this should be read in conjunction with this are:\n\nSafe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nCoronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers\nKeeping Children Safe in Education 2019\nWorking Together to Safeguard Children\n\nIn addition the following documents published on 11 May provide updated\ninformation:\n\nPress notice\nActions for educational and childcare settings\nImplementing protective measures in education childcare settings\nInformation for parents and carers\n\nFurther guidance will be published as appropriate.\nColleges should also be aware of support and advice that may be available from\ntrade associations, and the Health & Safety Executive.\nChecklist theme\n1.0 Governance and leadership\nKey consideration\nEnsure that there is a comprehensive plan for increased numbers of learners\nattending and associated risk plan in place. The plan should be approved by\nthe governing body and should also be endorsed by the Head of Health and\nSafety at the college\nNotes\nGoverning bodies will need to demonstrate that they have acted appropriately\nand have taken due account of health and safety matters\nChecklist theme\n1.1\nKey consideration\nConsider establishing a coronavirus governance and leadership group which\nmeets regularly to monitor the board approved plan and consider any required\nadjustments and\/or circumstances that may have arisen that require an\nimmediate policy response. The group\u2019s membership, role and relationship to\nthe full board should be agreed by the board, along with regular reporting\nprotocols\nNotes\nThis group would monitor progress against the plan and be advised of decisions\nthat may be required to be taken by the Principal and senior leadership team\nSLT. It should include the Head of Health and Safety and the designated\nsafeguarding lead. The group needs to consider financial implications and\ndirect as appropriate. Consider extending the role of the Health and Safety\ncommittee and their responsibility. Provide a clear line of accountability for\ndecision making.\nChecklist theme\n1.2\nKey consideration\nEnsure that there is regular communication with all essential external key\ncontacts and, in particular, those that are required to enable the safe\ndelivery of the plan for increased numbers of learners attending.\nNotes\nFor example, the local authority and their coronavirus task groups which are\nlikely to include the local NHS, the local authority designated officer (\nLADO), transport companies, catering companies ESFA.\nChecklist theme\n1.3\nKey consideration\nEnsure there is clarity regarding named on site leadership for decision\nmaking, with a nominated individual each day where the CEO\/principal is not in\ncollege.\nNotes\nLikely to be a member of the SLT and\/or the Head of Health and Safety where\nthe CEO\/principal is not present.\nChecklist theme\n1.4\nKey consideration\nEnsure that there is a mechanism in place to record and monitor the costs of\nimplementation of the plan for increased numbers of learners attending.\nNotes\nThe cost of increased numbers of learners attending will need to be monitored\nand reviewed\nChecklist theme\n2.0 Learners and Learning\nKey consideration\nClarify the numbers of learners who will be returning, plan for their likely\nadditional and\/or enhanced well-being \/pastoral support needs (eg counselling)\nand identify resources required\nNotes\nConsider options \/ alternatives for residential and other learners where daily\ntravel is impractical and returning to live on site is either too high risk or\nis not acceptable to learners. Consider options for staggered\/reduced\nattendance across the week and providing learners with a combination of taught\nsessions at college and online learning. Consider liaison\/communication\nstrategy with local neighbours\/business\nChecklist theme\n2.1\nKey consideration\nAgree what returning support is available for vulnerable and\/or disadvantaged\nlearners, updating the safeguarding arrangements and policy where required.\nNotes\nAgree ongoing approach for learning offer for vulnerable young people and\nchildren of critical workers who are not in the returning year groups. Make\nappropriate use of bursary \/ student support funds.\nChecklist theme\n2.2\nKey consideration\nPut in place provision for the return of learners with special educational\nneeds and disabilities (SEND)\nNotes\nMaintain close contact with the LA\nChecklist theme\n2.3\nKey consideration\nConsider how and where food can be available - minimising the need for\nlearners to visit central refectory\/canteen facilities\/ and ensuring any\nqueues can be avoided or socially distanced\nNotes\nReview access \/ safe use of vending machines. Retention and application of\nmeal voucher scheme; breakfast clubs\nChecklist theme\n2.4\nKey consideration\nCommunicate plans and behavioural expectations to learners (and carers\/social\nworkers\/ guardians\/ parents as appropriate) and review strategies to ensure\nthese are adhered to, with appropriate responses to non-compliance\nNotes\n_Update any behavioural policy. Increase the level of supervision\/security to\nensure learners maintain social distancing. Consider the benefit of online\ninduction resources for staff and learners returning to college. Note that\nsome learners will need this to be communicated in accessible format\/ will\nneed support to understand the plans\/ expectations\nChecklist theme\n2.5\nKey consideration\nUndertake a comprehensive review of travel and transport arrangements and\nadvice for learners especially capacity and social distancing requirements\nNotes\nDue consideration of the wider implication in the community of where this will\nplace demand on public transport\/ parking\/ and any required revisions to\ncollege transport arrangement. Liaise with LA where transport is provided for\nyoung people with EHCPs. Implications of new arrangements for safeguarding\nChecklist theme\n2.6\nKey consideration\nAny residential provision necessary for returning learners will need to be\nappropriately risk assessed, with measures taken to address and limit use of\nany communal areas, ensuring social distancing and appropriate levels of\ncleaning.\nNotes\nClear guidance will be required for learners to advise on safe behaviours in\ntheir leisure time\/ ways to limit their social contacts\nChecklist theme\n2.7\nKey consideration\nIssue clear guidance for learners coming into college to move straight to\nclassrooms and limit any congregation points\nNotes\nConsider guidance for learners on private study arrangements during free\nperiods. Review policy on tutorials and large gatherings on campus. Note that\nsome learners will need this to be communicated in accessible format\/ will\nneed support to understand the plans\/ expectations\nChecklist theme\n2.8\nKey consideration\nAgree online learning offer \/ options for eligible learners who can\u2019t attend\ncollege\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n2.9\nKey consideration\nEnsure attendance recording and monitoring processes are in place and capture\nas appropriate any learners absent due to coronavirus symptoms\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n2.10\nKey consideration\nConsideration of policies on learners and staff attending college where they\nare living with people who fall into clinically vulnerable categories (i.e.\nrisk of learners taking the virus home)\nNotes\nInclude arrangements to include further enhancements as appropriate eg\nemerging thinking on BAME\nChecklist theme\n2.11\nKey consideration\nImpact assessment on learners with protected characteristics\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n2.12\nKey consideration\nPolicies and approach to testing of learners for coronavirus\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n3.0 A safe environment\nKey consideration\nSteps to ensure risks are minimised- enhanced hygiene care and limited\nmovement: entry\/exit points, corridor management, staggered start and end and\nbreak times, toilet use \/ cleaning, use of communal areas minimised, hand\nsanitisers in key places and classrooms, arrangements for the very small\nnumber of cases where personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies will be\nneeded: if your staff provide intimate care for any children or young people\nand for cases where a child or young person becomes unwell with symptoms of\ncoronavirus while in their setting and needs direct personal care until they\ncan return home\nNotes\nGuidance \u2018Steps to limit risk in educational settings\u2019 should be noted.\nNominated first aiders training updated. Ensuring external essential service\nproviders are operating eg sanitary products\nChecklist theme\n3.1\nKey consideration\nReview building(s) capacity from social distancing perspective\nNotes\n_Strategies to manage corridors connecting learning spaces\nChecklist theme\n3.2\nKey consideration\nReconfigure timetabling, patterns of attendance and delivery methodology for\nany face to face delivery to facilitate: small group sizes reduced student\nmovement around campusreduced contacts overall\nNotes\nConsideration of ways to limit movement\/social contacts and demands on public\ntransport\nChecklist theme\n3.3\nKey consideration\nUpdate health and safety policy and conduct revised coivd-19 specific risk\nassessments of areas particularly facilities \/ provision where physical\ncontact is normally involved (e.g beauty therapy, sport). An amended fire and\nevacuation procedure needs to be in place.\nNotes\nEnsure changes to policies are clearly communicated to staff.\nChecklist theme\n3.4\nKey consideration\nReconfiguring room and equipment layout to ensure social distancing\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n3.5\nKey consideration\nEnhanced cleaning schedules and procedures for shared equipment\/workshops\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n3.6\nKey consideration\nArrangements regarding PPE need to be put in place as appropriate\nNotes\nParticular consideration may be required for learning support assistants\nattached to learners needing personal \/ medical care\nChecklist theme\n3.7\nKey consideration\nClarity as to how safety measures and priorities will be displayed\/messaged\nacross campus\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n3.8\nKey consideration\nCheck that all suppliers and subcontractors (transport providers\/grounds\nmaintenance etc) are following appropriate social distancing and hygiene\nmeasures\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n3.9\nKey consideration\nAppropriate planning in case someone falls ill on site\/or becomes ill after\nhaving been on site.\nNotes\nClear contingency plans should be considered to respond to situations where\nstaff or learners on-site report symptoms of coronavirus\nChecklist theme\n3.10\nKey consideration\nConsider revised access \/ opening times for learning resources centres and\nopen study areas with appropriate modifications in place to provide for\nadequate social distancing\nNotes\nConsideration should be given to multiple use of IT hardware (e.g. keyboards)\nand appropriate cleaning requirements. Changing facilities\nChecklist theme\n3.11\nKey consideration\nReview planned capital \/ maintenance work to ensure essential works only take\nplace and that safe working practices are being implemented by contractors\nNotes\nLiaise with your ESFA contact where you are reviewing government-funded\nplanned capital work\nChecklist theme\n3.12\nKey consideration\nNo unannounced external visitors to the college at this time, with planned\nvisits from external visitors limited to those deemed essential by senior\nleaders\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n4.0 Staff\nKey consideration\nAgree any flexible working arrangements needed by staff to support any changes\nin delivery patterns\nNotes\nHome working policy; implications for case loading\nChecklist theme\n4.1\nKey consideration\nIdentify staff who can\u2019t return to college (shielding\/self\nisolating\/clinically vulnerable) and their alternative contribution\nNotes\n_Strategies for recording supporting evidence. Consider options for cover for\nabsent staff to minimise the risk of unstaffed classes and\/or learners with\nunplanned free periods\nChecklist theme\n4.2\nKey consideration\nCommunicate plans and expectations to staff and arrange for training, pre\nbriefing and support as appropriate.\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n4.3\nKey consideration\nPut in place measures to check on staff\u2019s well being, including for leaders.\nNotes\nSpecific HR policies may be needed \/ amended\nChecklist theme\n4.4\nKey consideration\nConsider revised travel and transport arrangements and advice for staff\nNotes\nDue consideration of the wider implication in the community of where this will\nplace demand on public transport\/ parking\/ and any required revisions to\ncollege transport arrangements.\nChecklist theme\n4.5\nKey consideration\nConfirm policy \/ approach to testing of staff for coronavirus\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n4..6\nKey consideration\nReconfiguration of staff offices where appropriate to conform with social\ndistancing guidance\nNotes\nChecklist theme\n4.7\nKey consideration\nImpact assessment on staff with protected characteristics\nNotes\n*[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest407","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nFunding\nWe recognise that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak carries financial\nimplications for many providers, and we are working to make changes where we\ncan. We set out below the flexibilities we are introducing to support grant\nfunded providers to continue to deliver learning.\nTo help manage the financial implications, we can confirm that the Education\nand Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will continue to pay grant funded providers\ntheir scheduled monthly profiled payments for the remainder of the 2019\/20\nfunding year.\nESFA allocations for 2020\/21 have been confirmed, and payments will be made in\nline with the national profile which will be confirmed in the relevant 2020\/21\nFunding Rules.\n*[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest408","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nRegulation, accountability and audit\nQualification achievement rates\nAs part of steps taken to fight the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the\ngovernment announced that all exams due to take place in schools and colleges\nin England in summer 2020 are cancelled, and that it will not publish any\nschool or college level educational performance data based on tests,\nassessments or exams for 2020.\nThe Department for Education will not hold schools\/colleges to account on the\nbasis of exams and assessment data from summer 2020 and data will not be used\nby others, such as Ofsted and local authorities, to hold schools\/colleges to\naccount. Further information can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): school\nand college performance\nmeasures."}
{"_id":"UKtest409","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nExaminations and assessments\nNo exams will be taking place in schools and FE providers this summer.\nOur priority is to ensure that learners and adult learners can move on as\nplanned to the next stage of their lives, including starting university,\ncollege or sixth form courses, or apprenticeships in the autumn or getting a\njob or progressing in work.\nLearners who were due to sit A level, AS level or GCSE exams this summer will\nreceive a calculated grade, as set out in Ofqual\u2019s guidance on awarding GCSE,\nAS and A levels, which includes the implications for non-exam\nassessment. Ofqual has consulted on aspects of the new system and will be\npublishing a response shortly.\nThere is a very wide range of vocational and technical qualifications as well\nas other qualifications for which learners were expecting to undertake final\nassessment and\/or sit exams this summer. These are offered by a large number\nof awarding organisations and have differing assessment approaches.\nOn 9 April, the\ndepartment and\nOfqual set out further detail in relation to the approach to\nVocational and Technical qualifications, and Ofqual consulted on these\nmeasures, their response to which will be published shortly.\nAs far as possible, vocational and technical qualifications used for\nprogression to higher and further education will be treated in a similar way\nto GCSEs, AS and A levels, with learners receiving a calculated result.\nSimilarly, learners due to take assessments for Functional Skills\nqualifications before the end of the summer will receive a calculated result.\nFor other qualifications, adapting assessment may be a more appropriate\napproach. But for some qualifications, for example those which have a narrow\noccupational focus, adapting assessments may not be appropriate. The\ndepartment continues to work with Ofqual and the awarding organisations to\nagree, in these cases, what the best approach is to ensure that learners are\nnot disadvantaged.\nAs part of supporting the exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading\nof vocational and technical qualifications and other general qualifications\nwhich Ofqual has announced, Ofqual has confirmed it will extend the regulation\nend date for legacy Functional Skills qualifications in English and\nMathematics to 31 December 2020. This is to allow learners who are currently\non these qualifications, but who are yet to certificate, an opportunity to\ncomplete their qualification. Once Ofqual has confirmed the certification end\ndate has been extended on the Register of regulated qualification, we will\nsimilarly extend the validity and funding end dates for these qualifications\nfor continuing learners on the Learning Aims Reference Service (LARs). It\nremains the case that new starts of these qualifications is not permitted.\nWe are aware that currently some awarding organisations (AOs) are not issuing\nformal certificates for learners who have achieved qualifications. We\nrecognise the need for this to be the case as a result of logistical impacts\nof coronavirus (COVID-19), on AOs and consider completion confirmation emails\nto be a valid recognition of a learners\u2019 completion of their qualification.\nThe hard copy qualification certificate will be dispatched when the AO is able\nto do this. These completion confirmation emails should also show learner\ndetails, certification run date and unique number.\nOfqual and AOs are working through the detail, with further information to be\nissued in the coming days and weeks.\n*[FE]: further education"}
{"_id":"UKtest410","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nAdult education budget (AEB) and advanced learner loans bursary contract for services\nFor providers funded through a contract for service for AEB and Advanced\nLearner Loans Bursary, we will remove the financial year controls set out in\nthe funding and performance management rules for 2019 to\n2020.\nThis means we will pay any over delivery in the August 2019 to March 2020\nperiod by utilising the April 2020 to August 2020 period funding, up to the\nfull 12 month contract value. The commitment to fund delivery up to 103% of\nadult skills and 110% of traineeships contract values will still apply over\nthe full funding year.\n*[AEB]: adult education budget"}
{"_id":"UKtest411","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nFunding\nIn year recruitment of learners\nWe currently use the profile of recruitment throughout the year to determine\nthe lagged student numbers used in 16 to 19 allocations. For providers who\nrecruit learners later in the year rather than purely at the beginning of the\nacademic year, and whose enrolment of new learners in the summer term will\nhave ceased, we will determine a way to ensure this does not have an unfairly\ndetrimental impact on future allocations. For example, we could still apply\nthe current approach of identifying what proportion of student numbers were\nrecruited after we take the initial data return in the autumn but use full\nyear data from 2018\/19.\nStudent prior attainment in English and\/or maths GCSEs\nThree elements within the 16 to 19 funding formula use students\u2019 prior\nattainment in English and\/or maths, namely:\n\nthe condition of funding\ndisadvantage funding - block 2\nlevel 3 programme maths and English payment\n\nWe anticipate that these will continue to be calculated as now following the\nalternative plans that have now been published to award grades to students in\nthe absence of GCSE exams this summer, and so providers will still be\nallocated additional funding for young people with low prior attainment in\nGCSE English or maths. As further details are published for how the\nreplacement for exams will work, we will consider these elements in more\ndetail.\nFunding to prepare for and deliver T levels\nAllocations have been made to providers who will be delivering the first wave\nof T levels in 2020 to 2021 based on planned T level student numbers. We have\nalready published the approach for applying a tolerance where enrolment of T\nlevel students is below the planned number.\nDue to the lagged student number approach, where the level of T level students\nrecruited means the tolerance would be implemented, only the numbers above the\ntolerance would be converted to a full-time band 5 student. Read more about\nthe tolerance in the How T levels will be funded in 2020 to\n2021 guidance.\nWe will monitor the suitability of this approach over the coming months as we\nget nearer to the introduction of T levels.\nIndustry Placement Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) 2019 to 2020\nThe unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is\ncurrently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and\ndeliver industry placements through the Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF).\nGiven these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, providers will not be\npenalised for missing specific CDF industry placement targets this academic\nyear. Funding will not be clawed back if providers can demonstrate how the\nfunding has and will continue to support your work on industry placement\ndelivery. We want to make sure that providers are able to maximise the\nactivity that they are able to carry out during this period to continue to\nsupport the delivery of placements, and to prepare to deliver placements in\n2020 to 2021. Activities we would expect to continue to go ahead:\n\ncontinuing to build relationships with employers and developing engagement strategies for different industries\npreparing students for placements (such as through virtual training for work programmes)\nensuring alignment between curriculum planning and industry placement provision\ndeveloping matching processes for when students can go on placements again\n\nWe will ask for evidence of this through the usual autumn CDF monitoring\nprocess in order to minimise reporting burdens, and we will still look to claw\nback funding under the usual arrangements should providers fail to demonstrate\nthey have continued to support the delivery of industry placements. Providers\nmust avoid the risk of double funding. We will seek to claw back funding\nshould providers furlough staff involved in these activities.\nFree meals in further education\nWe expect further education institutions to continue to support students who\nare eligible for, and usually receive, free meals in further education, or are\nnewly eligible, whether they are continuing to attend the provider or are\nstudying remotely due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues. Read further\nguidance on free meals in further education funded institutions for 2019 to\n2020.\n*[CDF]: Capacity and Delivery Fund"}
{"_id":"UKtest412","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nData collection and recording\nBreaks in learning\nESFA funded AEB and advanced learner loans (including bursary fund) funding\nrules for 2019 to 2020 already make provision for \u2018breaks in learning\u2019 for a\nrange of circumstances.\nYou and the learner can agree to suspend learning while the learner takes a\nbreak. This allows the learner to continue later with the same eligibility\nthat applied when they first started their learning.\nWe are extending the current breaks in learning rules for ESFA funded AEB and\nadvanced learner loans to:\n\nallow a break in learning at the learner\u2019s request where a learner is self-isolating, or caring for others affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) and is unable to continue by distance learning and\/or an online offer\nallow a break in learning to be recorded where a provider is unable to deliver because of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on their own business and there is no possible delivery by distance and\/or online learning\n\nWhere some learning aims have been delivered, this should be evidenced in the\nusual way. However, where a break in learning is now beginning or expected,\nproviders should include these learners in their individualised learner record\n(ILR) submission and record breaks in learning as starting on the date of the\nlast learning activity for the aim. It is likely that these aims will have\nbeen suspended knowing that it will be reviewed at stages over the coming\nmonths. Under no circumstances should the current planned end date be changed.\nTo record breaks in learning for coronavirus (COVID-19) reasons, providers\nshould:\n\ninclude these learners in their ILR submissions\nrecord, retain and submit evidence in the usual way\nrecord a break in learning in their ILR submission\nensure that the affected learners are not recorded as permanently withdrawn from their learning, by entering the \u2018completion status\u2019 field of the ILR as \u20186\u2019, denoting that the learner has temporarily withdrawn from learning due to an agreed break in learning as a direct impact of COVID-19\n\nFurther information on data collection is included in reducing burdens on\neducational and care\nsettings.\n[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [AEB]: adult education budget\n  *[ILR]: individualised learner record"}
{"_id":"UKtest413","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nResidential providers\nWe are expecting residential further education providers to keep their\nresidential provision open where necessary, and decisions will have to happen\non a case by case basis. It is especially important that residential providers\nremain open to those who have particular needs that cannot be accommodated\nsafely at home, and those who do not have suitable alternative accommodation.\nIn collaboration with Public Health England and Department of Health and\nSocial Care (DHSC), we have produced guidance on isolation for residential\neducational settings,\nincluding further education providers with residential accommodation and\nresidential special colleges. This contains advice on managing the setting in\nthe case of self-isolation or infection."}
{"_id":"UKtest414","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nBroader support to the community\nFurther education providers are major community institutions and have greater\ncapacity and organisational resilience than smaller schools.\nWe know a number of colleges have already taken steps to support vulnerable\nlearners, or the children of critical workers who can\u2019t be supported\nelsewhere.\nThis is a hugely valuable contribution; colleges have a vital role to play in\nholding communities together and supporting our broader national response to\ncoronavirus (COVID-19).\nRemember that, if your organisation is a charity, any help you provide for the\nnational effort must be consistent with your organisation\u2019s charitable\npurposes. If your organisation is a registered charity, see the Charity\nCommission guidance on how charities can help while keeping within their\nobjects.\nFE and sixth form college corporations which are helping the national effort\nin ways other than education, such as giving surplus food to a food bank or\nallowing key workers to use unoccupied student accommodation, are to be\napplauded for contributing in this way. Governors must be satisfied that such\nassistance is in their corporation\u2019s interests, and does not create additional\nrisk or significant one-off or ongoing costs to the corporation, and should\nrecord the basis for their decision.\n*[FE]: further education"}
{"_id":"UKtest415","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nThe current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation means that many trainees are not\nable to carry out the work placement element of the programme due to social\ndistancing measures and employers being closed or having \u2018work at home\u2019\narrangements that are not suitable for trainees.\nWe want to enable providers to continue to deliver where possible given\ntraineeships will play an important part in re-engaging and supporting young\npeople to get back into learning and work following the coronavirus (COVID-19)\noutbreak.\nWhere flexibilities are used, providers should record this and retain it as\nevidence for audit purposes.\nNew trainees can start programmes during this period with programme aims\nadjusted in line with these flexibilities."}
{"_id":"UKtest416","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nTraineeship flexibilities\nExtended programme duration up to 12 months\nIt is our priority to enable providers to support learners to continue with\ntheir learning online during this period, until trainees are able to complete\ntheir traineeship.\nDuring this period, providers can extend the traineeship programme duration up\nto 12 months where one or more of the following scenarios applies:\n\nthe learner has not completed their qualification and basic skills learning aims including employability, maths or English\nthe learner has completed less than 70 planned work experience hours\nthe provider has assessed the learner as needing further work placement hours to complete this element of their traineeship\n\nThis flexibility is offered on the basis that the trainee undertakes online or\nalternative distance learning to complete other non-work experience learning\nand\/or alternative work experience learning part of the traineeship where\nonline learning is possible.\nWhere flexibilities are used, providers should record this and retain it as\nevidence for audit purposes.\nProviders delivering traineeships funded by ESFA AEB can also refer to section\n\u20185b Breaks in learning\u2019 of this guidance for coronavirus (COVID-19) related\nbreaks in traineeship learning.\n[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency\n  [AEB]: adult education budget"}
{"_id":"UKtest417","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nSpecific advice for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)\nSupporting young people in general FE colleges\nYoung people up to the age of 25 with EHC plans in colleges and other\nproviders should, like their peers, go back to college and other providers if\nthey are in the target year groups, and where medical advice suggests they are\nnot clinically extremely\nvulnerable to coronavirus.\nFor all young people with EHC plans , we would encourage colleges, other\nproviders and local authorities to assure themselves that risk assessments\nremain current (see SEND Risk Assessment\nGuidance ). Colleges and other providers should encourage any\nlearners to return to education settings, if the provider judges that this\nwould be beneficial, for example where it is no longer sustainable for a\nstudent to be at home week-round.\nWe encourage colleges and other providers to pay particular attention to\nlearners with EHC plans who are about to make a transition to another setting\nor to adult life, including those starting or finishing a supported\ninternship. These learners may need some form of face to face transition, even\nif they are not attending their usual place of education.\nWe recognise that as some young people with SEND, whether they have an EHC\nplan or not, will need careful preparation for their return (for example,\nsocial stories to help with the transition, or routes round the college marked\nin Braille or with other meaningful symbols to maintain social distancing).\nThe increase in attendance for those with EHC plans in target year groups may\nbe gradual and take place over a period of time.\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disabilities"}
{"_id":"UKtest418","title":"","text":"Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers\nSupporting teachers to continue to deliver\nBringing more learners into FE settings will present new challenges to\ncolleges and other providers. They will want to refocus their teaching staff\nto support learners to come back into the classroom where this is appropriate\nand sustain the online offer that they have developed to continue ongoing\nlearning since the decision to close educational settings was taken. The\ncurrent proposals mean that a relatively small proportion of learners will\nreturn to face to face learning in the first instance and online learning can\ncontinue for the majority of learners.\nWe know that this move will cause concern for some teachers who are having to\nshield or who have family members that are at risk. It is essential that in\nall of their planning, colleges and other providers continue to implement PHE\nadvice on supporting those who are shielding or who are at risk. Teachers who\nfall into these categories should continue to be supported to take appropriate\nsteps to protect themselves and their families including remaining at home\nshould they need to.\nColleges and other providers will be planning how they can best reintroduce\nmore learners into their premises alongside those vulnerable learners and\nchildren of key workers who are already present on site. We know that there\nwill be aspects of provision that cause concern to teachers, for example, use\nof limited space in classrooms or workshops for teaching or specific\nassessments of learners\u2019 competence. The guidance on social\ndistancing will help colleges and other providers to make\ndecisions about how to deploy teachers safely on their premises and to keep\nthem safe when they are delivering face to face teaching or undertaking\nassessments that require practical demonstration.\nWe are confident that providers will be able to make this transition work for\ntheir learners and staff, so that education can continue to be delivered in\nthe most effective and safe way. Specific guidance for educational\nsettings\non social distancing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will\ncontinue to be updated and should be used alongside this advice. What is most\nimportant is getting the balance right between the need for learners and\nteachers to be present onsite and making the best use of online teaching and\nlearning. Any additional costs arising from increasing numbers of learners\nwill be funded from existing college budgets.\nColleges and other providers will also be seeking to recruit new teachers to\nfill existing vacancies and support delivery in future. We know that this will\nbe a challenge in the current circumstances, particularly as teacher\nrecruitment often includes a demonstration of teaching in the classroom,\nhowever we are confident that providers can find ways to recruit teachers\nusing online delivery and other assessment methods where appropriate.\nProviders can still register for Round 3 of the Taking Teaching Further\nprogramme which is intended to support the\nrecruitment of industry professionals to teaching roles in the FE sector. For\nthose seeking support to recruit English, maths or SEND teachers we are still\naccepting applications for In-service ITE\ngrants of \u00a318,200, which are available\ndirectly from the department.\nWe have also provided advice to FE Initial Teacher Education providers to\nmitigate the disruption to teacher training where possible and enable as many\nnew teachers as possible to complete their training where they have\ndemonstrated they have met the required standard. This will mean that there\nwill still be a cohort of newly qualified teachers able to take up employment\nfor the coming academic year.\nSupport from your provider associations\nProvider associations are also offering information and links to resources via\ntheir websites:\n\nAssociation of Colleges (AoC) can offer support and advice with questions relating to business continuity at covid19@aoc.co.uk. AoC has also published guidance on governance\nAssociation of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has collated guidance and support\nHolex has produced a checklist for partially closing or closing an adult education centre\nNatspec is updating a regular briefing page\nSixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) has an online learning hub with resources that will be updated on a regular basis\n\n[FE]: further education\n  [PPE]: personal protective equipment\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disabilities\n  [AoC]: Association of Colleges\n  [AELP]: Association of Employment and Learning Providers\n  [SFCA]: Sixth Form Colleges Association"}
{"_id":"UKtest419","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: early years\nPhonics\nEvidence shows that learning phonics is most effective when children are\ntaught by following a single programme exclusively, rather than mixing them\nup. If parents are to support their child\u2019s phonics learning during school\nclosure, schools should try, as far as possible, to provide materials from the\nsame programme as they use in school.\nThe DfE\u2019s validated phonics programmes, and their resources, are listed below.\nSome schools will use programmes not on this list and should explore what\nmaterials are available by visiting the website for that programme.\nDfE\u2019s validated phonics programmes are:\nBug Club Phonics\nWebsite:\nwww.pearsonprimary.co.uk\/BCPhonics\nAccess through ActiveLearn\nPrimary to Bug Club\nPhonics e-books, activities, shared read aloud videos and resources.\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: following the Letters and Sounds programme, Bug Club Phonics\nhas e-books, teaching material and practice games\nRegistration: required for free access to Bug Club Phonics. Form available\nfor parents to register\nFloppy\u2019s Phonics (Oxford Reading Tree)\nWebsites:\nwww.oxfordprimary.co.uk\/floppysphonicstp\nhttps:\/\/home.oxfordowl.co.uk\/reading\/ for phonic guidance and practise\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: online subscription enables schools to give pupils access to\nmaterials to practise GPCs at home. Activities and advice for parents and\nselected e-books available.\nRegistration: required for Oxford Owl for Home\nJolly Phonics\nWebsite: www.jollylearning.co.uk\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read\nDescription: teaching videos covering key skills needed for reading and\nwriting. Access to guidance and a bank of activity sheets covering phonics,\ngrammar, spelling and punctuation.\nRegistration: not required\nLetters and Sounds\nWebsites: www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/letters-and-\nsounds - for\nthe handbook\nLetters and Sounds for home and\nschool - filmed phonics lessons\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read.\nDescription: filmed phonics lessons that follow phases 2 to 5 of the\nLetters and Sounds programme for reception, year 1 and learning to blend.\nParent guidance videos.\nRegistration: not required\nPhonics International\nWebsite: https:\/\/phonicsinternational.com - for home-learning resources\nand recorded webinar for teachers\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2 to\nadults learning to read.\nDescription: home learning resources include \u2018Alphabetic Code and Phonics\nSkills\u2019 and materials for reading, spelling and handwriting. The free series\nof 8 e-books include 200+ cumulative, decodable sentences and texts.\nRegistration: not required for all open access material. Required to\ndownload e-books \u2018Alphabetic Code and Phonics Skills\u2019.\nRead Write Inc.\nWebsites: www.ruthmiskin.com - filmed\nphonics lessons\nOxford Owl Phonics -\ne-books and activities\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read\nDescription: phonics, word reading and spelling video lessons on YouTube.\nPhonics e-books, activities and advice from Oxford Owl\nRegistration: not required for filmed phonics lessons. Required for Oxford\nOwl for Home to access e-books\nSound Discovery\u00ae Phonics\nWebsites: www.syntheticphonics.net\nRapid reading e-books and\nresources\nKey stages: nursery to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils\nlearning to read.\nDescription: advice, activities, videos, lesson plans and sample pages for\nreading, spelling and handwriting. Access to Rapid Phonics e-books and\nresources.\nRegistration: not required for Sound Discovery\u00ae videos and sample pages.\nRequired for Pearson via school to access Rapid Phonics e-books.\nSounds-Write\nWebsite: www.sounds-write.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and\nkey stage 3 pupils learning to read.\nDescription: online courses and videos for parents, IWB resources,\nactivity workbooks and games.\nRegistration: not required\nOther providers\nAudible\nWebsite: https:\/\/stories.audible.com\/start-listen\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: all children\u2019s audiobooks are available for free while\nschools are closed.\nRegistration: not required\nAuthorfy\nWebsite: https:\/\/authorfy.com\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: access to masterclasses on texts from a range of authors,\nincluding videos from the authors and activities linked to novels.\nRegistration: is required\nBookTrust\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.booktrust.org.uk\/books-and-reading\/bookfinder\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, including fiction and non-fiction. Family activities are included\nin the \u2018Home Time\u2019 section.\nRegistration: not required\nClassroom Secrets\nWebsite: https:\/\/classroomsecrets.co.uk\/free-home-learning-packs\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs which cover a range of subjects,\nincluding reading and writing.\nRegistration: not required\nLiteracy Counts\nWebsite: https:\/\/literacycounts.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: free home learning packs for parents covering reading and\nwriting. A school offer is also available.\nRegistration: is required\nLove Reading 4 Kids\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.lovereading4kids.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, covering fiction and non-fiction.\nRegistration: not required\nManorfield Primary School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnEaSVZf7cZR1kNQkuIRoUg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics and reading\nRegistration: not required\nPurple Mash\nWebsite: https:\/\/2simple.com\/purple-mash\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: free during the school closure period. Each week, a selection\nof daily activities is produced on different subjects, including comprehension\nand grammar.\nRegistration: is required\nSt. Peter\u2019s School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCM5pEwawjlZt69qmczAiQvg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics, reading, spelling,\npunctuation and grammar\nRegistration: not required\nStorytime with Nick\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLDe74j1F52zQ51fqNpKV07E71knNl8HFn\nKey stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1\nDescription: films of well-loved stories read by Nick Cannon, a trained\nactor, teacher and trainer available Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Children\u2019s Poetry Archive\nWebsite: https:\/\/childrens.poetryarchive.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: an archive of spoken poetry recordings. Children can listen\nto poems read out loud.\nRegistration: not required\n*[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest420","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: key stage 1\nPhonics\nEvidence shows that learning phonics is most effective when children are\ntaught by following a single programme exclusively, rather than mixing them\nup. If parents are to support their child\u2019s phonics learning during school\nclosure, schools should try, as far as possible, to provide materials from the\nsame programme as they use in school.\nThe DfE\u2019s validated phonics programmes, and their resources, are listed below.\nSome schools will use programmes not on this list and should explore what\nmaterials are available by visiting the website for that programme.\nDfE\u2019s validated phonics programmes are:\nBug Club Phonics\nWebsite:\nwww.pearsonprimary.co.uk\/BCPhonics\nAccess through ActiveLearn\nPrimary to Bug Club\nPhonics e-books, activities, shared read aloud videos and resources.\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: following the Letters and Sounds programme, Bug Club Phonics\nhas e-books, teaching material and practice games\nRegistration: required for free access to Bug Club Phonics. Form available\nfor parents to register\nFloppy\u2019s Phonics (Oxford Reading Tree)\nWebsites:\nwww.oxfordprimary.co.uk\/floppysphonicstp\nhttps:\/\/home.oxfordowl.co.uk\/reading\/ for phonic guidance and practise\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: online subscription enables schools to give pupils access to\nmaterials to practise GPCs at home. Activities and advice for parents and\nselected e-books available.\nRegistration: required for Oxford Owl for Home\nJolly Phonics\nWebsite: www.jollylearning.co.uk\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read\nDescription: teaching videos covering key skills needed for reading and\nwriting. Access to guidance and a bank of activity sheets covering phonics,\ngrammar, spelling and punctuation.\nRegistration: not required\nLetters and Sounds\nWebsites: www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/letters-and-\nsounds - for\nthe handbook\nLetters and Sounds for home and\nschool - filmed phonics lessons\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read.\nDescription: filmed phonics lessons that follow phases 2 to 5 of the\nLetters and Sounds programme for reception, year 1 and learning to blend.\nParent guidance videos.\nRegistration: not required\nPhonics International\nWebsite: https:\/\/phonicsinternational.com - for home-learning resources\nand recorded webinar for teachers\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2 to\nadults learning to read.\nDescription: home learning resources include \u2018Alphabetic Code and Phonics\nSkills\u2019 and materials for reading, spelling and handwriting. The free series\nof 8 e-books include 200+ cumulative, decodable sentences and texts.\nRegistration: not required for all open access material. Required to\ndownload e-books \u2018Alphabetic Code and Phonics Skills\u2019.\nRead Write Inc.\nWebsites: www.ruthmiskin.com - filmed\nphonics lessons\nOxford Owl Phonics -\ne-books and activities\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2\nchildren learning to read\nDescription: phonics, word reading and spelling video lessons on YouTube.\nPhonics e-books, activities and advice from Oxford Owl\nRegistration: not required for filmed phonics lessons. Required for Oxford\nOwl for Home to access e-books\nSound Discovery\u00ae Phonics\nWebsites: www.syntheticphonics.net\nRapid reading e-books and\nresources\nKey stages: nursery to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils\nlearning to read.\nDescription: advice, activities, videos, lesson plans and sample pages for\nreading, spelling and handwriting. Access to Rapid Phonics e-books and\nresources.\nRegistration: not required for Sound Discovery\u00ae videos and sample pages.\nRequired for Pearson via school to access Rapid Phonics e-books.\nSounds-Write\nWebsite: www.sounds-write.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and\nkey stage 3 pupils learning to read.\nDescription: online courses and videos for parents, IWB resources,\nactivity workbooks and games.\nRegistration: not required\nOther providers\nAudible\nWebsite: https:\/\/stories.audible.com\/start-listen\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: all children\u2019s audiobooks are available for free while\nschools are closed.\nRegistration: not required\nAuthorfy\nWebsite: https:\/\/authorfy.com\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: access to masterclasses on texts from a range of authors,\nincluding videos from the authors and activities linked to novels.\nRegistration: is required\nBookTrust\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.booktrust.org.uk\/books-and-reading\/bookfinder\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, including fiction and non-fiction. Family activities are included\nin the \u2018Home Time\u2019 section.\nRegistration: not required\nClassroom Secrets\nWebsite: https:\/\/classroomsecrets.co.uk\/free-home-learning-packs\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs which cover a range of subjects,\nincluding reading and writing.\nRegistration: not required\nEmile Education\nWebsite: https:\/\/web.emile-education.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: game-based resources covering phonics, grammar and spelling.\nSchools need to register and distribute log-ins to pupils.\nRegistration: is required\nEnglish Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.englishmastery.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource books providing 8 weeks of activities.\nRegistration: not required\nJMB Education\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.jmbeducation.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: 3 months free access available to game-based resources\ncovering reading, writing and grammar\nRegistration: is required\nLiteracy Counts\nWebsite: https:\/\/literacycounts.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: free home learning packs for parents covering reading and\nwriting. A school offer is also available.\nRegistration: is required\nLiteracy Shed\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.literacyshedplus.com\/en-gb\/browse\/free-resources\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs with tasks based on video clips\non YouTube.\nRegistration: not required\nLove Reading 4 Kids\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.lovereading4kids.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, covering fiction and non-fiction.\nRegistration: not required\nManorfield Primary School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnEaSVZf7cZR1kNQkuIRoUg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics and reading\nRegistration: not required\nPobble 365\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.pobble365.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: a new image is published each day as a basis for creative\nwriting. Story starters, questions and drawing ideas are provided.\nRegistration: not required\nPurple Mash\nWebsite: https:\/\/2simple.com\/purple-mash\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: free during the school closure period. Each week, a selection\nof daily activities is produced on different subjects, including comprehension\nand grammar.\nRegistration: is required\nSt. Peter\u2019s School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCM5pEwawjlZt69qmczAiQvg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics, reading, spelling,\npunctuation and grammar\nRegistration: not required\nStorytime with Nick\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLDe74j1F52zQ51fqNpKV07E71knNl8HFn\nKey stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1\nDescription: films of well-loved stories read by Nick Cannon, a trained\nactor, teacher and trainer available Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Children\u2019s Poetry Archive\nWebsite: https:\/\/childrens.poetryarchive.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: an archive of spoken poetry recordings. Children can listen\nto poems read out loud.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Day newsletter\nWebsite: https:\/\/theday.co.uk\/subscriptions\/the-day-home\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: a daily newsletter for parents and carers at home with\nchildren, helping to enrich learning with real-world knowledge and skills.\nRegistration: is required\n*[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest421","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: key stage 5\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: \nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: courses and micro-lessons covering a range of topics.\nSections for schools, parents and carers and pupils\nRegistration: is required\nSeneca\nWebsite: https:\/\/senecalearning.com\/en-GB\/\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a range of downloadable resources covering the GCSE\ncurriculum, categorised by examination board.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Day newsletter\nWebsite: https:\/\/theday.co.uk\/subscriptions\/the-day-home\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a daily newsletter for parents and carers at home with\nchildren, helping to enrich learning with real-world knowledge and skills.\nRegistration: is required\n*[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest422","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish\nThis list of English resources has been collected and assured with support\nfrom English Hub schools and trusted teachers.\nReading is another activity that your child should be encouraged to do.\nReading, especially for primary age children, is critical to educational\ndevelopment and something that families can do together.\nSome publishers are making their catalogues available for free. Schools should\ncheck what is available for the books used in their schools."}
{"_id":"UKtest423","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: key stage 2\nAudible\nWebsite: https:\/\/stories.audible.com\/start-listen\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: all children\u2019s audiobooks are available for free while\nschools are closed.\nRegistration: not required\nAuthorfy\nWebsite: https:\/\/authorfy.com\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: access to masterclasses on texts from a range of authors,\nincluding videos from the authors and activities linked to novels.\nRegistration: is required\nBookTrust\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.booktrust.org.uk\/books-and-reading\/bookfinder\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, including fiction and non-fiction. Family activities are included\nin the \u2018Home Time\u2019 section.\nRegistration: not required\nBug Club Phonics\nWebsite:\nwww.pearsonprimary.co.uk\/BCPhonics\nAccess through ActiveLearn\nPrimary to Bug Club\nPhonics e-books, activities, shared read aloud videos and resources.\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: following the Letters and Sounds programme, Bug Club Phonics\nhas e-books, teaching material and practice games\nRegistration: required for free access to Bug Club Phonics. Form available\nfor parents to register\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.century.tech\/\nKey stages: key stage 2\nDescription: courses and micro-lessons covering a range of topics.\nSections for schools, parents and carers and pupils\nRegistration: is required\nElevenses with the World of David Walliams\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.worldofdavidwalliams.com\/elevenses\/\nKey stages: key stage 2\nDescription: one free audio book reading is available to listen to every\nday.\nRegistration: not required\nEmile Education\nWebsite: https:\/\/web.emile-education.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: game-based resources covering phonics, grammar and spelling.\nSchools need to register and distribute log-ins to pupils.\nRegistration: is required\nEnglish Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.englishmastery.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource books providing 8 weeks of activities.\nRegistration: not required\nFloppy\u2019s Phonics (Oxford Reading Tree)\nWebsites:\nwww.oxfordprimary.co.uk\/floppysphonicstp\nhttps:\/\/home.oxfordowl.co.uk\/reading\/ for phonic guidance and practise\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: online subscription enables schools to give pupils access to\nmaterials to practise GPCs at home. Activities and advice for parents and\nselected e-books available.\nRegistration: required for Oxford Owl for Home\nJMB Education\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.jmbeducation.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: 3 months free access available to game-based resources\ncovering reading, writing and grammar\nRegistration: is required\nLiteracy Counts\nWebsite: https:\/\/literacycounts.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: free home learning packs for parents covering reading and\nwriting. A school offer is also available.\nRegistration: is required\nLiteracy Shed\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.literacyshedplus.com\/en-gb\/browse\/free-resources\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs with tasks based on video clips\non YouTube.\nRegistration: not required\nLove Reading 4 Kids\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.lovereading4kids.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range\nand topic, covering fiction and non-fiction.\nRegistration: not required\nManorfield Primary School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnEaSVZf7cZR1kNQkuIRoUg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics and reading\nRegistration: not required\nPobble 365\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.pobble365.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: a new image is published each day as a basis for creative\nwriting. Story starters, questions and drawing ideas are provided.\nRegistration: not required\nPoetry by Heart\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.poetrybyheart.org.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 2\nDescription: a wide selection of poetry covering different topics\nRegistration: not required to view poems, but it is required to access\nteaching resources.\nPurple Mash\nWebsite: https:\/\/2simple.com\/purple-mash\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: free during the school closure period. Each week, a selection\nof daily activities is produced on different subjects, including comprehension\nand grammar.\nRegistration: is required\nSound Discovery\u00ae Phonics\nWebsites: www.syntheticphonics.net\nRapid reading e-books and\nresources\nKey stages: nursery to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils\nlearning to read.\nDescription: advice, activities, videos, lesson plans and sample pages for\nreading, spelling and handwriting. Access to Rapid Phonics e-books and\nresources.\nRegistration: not required for Sound Discovery\u00ae videos and sample pages.\nRequired for Pearson via school to access Rapid Phonics e-books.\nSounds-Write\nWebsite: www.sounds-write.co.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 1. Key stage 2 and\nkey stage 3 pupils learning to read.\nDescription: online courses and videos for parents, IWB resources,\nactivity workbooks and games.\nRegistration: not required\nSt. Peter\u2019s School\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCM5pEwawjlZt69qmczAiQvg\/playlists\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: YouTube videos covering phonics, reading, spelling,\npunctuation and grammar\nRegistration: not required\nStorytime with Nick\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLDe74j1F52zQ51fqNpKV07E71knNl8HFn\nKey stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1\nDescription: films of well-loved stories read by Nick Cannon, a trained\nactor, teacher and trainer available Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Children\u2019s Poetry Archive\nWebsite: https:\/\/childrens.poetryarchive.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: an archive of spoken poetry recordings. Children can listen\nto poems read out loud.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Day newsletter\nWebsite: https:\/\/theday.co.uk\/subscriptions\/the-day-home\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: a daily newsletter for parents and carers at home with\nchildren, helping to enrich learning with real-world knowledge and skills.\nRegistration: is required"}
{"_id":"UKtest424","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: key stage 4\nAudible\nWebsite: https:\/\/stories.audible.com\/start-listen\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: all children\u2019s audiobooks are available for free while\nschools are closed.\nRegistration: not required\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: \nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: courses and micro-lessons covering a range of topics.\nSections for schools, parents and carers and pupils\nRegistration: is required\nEnglish and Media Centre\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.englishandmedia.co.uk\/publications\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: downloadable resources covering a range of texts for key\nstage 3. GCSE resources are categorised by examination board.\nRegistration: not required\nPobble 365\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.pobble365.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: a new image is published each day as a basis for creative\nwriting. Story starters, questions and drawing ideas are provided\nRegistration: not required\nPoetry by Heart\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.poetrybyheart.org.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: A wide selection of poetry covering different topics.\nRegistration: not required to view poems, but it is required to access\nteaching resources.\nSeneca\nWebsite: https:\/\/senecalearning.com\/en-GB\/\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a range of downloadable resources covering the GCSE\ncurriculum, categorised by examination board.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Children\u2019s Poetry Archive\nWebsite: https:\/\/childrens.poetryarchive.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: an archive of spoken poetry recordings. Pupils can listen to\npoems being read aloud.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Day newsletter\nWebsite: https:\/\/theday.co.uk\/subscriptions\/the-day-home\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a daily newsletter for parents and carers at home with\nchildren, helping to enrich learning with real-world knowledge and skills.\nRegistration: is required\n*[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest425","title":"","text":"Guidance Online English resources for home education\nEnglish: key stage 3\nAudible\nWebsite: https:\/\/stories.audible.com\/start-listen\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: all children\u2019s audiobooks are available for free while\nschools are closed.\nRegistration: not required\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: \nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: courses and micro-lessons covering a range of topics.\nSections for schools, parents and carers and pupils\nRegistration: is required\nEnglish Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.englishmastery.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 3\nDescription: downloadable resource books providing 12 weeks of activities\ncovering writing and poetry.\nRegistration: not required\nEnglish and Media Centre\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.englishandmedia.co.uk\/publications\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: downloadable resources covering a range of texts for key\nstage 3. GCSE resources are categorised by examination board.\nRegistration: not required\nPobble 365\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.pobble365.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: a new image is published each day as a basis for creative\nwriting. Story starters, questions and drawing ideas are provided\nRegistration: not required\nPoetry by Heart\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.poetrybyheart.org.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: A wide selection of poetry covering different topics.\nRegistration: not required to view poems, but it is required to access\nteaching resources.\nSeneca\nWebsite: https:\/\/senecalearning.com\/en-GB\/\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a range of downloadable resources covering the GCSE\ncurriculum, categorised by examination board.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Children\u2019s Poetry Archive\nWebsite: https:\/\/childrens.poetryarchive.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: an archive of spoken poetry recordings. Pupils can listen to\npoems being read aloud.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Day newsletter\nWebsite: https:\/\/theday.co.uk\/subscriptions\/the-day-home\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a daily newsletter for parents and carers at home with\nchildren, helping to enrich learning with real-world knowledge and skills.\nRegistration: is required\n*[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest426","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: key stage 2\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.century.tech\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: learning resources available for schools, parents and\nguardians, and students.\nRegistration: is required\nEffective Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.effectivemaths.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: teacher professional development resources as well as some\nquizzes for children to complete at home.\nRegistration: not required\nHamilton Trust (home learning section)\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.hamilton-trust.org.uk\/blog\/learning-home-packs\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs with teacher guidance. A week\u2019s\nworth of resources is provided for each year group.\nRegistration: not required\nMaths Genie\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mathsgenie.co.uk\/resources.html\nKey stages: key stage 2 to key stage 5\nDescription: past papers and mark schemes for a range of key stages.\nRegistration: is required\nMathematics Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mathematicsmastery.org\/free-resources\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable guidance and resource packs for parents and\npupils.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 4\nDescription: a range of activities and articles aimed at students, parents\nand guardians, and teachers, categorised into age groups.\nRegistration: not required\nOxford Owl\nWebsite: https:\/\/home.oxfordowl.co.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: activities and support for learning at home.\nRegistration: not required\nPearson \u2013 The Maths Factor\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.themathsfactor.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: games and daily sessions for parents and students to work\nthrough at home.\nRegistration: not required\nTop Marks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.topmarks.co.uk\/maths-games\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: a range of interactive maths games categorised by age group,\nsuitable for parents and students to work through.\nRegistration: not required\nWhite Rose Maths (home learning)\nWebsite: https:\/\/whiterosemaths.com\/homelearning\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: presentations and downloadable workbooks which are easy to\nuse for parents. New material is being released each week.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest427","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: early years\nMathematics Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mathematicsmastery.org\/free-resources\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable guidance and resource packs for parents and\npupils.\nRegistration: not required\nMaths with Parents\nWebsite: https:\/\/mathswithparents.com\/teachers\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage\nDescription: videos and activities for home-based learning, with resources\nfor both parents and teachers available.\nRegistration: is required\nNrich\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 4\nDescription: a range of activities and articles aimed at students, parents\nand guardians, and teachers, categorised into age groups.\nRegistration: not required\nNumberblocks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/cbeebies\/grownups\/help-your-child-with-\nmaths\nKey stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1\nDescription: videos for numeracy development designed for children aged 0\nto 6. There are fun activities that can be applied to everyday life and play.\nRegistration: not required\nTop Marks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.topmarks.co.uk\/maths-games\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: a range of interactive maths games categorised by age group,\nsuitable for parents and students to work through.\nRegistration: not required\nWhite Rose Maths (home learning)\nWebsite: https:\/\/whiterosemaths.com\/homelearning\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: presentations and downloadable workbooks which are easy to\nuse for parents. New material is being released each week.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest428","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths\nThis list of maths resources has been collected and assured with support from\nthe National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), and\nother maths teachers.\nSome maths publishers are now making their offers to schools free or providing\nfree trials. Schools already using a trusted or familiar maths package should\ncontinue to do so.\n*[NCETM]: National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics"}
{"_id":"UKtest429","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: key stage 3\nBowland Maths Resources\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bowlandmaths.org.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3\nDescription: downloadable assessments on a range of subjects, including\nsample answers and assessment tips, with content suitable for parents,\nstudents and teachers.\nRegistration: not required\nHegarty Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/hegartymaths.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive activities including videos and questions.\nTeachers can track student progress and tailor next steps.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nMangaHigh\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mangahigh.com\/en-gb\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive maths resources, including topic-specific\nquestions and games that allow teachers to track student progress and set\nactivities.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nMathigon\nWebsite: https:\/\/mathigon.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive maths resources that allow teachers and parents\nto track student progress and set activities.\nRegistration: not required\nMathematics Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mathematicsmastery.org\/free-resources\nKey stages: key stage 3\nDescription: downloadable guidance and resource packs for parents and\npupils.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 4\nDescription: a range of activities and articles aimed at students, parents\nand guardians, and teachers, categorised into age groups.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich Core Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/12524\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: games and puzzles as well as mathematical-thinking and\nproblem-solving questions. Content is categorised by topic and age group.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich \u2018Solving Together\u2019 project\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/solvingtogether\nKey stages: key stage 3\nDescription: this is a project that provides activities for parents and\ncarers to try with children.\nRegistration: not required\nSparx\nWebsite: https:\/\/sparx.co.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: a virtual classroom which supports teachers in building and\nrunning lessons as well as tracking pupil progress.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nTop Marks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.topmarks.co.uk\/maths-games\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: a range of interactive maths games categorised by age group,\nsuitable for parents and students to work through.\nRegistration: not required\nWhite Rose Maths (home learning)\nWebsite: https:\/\/whiterosemaths.com\/homelearning\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: presentations and downloadable workbooks which are easy to\nuse for parents. New material is being released each week.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest430","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: key stage 5\nIntegral\nWebsite - Core maths: https:\/\/amsp.org.uk\/teachers\/core-maths\/resources\nWebsite - A level maths: https:\/\/amsp.org.uk\/news\/free-resources-190320\nKey stages: key stage 5\nDescription: teaching and learning materials for level 3 core maths, A\nlevel maths and A level further maths.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nNrich Core Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/12524\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: games and puzzles as well as mathematical-thinking and\nproblem-solving questions. Content is categorised by topic and age group.\nRegistration: not required\nSTEP Support Programme\nWebsite: https:\/\/maths.org\/step\/welcome\nKey stages: key stage 5\nDescription: the STEP Support Programme is offered by the University of\nCambridge to help university applicants develop their advanced mathematical\nproblem-solving skills and prepare for STEP mathematics exams. Assessments are\ndownloadable.\nRegistration: not required\nUnderground Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/undergroundmathematics.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 5\nDescription: a range of interactive tasks and questions linked to the A\nlevel maths and further maths curriculums.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest431","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: key stage 1\nCentury Tech for Schools\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.century.tech\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: learning resources available for schools, parents and\nguardians, and students.\nRegistration: is required\nEffective Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.effectivemaths.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: teacher professional development resources as well as some\nquizzes for children to complete at home.\nRegistration: not required\nHamilton Trust (home learning section)\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.hamilton-trust.org.uk\/blog\/learning-home-packs\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable resource packs with teacher guidance. A week\u2019s\nworth of resources is provided for each year group.\nRegistration: not required\nMathematics Mastery\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mathematicsmastery.org\/free-resources\nKey stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: downloadable guidance and resource packs for parents and\npupils.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 4\nDescription: a range of activities and articles aimed at students, parents\nand guardians, and teachers, categorised into age groups.\nRegistration: not required\nNumberblocks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/cbeebies\/grownups\/help-your-child-with-\nmaths\nKey stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1\nDescription: videos for numeracy development designed for children aged 0\nto 6. There are fun activities that can be applied to everyday life and play.\nRegistration: not required\nOxford Owl\nWebsite: https:\/\/home.oxfordowl.co.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: activities and support for learning at home.\nRegistration: not required\nPearson \u2013 The Maths Factor\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.themathsfactor.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: games and daily sessions for parents and students to work\nthrough at home.\nRegistration: not required\nTop Marks\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.topmarks.co.uk\/maths-games\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: a range of interactive maths games categorised by age group,\nsuitable for parents and students to work through.\nRegistration: not required\nWhite Rose Maths (home learning)\nWebsite: https:\/\/whiterosemaths.com\/homelearning\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 3\nDescription: presentations and downloadable workbooks which are easy to\nuse for parents. New material is being released each week.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest432","title":"","text":"Guidance Online maths resources for home education\nMaths: key stage 4\nCorbett Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/corbettmaths.com\/contents\/\nKey stages: key stage 4\nDescription: a range of videos and downloadable questions categorised by\ntopic and predicted grade suitable for students.\nRegistration: not required\nHegarty Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/hegartymaths.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive activities including videos and questions.\nTeachers can track student progress and tailor next steps.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nMangaHigh\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.mangahigh.com\/en-gb\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive maths resources, including topic-specific\nquestions and games that allow teachers to track student progress and set\nactivities.\nRegistration: requires school registration\nMathigon\nWebsite: https:\/\/mathigon.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive maths resources that allow teachers and parents\nto track student progress and set activities.\nRegistration: not required\nMaths Kitchen\nWebsite: https:\/\/mathskitchen.com\/topics\nKey stages: key stage 4\nDescription: an interactive GCSE revision website. Resources are\ncategorised by topic, including video lessons and practice questions.\nRegistration: not required\nNrich\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 4\nDescription: a range of activities and articles aimed at students, parents\nand guardians, and teachers, categorised into age groups\nRegistration: not required\nNrich Core Maths\nWebsite: https:\/\/nrich.maths.org\/12524\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: games and puzzles as well as mathematical-thinking and\nproblem-solving questions. Content is categorised by topic and age group.\nRegistration: not required\nSparx\nWebsite: https:\/\/sparx.co.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: a virtual classroom which supports teachers in building and\nrunning lessons as well as tracking pupil progress.\nRegistration: requires school registration\n*[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest433","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nScience: secondary\nBBC Bitesize\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/bitesize\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: interactive resources covering the key stage 3 and key stage\n4 science curriculums. Includes separate sections for biology, physics and\nchemistry. Suitable for independent student use.\nRegistration: not required\nCentury Tech\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.century.tech\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: online learning courses and assessments covering the key\nstage 3 and key stage 4 science curriculums. Options for either school or\nparent\/pupil sign-up, and suitable for independent pupil use or teacher use.\nRegistration: is required (school or parent)\nInstitute of Physics (IOP)\nWebsite: https:\/\/spark.iop.org\/covid-19-support-schools-and-colleges\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a set of articles and resources designed to support teachers\nwho are teaching remotely. Suitable for teacher use.\nRegistration: not required\nIsaac Physics\nWebsite: https:\/\/isaacphysics.org\/\nKey stages: key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: online problem-solving activities and regular live video\ntuition to support teachers and students. The content focusses on physics but\nalso covers some maths and chemistry. Suitable for independent student use or\nteacher use.\nRegistration: not required, but registration increases functionality\nKerboodle\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.kerboodle.com\/\nKey stages: key stage 4\nDescription: bank of resources and assessments to support the latest AQA\nGCSE science courses. Core content will be relevant to all GCSE specifications\nbut teachers using other awarding bodies may need to select appropriate\nresources. Suitable for teacher use.\nRegistration: school registration required\nRoyal Society of Chemistry (RSC)\nWebsite: https:\/\/edu.rsc.org\/remote-teaching-support\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: a set of articles and resources designed to support teachers\nwho are teaching remotely. Suitable for teacher use.\nRegistration: not required, but registration increases functionality\nSTEM Learning\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.stem.org.uk\/resources\/curated-collections\/secondary-\nand-level-science-0\nKey stages: key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5\nDescription: an online resource bank listing quality-assured resources on\nexternal websites. The site features a live chat function offering support\nfrom subject experts. Main resource bank suitable for teacher use. New \u2018home\nlearning support for families\u2019 section suitable for pupil\/parent use.\nRegistration: is required for some resources\n*[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest434","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nMental wellbeing: secondary\nBPS\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bps.org.uk\/news-and-blogs\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: advice on dealing with school closures and talking to\nchildren about COVID-19.\nRegistration: not required\nChildren\u2019s Society\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.childrenssociety.org.uk\/coronavirus-information-and-\nsupport\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: information and support on different aspects of mental health\nand wellbeing.\nRegistration: not required\nMindEd\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.minded.org.uk\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: an educational resource for all adults on children and young\npeople\u2019s mental health.\nRegistration: is required\nRise Above\nWebsite: https:\/\/riseabove.org.uk\/topic\/my-mind\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: videos with tips on gaining confidence, dealing with anxiety\nand coping strategies from other young people.\nRegistration: not required\nThe Child Bereavement Network\nWebsite: http:\/\/www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk\/covid-19.aspx\nKey stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5\nDescription: advice on supporting grieving children during the coronavirus\noutbreak.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest435","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nPhysical education (PE) and physical activity\nThis updated list of physical education (PE) and physical activity resources\nhas been collected and assured with support from organisations including:\n\nthe Association for Physical Education\nPublic Health England\nSport England\nthe Yorkshire Sport Foundation\n\nThese resources will help young people to get the daily 60 minutes of activity\nrecommended by the UK Chief Medical Officer in fun ways.\nAll the resources listed here are for activities designed to be carried out\nindoors or, if available, a garden. Children and their parents\/carers can\nexercise outside as often as they wish.\nExercise or recreation can be:\n\nalone\nwith members of your household\nwith 1 other person from outside your household, while keeping 2 metres apart at all times\n\nOutdoor exercise could include a walk, run or cycle with members of your\nhousehold.\nChildren and young people should always follow the latest official advice on\nsocial distancing.\nThe activities can be adapted to suit the abilities and physical, emotional\nand learning needs of individual children and young people. Always make sure\nthat the space and any equipment children and young people will use for these\nactivities are safe.\n*[PE]: Physical education"}
{"_id":"UKtest436","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nMental wellbeing\nThis list of mental wellbeing resources has been collected and assured with\nsupport from our partners, the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and\nFamilies.\nIt is designed to provide guidance on how to support the wellbeing of children\nand young people being educated remotely.\nMany organisations already working with schools will be able to provide remote\nsupport, and schools are encouraged to discuss what ongoing support might be\navailable during this time."}
{"_id":"UKtest437","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nScience\nThis list of science resources has been collected and assured with support\nfrom learned societies and subject organisations, including:\n\nthe Association for Science Education (ASE)\nthe Institute of Physics (IOP)\nthe Royal Society\nthe Royal Society of Biology (RSB)\nthe Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)\nSTEM Learning\n\nThese resources link closely to the national curriculum, however there are\nmany other resources supporting enrichment and practical activities available\non the societies\u2019 websites and elsewhere.\nCare should be taken that all activities, especially practical activities, are\nundertaken safely and with due regard for the abilities of the pupil.\nTeachers and parents\/carers should check that activities are appropriate for\nthe intended user and that they can be carried out safely in the home\nenvironment.\n[ASE]: the Association for Science Education\n  [IOP]: the Institute of Physics\n  [RSB]: the Royal Society of Biology (RSB)\n  [RSC]: the Royal Society of Chemistry\n  *[STEM]: Science, technology,engineering and maths"}
{"_id":"UKtest438","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nOther resources\nThere are other resources available. BESA\u2019s LendEd\nwebsite and the EdTech Impact\nwebsite, for example, include varied resources\nthat teachers already use and rate within the websites.\nThese have not been verified by DfE\u2019s educational experts but we have included\nthem on the list because they also cover other areas of the curriculum that\nare not covered above.\n[BESA]: British Education Suppliers Association\n  [DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest439","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nScience: primary\nBBC Bitesize\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/bitesize\/primary\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: interactive resources covering the primary science\ncurriculum. Suitable for pupil\/parent use.\nRegistration: not required\nCentury Tech\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.century.tech\/\nKey stages: key stage 2\nDescription: online learning courses and assessments covering the key\nstage 2 science curriculum. Options for either school or parent sign-up,\nsuitable for independent pupil use or teacher use.\nRegistration: is required (school or parent)\nSTEM Learning\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.stem.org.uk\/primary-science\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: an online resource bank listing quality-assured resources on\nexternal websites. The site features a live chat function offering support\nfrom subject experts. Main resource bank suitable for teacher use. New \u2018home\nlearning support for families\u2019 section suitable for parent use.\nRegistration: is required for some resources"}
{"_id":"UKtest440","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nSEND: online, downloadable and printable resources\nActive Learn Primary\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.activelearnprimary.co.uk\/\nDescription: the Rapid Reading and Rapid Phonics programmes focus on\naccelerating progress in reading skills for pupils with dyslexia and with low\nlevels of literacy. Designed for teachers, but suitable for parents too.\nRegistration: is required\nAnna Freud National Centre for Children and Families\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.annafreud.org\/media\/11160\/supporting-schools-and-\ncolleges.pdf\nDescription: a downloadable guide to supporting the mental health and\nwellbeing of pupils and students during periods of disruption. Designed for\nteachers, but suitable for parents too.\nRegistration: not required\nCharles Dickens Primary\nWebsite: http:\/\/www.charlesdickens.southwark.sch.uk\/\nDescription: the Jenny Wren Virtual School SEN Hub offers daily lessons\nfor pupils with moderate learning difficulties, focusing on Makaton and a\ndaily activity to complete with a parent or teacher.\nRegistration: not required\nDo2Learn (USA)\nWebsite: https:\/\/do2learn.com\/\nDescription: a range of downloadable resources grouped by theme. Themes\ninclude: social skills, songs and games, and picture cards.\nRegistration: not required\nInclusive Teach\nWebsite: https:\/\/inclusiveteach.com\/free-printable-sen-teaching-\nresources\/\nDescription: downloadable and printable accessible teaching resources for\nparents and teachers to support pupils with a range of SEND needs, including\nAutism, PMLD, SLCN, MLD, SLD\nRegistration: not required\nPMLD thematic units \u2013 from the Northern Ireland Curriculum\nWebsite:\nhttp:\/\/www.nicurriculum.org.uk\/curriculum_microsite\/SEN_PMLD_thematic_units\/index.asp\nDescription: comprehensive guidance on themed activities for learners with\nPMLD. A full sensory curriculum is offered. More suitable for teachers, but\nactivities and resources will be useful for parents too.\nRegistration: not required\nPriory Woods School\nWebsite:\nhttp:\/\/www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk\/page\/?title=Resources&pid=3\nDescription: resources from an award-winning, innovative school, rated by\nOfsted as outstanding and put together by SEND teachers for parents and\nteachers. The resources include apps and programmes.\nRegistration: not required\nSchool Cloud\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.parentseveningsystem.co.uk\/features-video-\nmeetings.asp\nDescription: a secure online video call service to connect pupils, parents\nand teachers. Potential use might include pupils with SEND and\/or their\nparents having a weekly video call with a SENCo to monitor their progress with\nhome learning.\nRegistration: is required\nSEND Gateway\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.sendgateway.org.uk\/whole-school-send\/find-wss-\nresources\/nqt-videos.html\nDescription: guidance videos created in collaboration with the Centre for\nEducation and Youth (CfEY) to increase the knowledge and awareness of a range\nof SEND conditions. Aimed at newly qualified teachers but also provides\nhelpful resources and tips that will be useful for parents.\nRegistration: not required\nSENict Activities\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.ianbean.co.uk\/senict-members-resource-portal\nDescription: downloadable activities aimed particularly at learners with\nPMLD, SLD and those who are learning to use assistive technology to access the\ncurriculum. Suitable for parents and teachers.\nRegistration: not required\nSEN Teacher\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.senteacher.org\/\nDescription: downloadable and printable resources that can be adapted to\nsuit the needs of pupils. Resources are aimed at a range of abilities. Website\nhas over 300,000 regular users and is suitable for both parents and teachers.\nRegistration: not required\nSpeech and Language Kids\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.speechandlanguagekids.com\/free-speech-language-\nresources\/\nDescription: an extensive range of education and therapy resources for\nparents and teachers of children with speech and language problems. A podcast\nis also available on iTunes for verbal and non-verbal children.\nRegistration: not required\nSpeech Link Multimedia Ltd\nWebsite: https:\/\/speechandlanguage.info\/parents\nDescription: a parent portal with links to downloadable resources,\nactivities and games developed by a team of speech and language therapists and\nsoftware engineers who work with over 4,000 schools in the UK.\nRegistration: not required\nTeaching Students with Visual Impairments\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com\/\nDescription: a range of downloadable resources and instructional\nstrategies to support blind and visually impaired pupils. Suitable for parents\nand teachers.\nRegistration: is required\nThe Autism Page\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.theautismpage.com\/\nDescription: online support and information aimed at supporting parents\nwith young autistic children. Information and ideas to support the\nimplementation of autism specific teaching methods.\nRegistration: not required\nUCL Centre for Inclusive Education\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.ucl.ac.uk\/ioe\/departments-and-\ncentres\/centres\/centre-inclusive-education\/homeschooling-children-\nsend\/managing-transition-home-schooling\nDescription: a guide to help parents adjust to remote learning by\nproviding advice and links to resources.\nRegistration: not required\n[SEND]: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities\n  [PMLD]: Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties\n  [SLD]: Severe Learning Difficulties\n  [CfEY]: Centre for Education and Youth"}
{"_id":"UKtest441","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nSpecial educational needs and disabilities (SEND)\nThis list of SEND resources has been developed with a focus on accessibility\nand inclusivity and is based on the recommendations of:\n\ntrusted organisations\ncharities\nmulti-academy trusts\nspecial education headteachers\n\nThe vast majority of the resources on this list are suitable for both parents\nand teachers to use in supporting the home learning of children and young\npeople with SEND.\nWe encourage parents, teachers and schools to explore beyond this list to\nidentify what support is best for their children and pupils with SEND.\n*[SEND]: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities"}
{"_id":"UKtest442","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nSEND: apps and games\n(Apps must be downloaded onto a compatible device)\nBrain Parade\nWebsite: http:\/\/www.brainparade.com\/products\/see-touch-learn-free\/\nDescription: a visual instruction app, including flash cards and picture-\nchoosing games, for children with autism and special needs.\nHelpKidzLearn\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.helpkidzlearn.com\/\nDescription: a collection of games and resources designed for a range of\neducational needs and stages. It includes provision for school closure.\nSensory App House Ltd\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.sensoryapphouse.com\/\nDescription: a range of apps are available for pupils with Profound and\nMultiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) or Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD).\nAll are interactive and many do not require significant coordination\nabilities.\nVisuals2Go\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.visuals2go.com\/\nDescription: an all-in-one app created to support people with\ncommunication and learning difficulties. For verbal and non-verbal learners.\n[PMLD]: Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties\n  [SLD]: Severe Learning Difficulties"}
{"_id":"UKtest443","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nMental wellbeing: primary\nAnna Freud National Centre for Children and Families\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.annafreud.org\/coronavirus-support\/support-for-early-\nyears\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: wellbeing advice for all those supporting children and young\npeople.\nRegistration: not required\nBritish Psychological Society (BPS)\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bps.org.uk\/news-and-policy\/bps-offers-advice-\nschools-parents-and-carers-help-children-through-uncertainty\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: advice on dealing with school closures and talking to\nchildren about COVID-19.\nRegistration: not required\nChildren\u2019s Commissioner\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk\/publication\/childrens-\nguide-to-coronavirus\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: a downloadable guide for children about coronavirus.\nRegistration: not required\nMindEd\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.minded.org.uk\/\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: an educational resource for all adults on children and young\npeople\u2019s mental health.\nRegistration: not required, but registration increases functionality\nThe Child Bereavement Network\nWebsite: http:\/\/www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk\/covid-19.aspx\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: advice on supporting grieving children during the coronavirus\noutbreak.\nRegistration: not required"}
{"_id":"UKtest444","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nPE and physical activity: secondary\nSeneca\nWebsite:\nhttps:\/\/app.senecalearning.com\/courses?Price=Free&Age+Group=GCSE&Subject=Physical+Education\nKey stages: key stage 4\nDescription: digital revision materials focussing on the GCSE PE\ncurriculum\nRegistration: not required\n#ThisIsPE\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.afpe.org.uk\/physical-education\/thisispe-supporting-\nparents-to-teach-pe-at-home\/\nKey stages: key stage 3 and key stage 4\nDescription: videos delivered by teachers focussing on the PE curriculum\nwhich are accessible on YouTube.\nRegistration: not required\n[GCSE]: General Certificate of Secondary Education\n  [PE]: Physical education"}
{"_id":"UKtest445","title":"","text":"Guidance Online science, PE, wellbeing and SEND resources for home education\nPE and physical activity: primary\nBoogie Beebies\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/b006mvsc\nKey stages: early years foundation stage\nDescription: videos that get younger children up and dancing with CBeebies\npresenters.\nRegistration: not required\nDisney 10 Minute Shakeups\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/10-minute-shake-up\/shake-ups\nKey stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2\nDescription: 10-minute activities based on Disney films that count towards\na child\u2019s 60 active minutes per day.\nRegistration: not required\nSuper Movers\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/teach\/supermovers\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: videos which help children move while they learn. They\nsupport curriculum subjects, including maths and English.\nRegistration: not required\n#ThisIsPE\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.afpe.org.uk\/physical-education\/thisispe-supporting-\nparents-to-teach-pe-at-home\/\nKey stages: key stage 1 and key stage 2\nDescription: videos delivered by teachers focussing on the PE curriculum\nwhich are accessible on YouTube.\nRegistration: not required\n*[PE]: Physical education"}
{"_id":"UKtest446","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nRedeeming the vouchers\nOnce families have received their voucher, they will be able to redeem them in\nstore at the selected retailer by either:\n\npresenting the voucher on a smartphone or tablet\npresenting a paper copy of the voucher\n\nGuidance\nis available from Edenred for parents to help answer any questions they may\nhave.\nFamilies are free to select the most appropriate food and drink for their\nchild. When selecting products, we encourage families to consider health and\nnutrition. The School Food\nStandards and the NHS Eat Well website may act as a useful guide for\nfamilies.\nVouchers must not be used for age-restricted items, such as alcohol,\ncigarettes or lottery tickets."}
{"_id":"UKtest447","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nAdditional costs\nThe payments for the national voucher scheme will be met centrally by DfE.\nWe understand that other approaches, such as providing food parcels or\npurchasing vouchers for shops not in the national scheme, may mean that\nschools incur additional costs. We have published guidance on the financial\nsupport available for schools who incur these additional\ncosts in this way.\nSchools will be able to claim up to a certain limit, depending on their number\nof pupils, and where they are unable to meet these additional costs from their\nexisting resources, or which they could only meet by drawing down on reserves\nand undermining their long-term financial sustainability. In exceptional\ninstances where individual schools face additional costs that are higher than\nthe grant\u2019s limits, schools will be able to apply to increase their limit.\n*[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest448","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nAlternative approach\nYou can choose a supermarket on the family\u2019s behalf and either post the eGift\ncard to the parent or carer or arrange for them to collect it. The family will\nbe able to redeem the eGift card as soon as it arrives. You should take this\napproach if the family receiving the voucher does not have access to an email\naddress or the internet.\nIf you choose this option, you should think carefully about which shops and\nsupermarkets are most convenient for families to access - if possible, ask the\nfamilies."}
{"_id":"UKtest449","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nProviding meals or food parcels through your food provider\nWe know that many schools and food providers are already finding very\neffective ways to ensure that eligible children already receive free healthy\nmeals during this period.\nAs schools prepare to open more widely, they should speak to their school\ncatering team or provider about the best arrangements for school meals.\nSchools should ensure that they are supported to return to school to provide\nfood both for those children attending school and for those remaining at home\nwho are eligible for free school meals.\nWe have published a planning guide for\nschools to help schools prepare for children returning\nto school. This includes suggested approaches to help school leaders in their\ndecision making around school meals, including working out arrangements for\nlunch so that children do not mix with children from other groups.\nThis could mean having several lunch sittings or serving lunch in more than\none location, including if appropriate in a classroom, or asking your caterers\nto look at other flexible ways of giving pupils access to lunch such that it\ncan be eaten in the small group setting (for example taking cold or \u2018packed\u2019\nlunches to children in the areas they are in for the day).\nIn addition, please speak to your catering teams and food suppliers about the\nmost effective ways to manage the ordering and delivery of food during this\nperiod. This may include:\n\narranging fewer food deliveries each week compared with standard periods when the school is open to all pupils\nordering longer shelf life products during this period, such as frozen foods or foods that can be safely stored at room temperature\n\nIn addition to providing meals in schools, you should consider with suppliers\nwhether they can prepare meals or food parcels that could be collected by or\ndelivered to families that are not in attendance. If you do provide meals or\nfood parcels, ensure they are distributed in line with guidance on social\ndistancing at all times.\nThe Food Standards Agency has issued general guidance for food\nbusinesses."}
{"_id":"UKtest450","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nSchool food contracts\nSpeak to your catering provider(s) about your arrangements in response to the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nThe Cabinet Office has published guidance for public bodies (Procurement\nPolicy Note 02\/20) on payment of suppliers\nthat are at risk. It provides details on identifying suppliers that are at\nrisk.\nInform suppliers who you consider to be at risk that they will be paid as\nnormal (even if service delivery is disrupted or suspended) until at least the\nend of June.\nThe government will continue to provide schools with their expected funding,\nincluding funding to cover free school meals and universal infant free school\nmeals, throughout this period.\nYou should continue to make payments to food suppliers (that are considered at\nrisk) for the cost of free school meals and universal infant free school\nmeals. Payments should be based on the previous 3 months\u2019 invoices, provided\nthe supplier agrees to act on an open book basis and make cost data available.\nSchools should make payments to suppliers promptly and on time.\nThis does not apply to the costs of meals usually purchased by parents for\npupils who are not eligible for free school meals."}
{"_id":"UKtest451","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nFree school meal eligibility\nYou should continue to accept and verify free school meal applications. The\neligibility criteria for free school meals can be found at apply for free\nschool meals.\nDuring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are temporarily extending free\nschool meals eligibility to include some groups who have no recourse to public\nfunds (NRPF).\nThis temporary extension covers both children who are attending school and who\nare at home.\nSee guidance for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to\nNRPF groups for more information.\nPupils who attend a breakfast provision\nWe are committed to supporting schools and their pupils who would usually\nbenefit from the DfE breakfast programme.\nIf you\u2019re on the programme, you will have received an email from the National\nSchool Breakfast Programme about children who would normally receive a healthy\nbreakfast at school.\nYou can choose to support eligible children in the way which works best for\nthem, this could include:\n\nrunning breakfast provision in school for children who are attending\nfamilies collecting food parcels\ndelivering breakfast food parcels to families\n\nThe breakfast food parcels should be arranged alongside the school\u2019s wider\nsupport for children on benefits-related free school meals, and schools must\nfollow Public Health England\u2019s advice on social distancing at all times.\n[NRPF]: no recourse to public funds\n  [DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest452","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nSending eCodes to families\nYou can send a redemption eCode from the Edenred system directly to the parent\nor carers of the pupil(s) eligible for free school meals. They should receive\nthe eCode and instructions on how to use this to create an eGift card within 4\ndays.\nYou should only consider this approach if the family receiving the support has\na working email account which they can access."}
{"_id":"UKtest453","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nSupport for pupils who have to stay at home\nUnder normal circumstances, schools do not provide free school meals to\neligible children who are not in school. But during the coronavirus (COVID-19)\noutbreak, we expect schools to continue supporting children eligible for\nbenefits-related free school meals who are at home.\nThe steps you take will depend on your circumstances. This could include:\n\nproviding meals or food parcels through your food provider\nusing the Department for Education\u2019s (DfE) centrally-funded national voucher scheme\nproviding alternative vouchers for a local shop or supermarket\n\nFree school meals should be offered to eligible pupils not attending school\nduring term time weeks. Costs of the national voucher scheme to provide free\nschool meals for eligible pupils will also be met by DfE over the Easter and\nMay half-term holidays.\nSchools can claim for additional costs incurred in supporting free school\nmeals pupils, for example by providing vouchers for an alternative local\nretailer, as outlined in the additional costs section below.\nUniversal infant free school meals\nSchools should provide meal options free of charge to all infant pupils\nattending school, including Reception and year 1 children returning from 1\nJune.\nThere is no requirement to provide universal infant free school meals to\ninfant pupils who are not in school.\nFree meals for further education students\nFurther education institutions should continue to provide support for free\nmeal students where their existing funding and delivery arrangements allow for\nthis.\nFurther information is available in the 16 to 19 free meals in further\neducation guidance.\n*[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest454","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nProviding meals for pupils attending school\nSchools should provide meal options for all children who are in school, and\nmeals should be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who\nmeet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria.\nThe government will continue to provide schools with their expected funding,\nincluding funding to cover benefits-related free school meals and universal\ninfant free school meals, throughout this period."}
{"_id":"UKtest455","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nHow to order vouchers\nSchools have received an email from Edenred with an activation code and a\nstep-by-step\nguide\nto using the online ordering portal.\nOnce you have activated your account on the Edenred portal, you can begin to\norder vouchers.\nWhen ordering vouchers, please do so in an efficient manner to cover multiple\nweeks.\nYou can:\n\norder a single voucher to cover a longer time frame, for example, \u00a345 to support one eligible child over 3 weeks\norder a single voucher to cover more than one eligible child within the same household, for example, \u00a390 to support three eligible children over 2 weeks\nset a weekly \u00a315 rolling voucher\n\nOnce you have confirmed the voucher\u2019s value, you can either:\n\nsend an eCode directly to the parent or carers of the pupils(s) eligible for free school meals - they will need to choose an eGift card from a range of supermarkets\nselect an eGift card on the parent or carer\u2019s behalf, and print and post the eGift card to them\nselect an eGift card on the parent or carer\u2019s behalf, print the eGift card and arrange for families to collect it\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest456","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nAs schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to\nmake food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that\nare eligible for free school meals who are staying at home.\nArranging food parcels helps ensure that eligible children have access to a\nhealthy free meal, and can also help the school to stay in contact with those\nfamilies. We know that many schools have made excellent food parcel\narrangements throughout this period.\nIf your school catering service cannot provide meals or food parcels for\nchildren who are at home, you can continue to offer vouchers to families of\neligible pupils.\nBefore ordering vouchers, check which pupils are eligible and would be\nreceiving benefits-related free school meals.\nWe are monitoring voucher orders at school level to broadly check if they are\nordering in line with our estimates of the number of eligible children,\nrecognising that for some schools this will be lower if they are providing\nfood parcels, or using a local arrangement. If a school\u2019s orders are higher\nthan expected, we may speak to the school about why this has occurred and will\ntake forward any necessary action to rectify the position. A cross check will\nalso be done for those making a claim for free school meals funding via the\nfinancial support available for\nschools.\nFor any voucher queries, please email:\n\nfreeschoolmeals@edenred.com for schools\nfreeschoolmealsparentscarers@edenred.com for parents and carers\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest457","title":"","text":"Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\nNational voucher scheme\nSupermarkets available\nThrough Edenred, you can access eGift cards for:\n\nAldi\nAsda\nM&S\nMcColl\u2019s\nMorrisons\nSainsbury\u2019s\nTesco\nWaitrose\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest458","title":"","text":"Guidance Remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nRemote education resources for teachers\nWe have published an initial list of online educational\nresources covering various subjects and age\ngroups that have been recommended by teachers and school leaders.\nThe BBC\nBitesize Daily has been\ndeveloped by the BBC to provide new lessons every weekday for pupils in year 1\nto year 10. Created in collaboration with teachers and educational experts,\nits videos and interactive activities cover core subjects and other topics on\nthe school curriculum. Content is available for free on television, online and\nthrough BBC iPlayer.\nOak National Academy\nSchools might also consider using resources from Oak National\nAcademy, which was created by teachers from\nschools across England in response to school closures. This free resource for\nteachers will provide the equivalent of 3 hours of lessons a day for primary\nschool pupils and 4 hours a day for secondary across a variety of subjects.\nLessons have been created by practising teachers, combining videos, quizzes\nand worksheets.\nSchools can download the Oak schools\npack, which provides guidance\nand videos to share should schools want to use Oak as part of their remote\neducation plans. Packs are available for primary, secondary and specialist\nschools, and include the full Oak curriculum (until the end of the summer\nterm) to help schools plan."}
{"_id":"UKtest459","title":"","text":"Guidance Remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nGuidance on remote education during coronavirus\nSafeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nUnderstand how to follow safeguarding procedures when planning remote\neducation strategies and teaching remotely.\n\nRemote education practice for schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAn opportunity for schools to learn from each other\u2019s emerging practice as\nthey develop their approaches to providing remote education.\n\nGet technology support for children and schools during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)\nThe Department for Education is working in partnership with an industry\ncoalition to provide technology to support remote education."}
{"_id":"UKtest460","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nPersonal data and GDPR\nSchools and colleges should continue to follow the guidance outlined in the\ndata protection: toolkit for\nschools when managing personal data and may need to consider:\n\ntaking care not to share contact details when emailing multiple people\nbeing careful when sharing usernames and other personal data for access to online resources\nproviding access to school data systems safely\n\nRead the other guidance on remote education during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"UKtest461","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nCommunicating with parents, carers and pupils\nWhere education is now having to take place remotely, it\u2019s important for\nschools, teachers and pupils to maintain professional practice as much as\npossible. When communicating online with parents and pupils, schools should:\n\ncommunicate within school hours as much as possible (or hours agreed with the school to suit the needs of staff)\ncommunicate through the school channels approved by the senior leadership team\nuse school email accounts (not personal ones)\nuse school devices over personal devices wherever possible\nadvise teachers not to share personal information\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest462","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nSafeguarding pupils and teachers online\nMost children are being educated at home during the coronavirus (COVID-19)\noutbreak, so school leaders and teachers are having to adjust to remote\neducation strategies. While this is happening, it is important that schools\ncontinue to follow safeguarding procedures.\nAs set out in the Coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges\nand other\nproviders guidance, online education should\nfollow the same principles set out in your school\u2019s staff behaviour policy\n(sometimes known as a code of conduct).\nKeeping teachers safe when providing remote education is also essential.\nRemote education is a new experience for both staff and pupils, so it\u2019s\nimportant that schools understand how to approach safeguarding procedures\nonline.\nSchools may wish to use these resources to understand more about ensuring\nonline education is safe:\n\nremote education advice from The Key for School Leaders\nadvice from NSPCC on undertaking remote education safely\nguidance from the UK Safer Internet Centre on remote education\n\nGuidance on teaching online safety in\nschools provides information to help schools ensure their pupils understand\nhow to stay safe and behave online.\nSchool contact with parents and carers during this time can also be used to\nreinforce the importance of children staying safe online.\nIt\u2019s especially important for parents and carers to be aware of what their\nchildren are being asked to do, including:\n\nsites they will be asked to use\nschool staff their child will interact with\n\nSchools should emphasise the importance of a safe online environment and\nencourage parents and carers to set age-appropriate parental controls on\ndigital devices and use internet filters to block malicious websites. These\nare usually free, but often need to be turned on.\nUse these resources to support parents and carers to keep their children safe\nonline:\n\nThinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on staying safe online\nParent info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations\nChildnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support\nInternet matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world\nLondon Grid for Learning has support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online\nNet-aware has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games\nLet\u2019s Talk About It has advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation\nUK Safer Internet Centre has tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services\n\n[NSPCC]: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children\n  [NCA]: National Crime Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest463","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nProviding pastoral care remotely\nHelping parents, carers and pupils to make a weekly plan or structure that\nincludes time for education, playing and relaxing is important to reduce\nstress and anxiety for families.\nAs set out in Public Health England\u2019s guidance for parents and\ncarers, routine can give children and young people an\nincreased feeling of safety in the context of uncertainty.\nSchools might want to consider whether one-to-one sessions could be\nappropriate in some circumstances. For example, to provide pastoral care or\nprovide support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities\n(SEND).\nThis should be discussed and approved by the senior leadership team to assess\nany risks. There may be helpful solutions, such as including a parent or\nadditional staff member in the call."}
{"_id":"UKtest464","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nVirtual lessons and live streaming\nShould schools choose to provide remote education using live streaming or pre-\nrecorded videos, guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on\nwhich video conference service is right for your\nschool and using video conferencing services\nsecurely could help schools to set up video conferencing safely, if this\nis the chosen approach.\nIn addition, guidance from the UK Safer Internet Centre on safe remote\nlearning includes\ndetailed advice on live, online teaching, and the safeguarding guidance from\nLondon grid for learning (LGfL)\nincludes platform-specific advice.\nTeaching from home is different to teaching in the classroom. Teachers should\ntry to find a quiet or private room or area to talk to pupils, parents or\ncarers. When broadcasting a lesson or making a recording, consider what will\nbe in the background.\nIn some areas, schools may also be able to seek support from their local\nauthority when planning online lessons and activities, and considering online\nsafety."}
{"_id":"UKtest465","title":"","text":"Guidance Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReporting concerns\nIt is essential to have and communicate clear reporting routes so that\nchildren, teachers, parents and carers can raise any safeguarding concerns.\nSchools may wish to review the existing arrangements to ensure they are\nappropriate during school closures, or if additional or alternative\narrangements need to be put in place.\nSchools should consider signposting to the practical support that\u2019s available\nfor reporting harmful or upsetting content as well as bullying and online\nabuse.\nHarmful or upsetting content\nGet support by:\n\nreporting harmful online content to the UK Safer Internet Centre\ngetting government advice and trusted resources from Educate Against Hate on safeguarding from radicalisation, building resilience to extremism, and promoting shared values\n\nBullying or abuse online\nYou can:\n\nget advice on reporting online abuse from the National Crime Agency\u2019s Child Exploitation and Online Protection command\nget advice and support from Anti-Bullying Alliance for children who are being bullied\n\nSchools may also wish to use resources such as\nTootoot to provide a confidential route for pupils\nto report bullying or abuse.\nSchools can access the free Professionals Online Safety\nHelpline which supports the online safeguarding of both children and\nprofessionals. Call 0344 381 4772 or email\nhelpline@saferinternet.org.uk. The\nhelpline is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm."}
{"_id":"UKtest466","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nHow schools can access funding\nFunding will be available to cover costs relating to specific items. These\nitems are ones we judge are likely to be necessary to allow schools to provide\nappropriate support to those children who will continue to attend school under\nthe current arrangements.\nFunding will be available to schools that are unable to meet such additional\ncosts from their existing resources, or which they could only meet by drawing\ndown on reserves and undermining their long-term financial sustainability.\nWhile we are not asking schools to draw on existing reserves to meet these\ncosts, we do not expect schools to make a claim against this funding if they\nare anticipating that they will be able to add to their reserves in the 2020\nto 2021 financial year.\nWe are asking schools to make the necessary payments from their existing\nbudgets and record these in line with local finance policies. In June, we will\npublish further guidance for schools on the process for informing us of any\nadditional costs relating to coronavirus (COVID-19). We understand the\nsignificant challenges schools are facing at present and will therefore make\nthe process for reporting this information as simple as possible. We will then\nmake payments \u2013 direct to academies, or to local authorities to pass onto\ntheir schools \u2013 to reimburse schools for costs they apply for up to the limits\nset out below."}
{"_id":"UKtest467","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nAdditional costs covered by the fund\nWe understand this is a very challenging time for schools. We encourage all\nschools to continue to manage their budgets in the most effective way\npossible, and to redirect their existing resources to best support all their\npupils, particularly vulnerable children and children of critical workers, in\nthe current circumstances.\nWe have identified areas where we believe is it most likely that schools may\nface additional costs, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.\nThese are:\n\nincreased premises related costs (including utilities and resources needed to keep the school open, such as hygiene services) associated with keeping schools open during the Easter and\/or summer half term holidays, for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers, over and above the costs that schools would have faced in other circumstances\nsupport for free school meals (FSM) for eligible children who are not attending school , where those costs are not covered by the FSM national voucher scheme - this covers: \ncosts to schools arising before the introduction of the national voucher scheme\ncosts where schools are providing free meals to children for whom the national voucher scheme is inappropriate (for example, because there are no participating supermarkets locally or schools are providing meals directly)\n\n\nadditional cleaning \u2013 required due to confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, in line with COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings, over and above the cost of existing cleaning arrangements\n\nIf a school faces other, extraordinary costs to deliver appropriate support to\ntheir pupils through this period that are not covered by this list and cannot\nbe met by existing budgets, they should contact\nDfE.CoronavirusHelpline@education.gov.uk.\nOther queries should continue to be directed towards central enquiry channels."}
{"_id":"UKtest468","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nFunding allowances\nWhere they need to, schools will be eligible to claim up to the limits set out\nbelow. Schools will need to provide assurance that costs are legitimate\nadditional costs incurred due to coronavirus (COVID-19) by taking necessary\nmeasures and should consider the following before submitting claims:\n\nschools should keep records of all expenditure relating to coronavirus (COVID-19), as is usual with all spend, these records will be necessary for local audit arrangements\nthe headteacher or school business manager who submits the claim should give due consideration to their financial duties when doing so, including signing their name against any claim\nwe would expect schools to be able to identify this income, and the related expenditure, when reporting their accounts\n\nWe want the claims process to be as simple and as user friendly as possible,\nrecognising the additional work schools are already facing.\nWe will not be asking for detailed information of the individual items on a\nclaim routinely, but schools should hold a record of what has been covered, in\ncase of individual enquiries.\nAs usual, we reserve the right to audit the expenditure and clawback money if\nclaims have not been made in accordance with the guidance, in order to protect\npublic spending.\nLimits for schools\nMainstream schools\n250 pupils or fewer\n\u00a325,000\nMainstream schools\n251 to 500 pupils\n\u00a330,000\nMainstream schools\n501 to 1000 pupils\n\u00a350,000\nMainstream schools\nOver 1000 pupils\n\u00a375,000\nMainstream schools\nSpecial schools and alternative provision\nMainstream schools\nAll schools\n\u00a350,000\nPupil numbers will be defined by the following data:\n\n2 to 4 year olds \u2013 headcount of funded places from January 2020\n5 to 16 year olds \u2013 headcount from October 2019 census\n16 to 19 year olds \u2013 pupil numbers from 2019 to 2020 academic year allocations\n\nThese limits have been set to ensure that few schools will be likely to exceed\nthem, and we do not expect there to be many schools who need to spend up to\nthese limits.\nThere may be some exceptional instances where individual schools will face\nadditional costs that are higher than these limits. In these circumstances,\nschools will be able to make a case for increasing the limit when they submit\na claim for additional funding."}
{"_id":"UKtest469","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nExpectations of schools\nSchools will continue to receive their budgets for the coming year as usual,\nregardless of any periods of partial or complete closure, and this will ensure\nthey are able to continue to pay for staff and meet their other regular\nfinancial commitments, while delivering the provision required during this\nunprecedented period.\nCosts that are part of schools\u2019 expected expenditure for the year but that\nwill not provide a benefit to the school or its pupils (such as exam fees,\nwhere exams will not now take place) are not covered by the funding set out in\nthis guidance. This funding is focused on additional costs that schools face,\nover and above their expected expenditure, in delivering appropriate support\nfor their pupils through this period.\nWe recognise that staff will need to be in school over the Easter and summer\nhalf term holidays when they would usually not be working. In order to protect\nstaff wellbeing, and minimise any need for existing staff to work additional\nhours in order to cover the holiday periods, schools should consider:\n\nadopting rota systems to cover holidays, and offering staff time off in lieu for this\napproaching the local authority or academy trust to check whether staffing support is available from other institutions\nmaking appropriate use of their supply budget\n\nIf schools still have unavoidable additional staffing costs they should\ndiscuss these with their Regional School Commissioner who will support them to\nresolve the issue."}
{"_id":"UKtest470","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nShort-term support with costs\nWe recognise that some schools may be unable to make up-front payments to\ncover the additional costs due to coronavirus (COVID-19) because of cash flow\nissues. In these circumstances, schools should follow the normal process for\nseeking short-term advances to support their cash flow by contacting the ESFA\nif they are an academy, or their local authority if they are a maintained\nschool.\nAny non-maintained special school with a cash flow difficulty should seek\nadvice from the ESFA in the first instance."}
{"_id":"UKtest471","title":"","text":"Guidance School funding: exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020\nEligibility for this funding\nFunding will be available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools,\nand alternative provision, including:\n\nprimary, secondary and all through maintained schools, academies and free schools\n16 to 19 academies and maintained schools\nmaintained special schools\nspecial academies and free schools\nnon-maintained special schools\npupil referral units\nalternative provision academies and free schools\nmaintained hospital schools and academies\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest472","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nIf you have pets in the household\nAt present, there is very limited evidence that companion animals or pets such\nas dogs and cats can be infected with coronavirus (COVID-19).\nCoronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK is spread by human to human transmission.\nThere is emerging evidence that some animals can become infected with SARS-\nCoV-2 (which causes coronavirus (COVID-19)) following close contact with\ninfected humans. At this time, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the\ndisease to humans."}
{"_id":"UKtest473","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nMain messages\nIf you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, OR you have\nreceived a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test result, the clear medical\nadvice is to immediately self-isolate at home for at least 7 days from when\nyour symptoms started. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You\nshould arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 \u2013 go to\ntesting to arrange.\nConsider alerting the people that you have had close contact within the last\n48 hours to let them know you have symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19.\nFollowing a positive test result, you will receive a request by text, email or\nphone to log into the NHS Test and Trace service website and provide\ninformation about recent close contacts\nAfter 7 days, or longer, if you still have symptoms other than cough or loss\nof sense of smell\/taste, you must continue to self-isolate until you feel\nbetter.\nYou do not need to self-isolate if you only have a cough or loss of sense of\nsmell\/taste after 7 days, as these symptoms can last for several weeks after\nthe infection has gone. See the ending\nisolation section below for more information.\nIf you live with others and you are the first in the household to have\nsymptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), then you must stay at home for at least 7\ndays. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not\nleave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the\nfirst person in the household became ill. See the explanatory\ndiagram.\nStaying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of\ninfection that people in your household could pass on to others in the\ncommunity.\nIf anyone else in the household starts displaying symptoms, they must stay at\nhome for at least 7 days from when their symptoms appeared, regardless of what\nday they are on in their original 14-day isolation period. The ending\nisolation section below has more information, and\nsee the explanatory\ndiagram.\nIf you have symptoms, you should stay as far away from other members of your\nhousehold as possible. It is especially important to stay away from anyone who\nis clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable with whom you\ncontinue to share a household.\nReduce the spread of infection in your home by washing your hands regularly\nfor 20 seconds using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser, and cover coughs\nand sneezes.\nIf you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets\nworse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111\nonline coronavirus (COVID-19) service. If you do not\nhave internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.\nIf you develop new coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms at any point after ending\nyour first period of isolation (self or household) then you must follow the\nsame guidance on self-isolation again. The section below (After ending self-\nisolation and\/or household-isolation) has further information.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest474","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nCover your coughs and sneezes\nCover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. If\nyou do not have a tissue, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your\nhand. Dispose of tissues into a disposable rubbish bag and immediately wash\nyour hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser.\nIf you have a carer, they should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus\nor phlegm after you have sneezed or coughed. Then they should wash their hands\nwith soap and water for 20 seconds."}
{"_id":"UKtest475","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nWhat you can do to help yourself get better\nDrink water to keep yourself hydrated. You should drink enough during the day\nso your urine is a pale clear colour.\nYou can use over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol, to help with\nsome of your symptoms. Use these according to the instructions on the packet\nor label and do not exceed the recommended dose."}
{"_id":"UKtest476","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhat do we mean by possible or confirmed coronavirus infection (COVID-19)?\n\nPossible infection is where a person has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and is currently awaiting a test result.\nConfirmed infection is where a person has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest477","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nLiving with children\nWe are aware that not all these measures will be possible if you are living\nwith children, but keep following this guidance to the best of your ability.\nWhat we have seen so far is that children with coronavirus (COVID-19) appear\nto be less severely affected. It is nevertheless important to do your best to\nensure that all members of your household follow this guidance."}
{"_id":"UKtest478","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nEnding self-isolation and household isolation\nEnding household isolation\nAfter 7 days, if the first person to become ill feels better and no longer has\nsymptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell\/taste they can return to\ntheir normal routine.\nIf you live with others, then everyone else in the household who remains well\nshould end their isolation after 14 days. This 14-day period starts from the\nday the first person in the household became ill. People in the household who\nremain well after 14 days are unlikely to be infectious.\nIf anyone in the household becomes unwell during the 14-day period, they\nshould arrange to have a test to see if they have COVID-19 \u2013 go to\ntesting to arrange. If their test result is positive, they must follow\nthe same advice for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms \u2013 that is,\nafter 7 days of their symptoms starting, if they feel better and no longer\nhave symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell\/taste \u2013 they can also\nreturn to their normal routine. However, if their test result is negative,\nthey must continue with isolation as part of the household for the full 14\ndays.\nShould someone develop coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms late in the 14-day\nhousehold isolation period (for example, on day 10 or later) the isolation\nperiod for the household does not need to be extended. Only the person with\nnew coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms has to stay at home for at least a further\n7 days, and should arrange to have a test to see if they have COVID-19 \u2013 go to\ntesting to arrange.\nAt the end of the 14-day period, anyone in the household who has not become\nunwell can return to their normal routine.\nIf any person in the household with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms has not\nhad any signs of improvement and has not already sought medical advice, they\nshould use the NHS 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19)\nservice. If they do not have internet access, they\nshould call NHS 111. For a medical emergency, they should dial 999.\nA cough or anosmia (a loss of, or change, in the sense of taste or smell), may\npersist for several weeks in some people, despite the infection having\ncleared. A persistent cough or anosmia does not mean someone must continue to\nself-isolate for more than 7 days."}
{"_id":"UKtest479","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhy staying at home is very important\nIt is very important that people with symptoms that may be due to coronavirus\n(COVID-19) and their household members stay at home. Staying at home will help\nprevent the spread of the virus to family, friends, the wider community, and\nparticularly those who are clinically extremely\nvulnerable.\nControlling the spread of the virus will help us to protect the NHS and save\nlives.\nIf you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and you live alone you must\nremain at home for at least 7 days after the onset of your symptoms (see\nending self-\nisolation below). This will reduce the risk of you\ninfecting others.\nIf you or anyone in your household has symptoms that may be caused by\ncoronavirus (COVID-19), then you must avoid contact with other household\nmembers as much as possible.\nThe other members of your household, including those who do not have any\nsymptoms, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. You must not\ngo out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise must be taken\nwithin your home. This 14-day period starts from the day when the first person\nin your house became ill. There is more information in the ending self-\nisolation section below.\nStaying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of\ninfection the household could pass on to others in the community."}
{"_id":"UKtest480","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nStay at home\nYou and everyone else in your household must remain at home. Do not go to\nwork, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis.\nNobody should go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise\nmust be taken within your home.\nIf you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up\nmedication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively,\nyou can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. Delivery\ndrivers should not come into your home, so make sure you ask them to leave\nitems outside for collection.\nFurther guidance on accessing food and essential supplies is available at\nAccessing food and essential\nsupplies.\nIf you are unable to work due to coronavirus (COVID-19), please refer to this\nguidance from the Department for Work and\nPensions to find out\nabout the support that is available to you."}
{"_id":"UKtest481","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nIf you have a clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person living with you\nWhere possible, arrange for anyone who is clinically\nvulnerable or clinically\nextremely vulnerable to\nmove out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of your\nhome isolation period.\nIf you cannot arrange for vulnerable people to move out of your home, stay\naway from them as much as possible, following the guidance\nhere. For the clinically\nextremely vulnerable please follow the Shielding\nguidance.\nThose who are clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable should\nbe supported to take precautions to minimise their contact with other people\nin your household, regardless of whether others have symptoms or not. They\nshould minimise time spent in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and\nsitting areas. Any shared spaces should be well ventilated.\nIf they can, clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable people\nshould use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If this is not\npossible, consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with the clinically\nvulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person using the facilities\nfirst. They should use separate towels from the rest of the household, both\nfor drying themselves after bathing or showering and when washing their hands.\nIf they can, clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable members\nof the household should have their meals in their own rooms. If you have one,\nuse a dishwasher to clean and dry the family\u2019s used crockery and cutlery. If\nthis is not possible, wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm\nwater and dry them thoroughly. If the clinically vulnerable or clinically\nextremely vulnerable person is using their own utensils, remember to use a\nseparate tea towel for drying these.\nWe understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves\nfrom others at home. You must do your very best to follow this guidance and\neveryone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching\ntheir face, and clean frequently touched surfaces."}
{"_id":"UKtest482","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nSymptoms\nThe most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any\nof the following:\n\na new continuous cough\na high temperature\na loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)\n\nFor most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if\nyou have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a\ntest to see if you have COVID-19 \u2013 go to\ntesting to arrange."}
{"_id":"UKtest483","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nLooking after your wellbeing while staying at home\nWe know that staying at home for a prolonged period can be difficult,\nfrustrating and lonely for some people and that you or other household members\nmay feel low. It can be particularly challenging if you don\u2019t have much space\nor access to a garden.\nIt\u2019s important to remember to take care of your mind as well as your body and\nto get support if you need it. Stay in touch with family and friends over the\nphone or on social media. There are also sources of support and information\nthat can help, such as the Every Mind\nMatters\nwebsite.\nThink about things you can do during your time at home. People who have stayed\nat home for a week or more have kept themselves busy with activities such as\ncooking, reading, online learning and watching films. If you feel well enough\nyou can take part in light exercise within your home.\nMany people find it helpful to remind themselves why what they are doing is so\nimportant. Hopefully, none of your family will experience anything more than\nmild symptoms, but some people are badly affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).\nBy staying home, you are helping to protect your friends and family, and other\npeople in your community, as well as making sure the NHS does not get\noverwhelmed.\nThere are things that you can do to help make self-isolation easier. These\ninclude:\n\nplanning ahead and thinking about what you will need in order to be able to stay at home for the full duration of isolation\ntalking to your employer, friends and family to ask for their help to access the things you will need while staying at home\nthinking about and planning how you can get access to food and other supplies, such as medications, that you will need during this period\nasking friends or family to drop off anything you need or ordering supplies online, but make sure these are left outside your home for you to collect\nensuring that you keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media\nthinking about things you can do during your time at home. People who have successfully completed a period of staying at home have kept themselves busy with activities such as cooking, reading, online learning and watching films\nplanning out the full 14 days, such as on a make-shift calendar, which many people find helpful. You may also find it helpful to plan in advance what you will do if, for example, someone in your household were to feel much worse, such as having difficulties breathing\nremembering that physical exercise can be good for your wellbeing, when you are feeling better. Look for online classes or courses that can help you take light exercise in your home\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest484","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nIf you are breastfeeding while infected\nThere is currently no evidence to suggest that the virus can be transmitted\nthrough breast milk. Infection can be spread to the baby in the same way as to\nanyone in close contact with you. The current evidence is that children with\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) get much less severe symptoms than adults. The benefits\nof breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of the virus\nthrough breast milk or by being in close contact; however, this will be an\nindividual decision and can be discussed with your midwife, health visitor or\nGP by telephone.\nIf you or a family member are feeding with formula or expressed milk, you\nshould sterilise the equipment carefully before each use. You should not share\nbottles or a breast pump with someone else.\nYou can find more information at the Royal College of Obstetricians and\nGynaecologists website.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest485","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nIf you or your family need to seek medical advice\nSeek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness of someone in\nyour household is worsening. If it\u2019s not an emergency, contact the NHS 111\nonline coronavirus (COVID-19) service. If you have no\ninternet access, call NHS 111.\nIf it is a medical emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and\ninform the call handler or operator that you or your relative have coronavirus\n(COVID-19) symptoms.\nAll routine medical and dental appointments should usually be cancelled while\nyou and the family are staying at home. If you are concerned or have been\nasked to attend in person within the period you are home isolating, discuss\nthis with your medical contact first (for example, your GP or dentist, local\nhospital or outpatient service), using the number they have provided.\n*[GP]: general practitioner (family doctor)"}
{"_id":"UKtest486","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nDo not have visitors in your home\nDo not invite or allow social visitors, such as other friends or family, to\nenter your home. If you want to speak to someone who is not a member of your\nhousehold, use the phone or social media.\nIf you or a family member receive essential care in your home, then carers\nshould continue to visit. Carers should follow the relevant\nguidance to reduce the risk of you passing on the\ninfection."}
{"_id":"UKtest487","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nAvoid contact with other members of your household as much as possible\nIf you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important to reduce the\nspread of infection to others in your household as much as possible.\nYou should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to the outside that\ncan be opened, separate from other people in your home if this is possible.\nKeep the door closed.\nUse a separate bathroom from the rest of the household, if available. If you\nhave to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required. If a\nseparate bathroom is not available, consider drawing up a bathroom rota for\nwashing or bathing. You should use the facilities last, before thoroughly\ncleaning the bathroom. You should use separate towels from other household\nmembers, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand\nhygiene purposes.\nYou should avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens whilst others are\npresent. Take your meals back to your room to eat. Use a dishwasher (if\navailable) to clean and dry your used crockery and cutlery. If this is not\npossible, wash them by hand using detergent and warm water and dry them\nthoroughly, using a separate tea towel."}
{"_id":"UKtest488","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nEnding self-isolation and household isolation\nEnding self-isolation\nIf you have had symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), then you may end your\nself-isolation after 7 days and return to your normal routine if you do not\nhave symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell\/taste. If you still\nhave a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to\nnormal.\nAfter 7 days, if you just have a cough or anosmia (a loss of, or change in,\nyour sense of taste or smell), you do not need to continue to self-isolate.\nThis is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the\ninfection has gone. The 7-day period starts from the day when you first became\nill.\nIf you continue to feel unwell and have not already sought medical advice, you\nshould use the NHS 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19)\nservice. If you do not have internet access, call NHS\n111. For a medical emergency dial 999."}
{"_id":"UKtest489","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWill my household be tested if we think we have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms?\nAnyone with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) must immediately self-isolate\nand arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 \u2013 go to\ntesting to arrange.\nIf you develop symptoms you may wish to alert the people that you have had\nclose contact with over the last 48 hours to let them know that you might have\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) but are waiting for a test result. At this stage, those\npeople should not self-isolate. Alerting those that you have been in contact\nwith means they can take extra care in practising social distancing and good\nhand and respiratory hygiene. They can also be more alert to any symptoms they\nmight develop.\nPeople who have tested positive will receive a text, email or phone call\nrequesting that they log into the NHS Test and Trace website to create a\nconfidential account where they can record details about their recent close\ncontacts. If you do not have access to the web, then you will be phoned by a\ncontact tracer working for the NHS Test and Trace service. The information you\nprovide will be handled in strict confidence and will enable the NHS Test and\nTrace service to contact those people and provide them with advice on whether\nthey should go into self-isolation. This will help stop the spread of\ncoronavirus (COVID-19). The people contacted will not be told your identity,\nbut by alerting them when you first develop symptoms, you can help make sure\nthat they are prepared for being contacted by the Test and Trace service."}
{"_id":"UKtest490","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nLaundry\nTo minimise the possibility of dispersing virus through the air, do not shake\ndirty laundry.\nWash items in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. All dirty\nlaundry can be washed in the same load.\nIf you do not have a washing machine, wait a further 72 hours after your\nduration of isolation has ended when you can then take the laundry to a public\nlaunderette.\nDo not share towels, including hand towels and tea towels."}
{"_id":"UKtest491","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nFace coverings\nUsed correctly, a face covering may help to protect others by reducing the\ntransmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).\nIf you have possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) and you live with\nothers, consider using a face covering inside your home when spending time in\nshared parts of the household, in addition to avoiding contact with other\nmembers of the household as much as possible. You must still stay at home for\nat least 7 days from when the symptoms started and wearing a face covering\ndoes not replace this.\nFurther guidance on the use of face\ncoverings is available along\nwith instructions on how to make your own face\ncovering."}
{"_id":"UKtest492","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nAfter ending self-isolation and\/or household isolation\nWhat to do if you have another episode of coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms\nafter the end of your first period of self-isolation or household isolation\nIf you develop new coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms at any point after ending\nyour first period of staying at home (self-isolation or household isolation)\nthen you must follow the same guidance on self-\nisolation again.\nThis means you must stay at home for at least 7 days from when your symptoms\nstarted if you live alone and arrange to have a test. If you live in a\nhousehold, you must stay at home for at least 7 days from when your symptoms\nstarted, arrange a test for yourself, and all other household members must\nstay at home for 14 days.\nThis will help to ensure that you are continuing to protect others within your\nhousehold and in your community by minimising the amount of infection that is\npassed on.\nIf you previously tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and have\nanother episode of symptoms, do you need to self-isolate again?\nIf you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), you will probably have\ndeveloped some immunity to the disease. But it cannot be guaranteed that will\nhappen in all cases, nor exactly for how long that will last.\nIf you have previously tested positive but develop symptoms again, you must\nself-isolate for at least 7 days from onset of symptoms and be tested. If you\nlive in a household, all other household members must stay at home for 14\ndays.\nIf you are concerned about your new possible coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms,\nuse the NHS 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19) service.\nIf you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial\n999."}
{"_id":"UKtest493","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nWash your hands often\nClean your hands frequently by washing them with soap and water for 20 seconds\nor using hand sanitiser. This will help protect you and the people you live\nwith. This is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of passing\ninfection to others."}
{"_id":"UKtest494","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nFor those with learning disabilities, autism or serious mental illness\nWe are aware that not all these measures will be possible if you, or those you\nare living with, have significant conditions such as learning disabilities,\nautism or serious mental illness. Please keep following this guidance to the\nbest of your ability, whilst keeping yourself and those close to you safe and\nwell, ideally in line with any existing care plans."}
{"_id":"UKtest495","title":"","text":"Guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection\nWhile you are self-isolating, make sure you do the following things\nCleaning and disposal of waste\nWhen cleaning you should use your usual household products, like detergents\nand bleach, as these will be very effective at getting rid of the virus on\nsurfaces. Clean frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails,\nremote controls and tabletops. This is particularly important if you have a\nclinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person in the house.\nClean a shared bathroom each time you use it, for example, by wiping the\nsurfaces you have touched.\nPersonal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths can be\nstored securely within disposable rubbish bags. These bags should be placed\ninto another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This\nshould be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual\nexternal household waste bin.\nOther household waste can be disposed of as normal."}
{"_id":"UKtest496","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nStaying at home\nIt is still very important that people stay home unless necessary to go out\nfor specific reasons set out in\nlaw. These include:\n\nfor work, where you cannot work from home\ngoing to shops that are permitted to be open \u2013 to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone\nto exercise or spend time outdoors for recreation\nany medical need, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person\n\nWhere parents or someone with parental responsibility do not live in the same\nhousehold, children under 18 can be moved between their parents\u2019 homes to\ncontinue existing arrangements for access and contact.\nThe government has also identified a number of critical\nworkers whose children can\nstill go to school or their childcare provider. This critical worker\ndefinition does not affect whether or not you can travel to work - if you are\nnot a critical worker, you may still travel to work if you cannot work from\nhome. However, if you, or a member of your household are unwell with symptoms\nof coronavirus, you should isolate and should not travel to or attend the\nworkplace.\nCritical workers and parents or guardians of vulnerable children may leave\ntheir home to take children to and from school or their childcare provider.\nYou can also attend the funeral of a close family member or member of your\nhousehold (or, of a friend, if no one from their close family or household is\nattending). Religious ministers or leaders can leave their homes to go to\ntheir place of worship, but these should remain closed to the public\nYou may also leave or be outside of your home in order to access other\ncritical public services, such as social services, support provided to\nvictims, services provided by the Department for Work and Pensions, to fulfil\na legal obligation, or to move home in line with the government\u2019s\nguidance.\nA fuller list of the reasons you can leave home is set out in the\nregulations.\nWhen you do need to go out, you should follow the guidelines on staying safe\noutside your home. Most importantly, this includes the key advice that you\nshould stay two metres apart from anyone outside of your household. Face\ncoverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of\nthe disease if you are in an enclosed space where social distancing isn\u2019t\npossible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally\nmeet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas, for\nexample on public transport or in some shops. You should be prepared to remove\nyour face covering if asked to do so by police officers and staff for the\npurposes of identification.\nIt is still not permitted to leave your house to visit friends and family in\ntheir home. The government is looking at how to facilitate greater contact\nwith close family or friends, and will explain how this can be done safely in\nthe coming weeks.\nBy following this guidance, you are helping to protect yourself, your family,\nthe NHS and your community.\nFurther guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus\n(COVID-19) has been issued."}
{"_id":"UKtest497","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nGoing to work\nYou should travel to work, including to provide voluntary\nor charitable services, where you cannot work from home and your workplace is\nopen.\nWith the exception of the organisations covered above in the section on\nclosing businesses and venues, the government has not required any other\nbusinesses to close to the public \u2013 it is important for business to carry on.\nAll workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace\nis open. Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open should be open \u2013\nsuch as food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution\nand scientific research. As soon as practicable, workplaces should be set up\nto meet the new COVID-19 secure guidelines. These will keep you as safe as\npossible, whilst allowing as many people as possible to resume their\nlivelihoods. In particular, workplaces should, where possible, ensure\nemployees can maintain a two-metre distance from others, and wash their hands\nregularly.\nAt all times, workers should follow the guidance on self-\nisolation if they or anyone in their household shows coronavirus\nsymptoms. You should not go into work if you are showing symptoms, or if you\nor any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice\nfrom the Chief Medical Officer.\nThere is specific guidance in relation to work carried out in people\u2019s\nhomes \u2013 for example by\ntradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, cleaners, or those\nproviding paid-for childcare in a child\u2019s home."}
{"_id":"UKtest498","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nBusinesses and venues\nFor the time being, certain businesses and venues are required by\nlaw to stay closed to the\npublic. These include:\n\nrestaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway\npubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs\nclothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets (not selling food)\nlibraries, community centres, and youth centres\nindoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities\nsome communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms\nplaces of worship (except for funerals)\nhotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial\/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work\n\nFood retailers and food markets, hardware stores, garden centres and certain\nother retailers can remain open. Other businesses can remain open and their\nemployees can travel to work, where they cannot work from home. The government\nhas also allowed outdoor sports facilities \u2013 such as tennis and basketball\ncourts, golf courses and bowling greens \u2013 to open, but you should only use\nthese alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from\noutside your household, while keeping two metres apart at all times."}
{"_id":"UKtest499","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nCommunicating with the public\nThe government will continue to keep the public informed of the impacts of\ncoronavirus on the UK, and the law and guidance that is in place to protect\nthe public.\nThe measures set out will be kept under constant review, and formally\nrevisited at the end of May. They will be relaxed if the scientific evidence\nshows that this is possible. If people begin to act recklessly, which could\nimpact on the transmission of coronavirus in our communities, further\nrestrictions will have to be implemented again."}
{"_id":"UKtest500","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nClinically vulnerable people\nIf you have any of the following health conditions, you are clinically\nvulnerable, meaning you are at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus.\nYou are advised to stay at home as much as possible and, if you do go out,\ntake particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household.\nClinically vulnerable people are those who are:\n\naged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)\nunder 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year on medical grounds):\nchronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis\nchronic heart disease, such as heart failure\nchronic kidney disease\nchronic liver disease, such as hepatitis\nchronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson\u2019s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy\ndiabetes\na weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions, treatments like chemotherapy, or medicines such as steroid tablets\nbeing seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)\npregnant women\n\nAs above, there is a further category of people with serious underlying health\nconditions who are clinically extremely vulnerable, meaning they are at very\nhigh risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You, your family and carers\nshould be aware of the guidance on shielding which provides information on how\nto protect yourself still further should you wish to."}
{"_id":"UKtest501","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nPublic gatherings\nTo ensure people are social distancing, the government has prohibited by law\nall public gatherings of more than two people, except for reasons set out in\nthe regulations. These include:\n\nwhere the gathering is of a group of people who live together in the same household \u2013 this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops, although you are advised to do so only if there is no option to leave them at home\nwhere the gathering is essential for work purposes \u2013 but workers should try to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace\n\nIt is important that everyone continues to act responsibly in public places,\nas the large majority have done to date. The infection rate will increase if\npeople begin to break the rules."}
{"_id":"UKtest502","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nVisiting public places\nYou can exercise outside as often as you wish and you can also sit and rest\noutside \u2013 exercise or recreation can be alone, with members of your household,\nor with one other person from outside your household, while keeping two metres\napart at all times.\nYou may drive to outdoor publicly accessible open spaces irrespective of\ndistance, but should follow social distancing guidance whilst you are there.\nYou should plan ahead to ensure that, where you are visiting places like\nNational Parks, you have checked that they are open and appropriately prepared\nfor visitors. You should not go to ticketed outdoor leisure venues, where\nthere is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces.\nWhen travelling to outdoor spaces, it is important that people respect the\nrules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to different\nparts of the UK where their intended activities there would be prohibited by\nlegislation passed by the relevant devolved administration."}
{"_id":"UKtest503","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nEnforcing the law\nThe police and local authorities have the powers to enforce the requirements\nset out in law if people do not\ncomply with them. The police will act with discretion and common sense in\napplying these measures, but if you breach the law, they may instruct you to\ngo home or leave an area, or arrest you where they believe it necessary. They\nmay also instruct you to take steps to stop your children breaking these legal\nrequirements if they have already done so.\nThe government has introduced higher fines for those who do not comply, to\nreflect the increased risk to others of breaking the rules as we begin to ease\nthe restrictions, and people return to work. If the police believe that you\nhave broken the law \u2013 or if you refuse to follow their instructions enforcing\nthe law \u2013 a police officer may issue you with a fixed penalty notice for \u00a3100\n(reduced to \u00a350 if paid within 14 days). If you have already received a fixed\npenalty notice, the amount will increase to \u00a3200 and double on each further\nrepeat offence, up to a maximum of \u00a33200.\nSimilarly, a business or venue operating in contravention of the law will be\ncommitting an offence. Local authorities (for example, Environmental Health\nand Trading Standards officers) will monitor compliance, with support from the\npolice if appropriate. Businesses and venues that breach the law will be\nsubject to prohibition notices and fixed penalty notices. Businesses that\ncontinue to contravene the law will be forced to close down.\nFor both individuals and companies, if you do not pay, you may also be taken\nto court, with magistrates able to impose potentially unlimited fines."}
{"_id":"UKtest504","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying alert and safe (social distancing)\nProtecting different groups of people\nThis guidance is for the general public who are fit and well. There is\nseparate, specific guidance on isolation for households with a possible\ncoronavirus infection.\nSome people, including those aged 70 and over, those with specific chronic\npre-existing conditions and pregnant women, are clinically vulnerable, meaning\nthey are at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus\u2019. As we begin to\nease restrictions, this group who are clinically vulnerable \u2013 see section 8 \u2013\nshould continue to take particular care to minimise contact with others\noutside their household.\nThere is a further group of people who are defined, also on medical grounds,\nas clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus \u2013 that is, people with\nspecific serious health conditions. They are advised to continue\nshielding measures to keep\nthemselves safe by staying at home and avoiding all contact with others,\nexcept for essential medical treatment or support."}
{"_id":"UKtest505","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nWork from home if you can\nWith the proper equipment and adjustments, many people can do most or all of\ntheir work from home. Your employer should support you to find reasonable\nadjustments to do this. However, not all jobs can be done from home. If your\nworkplace is open and you cannot work from home, you can travel to work."}
{"_id":"UKtest506","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nAvoid crowds\nYou can lower the risks of transmission by reducing the number of people you\ncome into close contact with. For example, avoid peak travel times on public\ntransport, where possible.\nBusinesses should also take reasonable steps to avoid people being gathered\ntogether. For example, by allowing the use of more entrances and exits, and\nstaggering entrance and exit, where possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest507","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nKeep your hands and face as clean as possible\nWash your hands often using soap and water, and dry them thoroughly.\nWhere available, use sanitiser outside your home, especially as you enter a\nbuilding and after you have had contact with surfaces.\nAvoid touching your face."}
{"_id":"UKtest508","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nWhen at work, follow the advice given to you by your employer\nEmployers have a duty to assess and manage risks to your safety in the\nworkplace. The government has issued guidance for employers and businesses on\ncoronavirus. This includes guidance on how to make adjustments to\nyour workplace to help you maintain social distancing.\nIt also includes guidance on hygiene, as evidence suggests that the virus can\nexist for up to 72 hours on surfaces. Therefore, frequent cleaning is\nparticularly important for communal surfaces like:\n\ndoor handles\nlift buttons\ncommunal areas like bathrooms\nkitchens\ntea points\n\nYou can see the guidance for employers and businesses on\ncoronavirus on gov.uk and can ask your employer if you have\nquestions."}
{"_id":"UKtest509","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nFace coverings\nIf you can, wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces where social\ndistancing isn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you\ndo not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in\ncrowded areas, for example, on public transport or in some shops. You should\nbe prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by police officers\nand staff for the purposes of identification.\nEvidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you. However,\nif you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms, it may provide some\nprotection for others you come into close contact with.\nFace coverings do not replace social distancing. If you have symptoms of\nCOVID-19 (cough, and\/or high temperature, and\/or loss of, or change in, your\nnormal sense of smell or taste - anosmia), you and your household must isolate\nat home: wearing a face covering does not change this.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by\nhealthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in\nindustrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.\nFace coverings should not be used by children under the age of 2 or those who\nmay find it difficult to manage them correctly. For example, primary age\nchildren unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions.\nIt is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before\nputting them on and taking them off.\nYou can make face-coverings at\nhome. The key thing is it should cover the mouth and nose."}
{"_id":"UKtest510","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nKeep indoor places well ventilated\nEvidence suggests that the virus is less likely to be passed on in well-\nventilated buildings and outdoors.\nIn good weather, try to leave windows and doors open in areas where people\nfrom different households come into contact, or move activity outdoors if you\ncan.\nUse external extractor fans to keep spaces well ventilated and make sure that\nventilation systems are set to maximise the air flow rate.\nHeating and cooling systems can be used at their normal temperature settings."}
{"_id":"UKtest511","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nWash your clothes regularly\nThere is some evidence that the virus can stay on fabrics for a few days,\nalthough usually it is shorter. Therefore, if you are working with people\noutside your household, wash your clothes regularly.\nChanging clothes in workplaces should only be considered where there is a high\nrisk of infection or there are highly vulnerable people, such as in a care\nhome. If you need to change your clothes, avoid crowding into a changing room."}
{"_id":"UKtest512","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nKeep your distance from people outside your household\nWhilst recognising this will not always be possible, it is important to be\naware that the risk of infection increases the closer you are to another\nperson with the virus, and the amount of time you spend in close contact with\nthem. Therefore, you are unlikely to be infected if you walk past another\nperson in the street.\nPublic Health England recommends trying to keep two metres away from people as\na precaution. However, this is not a rule and the science is complex. The key\nthing is to not be too close to people for more than a short period of time,\nas much as you can."}
{"_id":"UKtest513","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nReduce the number of people you spend time with in a work setting\nYou can lower the risks of transmission in the workplace by reducing the\nnumber of people you come into contact with regularly, where you can. Your\nemployer can support with this (where practical) by:\n\nchanging shift patterns and rotas to match you with the same team each time\nsplitting people into smaller, contained teams\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest514","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nIf you have to travel (for example, to work or school), think about how and when you travel\nTo reduce demand on the public transport network, you should walk or cycle\nwherever possible. If you have to use public transport, you should try to\navoid peak times.\nEmployers should consider staggering working hours, expanding bicycle storage\nfacilities, providing changing facilities and providing car parking."}
{"_id":"UKtest515","title":"","text":"Guidance Staying safe outside your home\nAvoid being face-to-face with people if they are outside your household\nYou are at higher risk of being directly exposed to respiratory droplets\n(released by talking or coughing) when you are within two metres of someone\nand have face-to-face contact with them. You can lower the risk of infection\nif you stay side-to-side rather than facing someone."}
{"_id":"UKtest516","title":"","text":"Guidance Supplier relief due to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 02\/20 \u2013 additional post-16 educational sector guidance\nDetermining if you are a contracting authority\nReviewing and responding to supplier requests\nAll contracting authorities, including the Department for Education (DfE), are\nworking to implement PPN 02\/20 to support suppliers at risk, and we realise\nthis is a complex area for us all to manage.\nWhen reviewing and responding to supplier requests, contracting authorities\nshould take a pragmatic risk-based approach based on the advice within the\nPPN.\n[DfE]: Department for Education\n  [PPN]: Procurement Policy Notice"}
{"_id":"UKtest517","title":"","text":"Guidance Supplier relief due to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 02\/20 \u2013 additional post-16 educational sector guidance\nBackground to PPN 02\/20\nTo ensure service continuity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, all\npublic sector contracting authorities have been advised by the government to\nsupport their at risk suppliers in a range of ways to ensure business and\nservice continuity and to protect jobs. The measures set out in the PPN 02\/20,\nissued on 19 March 2020, are to ensure suppliers are in a position to resume\nnormal contract delivery once the COVID-19 outbreak is over. The PPN is time-\nlimited and applies through to 30 June 2020.\nThe PPN is for contracted goods, services and work contracts, such as for\nbuilding works, where there is a direct relationship between the contracting\nauthority and its suppliers under a contract procured pursuant to the Public\nContracts Regulations 2015 (or equivalent regulations). It does not apply to\nother funding mechanisms such as grants, or contracts supported by private\nincome such as for transport provision.\nWhile contracting authorities have a responsibility to their own suppliers,\nPPN 02\/20 is advisory only, it does not bind contracting authorities to do\nanything other than what they feel is appropriate under these challenging and\ncomplex circumstances.\n*[PPN]: Procurement Policy Notice"}
{"_id":"UKtest518","title":"","text":"Guidance Supplier relief due to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 02\/20 \u2013 additional post-16 educational sector guidance\nDetermining if you are a contracting authority\nThe Department for Education\u2019s 5-stage approach\nThe DfE has chosen to take a 5-stage approach to evaluate its own suppliers\nwho fall within the scope of PPN 02\/20. This approach, which reflects the\ncomplexity and scale of the DfE\u2019s commercial arrangements, is intended to\nprovide you with some overarching guidance and principles as to how you could\nchoose to implement the PPN.\n\nstage 1: Assessment of whether the supplier has considered other measures announced by the government: This involves asking if they have explored and applied for, as applicable, all other forms of support available to them, including the wider government business support schemes. This is to avoid duplication of funding, such as providing both supplier relief under PPN 02\/20 and payment of related workers that have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)\nstage 2: Assessment of whether they are a critical supplier to your organisation: The main consideration here is whether you feel the supplier provides services, goods or works that are critical in the medium and long term, and are important to business continuity to provide relief against the contract\nstage 3: Assessment of whether the supplier is financially \u2018at risk\u2019 as a result of COVID-19: In principle, a supplier is deemed at risk where they are unable to fulfil the contractual obligations of a contract due to COVID-19 and are experiencing financial difficulties as a result\nstage 4: Commercial interventions to manage supplier: It is important that commercial judgement is used when considering the type of support available pursuant to the PPN, which could include: \npayments for previously anticipated volumes (even if not met), or for the advanced order of materials where appropriate\ncontinuing to pay for services to suppliers who give their best endeavours to continue delivery despite performance being somewhat affected\nconsidering an extension of time for contract performance (for example, revised milestones or delivery dates)\nadjusting agreed lead times which despite best endeavours might not be met by suppliers and ensure their payments are not negatively affected by that\nconsider supplementing service delivery through your own resources, though this is likely to be difficult, but may help alleviate the challenges the supplier is suffering as a result of COVID-19\n\n\nstage 5: Financial interventions: As with the commercial interventions, financial judgement should be used when considering any of the suggested options below: \nvariation of payment mechanism - specifically beneficial where contracts are based upon the delivery of outcomes or outputs, you can vary the payment mechanisms to provide greater short term cash flow to the supplier, for example, moving from payments on delivery of services, works or goods to aligning payments to the costs being incurred by the supplier, or breaking down milestone payments into multiple smaller payments\nincreasing speed of payment - this PPN seeks to expedite this process and adjust normal financial controls, such as paying reconciled invoices before their due date\nprepayment of up to 25% of contract value - this specifically targets immediate cash flow issues, but potentially creates a cash flow issue at a later date in the contract, so should be considered accordingly. For example, releasing a proportion of retained funds on capital projects, ahead of actual defects being identified and remedied\n\n\n\nIt is important that any commercial or financial changes or variations to\ncontracts should be agreed in accordance with the change control clauses\ncontained in the contracts, and documented, even if this takes place\nretrospectively. The Cabinet Office has developed a series of model clauses\npertaining to\nCOVID-19.\nThere are a number of other important points to note when considering how best\nto implement PPN 02\/20 for your organisation:\n\nwhatever approach you decide best meets your needs, you need to ensure you apply the necessary financial and governance controls applicable to your organisation\nthe PPN is very clear about the importance of transparency, and suppliers agreeing to act on an open book basis and make cost data available to you during this period, so please ensure they do so where relevant\nkeeping a record of your agreed approach and supporting rationale, along with details of any payments made, assessment of risks or contractual changes, is important to show that you have an audit trail. This needs to be maintained throughout the period the PPN applies and retained afterwards for any future audit purposes.\n\n[DfE]: Department for Education\n  [PPN]: Procurement Policy Notice"}
{"_id":"UKtest519","title":"","text":"Guidance Supplier relief due to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 02\/20 \u2013 additional post-16 educational sector guidance\nDetermining if you are a contracting authority\nWhen considering how to implement the PPN, you first need to determine whether\nyou are a contracting authority and, if you are, which of your suppliers may\nbe at risk and fall within the scope of the supplier relief measures proposed\nin PPN 02\/20.\nEducational establishments such as in HE and FE (covering FE corporations,\nsixth-form college corporations, and likely bodies which conduct institutions\ndesignated under section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 as\nbeing within the statutory FE sector) where the majority of income (more than\n50%) is derived from state funding, will likely be ascribed the status of a\ncontracting authority.\nAdditionally, the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 definition of a\ncontracting authority relevant to the education sector is that of \u2018bodies\ngoverned by public law\u2019, meaning bodies that have all of the following\ncharacteristics:\n\nthey are established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest, not having an industrial or commercial character\nthey have legal personality\nthey have any of the following characteristics: \nthey are financed, for the most part, by the state, regional or local authorities, or by other bodies governed by public law\nthey are subject to management supervision by those authorities or bodies\nthey have an administrative, managerial or supervisory board, more than half of whose members are appointed by the state, regional or local authorities, or by other bodies governed by public law\n\n\n\nSome HE and FE may be delivered by the voluntary organisations, community\ngroups and social enterprises (VCSE) sector, such as charities and other non-\nprofit-making entities, and derive more than 50% of their funding from state\nresources. In that case they may be contracting authorities within the PCR\ndefinition above, and so would be required to comply with the PCR and would\nfall within the scope of the PPN.\nIf you are in any doubt about your status as a contracting authority, you may\nwish to seek your own legal advice.\n[PPN]: Procurement Policy Notice\n  [HE]: higher education\n  [FE]: further education\n  [PCR]: Public Contracts Regulations"}
{"_id":"UKtest520","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nActions for all educational providers in case of non-attendance\nWhere vulnerable children and young people do not attend, educational\nproviders should:\n\nfollow the steps outlined above, including following up with the parent\/carer and notifying the social worker, where appropriate\nfollow the specific guidance on attendance outlined in Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest521","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nSpecific attendance considerations for alternative provision providers\nAlternative provision (AP) settings should follow the same principles and\nguidance as mainstream schools and welcome back, from the week commencing 1\nJune, all children in reception, year 1 and year 6.\nAP settings do not have a year 12, so they should also offer some face to face\ncontact for students in year 10 and year 11 to supplement their remote\neducation, as they are approaching key transition points. Children and young\npeople who are considered to be vulnerable - as per the definition in section\n1 above - should be encouraged to attend provision regardless of their year\ngroup, where attendance is appropriate.\nIn line with the advice for mainstream provision, as much as possible,\nprotective measures should be adhered to and class or group sizes should be\nsmall, as set out in implementing protective measures in education and\nchildcare settings\nguidance.\n*[AP]: alternative provision"}
{"_id":"UKtest522","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAddressing safeguarding concerns, including as a result of increasing numbers of children and young people returning to on-side provision\nAddressing safeguarding concerns\nAs set out in more detail in separate safeguarding\nguidance, schools and colleges, led by a\ndesignated safeguarding lead or deputy wherever possible, should review and\nrevise their child protection policy as circumstances continue to evolve. This\nguidance supports schools and colleges to continue to meet their safeguarding\nresponsibilities as set out in Keeping children safe in\neducation.\nEarly years settings should continue to take all necessary steps to keep\nchildren safe during this period and have regard to the government\u2019s statutory\nguidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015. The safeguarding and\nwelfare sections of the early years foundation stage framework still apply,\nincluding requirements relating to child protection arrangements. For further\nadvice, read Actions for early years and childcare providers during the\ncoronavirus outbreak."}
{"_id":"UKtest523","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nAttendance of children and young people who are otherwise vulnerable\nThis group includes children and young people across all year groups who have\nbeen assessed as being otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local\nauthorities (including children\u2019s social care services), and who could\ntherefore benefit from continued attendance. This might include children on\nthe edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted\nchildren, those at risk of becoming NEET, those living in temporary\naccommodation, those who are young carers and others at the provider and local\nauthority\u2019s discretion.\nEducational providers - together with other relevant partners such as local\nauthorities, where appropriate - should:\n\nidentify children or young people who may fall into this \u2018otherwise vulnerable\u2019 category - noting that the examples given above do not constitute an exhaustive list of children and young people who might be \u2018otherwise vulnerable\u2019\ncontact these children and young people and their parents\/carers to make them aware that they are eligible for a place\nencourage their attendance, where it is appropriate, and if absent, follow up with the parent\/carer to explore reasons for absence\n\n*[NEET]: not in employment, education or training"}
{"_id":"UKtest524","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nAttendance of children and young people who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan\nThis group includes children and young people with an EHC plan attending all\neducational settings. For all children and young people with EHC plans, we are\nasking local authorities to follow the guidance to conduct a risk\nassessment - in consultation with educational\nsettings and parents\/carers - to determine whether children and young people\u2019s\nneeds can be met as safely or more safely in the educational environment. We\nare asking local authorities and educational providers to keep risk\nassessments under review, in case circumstances change and a different\ndecision is more appropriate.\nFor children and young people with an EHC plan in mainstream settings:\n\nthose in year groups specifically targeted for return should return to school, where medical advice suggests they are not clinically vulnerable to coronavirus, informed by their risk assessments, and are not shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable\nthose in other year groups should continue to attend or not depending on their individual risk assessments\n\nSchools, colleges and local authorities should ensure risk assessments are\nkept up to date so that pupils and students can be brought back in, in any\nyear group, where circumstances change, for example if it is becoming\nunsustainable for parents and carers to care for their child week-round.\nThis includes children and young people who are placed in special units and\nresourced provision attached to a mainstream school, since they are recorded\non the roll of the mainstream school.\nSchools, colleges and local authorities have latitude to use special\neducational needs and disability (SEND) risk\nassessments also for children and young people who\nhave SEND without an EHC plan, where they feel it would be beneficial, for\ninstance for children on SEN support who have complex needs. This means they\ncan use this as a mechanism to bring back pupils and students with SEND who\nneed it, in other year groups, even if they do not have an EHC plan.\nFor all children and young people with an EHC plan in special educational\nsettings, such as special schools, special post-16 institutions and hospital\nschools, settings should encourage attendance based on the child\u2019s risk\nassessment and on the ability of the setting to provide for their needs, and\nnot using the child\u2019s year group as a primary deciding factor, both because\nall children and young people in these settings are considered vulnerable and\nbecause year groups may not be indicative of key transition points. In line\nwith the guidance on implementing protective measures in education and\nchildcare settings\nand the guidance for special schools, specialist colleges, local authorities\nand any other\nsettings, special schools and special post-16\ninstitutions should:\n\nconsult risk assessments conducted and where children and young people are attending their specialist setting, they should continue to do so\nwork with local authorities and families to continually review risk assessments and bring children and young people back to face to face education where circumstances change, for example where it is becoming unsustainable for a family to care for a child week-round\nconsider how to increase the numbers of children and young people accessing on-site education from the week commencing 1 June, including where appropriate by considering what the key transition points are, and ensure that as many children as can be safely catered for are able to attend their setting\nconsider a range of options to enable as many children as possible to benefit from attending their setting, such as creating part-time attendance rotas\n\nHospital schools should:\n\naim to provide educational services for as many pupils in these settings as is possible, in line with risk assessment and social distancing guidelines and where headteachers agree with medical practitioners that it is safe and feasible to do so\nuse their discretion in considering how to provide education services - taking into consideration issues of safety, capacity and so on - and how to prioritise pupils if this is required, including through a phased return approach\nwork closely with hospitals and NHS trusts so that children and young people in hospital schools are able to receive their education, including through access to classrooms where appropriate\n\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest525","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people\u2019s learning\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people\u2019s learning via home education\nThe government has put in place several measures to support children and young\npeople to learn at home, and to use technology to support safeguarding. Some\nof these measures, including providing laptops and tablets, are targeted at\nthose with the greatest need, including children and families with a social\nworker who do not already have access to a device, as well as care leavers.\nEducational providers and local authorities should refer to Get technology\nsupport for children and schools during coronavirus\n(COVID-19) on how to order devices and 4G routers.\nDevices ordered through the scheme will be delivered directly to the local\nauthorities or schools named on the order. They can arrange for them to be\ncollected by families from a school (with a social worker present where\nrelevant) or organise for them to be delivered to a children\u2019s and care\nleavers\u2019 home.\nIn addition, Oak National Academy\u2019s \nexisting online resources are being made more accessible through the addition\nof signing and subtitling, and specialist lessons have also been introduced so\nmore pupils can engage effectively with these resources. There is also a list\nof SEND resources for pupils and teachers that has been developed with a\nfocus on accessibility and inclusivity, based on the recommendations of\ntrusted organisations, charities, multi-academy trusts and special education\nheadteachers. For younger children, the government\u2019s Hungry Little\nMinds campaign features tips and\npractical activities that parents can do at home with children to support\ntheir early learning.\n*[SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest526","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nIdentification of vulnerable children and young people\nVulnerable children and young people for the purposes of continued attendance\nduring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are those across all year groups\nwho:\n\nare assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children and young people who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child\nhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment\nhave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children\u2019s social care services), and who could therefore benefit from continued attendance. This might include children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (\u2018not in employment, education or training\u2019), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers and others at the provider and local authority\u2019s discretion.\n\nThe term \u2018all year groups\u2019 in this context for attendance purposes refers to\nchildren under 5 eligible for early years entitlements and children and young\npeople aged 5 to 18 (or aged 5 to 25 for children and young people with an EHC\nplan).\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [NEET]: not in employment, education or training"}
{"_id":"UKtest527","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nActions in case of provider closure\nIf an educational provider had closed during the initial period of the\ncoronavirus outbreak, they should have informed the local authority to discuss\nalternative arrangements for vulnerable children and young people. These\nproviders are now asked to work towards reopening so that they are able to\ncater for vulnerable children and young people, alongside children of critical\nworkers and those in returning year groups."}
{"_id":"UKtest528","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nStaffing, transport and logistics\nTransport - arrangements for children and young people with EHC plans who are continuing to attend educational settings\nLocal authorities should continue to provide transport for children and young\npeople with EHC plans who are continuing to attend their usual educational\nsetting. If between now and the week commencing 1 June, children and young\npeople with EHC plans are accessing an educational setting that is not local\nor their usual setting, we would expect the local authority to review\ntransport arrangements and endeavour to make appropriate provision for\nchildren and young people to reach their educational setting safely.\nWe will work closely with local authorities to put the necessary arrangements\nfor more children and young people to begin attending educational settings\nfrom the week commencing 1 June.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest529","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nStaffing, transport and logistics\nTransport - general arrangements\nSettings should consider ways to minimise children and young people\u2019s use of\npublic transport to get to and from school at peak times, in consultation with\nlocal authorities where appropriate. Parents, children and young people should\nbe encouraged to walk or cycle to their educational setting where possible.\nEducational settings, parents and young people should follow the guidance on\nhow to travel safely when planning their travel, particularly if\npublic transport is required."}
{"_id":"UKtest530","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nAttendance of children and young people who have a social worker\nThis group includes children and young people in all year groups who have been\nassessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 including\nthose who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a\nlooked after child.\nBeing at an early years setting, school or college can be an important\nlifeline for children who need or have needed a social worker, and this group\nalso have worse educational outcomes at every stage, which is why it is vital\nthat they continue to attend educational provision at this time.\nThese children and young people are expected to attend provision unless\nshielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health\nEngland on households with possible coronavirus\ninfection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as\nclinically extremely\nvulnerable). In circumstances\nwhere a parent or carer does not want to bring their child to an educational\nsetting, the social worker and educational setting should explore the reasons\nfor this directly with the parent or carer. These discussions should focus on\nthe welfare of the child and the benefits of attending educational settings\nfor this group.\nWhere these children and young people are already attending nursery, school or\ncollege, educational providers should:\n\ncontinue to encourage their attendance across all year groups\nnotify their social worker if they stop attending\n\nWhere these children and young people are not attending nursery, school or\ncollege, educational providers should:\n\nnotify the child or young person\u2019s social worker\nwork together with the local authority\/social worker to follow up with the parent or carer to explore the reason for absence, discussing their concerns using supporting guidance\nwork together with the local authority\/social worker to strongly encourage the child or young person to attend educational provision, where the social worker agrees that the child or young person\u2019s attendance would be appropriate\nconsider how to keep in touch with the child or young person, including through the provision of remote education, particularly where the social worker agrees that attendance would not be appropriate\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest531","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nStaffing, transport and logistics\nTransport - arrangements for children and young people who are accessing an educational setting that is not local\nWe expect local authorities to review transport arrangements and make\nappropriate provision for relevant vulnerable children and young people to\nreach their educational setting safely. We will work closely with local\nauthorities to put the necessary arrangements in place including between now\nand the week commencing 1 June."}
{"_id":"UKtest532","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nBalancing vulnerable children and young people\u2019s attendance alongside returning year groups\nAs outlined in actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for\nwider opening guidance, in the coming weeks, educational providers will be asked to\ninvite increasing numbers of children and young people to return to on-site\nprovision.\nEducational providers should continue to prioritise vulnerable children and\nyoung people across all year groups for on-site provision, where their\nattendance is appropriate. This provision should be full-time or the number of\nhours they normally attend."}
{"_id":"UKtest533","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nSummary of attendance expectations for vulnerable children and young people\nVulnerable children and young people\u2019s attendance is expected, where it is\nappropriate for them (that is, where there are no shielding concerns for the\nchild or their household, and\/or following a risk assessment for children with\nan EHC plan) so that they can gain the educational and wellbeing benefits of\nattending. Vulnerable children and young people - regardless of year group -\nthat have not been attending in the recent period are expected to return to\nnursery, early years, school or college provision where this would now be\nappropriate for them to do so. A brief summary of attendance expectations\nacross the different groups of vulnerable children and young people is as\nfollows:\n\nFor vulnerable children and young people who have a social worker, attendance is expected unless the child\/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable).\nFor vulnerable children and young people who have an education health and care (EHC) plan, attendance is expected where it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment.\nFor vulnerable children and young people who are deemed otherwise vulnerable, at the school, college or local authority discretion, attendance is expected unless the child\/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as clinically extremely vulnerable).\n\nFor all these groups, educational providers, local authorities, social\nworkers, parents\/carers and other relevant professionals (where applicable)\nshould work together closely to consider factors, such as the balance of risk,\nincluding health vulnerabilities, family circumstances, risks outside the\nhome, and the child or young person\u2019s assessed special educational needs,\nwhere relevant. The sections below set out specific considerations that these\npartners may wish to consider when determining whether attendance is\nappropriate.\nParents will not be penalised if their child does not attend educational\nprovision. We expect educational providers and other relevant partners to work\nwith and support the relevant families and pupils to return to school, where\nattendance is appropriate.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest534","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people\u2019s learning\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people\u2019s learning via on-site education\nEducational providers are free to determine the type of provision they offer\nchildren and young people during this period. Further information can be found\nat Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and\nchildcare settings.\nIn cases where vulnerable children and young people are returning to\neducational provision, including where they have previously been absent,\neducational providers should:\n\nconsider their pupils\u2019 mental health and wellbeing and identify any pupil who may need additional support so they are ready to learn\nassess where pupils are in their learning, and agree what adjustments may be needed to the curriculum over the coming weeks\nidentify and plan how best to support the education of high needs groups, including disadvantaged pupils, SEND and vulnerable pupils\nsupport pupils approaching transitions (such as those in year 6 moving to year 7, or later year groups) and examinations, including in years 10 and 12\n\n*[SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest535","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nStaffing, transport and logistics\nStaffing - ensuring there are enough staff in educational settings\nLocal authorities will need to work closely with educational settings - and in\nparticular, special schools and other specialist provision - to ensure\nsufficient provision is available across the local area.\nLocal authorities and educational settings may need to redeploy staff (whether\nteachers, support staff or other workers) to ensure specialist schools and\nspecialist colleges have sufficient workforce to operate safely with safe\nratios and may need to do this across the usual boundaries of maintained,\nacademy, college or other status to ensure staff are where they are most\nneeded."}
{"_id":"UKtest536","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nSupporting vulnerable children and young people\u2019s learning\nSpecific considerations for educational provision for children and young people with EHC plans\nDue to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the coronavirus outbreak,\nthe duty to secure the special educational provision specified in EHC plans\nhas been temporarily modified so that local authorities must use \u2018reasonable\nendeavours\u2019 to secure the provision. We have published detailed guidance\nalongside these temporary\nchanges.\nLocal authorities and educational providers will need to work closely together\nto consider what can reasonably be provided to support children and young\npeople with EHC plans. This will include work with health partners to ensure\nservices for additional support and early help, for example around anxiety,\nmental health, behaviour, social care, or changes to mobility, will be\navailable, being mindful that these considerations could apply to pupils and\nstudents who they did not previously affect. Similarly, they should work\ntogether to ensure key support services - in particular home-to-school\ntransport - are available.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest537","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nAttendance of vulnerable children and young people\nAdditional considerations for vulnerable children and young people not attending their regular setting\nFor children and young people with an EHC plan, the original institution\nshould do whatever they reasonably can to provide the receiving institution\nwith any relevant information. As a minimum, this would include their EHC plan\nand essential health and care needs. This should ideally happen before a child\nor young person arrives or, where that is not possible, as soon as reasonably\npracticable. The educational setting should seek consent to this disclosure\nfrom the child or young person, or where the child does not have sufficient\nage or understanding to allow him or her to consent, the child\u2019s parent\/carer\nmay give consent on the child\u2019s behalf. If it is not possible to obtain\nconsent, the information should still be disclosed as the disclosure will be\nin the interests of the child or young person. It is important that teachers\nor other educational professionals working closely with the child or young\nperson have full knowledge of the child or young person\u2019s EHC plan.\nFor children and young people who have a social worker, additional\nsafeguarding information would be required. See safeguarding in schools,\ncolleges and other\nproviders for further details.\nWhile educational settings must continue to have appropriate regard to data\nprotection and General Data Protection Regulations, they do not prevent the\nsharing of information for the purposes of keeping children and young people\nsafe. Further advice about information sharing can be found in paragraphs 76\nto 83 of the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory\nguidance.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest538","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - actions for educational providers and other partners\nStaffing, transport and logistics\nPersonal budgets and access to respite care for children and young people with EHC plans\nFor children and young people with an EHC plan, the duties relating to\npersonal budgets remain in place. These are detailed in paragraphs 9:95 to\n9:124 of the SEND code of\npractice.\nA child\u2019s parent, or a young person, has a right to request a personal budget\nwhen the local authority has completed an education health and care needs\nassessment and confirmed that it will prepare an EHC plan. They may also\nrequest a personal budget during a statutory review of an existing EHC plan.\nServices for disabled children provided under section 17 of the Children Act\n1989 typically include short breaks for parent carers. The local authority\nremains under a duty to provide these in such circumstances. We recognise that\nthis may prove challenging during the coronavirus outbreak, but ask local\nauthorities to ensure every effort is made to continue to provide this\nimportant support for families who need it.\nWhere it is not possible for local authorities to arrange respite care for\nfamilies as a result of circumstances related to coronavirus, we would\nencourage parents, carers and young people to discuss this with their local\nauthority and agree what alternative arrangements can be made. This could\ninclude, for example, local authorities considering whether making a personal\nbudget available on a temporary basis may enable the family to secure\nalternative respite care arrangements.\n[EHC]: education, health and care\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest539","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting your children's education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nMental health and wellbeing\nThe change of routine and staying at home may make this a difficult time for\nsome children. Public Health England has published advice on how to support\nyour children\u2019s\nwellbeing during the\ncoronavirus outbreak.\nGuidance is also available to help you look after your own mental\nhealth."}
{"_id":"UKtest540","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting your children's education during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nAdvice on helping children continue their education during coronavirus\nHelp children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nInformation on making child development a part of everyday life and play.\n\nHelp primary school children continue their education during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)\nHow to provide support and feedback and structure the day.\n\nHelp secondary school children continue their education during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)\nHow to help your child organise their time.\n\nHelp children with SEND continue their education during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)\nResources designed to support special educational needs and disabilities."}
{"_id":"UKtest541","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nWhen you return to the UK: protect yourself and others\nThe rules for entering or returning to the UK are changing on 8 June.\nUntil 7 June\nWhen you return to the UK from a flight from another country, go straight\nhome, avoiding public transport where possible. If you can, wear a face\ncovering if you need to use public transport, and see safer travel guidance\nfor passengers. Only people living in your\nhousehold should collect you on arrival.\nIf you are remaining in England:\n\nstay safe and alert and only go outside for food, health reasons, exercise and recreation, or work if you cannot work from home\nwhen you go out: always stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people, do not touch your face, and wash your hands frequently, including as soon as you get home\n\nIf you are travelling on to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, follow the\nrelevant devolved administration guidance:\n\nWelsh Government guidance and see transport advice\nScottish Government guidance and Traveline Scotland advice\nNorthern Ireland Executive guidance and Translink advice\n\nIf you start to have symptoms\nFor most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However if you\nstart to have any of these symptoms:\n\ncontinuous cough\nhigh temperature\nloss of or change in your sense of taste or smell\n\nyou must go straight home, self-isolate for 7 days and arrange to have a\ntest to see if you have coronavirus.\nSee the guidance for households with a possible\ninfection and call NHS 111 if your symptoms worsen. For further guidance,\nvisit gov.uk\/coronavirus or visit\nnhs.uk for specialist medical advice.\nFrom 8 June\nFrom 8 June, there will be new rules for entering or returning to the UK. You\nwill:\n\nneed to provide your journey and contact details when you travel to the UK\nnot be allowed to leave the place you\u2019re staying for the first 14 days you\u2019re in the UK except in very limited situations (known as \u2018self-isolating\u2019)\n\nIf you are planning to arrive back in the UK on or after 8 June, you must read\nthe guidance on entering the UK from 8 June."}
{"_id":"UKtest542","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nOur travel advice and consular support\nForeign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice\nForeign & Commonwealth Office travel advice is constantly under review, so\nthat it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British people. Find out\nmore about how our travel advice works.\nConsular help\nWe publish all our Travel Advice on GOV.UK. Our consular officers cannot provide any additional\ninformation by phone. Read more about the consular support we\nprovide."}
{"_id":"UKtest543","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you are waiting to return to the UK\nIf you cannot leave return to the UK at this time, you should:\n\nfollow the advice of local authorities, to help minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus. Your safety and security is the responsibility of the local authority where you are\nstay in accommodation that\u2019s suitable for your needs and keep in regular contact with family and friends at home\nkeep up-to-date with our travel advice\ncontact your travel insurance provider: the Association of British Insurers says most providers will look to extend single trip cover for up to 60 days if you are making every effort to return home\n\nRead more guidance if you are waiting to return to the\nUK.\nIf your visa is running out\nSome countries have set up new processes to help foreign nationals extend\ntheir visas, and we have negotiated with local authorities in some countries\nto automatically extend visas if you cannot return. Check the \u2018staying during\ncoronavirus\u2019 section of the travel advice for the country you are\nin and make sure you comply with\nthe local requirements.\nIf you have immigration enquiries, you need to contact either the local\nimmigration authorities in the country or their UK-based\nembassy.\nQuarantine while you are abroad\nIf the local authority where you are proposes to quarantine you for your own\nprotection, you should follow their advice.\nIf there are suspected cases of coronavirus where you are, you may need to\nremain in your hotel room or accommodation for 14 days, move to quarantine\nfacilities, take tests for coronavirus and, if positive in some cases, be\nhospitalised abroad.\nYou should also contact your airline or travel company, and your insurance\nprovider as soon as you can. We only organise assisted departure in\nexceptional circumstances."}
{"_id":"UKtest544","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReturning to the UK if you\u2019re travelling abroad\nReturn travel and your health\nIt is a personal decision whether to travel back to the UK. You should\nconsider your individual circumstances and the range of information available\nto you, including travel advice,\nto decide what is right for you.\nIf you are concerned about risks to your health, for example you are following\nUK or local guidance to shield or self-isolate, you may wish to seek\nprofessional health advice locally or from your usual doctor in the UK.\nRead further advice on avoiding infection during your journey home and\npreventive measures to take on your\nreturn."}
{"_id":"UKtest545","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReturning to the UK if you\u2019re travelling abroad\nGetting flights back to the UK\nThe government is working in partnership with the airline\nindustry to help British people\ntravelling abroad to return to the UK.\nIf you are in a country where UK-bound flights are still available, book or\nrebook your flight and return home as soon as possible. Airlines are\nresponsible for getting their passengers with pre-booked tickets home from\ncountries where commercial flights are still operating.\nWhere commercial flights are not available, you may be eligible for a special\ncharter flight. You should check the \u2018Return to the UK\u2019 section of your\ncountry\u2019s travel advice page to\nsee if a flight is available. See also our general guide to the booking\nprocess for special charter flights.\nIf there are no commercial or special charter flights for the country you\u2019re\nin, follow the guidance in the \u2018Staying during coronavirus\u2019 section of that\ncountry\u2019s travel advice and see\nour guide to staying where you are if you cannot return\nhome.\nIf you cannot afford the cost of a flight to return, and have exhausted all\nother funding options, you may be eligible to apply for an emergency loan from the\ngovernment:\n\n\nto apply for a loan for a commercial flight, find out who to contact about emergency loans\n\n\nyou can request a loan to pay for a special charter flights, when you are asked to pay. See the travel advice \u2018Return to the UK\u2019 section for the country you are in\n\n\nYou should also sign up for Travel Advice email alerts, to get our latest\nadvice if the situation changes."}
{"_id":"UKtest546","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nLooking after your mental wellbeing\nYour emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Keep in regular contact with\nthe people who usually support you: family, friends and colleagues, especially\nif you are self-isolating abroad.\nRead guidance on how to look after your wellbeing and mental\nhealth if you\u2019re abroad during the current coronavirus\npandemic."}
{"_id":"UKtest547","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nReturning to the UK if you\u2019re travelling abroad\nIf you are currently travelling abroad, you should return to the UK as soon as\npossible if commercial flights are available. If you cannot return home at\nthis time, read our guidance on waiting to return to the\nUK.\nIf you\u2019re travelling abroad, you should:\n\ncontact your airline or travel company now\nkeep up-to-date with our travel advice pages. Our advice on returning to the UK from each country will be updated as soon as information is available\nfor real-time updates, follow our embassy or high commission\u2019s social media for the country you\u2019re in\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest548","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you\u2019re concerned about friends or family overseas\nIf you are concerned about a friend or family member who is currently\noverseas, you should read our country-specific travel\nadvice and sign up for email\nalerts."}
{"_id":"UKtest549","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nFuture travel abroad\nYou should not travel abroad unless it is essential. Be aware that all\ncountries may restrict travel without notice.\nTo change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:\n\ncontact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers\nget in touch with your insurance provider\n\nThe FCO was already advising against all but essential travel or all travel to\nsome areas or countries due to risks that do not relate to coronavirus. This\nadvice remains in place. Check FCO travel advice\npages for the latest information.\nEssential travel\nIf your travel is essential, see our guidance on international\ntravel.\nInternational freight transport is an essential activity in the context of\ntravel advice. Read the Department for Transport guidance for the freight\ntransport\nindustry."}
{"_id":"UKtest550","title":"","text":"Guidance Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)\nIf you live abroad permanently\nAs a permanent resident overseas, you should consider your own personal\ncircumstances and take into account all of the information available:\n\n\nif you stay, follow the advice of the local authorities where you are. Further information on measures that countries have taken is available in the \u2018staying during coronavirus\u2019 sections of our travel advice pages\n\n\nif you wish to return to the UK, you should make arrangements to return now. This includes planning for where you will stay and how you will travel there\n\n\nWe are only advising British people travelling overseas to return is because\nit may be more difficult for them if they cannot get back to the UK."}
{"_id":"UKtest551","title":"","text":"Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nStaying connected with your friends and family\nYou should stay in touch with your family and friends if you are unable to\nreturn home, so that they know you are safe and well.\nTo help you stay connected you should:\n\ncheck your phone plan on details for international calling, or consider buying a local SIM card\nto keep in touch use online services like FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, or Zoom\nfollow your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest information for where you are\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest552","title":"","text":"Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nFinancial support\nThe government provides a range of financial support to help you whilst you\nare abroad. Read our guidance on financial\nsupport whilst staying abroad\nduring coronavirus."}
{"_id":"UKtest553","title":"","text":"Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nHealthcare support\nYour health is important whilst you are away from home. For advice, visit our\nhealthcare support guidance.\nYou can also read our guidance on wellbeing and mental health abroad during\nthe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."}
{"_id":"UKtest554","title":"","text":"Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nFind suitable accommodation\nYou should contact your travel provider or travel agent to talk through\naccommodation options. You may also wish to contact your travel insurer to see\nif they can help. Our travel advice for the country you are\nin provides more information on\nyour local situation.\nIf you have any concerns over your safety in your accommodation, speak to your\ninsurers or travel provider to talk through your options. If you have been\nasked to leave, or have nowhere else to go, contact your local British\nEmbassy, high commission or consulate.\nThey may be able to offer advice on where to move to that would be a safer\narea to stay in.\nIn some countries one of our partners, The Salvation Army, may also be able to\nprovide some basic assistance if you are in need. Contact your local British\nEmbassy, high commission or consulate for\nadvice."}
{"_id":"UKtest555","title":"","text":"Guidance Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)\nChecklist if you are waiting to return to the UK\nIf you cannot currently return to the UK:\n\nfollow the advice of local authorities, including local measures to help minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus\nfind accommodation that is suitable for your needs\ncheck your visa, if you have one for the country you\u2019re in. If it is due to expire, visit our travel advice and read the \u2018staying during coronavirus\u2019 section. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has negotiated with local authorities in some countries to automatically extend visas if you cannot return\ncontact your travel insurance provider to check your health cover. Most providers will look to extend single trip cover for up to 60 days if you are making every effort to return home\nread our travel advice of the country you\u2019re in, in particular the \u2018staying during coronavirus\u2019 and \u2018return to UK\u2019 sections\nsign up to email alerts for the country where you are, so you are notified of any updates\n\nIf you need urgent consular help, contact your nearest British embassy, high\ncommission or consulate."}
{"_id":"UKtest556","title":"","text":"If you cannot pay your tax bill on time\nIf you cannot pay other taxes\nIf you\u2019ve received a payment demand, like a tax bill or a letter threatening\nyou with legal action, call the HMRC office that sent you the letter.\nCall the Payment Support Service if you have not received a bill or letter.\nPayment Support Service\nTelephone: 0300 200 3835\nMonday to Friday, 8am to 4pm\nFind out about call charges\nNominated partners in business partnerships\ncan negotiate time to pay with HMRC on behalf of the partnership or individual\npartners.\n*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs"}
{"_id":"UKtest557","title":"","text":"If you cannot pay your tax bill on time\nIf you cannot pay because of coronavirus (COVID-19)\nBecause of coronavirus you may be able to delay (defer) some tax payments\nwithout paying a penalty. You can:\n\ndelay VAT payments due before 30 June 2020 until 31 March 2021\ndelay your Self Assessment payment on account due in July 2020 until 31 January 2021\n\nContact the HMRC coronavirus (COVID-19)\nhelpline if you cannot pay any other tax bills because of\ncoronavirus.\nIf you\u2019re self-employed\nIf you\u2019ve lost income because of coronavirus, you may be able to claim a grant\nthrough the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support\nScheme when it launches. HMRC will contact you if\nyou\u2019re eligible.\n*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs"}
{"_id":"UKtest558","title":"","text":"If you cannot pay your tax bill on time\nIf you cannot pay your Self Assessment tax bill\nIf you owe less than \u00a310,000 you might be able to arrange to pay in\ninstalments online.\nBecause of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can delay making your second payment\non account due in July\n2020. If you choose to delay, you\u2019ll have until 31 January 2021 to pay it.\nCall the Self Assessment helpline if you\u2019ve missed your payment date or you\ncannot use the online service. You do not need to contact HMRC if you have set\nup a payment plan online.\nSelf Assessment Payment Helpline\nTelephone: 0300 200 3822\nMonday to Friday, 8am to 4pm\nFind out about call charges\n*[HMRC]: HM Revenue and Customs"}
{"_id":"UKtest559","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If\npossible, you should consider publishing the results on your website (and we\nwould expect all businesses with over 50 workers to do so). Below you will\nfind a notice you should display in your workplace to show you have followed\nthis guidance.\nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\nThis file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest560","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial-distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example, avoiding sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitisers in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, using floor signage to help people maintain social-distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest561","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers and worker representatives through existing communication routes to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers (including through trades unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages, to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest562","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that, where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other, for example,test subject, control units and finding ways to remove direct contact, such as using put-down-pick-up processes.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest563","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\nWhat do we mean by \u2018labs and research facilities\u2019?\nIndoor research environments such as:\n\nengineering centres\nclean rooms\nprototyping centres\nwet labs\nwind tunnels\ncomputer labs\nsimulators\nmaterial development labs\nspecialist testing rooms\n\nLabs and research facilities require on site collaboration between people,\noften in close proximity. Flexibility of both shifts and floor layouts may be\nlimited and there is a high use of multiple use items such as testing machines\nand apparatus, not all of which can be washed down."}
{"_id":"UKtest564","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest565","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency, for example, a chemical spill, fire or break-in, people do\nnot have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing\nhands."}
{"_id":"UKtest566","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n5. Cleaning the workplace\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and on-site vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nan assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser, before restarting work\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChecking whether you need to service or adjust ventilation systems, for example, so that they do not automatically reduce ventilation levels due to lower than normal occupancy levels.\n\n\nMost air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings or you are unsure, advice should be sought from your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers or advisers.\n\n\nPositive pressure systems and extractors can operate as normal.\n\n\nRestarting and testing specialist equipment which may have been unused for a longer than usual period of time.\n\n\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nDetermining the required cleaning process for expensive equipment that cannot be washed down, designing protection around machines and equipment.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, such as door handles and testing surfaces and making sure there are adequate safe disposal arrangements.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then you refer to the guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings\n\n\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and the need to cough or sneeze into your arm.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social-distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items and that social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of the day.\n\n\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and on-site vehicles\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nthe workplace and vehicles at the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nCleaning procedures for material and equipment entering the site.\n\n\nCleaning procedures for the parts of shared equipment you touch after each use.\n\n\nCleaning procedures for vehicles.\n\n\nEncouraging increased handwashing and introducing more handwashing facilities for workers handling deliveries or providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of vehicles that workers may take home.\n\n\nRestricting non-business deliveries, for example, personal deliveries to workers.\n\n\n[HVAC]: heating ventilation and air conditioning\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest567","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing while using common areas. Modern lab\nand research buildings are often designed with many common areas to encourage\ncollaboration and networking.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.\n\n\nUsing safe outside areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the worksite or building that have been freed up by remote working.\n\n\nInstalling screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.\n\n\nProviding packaged meals or similar to avoid opening staff canteens.\n\n\nEncouraging workers to bring their own food.\n\n\nReconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.\n\n\nEncouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.\n\n\nRegulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.\n\n\nEncouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example lockers, during working hours.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest568","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\nWhere to obtain further assistance\n\nCoronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do\nCoronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for employers and businesses\n\nFind advice and support from your business representative organisation or\ntrade association.\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest569","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n2. Who should go to work?\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nStaff should work from home if at all possible. Consider who is needed to be on-site; for example:  \n\n\u2013 workers in roles critical for business and operational continuity, safe\nfacility management, or regulatory requirements and which cannot be performed\nremotely.\n\u2013 workers in critical roles which might be performed remotely, but who are\nunable to work remotely due to home circumstances or the unavailability of\nspecialist equipment required for R&D\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed on-site to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest570","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n1. Thinking about risk\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nIn this section\n\n1.1 Managing risk\n1.2 Sharing the results of your risk assessment\n\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest571","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre existing conditions), have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProvide support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include guidance or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest572","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel \u2013 consider remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as research\ninstitutions or customers\u2019 premises to maintain social distancing and hygiene\npractices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where 2-person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest573","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to offices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEncouraging visits via remote connection or remote working for visitors where this is an option.\n\n\nLimiting the number of visitors at any one time.\n\n\nLimiting visitor times to a specific time window and restricting access to required visitors only.\n\n\nDetermining if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people, for example, carrying out services at night.\n\n\nMaintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.\n\n\nRevising visitor arrangements to ensure social distancing and hygiene, for example, where someone physically signs in with the same pen in receptions.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage, visual aids, and before arrival, for example, by phone, on the website, by email.\n\n\nEstablishing host responsibilities relating to COVID-19 and providing any necessary training for people who act as hosts for visitors.\n\n\nReviewing entry and exit routes for visitors and contractors to minimise contact with other people.\n\n\nCoordinating and working collaboratively with landlords and other areas of facility sites, for example, where R&D facilities or labs are situated on science parks.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest574","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, on arrival and\ndeparture and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike racks.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles (for example, work minibuses). This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example by having more entry points to the workplace.\n\n\nUsing markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.\n\n\nDesignating exclusive entry and exits points for personnel working in high-risk areas, such as mechanical test sites and wet labs.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities (or hand sanitisers where not possible) at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nProviding storage for workers for clothes and bags.\n\n\nRequesting staff change into work clothing and equipment on-site using appropriate facilities\/changing areas, where social-distancing and hygiene guidelines can be met.\n\n\nWashing lab clothing and equipment such as goggles and gloves on-site rather than by individual staff members at home.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest575","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social-distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nIt will not always be possible to keep a distance of 2m in labs and R&D\nfacilities that may be designed for close-proximity collaboration. Fixed\nequipment may mean that changing layouts to create more space may not be\npractical.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff. Mitigating actions include:\n\nincreasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing.\n*[R&D]: research and development"}
{"_id":"UKtest576","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing wherever possible, while people\ntravel through the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, and encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.\n\n\nRemoving access controls on low category labs so that people do not have to use access cards.\n\n\nRestricting access between different areas of a building or site, if possible.\n\n\nUsing fixed teams or adjusting booking processes to reduce the number of people in a lab at the same time to avoid overcrowding.\n\n\nIntroducing more one-way flow through buildings, paying particular attention to long corridors which can be more common in laboratory buildings.\n\n\nReducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.\n\n\nMaking sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to maintain social-distancing.\n\n\n\nExample lift practices."}
{"_id":"UKtest577","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing between individuals when they are at\ntheir workstations.\nUnlike offices, R&D facilities may need workers to share workstations and\nequipment. If they need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest\npossible number of people.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should\nconsider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate\nand if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of\ntransmission.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReview layouts where possible, accepting the limitation of some lab environments.\n\n\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side-by-side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.\n\n\nManaging occupancy levels, to maintain social distancing in labs with restricted space, for example, by adapting booking systems to limit usage.\n\n\nCleaning workstations and shared equipment and machinery, where it is feasible to do so.\n\n\nLimiting use of high-touch items and shared office equipment, for example, test equipment, apparatus, shared control terminals.\n\n\nEnsuring appropriate air-handling and filtering systems are installed and maintained in high-risk areas where there is a risk for airborne particles.\n\n\n*[R&D]: research and development"}
{"_id":"UKtest578","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority.\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected. In the context of COVID-19 this means working\nthrough these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.   \n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:  \n\u2013 increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest579","title":"","text":"Labs and research facilities\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who\nhas symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employees and employers relating to statutory sick pay due to coronavirus.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest580","title":"","text":"News story Driving tests and MOTs for heavy vehicles suspended for up to 3 months to help tackle spread of coronavirus\nMOTs for cars, motorcycles and light vans\nThe Department for Transport continues to keep MOT testing for cars,\nmotorcycles and light vans under review. It will provide an update in due\ncourse."}
{"_id":"UKtest581","title":"","text":"News story Driving tests and MOTs for heavy vehicles suspended for up to 3 months to help tackle spread of coronavirus\nMOTs for lorries, buses and trailers\nDVSA has suspended MOTs (annual tests) for all heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and\npublic service vehicles (PSVs) for up to 3 months from 21 March 2020.\nAll HGV and PSV vehicles with an MOT will be issued with a 3-month certificate\nof temporary exemption (CTE) until further notice.\nVehicles must be maintained, kept safe to drive (roadworthy) and operate\nwithin the terms of operators\u2019 licence conditions.\nCheck what you need to do to exempt your\nvehicle.\n[DVSA]: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency\n  [HGV]: heavy goods vehicle\n  *[PSV]: public service vehicle"}
{"_id":"UKtest582","title":"","text":"News story Driving tests and MOTs for heavy vehicles suspended for up to 3 months to help tackle spread of coronavirus\nProtecting the public\nTransport Secretary Grant Shapps said:\n\nWe are having to take big decisions to protect the public in our national\nbattle against COVID-19. Regrettably, we have had to suspend driver testing\nfor up to 3 months to help tackle the spread of the virus.\nIt is vital that those who need a test can get one so DVSA is offering tests\nto those who have a critical need, such as the NHS and drivers delivering\ngoods across the UK.\nThose who have tests cancelled will have priority when testing resumes.\n\nThe tests being suspended include:\n\ncar driving tests\nmotorcycle tests\nlorry, coach and bus driving tests\napproved driving instructor (ADI) tests and checks\n\nDVSA will contact everyone with a test booked during this time to let them\nknow their test has been cancelled and that it will automatically re-book for\nthem.\nThe decision will be kept under review. The latest information about driving\ntests and COVID-19 is on GOV.UK.\n*[DVSA]: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest583","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority.\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected.\nIn the context of COVID-19 this means working through these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.   \n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:  \n\u2013 increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest584","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To maintain social distancing while using common areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWorking collaboratively with landlords and other tenants in multi-tenant sites\/buildings to ensure consistency across common areas, for example, receptions, staircases.\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or canteens.\n\n\nUsing safe outside areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the workplace or building that have been freed up by remote working.\n\n\nInstalling screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.\n\n\nProviding packaged meals or similar to avoid fully opening staff canteens.\n\n\nEncouraging workers to bring their own food.\n\n\nReconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.\n\n\nEncouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.\n\n\nRegulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.\n\n\nEncouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example, lockers and during shifts.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest585","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contracts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contracts\nObjective: To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to offices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEncouraging visits via remote connection\/working where this is an option.\n\n\nWhere site visits are required, site guidance on social distancing and hygiene should be explained to visitors on or before arrival.\n\n\nLimiting the number of visitors at any one time.\n\n\nLimiting visitor times to a specific time window and restricting access to required visitors only.\n\n\nDetermining if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people, for example, carrying out services at night.\n\n\nMaintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.\n\n\nRevising visitor arrangements to ensure social distancing and hygiene, for example, where someone physically signs in with the same pen in receptions.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage or visual aids and before arrival, for example, by phone, on the website or by email.\n\n\nEstablishing host responsibilities relating to COVID-19 and providing any necessary training for people who act as hosts for visitors.\n\n\nReviewing entry and exit routes for visitors and contractors to minimise contact with other people.\n\n\nCoordinating and working collaboratively with landlords and other tenants in multi-tenant sites, for example, shared working spaces.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest586","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\nWhat do we mean by \u2018offices and contact centres\u2019?\nIndoor environments such as:\n\noffices\ncontact centres\noperations rooms\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest587","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n2. Who should go to work\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\nObjective: To treat everyone in your workplace equally.\nIn applying this guidance, employers should be mindful of the particular needs\nof different groups of workers or individuals.\nIt is breaking the law to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against anyone\nbecause of a protected characteristic such as age, sex or disability.\nEmployers also have particular responsibilities towards disabled workers and\nthose who are new or expectant mothers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUnderstanding and taking into account the particular circumstances of those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nInvolving and communicating appropriately with workers whose protected characteristics might either expose them to a different degree of risk, or might make any measures you are considering implementing inappropriate or challenging for them.\n\n\nConsidering whether you need to put in place any particular measures or adjustments to take account of your duties under the equalities legislation.\n\n\nMaking reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being put at a disadvantage, and assessing the health and safety risks for new or expectant mothers.\n\n\nMaking sure that the steps you take do not have an unjustifiable negative impact on some groups compared to others, for example, those with caring responsibilities or those with religious commitments.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest588","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n2. Who should go to work\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who\nhas symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employees and employers relating to statutory sick pay due to COVID-19.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest589","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n2. Who should go to work\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre existing conditions), have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include advice or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest590","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n1. Thinking about risk\nIn this section\n\n1.1 Managing risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\n\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest591","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\nObjective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at\ntheir workstations.\nFor people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain\nsocial distancing wherever possible.\nWorkstations should be assigned to an individual and not shared. If they need\nto be shared they should be shared by the smallest possible number of people.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should\nconsider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate\nand if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of\ntransmission.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReview layouts and processes to allow people to work further apart from each other.\n\n\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.\n\n\nManaging occupancy levels to enable social distancing.\n\n\nAvoiding use of hot desks and spaces and, where not possible, for example, call centres or training facilities, cleaning and sanitising workstations between different occupants including shared equipment.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest592","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel \u2013consider remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face..\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as branches, or\nsuppliers\u2019 or customers\u2019 premises to maintain social distancing and hygiene\npractices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where 2-person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example, by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest593","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible while people travel\nthrough the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.\n\n\nRestricting access between different areas of a building or site.\n\n\nReducing job and location rotation.\n\n\nIntroducing more one-way flow through buildings.\n\n\nReducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.\n\n\nMaking sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts turnstiles and walkways to maintain social distancing.\n\n\n\nExample lift practices."}
{"_id":"UKtest594","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest595","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and Training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and Training\n7.3.1 Returning to Work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers (including through trades unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest596","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If\npossible, you should consider publishing it on your website (and we would\nexpect all businesses with over 50 employees to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you\nhave followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest597","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, on arrival and\ndeparture and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike racks to help people walk, run, or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles, for example, work minibuses. This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example, by having more entry points to the workplace.\n\n\nProviding more storage for workers for clothes and bags.\n\n\nUsing markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities, or hand sanitiser where not possible, at entry and exit points and not using touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nDefining process alternatives for entry\/exit points where appropriate, for example, deactivating turnstiles requiring pass checks in favour of showing a pass to security personnel at a distance.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest598","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest599","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each employee has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where staff are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people directly pass things to each other, for example office supplies, and finding ways to remove direct contact, such as using drop-off points or transfer zones.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest600","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example avoiding sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, using floor signage to help people maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest601","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\nIn this section\n\n6.1 Face coverings\n\nPPE protects the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include\nitems such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility\nclothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory\nprotective equipment, such as face masks.\nWhere you are already using PPE in your work activity to protect against non-\nCOVID-19 risks, you should continue to do so.\nAt the start of this document we described the steps you need to take to\nmanage COVID-19 risk in the workplace. This includes working from home and\nstaying 2m away from each other in the workplace if at all possible.When\nmanaging the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is\nnot beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the\nrisks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social\ndistancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE.\nThe exception is clinical settings, like a hospital, or a small handful of\nother roles for which Public Health England advises use of PPE, for example,\nfirst responders and immigration enforcement officers. If you are in one of\nthese groups you should refer to the advice at:\n\nCoronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan\nCoronavirus (COVID-19): cleaning in non-healthcare settings\n\nWorkplaces should not encourage the precautionary use of extra PPE to protect\nagainst COVID-19 outside clinical settings or when responding to a suspected\nor confirmed case of COVID-19.\nUnless you are in a situation where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is very\nhigh, your risk assessment should reflect the fact that the role of PPE in\nproviding additional protection is extremely limited. However, if your risk\nassessment does show that PPE is required, then you must provide this PPE free\nof charge to workers who need it. Any PPE provided must fit properly.\n[PPE]: Personal protective equipment\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest602","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n5. Cleaning the workplace\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nan assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncarrying out cleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser before restarting work\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChecking whether you need to service or adjust ventilation systems, for example, so that they do not automatically reduce ventilation levels due to lower than normal occupancy levels.\n\n\nMost air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings or you are unsure, advice can be sought from your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers or advisers.\n\n\nOpening windows and doors frequently to encourage ventilation, where possible.\n\n\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, such as door handles and keyboards, and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.\n\n\nLimiting or restricting use of high-touch items and equipment, for example, printers or whiteboards.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then you should refer to the specific guidance.\n\n\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into a tissue which is binned safely, or into your arm if a tissue is not available.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain personal hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of the day.\n\n\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nthe workplace and vehicles at the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nCleaning procedures for goods and merchandise entering the site.\n\n\nCleaning procedures for vehicles.\n\n\nIntroducing greater handwashing and handwashing facilities for workers handling goods and merchandise and providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of vehicles that workers may take home.\n\n\nRestricting non-business deliveries, for example, personal deliveries to workers.\n\n\n[HVAC]: heating ventilation and air conditioning\n  [COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest603","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n2. Who should go to work\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nStaff should work from home if at all possible. Consider who is needed to be on-site; for example:   \n\n\u2013 workers in roles critical for business and operational continuity, safe\nfacility management, or regulatory requirements and which cannot be performed\nremotely.  \n\u2013 workers in critical roles which might be performed remotely, but who are\nunable to work remotely due to home circumstances or the unavailability of\nsafe enabling equipment.\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed on site to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work at home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest604","title":"","text":"Offices and contact centres\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency, for example, an accident or fire, people do not have to stay\n2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards including washing\nhands."}
{"_id":"UKtest605","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n2. Who should go to work\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of coronavirus as well as those who live in a household with someone\nwho has symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employers and employees relating to statutory sick pay due to coronavirus.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest606","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Appointments in the home\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person appointments.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend appointments and should maintain 2m separation where possible.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during appointments, for example, from sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest607","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n7. Workforce management: guidance for employers and agencies\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Team working\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work-related travel and keep workers safe when\nthey do need to travel between homes.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFollow the social distancing guidelines outlined in Section 2.1 \u2013\u2018Coming to and leaving a home for work\u2019.\n\n\nWhere workers need to move between different homes and locations to complete their work, social distancing and hygiene advice should be considered, especially before entering other homes.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their residence, making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest608","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n2. Who should go to work\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome.\nIt is recognised that for providers of in-home services, it is often not\npossible to work from home.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFinding digital or remote alternatives to physical, in-home work where possible such as video or phone consultations.\n\n\nDiscussing working environment and practices with householders and clients in advance to confirm how the work will be carried out, if a physical visit is needed.\n\n\nEmployers and agencies should keep in touch with workers, who they might usually meet with face-to-face, on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest609","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to and leaving a home for work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, including on\narrival and departure and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nConsider travelling to sites alone using your own transport, where insurance allows.\n\n\nIf workers have no option but to travel together, for example delivery teams, the following should be encouraged:   \n\n\n\u2013 journeys should be with the same individuals and limited in the number of\npeople travelling per vehicle  \n\u2013 maintaining good ventilation, for example keeping windows open and\npassengers facing away from one another to reduce risk of transmission  \n\u2013 vehicles regularly cleaned using gloves and standard cleaning products, with\nemphasis on handles and other areas where passengers may touch surfaces  \n\u2013 where possible, employers or agencies should match workers to households\nlocal to them to minimise transportation  \n\u2013 wash hands on arrival and maintain social distancing when entering the home."}
{"_id":"UKtest610","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n1. Thinking about risk\nIn this section\n\n1.1 Thinking about managing risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\n\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest611","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n2. Who should go to work\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at high risk of severe illness (for\nexample, people with some pre existing conditions), have been asked to take\nextra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work from\nhome, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically extremely vulnerable)\nindividuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the\nsafest available on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If\nthey have to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess\nwhether this involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk\nyou must take into account specific duties to those with protected\ncharacteristics, including, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always,\nentitled to suspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found.\nParticular attention should also be paid to people who live with clinically\nextremely vulnerable individuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProvide support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include guidance or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the shielding and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest612","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\nWhat do we mean by \u2018working in other people\u2019s homes\u2019?\nWe acknowledge that this is a complex environment due to the varied employment\nrelationships, including the self-employed, employers and agencies.\nThis guidance applies to those working in, visiting or delivering to home\nenvironments. These include, but are not limited to, people working in the\nfollowing areas:\n\nin home workers \u2013 such as repair services, fitters, meter readers, plumbers, cleaners, cooks and surveyors (this is not an exhaustive list)\nto home services \u2013 such as delivery drivers momentarily at the door\n\nThis guidance does not directly apply to nannies who spend all their time with\none household, or to their employers."}
{"_id":"UKtest613","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around when working in a home\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible while performing\nwork in the home.\nIt is recognised that for providers of some in-home services, it will not\nalways be possible to maintain physical distance from customers.\nIf it isn\u2019t possible to maintain social distancing while working in the home\nthen extra attention needs to be paid to equipment, cleaning and hygiene to\nreduce risk.\nWorking materials, such as tools or domestic appliances, should be assigned to\nan individual and not shared if possible. If they need to be shared, they\nshould be shared by the smallest possible number of people.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nDiscussing with households ahead of a visit to ask that a 2m distance is kept from those working, if possible.\n\n\nAsking that households leave all internal doors open to minimise contact with door handles.\n\n\nIdentifying busy areas across the household where people travel to, from or through, for example, stairs and corridors, and minimising movement within these areas.\n\n\nBringing your own food and drink to households and having breaks outside where possible.\n\n\nLimiting the number of workers within a confined space to maintain social distancing.\n\n\nUsing a fixed pairing system if people have to work in close proximity. For example, during two-person assembly or maintenance.\n\n\nAllocating the same workers to a household where jobs are repetitive. Employers and agencies should introduce fixed pairing to have the same individuals allocated to a household where jobs are repetitive in nature.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest614","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n7. Workforce management: guidance for employers and agencies\n7.1 Team working\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Team working\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Team working\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere multiple workers are in a home, creating fixed teams of workers who carry out their duties in those teams, and minimising contact between each team.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people need to hand things to each other (such as shared tools and domestic appliances) and finding ways to remove direct contact, for example, by using drop-off points or transfer zones.\n\n\nAllocating the same worker to the same household each time there is a visit, for example, the same cleaner each time.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest615","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n7. Workforce management: guidance for employers and agencies\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Team working\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand coronavirus related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working amongst your workers.\n\n\nEngaging with workers through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers, (including through trades unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to households to help their adoption before work commences.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest616","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n5. Cleaning the work area\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Keeping the work area clean\n5.2 Hygiene\n5.3 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials\n\n5.1 Keeping the work area clean\nObjective: To keep work areas in a home clean and prevent transmission by\ntouching contaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nArranging methods of safely disposing waste with the householder.\n\n\nRemoving all waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift and at the end of a job.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of coronavirus then you should refer to the specific guidance.\n\n\n5.2 Hygiene\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWashing your hands more often than usual for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose.\n\n\nReducing the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve, not your hands. Throw the tissue in a bin immediately, then wash your hands.\n\n\nCleaning regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.\n\n\nIf handwashing facilities are not accessible, you should carry hand sanitiser.\n\n\n5.3 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nor are removed from the home.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnsuring social distancing and hygiene measures are followed when supplies or tools are needed to be delivered to a home, for example building supplies.\n\n\nCollecting materials in bulk to reduce the frequency of needing to visit shops to buy or collect materials.\n\n\nRemoving waste in bulk if possible.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest617","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n4 Interacting with householders\n4.1 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nIf you are an employer or agency, providing your workers with information about how to operate safely in people\u2019s homes.\n\n\nCommunicating with households prior to arrival, and on arrival, to ensure the household understands the social distancing and hygiene measures that should be followed once work has commenced.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest618","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n8. Deliveries to the home\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave a home.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising contact during deliveries wherever possible.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nMinimising the contact during delivery, for example, by calling to inform of your arrival rather than ringing the doorbell.\n\n\nMinimising the contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example, using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest619","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Thinking about managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected. In the context of COVID-19 this means working\nthrough these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.\n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:   \n\n\n\u2013 increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.\n\n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people doing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\n\n\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\nSteps that will usually be needed when working in homes:\n\n\nNo work should be carried out in a household which is isolating because one or more family members has symptoms or where an individual has been advised to shield - unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household.\n\n\nWhen working in a household where somebody is clinically vulnerable, but has not been asked to shield, for example, the home of someone over 70, prior arrangements should be made with vulnerable people to avoid any face-to-face contact, for example, when answering the door. You should be particularly strict about handwashing, coughing and sneezing hygiene, such as covering your nose and mouth and disposing of single-use tissues.\n\n\nStaying updated with the latest guidance and considering how it can be applied to your work. This can include:   \n\n\n\u2013 washing your hands more often than usual for 20 seconds using soap and hot\nwater, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose  \n\u2013 reducing the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze by covering your mouth\nand nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don\u2019t have a\ntissue and throw the tissue in a bin immediately, then wash your hands  \n\u2013 cleaning regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning\nproducts to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people  \n\u2013 communicating with households prior to any visit to discuss how the work\nwill be carried out to minimise risk for all parties  \n\u2013 maintaining social distance as far as possible\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest620","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section:\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around when working in a home\n3.3 Appointments in the home\n3.4 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest621","title":"","text":"Other people's homes\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nRisk assessment results should be shared with others working in a home or when\nvisiting others\u2019 homes. If possible, you should consider publishing the\nresults on your website (and we would expect all businesses with over 50\nworkers to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display, which can also be provided as\ncards, stickers or similar, to show you have followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest622","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n2. Who should go to work?\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work.\nNobody should go to work if your business is closed under current government\nregulations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nConsidering who is essential to be on site; for example, those not in customer-facing roles such as administrative staff should work from home if at all possible.\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed on the premises to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding administrative staff with equipment to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest623","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.1 Before reopening\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nan assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser, before restarting work\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChecking whether you need to service or adjust ventilation systems, for example, so that they do not automatically reduce ventilation levels due to lower than normal occupancy levels.\n\n\nMost air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings, or you are unsure, advice should be sought from your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers or advisers.\n\n\nOpening windows and doors frequently to encourage ventilation, where possible.\n\n\n*[HVAC]: heating ventilation and air conditioning"}
{"_id":"UKtest624","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, deliveries on motorcycles and bicycles, accommodation and\nvisits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel - considering remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n\nEnsuring that delivery drivers or riders maintain good hygiene and wash their hands regularly.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites to maintain social\ndistancing and hygiene practices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person to person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where two person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest625","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, including on\narrival and departure and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike racks to help people walk, run, or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example by having more entry points to the workplace. If you have more than one door, consider having one for entering the building and one for exiting.\n\n\nUsing markings to guide staff coming into or leaving the building.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities, or hand sanitiser where not possible, at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nProviding storage for staff clothes and bags.\n\n\nRequesting staff change into work uniforms on site using appropriate facilities\/changing areas, where social distancing and hygiene guidelines can be met.\n\n\nWashing uniforms on site rather than by individual staff members at home.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest626","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene - handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.3 Hygiene - handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFollowing government guidance on hygiene in food preparation and food service areas.\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into your arm.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nSpecial care should be taken for cleaning of portable toilets.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest627","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\nWhat do we mean by \u2018restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\u2019?\nThis guidance applies to any food preparation or food service setting where\nfood is sold for takeaway or delivery. For example:\n\nbars\npubs and restaurants operating as take-aways\ncafes\nfood to go\nfood delivery\ntakeaways and mobile catering\ncontract catering at the point of service to the consumer, such as in offices or similar environments\n\nIt also applies to the food services provided by businesses.It does not apply\nto food preparation or food service in clinical or healthcare settings."}
{"_id":"UKtest628","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre existing conditions), have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include guidance or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the shielding and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest629","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand coronavirus related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers, including through trade unions or employee representative groups, to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures with suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to production schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages to reduce the need for face to face communications.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest630","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come into\nthe workplace and vehicles at the worksite.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nCleaning procedures for goods and merchandise entering the site.\n\n\nCleaning procedures for the parts of shared equipment you touch after each use.\n\n\nEncouraging increased handwashing and introducing more handwashing facilities for workers handling goods and merchandise, or providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nRegular cleaning of vehicles that workers may take home.\n\n\nEnhanced handling procedures of laundry to prevent potential contamination of surrounding surfaces, to prevent raising dust or dispersing the virus.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest631","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the contact resulting from visits to restaurants, bars\nand cafes offering takeaway or delivery services.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding handwashing and hand sanitiser and encourage visitors to wash their hands regularly.\n\n\nRegulating entry so that the premises do not become overcrowded, and placing 2m markers on the floor to maintain social distancing inside the premises.\n\n\nProviding clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage, visual aids and before arrival, such as by phone, on the website or by email.\n\n\nDetermining if schedules for essential services and contractor visits can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people, for example, carrying out services at night.\n\n\n4.1.1 Selling food or drink\nObjective: To minimise interactions with outside workers and the public when\nselling food or drinks.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising contact between kitchen workers and front of house workers, delivery drivers or riders, for example, by having zones from which delivery drivers can collect packaged food items.\n\n\nUsing front of house staff to serve customers purchasing food and drink, minimising the time they spend in the kitchen.\n\n\nCreating a physical barrier such as a screen, between front of house workers and customers where possible.\n\n\nEncouraging contactless payments where possible.\n\n\nLimiting access to premises for people waiting for or collecting takeaways. Setting out clear demarcation for 2m distances for customers queuing. Asking customers to wait in their cars.\n\n\nAsking customers to order online, on apps or over the telephone to reduce queues and stagger pick up times.\n\n\nMaking regular announcements to remind customers to follow social distancing advice and clean their hands regularly.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nDisplaying clearly to customers the social distancing guidelines in place.\n\n\nWhere site visits are required, for example, inbound supplier deliveries or safety critical visitors, providing site guidance on social distancing and hygiene on or before arrival.\n\n\nReviewing entry and exit routes for customers, visitors and contractors to minimise contact with other people.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest632","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social-distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site, especially in high volume situations, for\nexample, distribution centres, despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick up and drop off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nCreating one-way flow of traffic in stockrooms.\n\n\nAdjusting put-away and replenishment rules to create space for social distancing. Where social distancing cannot be maintained due to workplace design, sufficient mitigation strategies should be designed and implemented.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest633","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nConsidering where congestion caused by people flow and \u2018pinch points\u2019 can be improved. Using one-way systems, staggered shifts and assigned staff mealtimes are possible ways to minimise the risk of transmission.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest634","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in-person meetings.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example, from sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, using floor signage to help people maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest635","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency (for example, an accident, fire, or break in), people do not\nhave to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing\nhands."}
{"_id":"UKtest636","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected.\nIn the context of COVID-19 this means working through these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.\n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:   \n\n\n\u2013 increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest637","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To maintain social distancing while using common areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.\n\n\nUsing safe outside areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the working area or building that have been freed up by remote working.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest638","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, while people\ntravel through the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.\n\n\nReducing job and location rotation, for example, assigning workers to specific floors or keeping temporary personnel dedicated to one site.\n\n\nIntroducing more one-way flow routes through buildings through signage that clearly indicate the direction of flow.\n\n\nReducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.\n\n\nMaking sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts and staircases to maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest639","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce. If\npossible, you should consider publishing the results on your website (and we\nwould expect all businesses with over 50 workers to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you\nhave followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest640","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFollowing government guidance on cleaning food preparation and food service areas.\n\n\nWedging doors open, where appropriate, to reduce touchpoints. This does not apply to fire doors.\n\n\nCleaning laminated menus or disposing of paper menus after each use.\n\n\nProviding only disposable condiments or cleaning non-disposable condiment containers after each use.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of coronavirus then you should refer to the specific guidance.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\n5.2.1 Kitchen or cafe cleaning\nObjective: To ensure the highest hygiene standards are operated in kitchen\nareas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFollowing government guidance on cleaning food preparation and food service areas.\n\n\nRecognising that cleaning measures are already stringent in kitchen areas, consider the need for additional cleaning and disinfection measures.\n\n\nHaving bins for collection of used towels and staff overalls.\n\n\nAsking workers to wash hands before handling plates and takeaway boxes.\n\n\nContinuing high frequency of hand washing throughout the day.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest641","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\nObjective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at\ntheir workstations.\nFor people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain\nsocial distancing from one another as well as the public.\nWorkstations should be assigned to an individual as much as possible. If they\nneed to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of\npeople.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should\nconsider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate,\nand if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of\ntransmission.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReviewing layouts and processes to allow staff to work further apart from each other.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side-by-side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.\n\n\nOnly where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.\n\n\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.\n\n\nUsing screens to create a physical barrier between people where appropriate, for example, considering areas such as till points.\n\n\n3.3.1 Food preparation\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and reduce contact where possible in\nkitchens and other food preparation areas.\nCOVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is not known to be transmitted by\nexposure to food or food packaging.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFollowing government guidance on managing food preparation and food service areas.\n\n\nAllowing kitchen access to as few people as possible.\n\n\nMinimising interaction between kitchen staff and other workers, including when on breaks.\n\n\nPutting teams into shifts to restrict the number of workers interacting with each other.\n\n\nSpacing workstations 2m apart as much as possible, recognising the difficulty of moving equipment such as sinks, hobs and ovens. Consider cleanable panels to separate workstations in larger kitchens.\n\n\nProviding floor marking to signal distances of 2m apart.\n\n\nUsing \u2018one way\u2019 traffic flows to minimise contact.\n\n\nMinimising access to walk-in pantries, fridges and freezers, for example, with only one person being able to access these areas at one point in time.\n\n\nMinimising contact at \u2018handover\u2019 points with other staff, such as when presenting food to serving staff and delivery drivers.\n\n\n3.3.2 Food consumption areas\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and reduce contact where possible in\npublic spaces. Current guidance for public spaces is as follows:\n\nbar areas must be closed\nseated restaurants and cafe areas must be closed\nall food and drink outlets should be takeaway only\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nUsing signage to make clear to customers and the public that these areas are closed.\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest642","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section:\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest643","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.3 Hygiene handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.4 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items and that social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of the day.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest644","title":"","text":"Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of coronavirus as well as those who live in a household with someone\nwho has symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employers and employees relating to statutory sick pay due to coronavirus.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest645","title":"","text":"Self-employment and Universal Credit\nIf you\u2019re both self-employed and employed\nYour Universal Credit payment will be calculated based on your combined\nearnings from self-employment and employment."}
{"_id":"UKtest646","title":"","text":"Self-employment and Universal Credit\nReporting changes in your circumstances\nYou\u2019ll need to report any change in circumstances, for example if you:\n\nclose your business\nstart a different kind of business\ntake a permanent job\nare no longer able to work\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest647","title":"","text":"Self-employment and Universal Credit\nProviding information about your earnings\nEveryone claiming Universal Credit needs to report their self-employed\nearnings at the end of each monthly assessment period. This includes company\ndirectors, even those paying themselves by PAYE.\nYou\u2019ll need to report payments into and out of your business in the assessment\nperiod. This includes:\n\ntotal amount your business received\nhow much your business spent on different types of expenses, such as travel costs, stock, equipment and tools, clothing and office costs\nhow much tax and National Insurance you paid\nany money you paid into a pension\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest648","title":"","text":"Self-employment and Universal Credit\nIf you\u2019ve lost income because of coronavirus\nYou may be able to get a grant through the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-\nEmployment Income Support Scheme when it launches.\nIf you get the grant, your Universal Credit payments may stop or go down.\nIf you\u2019re eligible, HMRC will contact you to tell you how to apply."}
{"_id":"UKtest649","title":"","text":"Self-employment and Universal Credit\nHow your Universal Credit payment is worked out\nYour Universal Credit payment will be based on the earnings you report at the\nend of each monthly assessment period.\nIf you\u2019re already getting Universal Credit\nSince 30 March 2020, the way your Universal Credit payment is worked out has\nchanged because of coronavirus.\nPayments are no longer calculated using an assumed level of earnings, called a\nMinimum Income Floor. They are now based on your actual earnings.\nIf your payments were calculated using the Minimum Income Floor, they may\nchange."}
{"_id":"UKtest650","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Cars, accommodation and visits\nObjective: To avoid unnecessary work travel and keep people safe when they do\nneed to travel between locations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nMinimising non-essential travel \u2013 consider remote options first.\n\n\nMinimising the number of people outside of your household travelling together in any one vehicle, using fixed travel partners, increasing ventilation when possible and avoiding sitting face-to-face.\n\n\nCleaning shared vehicles between shifts or on handover.\n\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as factories,\nlogistics sites or customers\u2019 premises to maintain social distancing and\nhygiene practices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMaintaining consistent pairing where two-person deliveries are required.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest651","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with worker and worker representatives through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers (including through trade unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language and those with protected characteristics such as visual impairments\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to production schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest652","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\nWhat do we mean by \u2018shops and branches\u2019?\nShops and branches include all retail stores. This includes:\n\nfood retailers\nchemists\nhardware\/homeware stores\nfashion shops\ncharity shops\nbetting shops and arcades\ntailors, dress fitters and fashion designers\ncar dealerships\nauction houses\nantique stores\nretail art galleries\nphotography studios\ngift shops and retail spaces in theatres, museums, libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites\nmobile phone stores\nindoor and outdoor markets\ncraft fairs\nsimilar types of retail.\n\nThe guidance applies to those currently open and will help those that are\ncurrently closed consider what their operations need to look like when they\nare allowed to open.\nBranches include:\n\nbank branches\npost offices\nother open money businesses.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest653","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n6. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings\n6.1 Face coverings\nThere are some circumstances when wearing a face covering may be marginally\nbeneficial as a precautionary measure. The evidence suggests that wearing a\nface covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are\ninfected but have not developed symptoms.\nA face covering can be very simple and may be worn in enclosed spaces where\nsocial distancing isn\u2019t possible. It just needs to cover your mouth and nose.\nIt is not the same as a face mask, such as the surgical masks or respirators\nused by health and care workers. Similarly, face coverings are not the same as\nthe PPE used to manage risks like dust and spray in an industrial context.\nSupplies of PPE, including face masks, must continue to be reserved for those\nwho need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and\ncare workers, and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust\nhazards.\nIt is important to know that the evidence of the benefit of using a face\ncovering to protect others is weak and the effect is likely to be small,\ntherefore face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing\nrisk, including minimising time spent in contact, using fixed teams and\npartnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing. These\nother measures remain the best ways of managing risk in the workplace and\ngovernment would therefore not expect to see employers relying on face\ncoverings as risk management for the purpose of their health and safety\nassessments.\nWearing a face covering is optional and is not required by law, including in\nthe workplace. If you choose to wear one, it is important to use face\ncoverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them\noff.\nEmployers should support their workers in using face coverings safely if they\nchoose to wear one. This means telling workers:\n\nwash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and after removing it\nwhen wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands\nchange your face covering if it becomes damp or if you\u2019ve touched it\ncontinue to wash your hands regularly\nchange and wash your face covering daily\nif the material is washable, wash in line with manufacturer\u2019s instructions. If it\u2019s not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste\npractise social distancing wherever possible\n\nYou can make face-coverings at home. Find guidance on how to wear and make a\nface-covering on GOV.UK.\n*[PPE]: Personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest654","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site, especially in high volume situations, for\nexample, distribution centres or despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nConsidering methods to reduce frequency of deliveries, for example, by ordering larger quantities less often.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest655","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials\nObjective: To reduce transmission through contact with objects that come in\nthe store.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEncouraging increased handwashing and introducing more handwashing facilities for workers and customers or providing hand sanitiser where this is not practical.\n\n\nLimiting customer handling of merchandise, for example, through different display methods, new signage or rotation of high-touch stock.\n\n\nPutting in place picking-up and dropping-off collection points where possible, rather than passing goods hand-to-hand.\n\n\nStaggering collection times for customers collecting items, with a queuing system in place to ensure a safe distance of 2m.\n\n\nSetting up \u2018no contact\u2019 return procedures where customers take return goods to a designated area.\n\n\nEncouraging contactless refunds, where possible.\n\n\nStoring items that have been returned, donated, brought in for repair or extensively handled, for example tried on shoes or clothes, in a container or separate room for 72 hours, or cleaning such items with usual cleaning products, before displaying them on the shop floor. Materials used for cleaning can be disposed of normally.\n\n\nProviding guidance to how workers can safely assist customers with handling large item purchases.\n\n\nConsidering placing protective coverings on large items that may require customer testing or use, for example, furniture, beds or seats. Ensuring frequent cleaning of these coverings between uses, using usual cleaning products.\n\n\nCleaning touchpoints after each customer use or handover. For some examples, such as rental equipment, and test drive and rental vehicles, interior and exterior touchpoints should be considered.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest656","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.5 Common areas\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering break times to reduce pressure on the staff break rooms or places to eat.\n\n\nUsing safe outside areas for breaks.\n\n\nCreating additional space by using other parts of the working area or building that have been freed up by remote working.\n\n\nInstalling screens to protect workers in receptions or similar areas.\n\n\nProviding packaged meals or similar to avoid fully opening staff canteens.\n\n\nReconfiguring seating and tables to optimise spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.\n\n\nEncouraging workers to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.\n\n\nConsidering use of social distance marking for other common areas such as toilets, showers, lockers and changing rooms and in any other areas where queues typically form.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest657","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.1 Before reopening\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.1 Before reopening\nObjective: To make sure that any site or location that has been closed or\npartially operated is clean and ready to restart, including:\n\nan assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work\ncleaning procedures and providing hand sanitiser, before restarting work\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nChecking whether you need to service or adjust ventilation systems, for example, so that they do not automatically reduce ventilation levels due to lower than normal occupancy levels.\n\n\nMost air conditioning systems do not need adjustment, however where systems serve multiple buildings, or you are unsure, advice should be sought from your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers or advisers.\n\n\n*[HVAC]: heating ventilation and air conditioning"}
{"_id":"UKtest658","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, on arrival and\ndeparture and to enable handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike-racks to help people walk, run or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles, for example, work minibuses. This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nReducing congestion, for example, by having more entry points to the workplace in larger stores.\n\n\nUsing markings and introducing one-way flow at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding handwashing facilities (or hand sanitiser where not possible) at entry and exit points.\n\n\nProviding alternatives to touch-based security devices such as keypads.\n\n\nDefining process alternatives for entry\/exit points where appropriate, for example, deactivating pass readers at turnstiles in favour of showing a pass to security personnel at a distance.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest659","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and stores\n3.3 Moving around buildings and stores\n3.4 Meetings\n3.5 Common areas\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work and when travelling between\nsites.\nYou must maintain social distancing in the workplace wherever possible.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the place where\npeople spend most of their time, but also entrances and exits, break rooms,\ncanteens and similar settings. These are often the most challenging areas to\nmaintain social distancing."}
{"_id":"UKtest660","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\nObjective: To protect clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely\nvulnerable individuals.\nClinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to\nwork outside the home.\nClinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness\n(for example, people with some pre-existing conditions), have been asked to\ntake extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work\nfrom home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.\nIf clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals\ncannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest\navailable on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they\nhave to spend time within 2m of others, you should carefully assess whether\nthis involves an acceptable level of risk. As for any workplace risk you must\ntake into account specific duties to those with protected characteristics,\nincluding, for example, expectant mothers who are, as always, entitled to\nsuspension on full pay if suitable roles cannot be found. Particular attention\nshould also be paid to people who live with clinically extremely vulnerable\nindividuals.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProvide support for workers around mental health and wellbeing. This could include advice or telephone support.\n\n\nSee current guidance for advice on who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest661","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage and visual aids.\n\n\nInforming customers that they should be prepared to remove face coverings safely if asked to do so by police officers and staff for the purposes of identification.\n\n\nProviding written or spoken communication of the latest guidelines to both workers and customers inside and outside the store. Consider the particular needs of those with protected characteristics, such as those who are visually impaired.\n\n\nCreating social distancing champions to demonstrate social distancing guidelines to customers, if helpful.\n\n\nEnsuring latest guidelines are visible in selling and non-selling areas.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest662","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.2 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, including self-checkouts, trolleys, coffee machines, betting machines or staff handheld devices, and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements for cleaning products.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the work area at the end of a shift.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then refer to the specific guidance.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest663","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n1. Thinking about risk\nIn this section\n\nManaging risk\nSharing your risk assessment\n\nObjective: That all employers carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.\nEveryone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. As an employer, you\nalso have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to\ntheir health and safety. This means you need to think about the risks they\nface and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them, recognising\nyou cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19.\nYou must make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the\nrisks of COVID-19, using this guidance to inform your decisions and control\nmeasures. A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork,\nbut rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your\nworkplace. If you have fewer than 5 workers, or are self-employed, you don\u2019t\nhave to write anything down as part of your risk assessment. Your risk\nassessment will help you decide whether you have done everything you need to.\nThe Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage\nrisk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of\ncoronavirus in workplaces.\nEmployers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do\nthis by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage\nrisks from COVID-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to\nunderstand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work\nsafely. Involving them in making decisions shows that you take their health\nand safety seriously. You must consult with the health and safety\nrepresentative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn\u2019t one, a\nrepresentative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the\nrepresentative will be.\nAt its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture\nwhere relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration,\ntrust and joint problem solving. As is normal practice, workers should be\ninvolved in assessing workplace risks and the development and review of\nworkplace health and safety policies in partnership with the employer.\nEmployers and workers should always come together to resolve issues. If\nconcerns still cannot be resolved, see below for further steps you can take.\nWhere the enforcing authority, such as the HSE or your local authority,\nidentifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant\npublic health legislation and guidance to control public health risks, they\nwill consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks.\nFor example, this would cover employers not taking appropriate action to\nsocially distance, where possible. The actions the HSE can take include the\nprovision of specific advice to employers through to issuing enforcement\nnotices to help secure improvements.\nHow to raise a concern:\n\ncontact your employee representative\ncontact your trade union if you have one\ncontact HSE at:\n\nHSE COVID-19 enquiries\nTelephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 8pm)\nOnline: working safely enquiry\nform\n[COVID-19]: coronavirus\n  [HSE]: Health and Safety Executive"}
{"_id":"UKtest664","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nIn an emergency, for example, an accident, provision of first aid, fire or\nbreak-in, people do not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular\nattention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards including washing\nhands.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nReviewing your incident and emergency procedures to ensure they reflect the social distancing principles as far as possible.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest665","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n2. Who should go to work?\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work.\nNobody should go to work if your business is closed under current government\nregulations.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nConsidering who is essential to be on the premises; for example, back of house workers should work from home if at all possible.\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of people needed on site to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest666","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n2. Who should go to work?\n2.3 Equality in the workplace\nObjective: To treat everyone in your workplace equally.\nIn applying this guidance, employers should be mindful of the particular needs\nof different groups of workers or individuals. For instance, employers have a\nduty to make reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being put at a\ndisadvantage compared to non-disabled people in the workplace.\nIt is breaking the law to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against anyone\nbecause of a protected characteristic such as age, sex or disability.\nEmployers also have particular responsibilities towards disabled workers and\nthose who are new or expectant mothers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUnderstanding and taking into account the particular circumstances of those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nInvolving and communicating appropriately with workers whose protected characteristics might either expose them to a different degree of risk, or might make any steps you are thinking about inappropriate or challenging for them.\n\n\nConsidering whether you need to put in place any particular measures or adjustments to take account of your duties under the equalities legislation.\n\n\nMaking reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being put at a disadvantage, and assessing the health and safety risks for new or expectant mothers.\n\n\nMaking sure that the steps you take do not have an unjustifiable negative impact on some groups compared to others, for example, those with caring responsibilities or those with religious commitments.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest667","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission through customer fitting\nrooms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFitting rooms should be closed wherever possible given the challenges in operating them safely.\n\n\nWhere fitting rooms are essential, for example to support key workers buying critical protective clothing, they should be cleaned very frequently, typically between each use.\n\n\nCreating procedures to manage clothes that have been tried on, for example delaying their return to the shop floor (see section 5.5 below).\n\n\nLimiting contact between customers and colleagues during fitting, for example by suspending fitting assistance.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest668","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n5. Cleaning the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Before reopening\n5.2 Keeping the workplace\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.4 Customer fitting rooms\n5.5 Handling goods, merchandise and other materials, and onsite vehicles\n\n5.3 Hygiene: handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, the need to increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into a tissue which is binned safely, or into your arm if a tissue is not available.\n\n\nProviding regular reminders and signage to maintain hygiene standards.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in multiple locations in addition to washrooms.\n\n\nSetting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nEnhancing cleaning for busy areas.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nProviding hand drying facilities \u2013 either paper towels or electrical driers.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest669","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\n4.1 Manage contacts\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the contact resulting from visits to stores or outlets.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nDefining the number of customers that can reasonably follow 2m social distancing within the store and any outdoor selling areas. Take into account total floorspace as well as likely pinch points and busy areas.\n\n\nLimiting the number of customers in the store, overall and in any particular congestion areas, for example doorways between outside and inside spaces.\n\n\nEncouraging customers to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises to reduce the risk of transmission by touching products while browsing.\n\n\nEncouraging customers to avoid handling products whilst browsing, if at all possible.\n\n\nSuspending or reducing customer services that cannot be undertaken without contravening social distancing guidelines. This may include re-thinking how assistance is provided, for example, using fixed pairs of colleagues to lift heavy objects rather than a single colleague lifting with a customer.\n\n\nEncouraging customers to shop alone where possible, unless they need specific assistance.\n\n\nReminding customers who are accompanied by children that they are responsible for supervising them at all times and should follow social distancing guidelines.\n\n\nLooking at how people walk through the shop and how you could adjust this to reduce congestion and contact between customers, for example, queue management or one-way flow, where possible.\n\n\nEnsuring any changes to entries, exit and queue management take into account reasonable adjustments for those who need them, including disabled shoppers.\n\n\nWorking within your local area to provide additional parking or facilities such as bike racks, where possible, to help customers avoid using public transport.\n\n\nUsing outside premises for queuing where available and safe, for example some car parks.\n\n\nManaging outside queues to ensure they do not cause a risk to individuals or other businesses, for example by introducing queuing systems, using barriers and having staff direct customers.\n\n\nWorking with your local authority or landlord to take into account the impact of your processes, including queues, on public spaces such as high streets and public car parks.\n\n\nShopping centres should take responsibility for regulating the number of customers in the centre and the queuing process in communal areas on behalf of their retail.\n\n\nHaving clearly designated positions from which colleagues can provide advice or assistance to customers whilst maintaining social distance.\n\n\nWorking with neighbouring businesses and local authorities to consider how to spread the number of people arriving throughout the day for example by staggering opening hours; this will help reduce demand on public transport at key times and avoid overcrowding.\n\n\nAvoid sharing vehicles except within a family, for example on test drives. If it is not possible, keep the number of people in the vehicle to a minimum and as distanced within the vehicle space as possible, and use other safety measures such as ensuring good ventilation.\n\n\nContinuing to keep customer restaurants and cafes closed until further notice, apart from when offering hot or cold food to be consumed off the premises.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest670","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where workers are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other and find ways to remove direct contact such as by using drop-off points or transfer zones.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest671","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.2 Moving around buildings and stores\nObjective: To maintain social distancing as far as possible while people\ntravel through the workplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted. These items require cleaning between users if multi-use.\n\n\nIntroducing more one-way flow through buildings. Providing floor markings and signage should remind both workers and customers to follow to social distancing wherever possible.\n\n\nReducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.\n\n\nMaking sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.\n\n\nRegulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts, turnstiles and walkways to maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest672","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.2 Sharing your risk assessment\nYou should share the results of your risk assessment with your employees. If\npossible, you should consider publishing it on your website (and we would\nexpect all businesses with over 50 employees to do so).\nBelow you will find a notice you should display in your workplace to show you\nhave followed this guidance.  \nStaying COVID-19 Secure in\n2020\n(This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an\naccessible\nformat.)\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest673","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.4 Meetings\nObjective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain\nsocial distancing in meetings.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing remote working tools to avoid in person meetings.\n\n\nOnly absolutely necessary participants should attend meetings and should maintain 2m separation throughout.\n\n\nAvoiding transmission during meetings, for example avoiding sharing pens and other objects.\n\n\nProviding hand sanitiser in meeting rooms.\n\n\nHolding meetings outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms whenever possible.\n\n\nFor areas where regular meetings take place, use floor signage to help people maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest674","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected. In the context of COVID-19 this means working\nthrough these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.\n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:   \n\n\n\u2013 increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.\n\n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people doing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\n\n\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest675","title":"","text":"Shops and branches\n3. Social distancing at work\n3.3 Workplaces and workstations\nObjective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at\ntheir workstations.\nFor people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain\nsocial distancing wherever possible.\nWorkstations should be assigned to an individual as much as possible. If they\nneed to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of\npeople.\nIf it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should\nconsider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate,\nand if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of\ntransmission.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nReviewing layouts to allow workers to work further apart from each other.\n\n\nUsing floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance.\n\n\nAvoiding people working face-to-face. For example, by working side-by-side or facing away from each other.\n\n\nUsing screens to create a physical barrier between people.\n\n\nUsing a consistent pairing system if people have to work in close proximity. For example, maintenance activities that cannot be redesigned.\n\n\nMinimising contacts around transactions, for example, considering using contactless payments.\n\n\nRethinking demonstrations and promotions to minimise direct contact and to maintain social distancing.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest676","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n2. Who should go to work\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\nObjective: To make sure individuals who are advised to stay at home under\nexisting government\nguidance do not physically come to work. This includes individuals who have\nsymptoms of COVID-19 as well as those who live in a household with someone who\nhas symptoms.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nEnabling workers to work from home while self-isolating if appropriate.\n\n\nSee current guidance for employees and employers relating to statutory sick pay due to coronavirus.\n\n\nSee current guidance for people who have symptoms and those who live with others who have symptoms.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest677","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n7. Workforce management\n7.3 Communications and training\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.3 Communications and training\n7.3.1 Returning to work\nObjective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety\nprocedures.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.\n\n\nEngaging with workers and worker representatives through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.\n\n\nDeveloping communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.\n\n\n7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage\nObjective: To make sure all workers are kept up-to-date with how safety\nmeasures are being implemented or updated.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nOngoing engagement with workers, including through trade unions or employee representative groups, to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.\n\n\nAwareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus.\n\n\nUsing simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language.\n\n\nUsing visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages without the need for face-to-face communications.\n\n\nCommunicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and share experience.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest678","title":"","text":"Vehicles\nWhat do we mean by \u2018working in vehicles\u2019?\nWorking in or from a vehicle, including:\n\ncouriers\nmobile workers\nlorry drivers\non-site transit\nwork vehicles\nfield forces\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest679","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n7. Workforce management\n7.2 Work-related travel\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.2.1 Accommodation\nObjective: To keep people safe when they do need to travel overnight.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nWhere workers are required to stay away from their home, centrally logging the stay and making sure any overnight accommodation meets social distancing guidelines.\n\n7.2.2 Deliveries to other sites\nObjective: To help workers delivering to other sites such as factories,\nlogistics sites or customers\u2019 premises to maintain social distancing and\nhygiene practices.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPutting in place procedures to minimise person-to-person contact during deliveries to other sites.\n\n\nMinimising contact during payments and exchange of documentation, for example, by using electronic payment methods and electronically signed and exchanged documents.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest680","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n7. Workforce management\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nIn this section\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\n7.2 Work-related travel\n7.3 Communications and training\n\n7.1 Shift patterns and working groups\nObjective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and\nreduce the number of contacts each worker has.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nAs far as possible, where people are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.\n\n\nPeople who work together in one vehicle should be in a fixed pairing as far as possible.\n\n\nIdentifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other (such as job information, spare parts, samples, raw materials) and find ways to remove direct contact, for example, by using drop off points or transfer zones.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest681","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors\nIn this section\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\n\n4.1 Manage contacts\nObjective: To minimise the contact risk resulting from people in vehicles, for\nexample, taxi customers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nDetermining if schedules can be revised to reduce interaction and overlap between people. For example, when drivers arrive at depots, collection and delivery times and break times.\n\n\nEnsuring delivery and receipt confirmation can be made contactless and avoiding physical contact when handing goods over to the customer.\n\n\nPreparing for goods to be dropped off to a previously agreed area to avoid transmission, for example, taking advantage of click and collect type arrangements.\n\n\nMaintaining a record of all visitors, if this is practical.\n\n\n4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance\nObjective: To make sure people understand what they need to do to maintain\nsafety.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nProviding guidance and explanation on social distancing and hygiene to passengers, such as taxi customers, when they enter the vehicle.\n\n\nUnderstanding the protocol for collecting and distributing goods across different locations and agreeing these in advance.\n\n\nRegularly briefing drivers and temporary staff, communicating to customers and providing in vehicle guides and reminders for passengers and staff.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest682","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n1. Thinking about risk\n1.1 Managing risk\nObjective: To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking\npreventative measures, in order of priority\nEmployers have a duty to reduce workplace risk to the lowest reasonably\npracticable level by taking preventative measures. Employers must work with\nany other employers or contractors sharing the workplace so that everybody\u2019s\nhealth and safety is protected.\nIn the context of COVID-19 this means working through these steps in order:\n\n\nIn every workplace, increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning.\n\n\nBusinesses and workplaces should make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. Where working from home is not possible, workplaces should make every reasonable effort to comply with the social distancing guidelines set out by the government (keeping people 2m apart wherever possible).\n\n\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full, in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.   \n\n\nFurther mitigating actions include:  \n\u2013 increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning\n\u2013 keeping the activity time involved as short as possible\n\u2013 using screens or barriers to separate people from each other\n\u2013 using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face)\nwhenever possible\n\u2013 reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed\nteams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nFinally, if people must work face-to-face for a sustained period with more than a small group of fixed partners, then you will need to assess whether the activity can safely go ahead. No one is obliged to work in an unsafe work environment.   \n\nIn your assessment you should have particular regard to whether the people\ndoing the work are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.\nThe recommendations in the rest of this document are ones you should consider\nas you go through this process. You could also consider any advice that has\nbeen produced specifically for your sector, for example by trade associations\nor trades unions.\nIf you have not already done so, you should carry out an assessment of the\nrisks posed by COVID-19 in your workplace as soon as possible. If you are\ncurrently operating, you are likely to have gone through a lot of this\nthinking already. We recommend that you use this document to identify any\nfurther improvements you should make.\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest683","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n3. Social distancing at work\nIn this section\n\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\n3.2 Moving around buildings, worksites and destinations\n3.3 Social distancing in vehicles\n3.4 Carrying out deliveries or collections\n3.5 Accidents, security and other incidents\n\nObjective: To maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible, including while\narriving at and departing from work, while in work, and when travelling\nbetween sites.\nIt will not always be possible to keep a distance of 2m inside vehicles. Many\nin-vehicle tasks need more than one person, for example heavy deliveries or\nrefuse collection, and changing vehicle configurations to create more space\nmay not be practical.\nWhere the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation\nto a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity\nneeds to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the\nmitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their\nstaff.\nMitigating actions include:\n\nfurther increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning\nkeeping the activity time involved as short as possible\nusing screens or barriers to separate people from each other\nusing back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible\nreducing the number of people each person has contact with by using \u2018fixed teams or partnering\u2019 (so each person works with only a few others)\n\nSocial distancing applies to all parts of a business, not just the vehicle,\nbut also depots or break rooms and anywhere drivers congregate outside of the\nvehicle. These are often the most challenging areas to maintain social\ndistancing.\n3.1 Coming to work and leaving work\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible, including on\narrival and departure, and to ensure handwashing upon arrival.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nStaggering arrival and departure times at work to reduce crowding into and out of the workplace, taking account of the impact on those with protected characteristics.\n\n\nProviding additional parking or facilities such as bike-racks to help people walk, run or cycle to work where possible.\n\n\nLimiting passengers in corporate vehicles, for example, work minibuses. This could include leaving seats empty.\n\n\nAssigning fixed groups of workers to the same transportation routes where sole travel is not possible.\n\n\n3.2 Moving around buildings, worksites and destinations\nObjective: To maintain social distancing while people travel through the\nworkplace.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere possible reducing the number of workers at base depots or distribution centres at a given time based on minimum operational safety requirements.\n\n\nScheduling times for the collection of goods to avoid over-crowding.\n\n\nPicking goods ahead of collection and loading onto vehicles without interacting with the driver.\n\n\nReducing job and location rotation.\n\n\nFinding alternative solutions to 2-person delivery. This could include delaying delivery of large items or using an alternative method, for example, mechanical \/ material handling equipment. Where these are not possible maintain fixed pairing for 2-person deliveries and minimise physical contact.\n\n\n3.3 Social distancing in vehicles\nObjective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible between individuals\nwhen in vehicles:\n\navoid multiple occupancy vehicles where safe to do so\nvehicles should not be shared if possible\nif it is not possible to keep a 2m distance in a vehicle, consider additional safety measures\n\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\nDevising mitigation measures where workers have no alternative but to work within 2m to minimise the risk of transmission, including:   \n\n\u2013 clear signage to outline social distancing measures in place\n\u2013 single person or contactless refuelling where possible\n\u2013 using physical screening, provided this does not compromise safety, for\nexample, through reducing visibility\n\u2013 sitting side-by-side not face-to-face and increasing ventilation where\npossible\n\n\nUsing a fixed pairing system if people have to work in close proximity, for example in a vehicle.\n\n\nMaking sure vehicles are well-ventilated to increase the flow of air, for example, by opening a window.\n\n\nEnsure regular cleaning of vehicles, in particular between different users.\n\n\n3.4 Carrying out deliveries or collections\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the vehicle, especially in high volume situations, for\nexample distribution centres, despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nScheduling to limit exposure to large crowds and rush hours where appropriate.\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points and procedures with signage and marking.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse. For example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nMaximising use of electronic paperwork where possible, and reviewing procedures to enable safe exchange of paper copies where needed, for example, required transport documents.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required and consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice.\n\n\n3.5 Accidents, security and other incidents\nObjective: To prioritise safety during incidents.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nIn an emergency, for example, an accident, fire, or break-in, people do not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.\n\n\nPeople involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular attention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing hands.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest684","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n8. Inbound and outbound goods\nObjective: To maintain social distancing and avoid surface transmission when\ngoods enter and leave the site, especially in high volume situations, for\nexample, distribution centres, despatch areas.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nRevising pick-up and drop-off collection points, procedures, signage and markings.\n\n\nMinimising unnecessary contact at gatehouse security, yard and warehouse, for example, non-contact deliveries where the nature of the product allows for use of electronic pre-booking.\n\n\nWhere possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles.\n\n\nWhere possible, using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed.\n\n\nEnabling drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance.\n\n\nEncouraging drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice, such as preventing drive-aways.\n\n\nDefinitions\nRefers to areas and amenities which are provided for the common use of more\nthan one person including canteens, reception areas, meeting rooms, areas of\nworship, toilets, gardens, fire escapes, kitchens, fitness facilities, store\nrooms, laundry facilities.\nRefers to people who have specific underlying health conditions that make them\nextremely vulnerable to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Clinically\nextremely vulnerable people will have received a letter telling them they are\nin this group, or will have been told by their GP. Who is \u2018clinically\nextremely vulnerable\u2019?\nRefers to people who may be at increased risk from COVID-19, including those\naged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions. Who is\n\u2018clinically vulnerable\u2019?"}
{"_id":"UKtest685","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n5. Cleaning the workplace\nIn this section\n\n5.1 Keeping the workplace clean\n5.2 Hygiene - handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\n5.3 Changing rooms and showers\n\n5.1 Keeping the workplace clean\nObjective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching\ncontaminated surfaces.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses, using your usual cleaning products.\n\n\nFrequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, such as door handles, fuel pumps and vehicle keys, and making sure there are adequate disposal arrangements.\n\n\nEncouraging workers to wash hands before boarding vehicles.\n\n\nRetaining sufficient quantities of hand sanitiser \/ wipes within vehicles to enable workers to clean hands after each delivery \/ drop off.\n\n\nClearing workspaces and removing waste and belongings from the vehicle at the end of a shift.\n\n\n5.2 Hygiene - handwashing, sanitation facilities and toilets\nObjective: To help everyone keep good hygiene through the working day.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nUsing signs and posters to build awareness of good handwashing technique, including the need for increased handwashing, to avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into your arm.\n\n\nEnsuring drivers have access to appropriate toilet facilities during their journeys and at their destinations and are helped to meet any requirements to allow them to do this, for example prior booking-in, provision of hand sanitiser.\n\n\nProviding sufficient hand sanitiser where handwashing is not possible.\n\n\nProviding more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.\n\n\nIf you are cleaning after a known or suspected case of COVID-19 then you should refer to the guidance on cleaning in non healthcare settings.\n\n\n5.3 Changing rooms and showers\nObjective: To minimise the risk of transmission in changing rooms and showers.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nWhere shower and changing facilities are required, setting clear use and cleaning guidance for showers, lockers and changing rooms to ensure they are kept clean, clear of personal items and social distancing is achieved as much as possible.\n\n\nIntroducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities regularly during the day and at the end of each day.\n\n\n*[COVID-19]: coronavirus"}
{"_id":"UKtest686","title":"","text":"Vehicles\n2. Who should go to work\nIn this section\n\n2.1 Protecting people who are at higher risk\n2.2 People who need to self-isolate\n2.3 People who have protected characteristics\n\nObjective: That everyone should work from home, unless they cannot work from\nhome. It is recognised that the nature of work in this environment will make\nit difficult for many workers to work remotely or from home.\nSteps that will usually be needed:\n\n\nPlanning for the minimum number of workers needed on the premises and deployed in the field to operate safely and effectively.\n\n\nMonitoring the well-being of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of their colleagues are on-site.\n\n\nKeeping in touch with off-site workers on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.\n\n\nProviding equipment for people to work from home safely and effectively, for example, remote access to work systems.\n\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest687","title":"","text":"Volunteer placements, rights and expenses\nVolunteering if you\u2019re not at high risk\nYou can volunteer if:\n\nyou\u2019re well\nnobody in your household has coronavirus symptoms, for example a cough or high temperature\nyou\u2019re under 70\nyou\u2019re not pregnant\nyou do not have any long-term health conditions that make you vulnerable to coronavirus\n\nYou can:\n\nshop for food and medicine (online, or in person)\ndeliver food and medicine\nhelp with food banks and homeless services\n\nTo apply, volunteer through your local council. Find your council\u2019s\nwebsite and search for information about\nvolunteering during coronavirus.\nYou can also apply to volunteer through a charity or\norganisation.\nVolunteer to help the NHS\nTo volunteer if you\u2019re a doctor or nurse, visit NHS\nEngland or\ncontact your local hospital\ntrust.\nIf you want to give blood, read the guidance about donating blood during the\ncoronavirus pandemic.\nYou cannot apply to help the NHS through its volunteer responder scheme at the\nmoment. It\u2019s temporarily closed."}
{"_id":"UKtest688","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have recently given birth\nQ. Could I pass coronavirus to my baby?\nAs this is a new virus, there is limited evidence about caring for women with\ncoronavirus infection when they have just given birth. A small number of\nbabies have been diagnosed with coronavirus shortly after birth, so there is a\nchance that infection may have occurred in the womb, but it is not certain\nwhether transmission was before or soon after birth. Your maternity team will\nmaintain strict infection control measures at the time of your birth and\nclosely monitor your baby."}
{"_id":"UKtest689","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. What should I do if I think I may have coronavirus or been exposed?\nIf you are pregnant and you have either:\n\na high temperature or\na new, continuous cough or\na loss or change to your sense of smell or taste\n\nyou should stay at home for 7 days. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or\nhospital without contacting them on the telephone first. You do not need to\ncontact NHS 111 to tell them you are staying at home. You do not need a test\nfor coronavirus. At the present time, only people with severe symptoms who\nrequire overnight admission to hospital will be tested.\nYou should contact your maternity unit to inform them that you have symptoms\nsuggestive of coronavirus, particularly if you have any routine appointments\nin the next 7 days. Please also be alert to the other possible causes of fever\nin pregnancy. In particular, these include urine infections (cystitis) and\nwaters breaking. If you have any burning or discomfort when passing urine, or\nany unusual vaginal discharge, or have any concerns about your baby\u2019s\nmovements, contact your maternity provider, who will be able to provide\nfurther advice.\nIf you are infected with coronavirus you are still most likely to have no\nsymptoms or a mild illness from which you will make a full recovery.\nIf you develop more severe symptoms or your recovery is delayed, this may be a\nsign that you are developing a more significant chest infection that requires\nenhanced care. If you feel your symptoms are worsening or if you are not\ngetting better, you are recommended to contact the NHS on 111 (or a local\nalternative), your maternity unit or, in an emergency 999, straightaway for\nfurther information and advice.\nThis advice is important for all pregnant women, but particularly if you are\nat higher risk of becoming seriously unwell and being admitted to hospital \u2013\nif you are in your third trimester, from a black or minority ethnic\nbackground, are over the age of 35, are overweight or obese, or have a pre-\nexisting medical problem, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.\nIf you have concerns about the wellbeing of yourself or your unborn baby\nduring your self-isolation period, contact your midwife or, out-of-hours, your\nmaternity team. They will provide further advice, including whether you need\nto attend hospital."}
{"_id":"UKtest690","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. How does the coronavirus test work?\nPregnant women are tested in the same way as anyone else. Currently, the test\ninvolves swabs being taken from your mouth and nose. You may also be asked to\ncough up sputum, which is a mixture of saliva and mucus.\nThe most effective tests currently take 24\u201348 hours for the result to be\navailable. This means that if you are awaiting test results whilst in hospital\nyou may be treated as potentially infectious until the result is returned.\nIf you have symptoms of coronavirus but have recently received a negative test\nresult, your maternity team may still use caution when caring for you.\nSometimes, the virus doesn\u2019t show on the test results if you have been tested\nnot long after you have become infected. You may be offered another test in a\nfew days."}
{"_id":"UKtest691","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. How can I protect my mental wellbeing during the pandemic?\nWe understand that the coronavirus pandemic will inevitably result in an\nincreased amount of anxiety in the general population, and this is likely to\nbe even more so for pregnant women as pregnancy represents an additional\nperiod of uncertainty.\nSpecifically, these anxieties are likely to revolve around:\n\nThe virus itself\nThe impact of social isolation resulting in reduced support from wider family and friends\nThe potential of reduced household finances\nMajor changes in antenatal and other NHS care, including appointments being changed from face-to- face to telephone contact\n\nIsolation, bereavement, financial difficulties, insecurity and inability to\naccess support systems are all widely recognised risk factors for mental ill-\nhealth. The coronavirus epidemic also increases the risk of domestic abuse or\nviolence.\nYou should be asked about your mental health at every contact with a health\nprofessional. By acknowledging these difficulties, healthcare professionals\ncan help to contain some of these anxieties. If you require support, you\nshould be signposted to resources which can be remotely provided, where\npossible. If you are experiencing domestic violence, please disclose this to a\nhealth professional who can provide information and support to keep you safe.\nWhere necessary, women in England can self-refer to local IAPT (Improving\nAccess to Psychological Therapies) services. In Scotland, advice is available\nfrom Parentclub and NHS Inform.\nFurther information is available from the following organisations:\n\nPublic Health England \u2013 COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing\nNHS \u2013 Every Mind Matters\nRoyal College of Psychiatrists\nMaternal Mental Health Alliance\nWomen\u2019s Aid\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest692","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Why are pregnant women in a vulnerable group?\nPregnant women were placed in a vulnerable group by the Chief Medical Officer\non 16 March. This means you have been advised to reduce social contact through\nsocial distancing measures.\nPregnancy in a small proportion of women can alter how your body handles\nsevere viral infections. This is something that midwives and obstetricians\nhave known for many years and are used to dealing with.\nWhat has driven the decisions made by officials to place pregnant women in the\nvulnerable category is caution. We know that some viral infections are worse\nin pregnant women; however, all available evidence suggests that pregnant\nwomen are at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell than other healthy\nadults if they develop coronavirus."}
{"_id":"UKtest693","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nOccupational health guidance for pregnant women who work in a public-facing role\nQ. What is the advice for pregnant healthcare workers before 28 weeks\u2019 gestation?\nIf you are in your first or second trimester (less than 28 weeks\u2019 pregnant),\nwith no underlying health conditions, you should avoid, where possible, caring\nfor patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection. If this is not\npossible, you should use personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure a\nthorough risk assessment is undertaken. Pregnant women can only continue\nworking where the risk assessment supports this.\nSome working environments, such as operating theatres, respiratory wards and\nintensive care\/high-dependency units, carry a higher risk for all pregnant\nwomen of exposure to the virus and all healthcare workers in these settings\nare recommended to use appropriate PPE."}
{"_id":"UKtest694","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. Will being in self-isolation for suspected or confirmed coronavirus affect where I give birth?\nAs a precautionary approach, pregnant women with suspected or confirmed\ncoronavirus when they go into labour are being advised to go to obstetric unit\nfor birth, where the baby can be monitored using continuous electronic fetal\nmonitoring, and your oxygen levels can be monitored hourly.\nThe continuous fetal monitoring is to check how your baby is coping with\nlabour. As continuous fetal monitoring can only take place in an obstetric\nunit, where doctors and midwives are present, it is not currently recommended\nthat you give birth at home or in a midwife-led unit, where there would not be\ndoctor present and where this monitoring would not be possible.\nWe will keep this advice continually updated as new evidence emerges.\nMaternity units everywhere are working around the clock right now to manage\nadditional pressures and facilitate women\u2019s choices to the best of their\nabilities.\nThere is currently no evidence to suggest you cannot give birth vaginally or\nthat you would be safer having a caesarean birth if you have suspected or\nconfirmed coronavirus, so your birth choices should be respected and followed\nas closely as possible based on your wishes.\nHowever, if you are unwell and your team feel that this suggests that your\nbaby needs to be born urgently, a caesarean birth may be recommended.\nIt is not recommended that you give birth in a birthing pool in hospital if\nyou have suspected or confirmed coronavirus, as the virus can sometimes be\nfound in faeces. This means it could contaminate the water, causing infection\nto pass to the baby. It may also be more difficult for healthcare staff to use\nadequate protection equipment during a water birth.\nThere is no evidence that women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus cannot\nhave an epidural or a spinal block. In our previous version of the guidance it\nwas suggested that the use of Entonox (gas and air) may increase\naerosolisation and spread of the virus, but a review of the evidence suggests\nthere is no evidence that Entonox is an aerosol-prone procedure, so there is\nno reason you cannot use this in labour."}
{"_id":"UKtest695","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Is there any advice for birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic?\nWe are asking you to follow the guidance below to keep yourself, your family,\nother families and NHS staff as safe as possible during the pandemic:\n\nDuring the coronavirus pandemic, all hospitals are restricting visitors, but there are exceptions for a birthing partner during active labour and birth.\nEvery woman should be able to have one birth partner stay with her through labour and birth, unless the birth occurs under a general anaesthetic.\nTo help prevent spread of coronavirus to other women, their babies and key front-line healthcare staff, it is very important that you do not attend the maternity unit if you have any symptoms of coronavirus or have had any in the previous 7 days.\nIf you are unwell, protect your family and NHS staff, and stay at home. To prepare for this, women and their current birth partner are being encouraged to think about an alternative birth partner, if required. This person does not need to be from the same household as you.\nIf you are supporting a woman during labour and birth, please be aware of the strict infection control procedures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus to other pregnant women and their babies, as well as other people within the hospital and the maternity staff.\nPlease wash your hands regularly with soap and water and use hand sanitiser gel in clinical areas as available.\nIf you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with a tissue and dispose of it in a bin immediately.\nStay in the labour room with the woman you are supporting. Do not move (\/walk) around the maternity unit unaccompanied \u2013 use the call bell if you require assistance.\nIf you are asked to a wear a mask or any personal protective equipment (PPE) during the labour or birth, it is very important. Please follow the instructions carefully, and take it off before you leave the clinical area.\nIf you are accompanying a woman to her birth in an operating theatre, please be aware that operating theatre staff will be wearing PPE and it may be more difficult for them to communicate with you: \nA staff member will be allocated to support you; please carefully follow their instructions and approach them if you have any questions.\nTo enable the clinical staff to do their job, it is very important that you do not move around the operating theatre as you risk de-sterilising sterile areas and spreading the virus.\nThe maternity team will do everything they can to enable you to be present for the birth. However, if there is a particular safety concern, they may ask that you are not present in the operating theatre. If this is the case, the team should discuss this with you and explain their reasons unless it is an emergency.\n\n\nWe understand this is a stressful and anxious time for pregnant women and their families and we thank you for your cooperation during this time.\nPlease be assured that the maternity team will do all it can to provide information, guidance and support to you and the woman giving birth.\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest696","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What impact will coronavirus have on my pregnancy?\nThe NHS has made arrangements to ensure that women are supported and cared for\nsafely through pregnancy, birth and the period afterwards during this pandemic\nwhen there will be extra pressures on healthcare services.\nMaternity services are absolutely essential and the RCOG is helping units to\ncoordinate staff in maternity services, to ensure safe care is provided. This\nincludes reducing staff commitments outside maternity units, reducing any non-\nessential work within Trusts and re-organising staffing.\nMaternity units are increasingly providing consultations on the phone or by\nvideo link, when this is appropriate, so you do not have to travel\nunnecessarily to the hospital. However, some visits in person with a midwife\nare essential and it is important for the wellbeing of you and your baby that\nyou attend these to have routine checks.\nVisitor restrictions, including for women admitted to maternity services for\nantenatal and postnatal care, are in place in most settings across the UK.\nDuring this time, midwifery, obstetric and support staff will be able to\nsupport the needs of all women and the practical challenges of caring for\nnewborns after birth.\nRoutine and planned gynaecology operations are being postponed and, in many\nunits, arrangements are being made for gynaecology doctors to work in the\nmaternity unit."}
{"_id":"UKtest697","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will I be able to have my birth partner with me if I am being induced?\nA birth partner without symptoms may be able to attend your induction of\nlabour where that is in a single room (e.g. on the maternity suite) but not if\nthe induction takes place in a bay on a main ward, as it would not be possible\nto achieve the necessary social distancing measures.\nWe understand this must be a very worrying and anxious time if you are\npregnant and your birth partner can\u2019t be with you while you are being induced;\nhowever, it is essential that we limit the number of visitors to hospitals\nduring this time.\nThis guidance is in place to protect other pregnant women and babies, and\nbirth partners themselves. Please be assured that if your birth partner is\nunable to be with you on a ward during your induction, this will not impact on\nyour birth partner\u2019s presence during labour and the birth, unless they are\nunwell. At the point you go into active labour, you will be moved to your own\nroom and your birth partner will be able to join you."}
{"_id":"UKtest698","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What is the advice for pregnant women who are classed as extremely vulnerable or who are shielding on older children attending school\/nursery\/external childcare?\nSome pregnant women with pre-existing severe medical illnesses have been\nclassed as extremely vulnerable and have been advised to\nshield. You will have been\ntold this by your maternity team. The government advice is that children and\nyoung people who live in a household with someone who is pregnant and\nshielding (extremely vulnerable) should only attend school\/nursery\/external\nchildcare if stringent social distancing, and hand hygiene, can be adhered to\n\u2013 and the child or young person is able to understand and follow those\ninstructions.\nPractical advice for measures that may be helpful to adopt within a family are\nnow available within the shielding\nguidance."}
{"_id":"UKtest699","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Can I still attend my antenatal\/postnatal care appointments?\nYour antenatal and postnatal appointments remain an important part of your\nmaternity care to provide checks and screening on your health and your baby\u2019s\nhealth. A member of the maternity team looking after you may call you before\nyour appointment, or carry out an assessment at entrance of the\nclinic\/hospital, or both, to check whether you have any symptoms that are\nsuggestive of coronavirus, or if you meet the current \u2018stay at home\u2019\nguidance.\nIf you are advised to attend an appointment by your local maternity team, this\nis because the need for the appointment to help reduce the risk of\ncomplications for you and your baby is greater than your risk of being exposed\nto coronavirus.\nIf you are well, you should be able to attend your appointments. You may be\nasked to attend alone to protect your household from the risk of coronavirus.\nYou will be told about this by your local maternity service.\nIf you are currently self-isolating with suspected or confirmed symptoms of\ncoronavirus, and you have an appointment scheduled in the coming days, you\nshould telephone your continuity team or community midwife, or local maternity\nunit, to inform them.\nYour upcoming appointment will be reviewed by the maternity team looking after\nyou and your baby. You will then be advised whether your appointment is urgent\nand a home appointment is required, or whether your appointment can be safely\ndelayed for a period of 7 or 14 days until you are well."}
{"_id":"UKtest700","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. Why would I be asked to self-isolate (as opposed to reducing social contact)?\nYou may be advised to self-isolate because:\n\nYou have symptoms of coronavirus, such as a high temperature or new, continuous cough, or loss or change in your sense of smell or taste\nYou have tested positive for coronavirus and you\u2019ve been advised to recover at home\nYou have an elective caesarean birth or induction of labour planned and you have been asked to self-isolate prior to your admission to hospital\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest701","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. What do I do if I feel unwell or I\u2019m worried about my baby during self-isolation?\nPregnant women who are self-isolating are advised not to attend maternity\nunits or A&E unless in need of urgent pregnancy or medical care.\nIf you have concerns about the wellbeing of yourself or your unborn baby\nduring your self-isolation period, contact your midwife or, out-of-hours, your\nmaternity team. They will provide further advice, including whether you need\nto attend hospital.\nIf you are advised to go to the maternity unit or hospital, pregnant women are\nasked to travel by private transport, or arrange hospital transport, and alert\nthe maternity unit reception once on site, before going into the hospital."}
{"_id":"UKtest702","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. How will I be cared for after I have recovered from coronavirus?\nIf you have confirmed coronavirus infection, as a precautionary approach, an\nultrasound scan will be arranged at least 2 weeks after your recovery, to\ncheck that your baby is well.\nIf you have recovered from coronavirus and tested negative for the virus\nbefore you go into labour, where and how you give birth will not be affected\nby your previous illness. Visitor numbers may be restricted to promote\nrecommended social distancing but your birth partner will be able to be with\nyou, provided they are not unwell."}
{"_id":"UKtest703","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What is the advice if I am in my first trimester\/less than 12 weeks\u2019 pregnant?\nEven during the pandemic, it\u2019s very important that if you have any concerns\nabout yourself or your pregnancy at any time, you contact your GP, midwife or\nlocal early pregnancy unit straight\naway to discuss them. Some symptoms, such as pelvic pain, cramping and\/or\nbleeding during early pregnancy, are linked to ectopic pregnancy and\nmiscarriage so you should seek urgent medical advice.\nA telephone appointment will be arranged for you as soon as possible with your\nlocal early pregnancy unit to check your symptoms. They will be able to advise\nwhether a visit to the hospital during the coronavirus pandemic is necessary,\nand ensure you receive the care that you need.\nWhilst hospitals are trying to minimise people entering in order to reduce the\nspread of the coronavirus and to limit the impact on services, they are\norganised in such a way that they are able to provide all acute services.\nFind out more information on the changes to early pregnancy care\nand what to expect during the coronavirus pandemic."}
{"_id":"UKtest704","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. How many antenatal appointments will I have?\nYou will have at least six face-to-face antenatal appointments in total. Where\npossible, essential scans\/tests and routine antenatal care will be offered\nwithin a single appointment. This is to prevent multiple journeys and visits\nto clinics\/hospital, and will involve contact with as few staff as possible to\nprevent the spread of coronavirus to you, your family and other patients.\nThis may mean that your initial \u2018booking in\u2019 appointment will take place at\nthe same time as your 12-week (dating) scan.\nYou should be asked about your mental health at every appointment, whether in\nperson or via phone\/video.\nIn the third trimester, you should be asked about your baby\u2019s movements at\nevery appointment, whether in person or via phone\/video.\nAll pregnant women should be provided with\ninformation about group B\nstreptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy and newborn babies.\nSometimes, you may need additional antenatal appointments and medical care.\nThis will depend on your individual medical needs. These appointments may be\ncarried out over the phone or via video, provided a physical examination or\ntest is not required. This will enable partners and other family\/household\nmembers to join you for support and allow social distancing to protect you and\nyour baby from coronavirus.\nThis may include:\n\nAppointments with a specialist doctor\nExtra blood tests\nSupport for your mental health\nDiscussion of plans for birth\nLocal provision of antenatal\/parent education classes, infant feeding support and information on safe sleeping, pelvic floor exercises and birth choices\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest705","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will my birth partner be able to stay with me if I have a caesarean or instrumental birth that occurs in an operating theatre?\nWe fully support women having their birth partners with them during labour and\nbirth, unless they are unwell, when an alternative well birth partner can\nattend.\nAround one in four women in the UK has a caesarean birth. A caesarean may be\nrecommended as a planned (elective) procedure for medical reasons or as an\nemergency \u2013 for example, if doctors and midwives are concerned that your baby\nis not coping with labour and needs to be born immediately.\nFurthermore, around one in five women in the UK has an instrumental birth\n(ventouse or forceps). Some of these types of birth may also be recommended to\noccur in an operating theatre in order to allow the maternity team to modify\nplans and undertake a caesarean birth if necessary.\nMost caesareans and instrumental births in theatre are carried out under\nspinal or epidural anaesthetic, which means you\u2019ll be awake, but the lower\npart of your body is numb and you cannot feel any pain. In this situation,\neverything will be done by the clinical staff \u2013 midwives, obstetricians and\nanaesthetists \u2013 to keep your birth partner with you.\nDue to the coronavirus pandemic, staff in the operating theatre will be\nwearing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of\ninfection, which will make it more difficult for them to communicate. To\nenable the clinicians to assist in the birth of your baby safely, it\u2019s really\nimportant your birth partner follows the instructions from the maternity team\ncarefully and quickly.\nOccasionally, a general anaesthetic (where you\u2019re put to sleep) may be used,\nparticularly if your baby needs to be born urgently. During this type of\ncaesarean birth, even under more usual circumstances, for safety reasons it is\nnot possible for the birth partner to be present during the birth.\nWhile the maternity team will do all they can to ensure that your birth\npartner is present for the birth, there will be some occasions when there is a\nneed for an urgent emergency birth with epidural or spinal anaesthetic, and it\nwill not be possible for your birth partner to be present. This is because,\nduring an emergency, operating theatres are more high-risk environments in\nterms of potential spread of coronavirus to everyone who is present.\nIf it is the case that your birth partner will not be able to be present\nduring the birth, your maternity team will explain this to you and will do\neverything they can to ensure that your birth partner can see you and your\nbaby as soon as possible after the birth."}
{"_id":"UKtest706","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Why are changes to antenatal and postnatal care necessary during the coronavirus pandemic?\nThese changes are a way of ensuring we deliver the best care without\noverloading our NHS services, which are crucial during the coronavirus\npandemic. This helps us to:\n\nReduce the number of people coming into hospitals where they may come into contact with other people and spread the virus\nEnsure staff are not overwhelmed and stretched too far by the additional strain on services, which could be due to staff sickness and self-isolation as well as the higher numbers of patients needing care and overnight hospital stays due to coronavirus\n\nThis allows us to care for you and protect you from coronavirus while also\nensuring we protect our NHS staff and services."}
{"_id":"UKtest707","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will I be able to have my birth partner with me during labour and birth?\nYes, you should be encouraged to have a birth partner present with you during\nlabour and birth. Having a trusted birth partner present throughout labour is\nknown to make a significant difference to the safety and wellbeing of women in\nchildbirth.\nIf your birth partner has symptoms of coronavirus, they will not be allowed to\ngo into the maternity suite, to safeguard the health of the woman, other women\nand babies, and the maternity staff supporting you.\nIn most hospitals and maternity units, there are now restrictions on visitors\nwhich might mean that birth partners or other supportive people are not able\nto attend routine antenatal appointments, or stay with women on antenatal or\npostnatal wards. However, this should not impact on your birth partner\u2019s\npresence during your labour and the birth, unless they are unwell."}
{"_id":"UKtest708","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. Can I still attend my antenatal appointments if I am in self-isolation?\nYou should contact your midwife or antenatal clinic to inform them that you\nare currently in self-isolation for possible\/confirmed coronavirus and ask for\nadvice on going to routine antenatal appointments.\nIt is likely that routine antenatal appointments will be delayed until\nisolation ends. If your midwife or doctor advises that your appointment cannot\nwait, the necessary arrangements will be made for you to be seen. For example,\nyou may be asked to attend at a different time, or in a different clinic, to\nprotect others."}
{"_id":"UKtest709","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What should I do if I develop a fever or temperature, or both, when I am pregnant?\nIf you develop a temperature or a cough, or both, in pregnancy, you can use\nthe NHS 111 or NHS 24 website to obtain advice about isolation, which you\nshould follow in line with current regulations. However, please also be alert\nto the other possible causes of fever in pregnancy. In particular, these\ninclude urine infections (cystitis) and waters breaking. If you have any\nburning or discomfort when passing urine, or any unusual vaginal discharge, or\nhave any concerns about your baby\u2019s movements, contact your maternity\nprovider, who will be able to provide further advice."}
{"_id":"UKtest710","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What effect does coronavirus have on pregnant women?\nAll available evidence suggests that pregnant women are at no greater risk of\nbecoming seriously unwell than other healthy adults if they develop\ncoronavirus. The large majority of pregnant women experience only mild or\nmoderate cold\/flu-like symptoms. Cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache\nand loss or change to your sense of smell or taste are other relevant\nsymptoms.\nIf you think you may have symptoms of coronavirus you should use the NHS 111\nonline service for information, or NHS 24 if in Scotland. If you develop more\nsevere symptoms or your recovery is delayed, this may be a sign that you are\ndeveloping a more significant chest infection that requires specialised care.\nIf you feel your symptoms are worsening or if you are not getting better, you\nshould contact your maternity care team, your GP, or use the NHS 111 online\nservice \/ NHS 24 for further information and advice. In an emergency, call\n999.\nWhile pregnant women are at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell than\nother healthy adults, a small proportion of pregnant women with coronavirus\nhave required admission to hospital for treatment.\nIn the UK, information about all pregnant women requiring admission to\nhospital with coronavirus is recorded in a registry called the UK Obstetric\nSurveillance System (UKOSS). The first\nreport from this study included information about the\noutcomes of 427 pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus and their\nbabies during the pandemic, and was published on 11 May. While most women in\nthe study required only ward treatment and were discharged home well, around\none in ten women required intensive care, and sadly five women with\ncoronavirus died, although it is currently unclear if coronavirus was the\ncause of their death. The study found that the majority of women who did\nbecome severely ill were in their third trimester of pregnancy, emphasising\nthe importance of social distancing from 28 weeks of pregnancy.\nThe study also found that pregnant women from black, Asian and minority ethnic\n(BAME) backgrounds were more likely than other women to be admitted to\nhospital for coronavirus. Pregnant women over the age of 35, those who were\noverweight or obese, and those who had pre-existing medical problems, such as\nhigh blood pressure and diabetes, were also at higher risk of developing\nsevere illness."}
{"_id":"UKtest711","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. What should I do if I\u2019m asked to self-isolate?\nPregnant women who have been advised to self-isolate should stay indoors and\navoid contact with others for 7 days. If you live with other people, they\nshould stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection\noutside the home.\nThe NHS guidance on self-isolation currently recommends people should:\n\nNot go to school, work, NHS settings or public areas\nNot use public transport\nStay at home and not allow visitors\nOpen windows to ventilate rooms\nSeparate themselves from other members of their household as far as possible, using their own towels, crockery and utensils and eating at different times\nUse friends, family or delivery services to run errands, but advise them to leave items outside.\n\nYou may wish to consider online fitness routines to keep active, such as\npregnancy yoga or Pilates."}
{"_id":"UKtest712","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will I be able to bring someone with me to scans?\nIn most hospitals and maternity units, there are now restrictions on visitors\nwhich might mean that birth partners or other supportive people are not able\nto attend routine antenatal appointments, including scans, with you.\nWe encourage units to allow women to share the ultrasound scan experience with\ntheir partner (or other family members and friends) by saving a short\n10\u201330-second video clip of the baby at the end of the dating scan and\/or\nanomaly scan.\nIn the current pandemic situation, when women attend alone, virtual attendance\nby partners or companions with online video calls, or the filming of the\ndating scan and\/or anomaly scan, is not recommended. While we understand this\nmay be disappointing, virtual attendance can be distracting to the sonographer\nand prevent them from doing their job effectively.\nWe understand it may be upsetting if you are asked to come alone to a scan,\nbut this measure has been put in place to protect maternity staff, other women\nand babies, and you and your family from the risk of infection. Scans are an\nessential part of pregnancy care and it is important that you continue to\nattend them for your and your baby\u2019s wellbeing."}
{"_id":"UKtest713","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What is an antibody test \u2013 will I have this?\nYou may also have heard about antibody testing for coronavirus. This is a\nblood test that can show whether you have previously come into contact with\nthe virus or not. It does this by detecting antibodies, which your body\nproduces if you have had coronavirus. This is called an immune response.\nAt present, this type of test is only being offered to NHS staff and some\nindividuals across the UK. It is hoped the results of these tests will help us\nto understand how immunity to coronavirus works as we do not yet know how the\nantibodies develop and how long immunity lasts for. Therefore, we do not\ncurrently recommend that results from antibody tests are used when caring for\npregnant women."}
{"_id":"UKtest714","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have recently given birth\nQ. Will I be able to breastfeed my baby if I have suspected or confirmed coronavirus?\nYes. There is no evidence showing that the virus can be carried or passed on\nin breastmilk. The well-recognised benefits of breastfeeding and the\nprotection it offers to babies outweigh any potential risks of transmission of\ncoronavirus through breastmilk. Provided your baby is well and doesn\u2019t require\ncare in the neonatal unit, you will stay together after you have given birth\nso skin-to-skin and breastfeeding can be initiated and supported if you\nchoose.\nThe main risk of breastfeeding is close contact between you and your baby, as\nif you cough or sneeze, this could contain droplets which are infected with\nthe virus, leading to infection of the baby after birth.\nA discussion about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding should take place\nbetween you and your family and your maternity team. This guidance may change\nas knowledge evolves.\nWhen you or anyone else feeds your baby, the following precautions are\nrecommended:\n\nWash your hands before touching your baby, breast pump or bottles\nTry to avoid coughing or sneezing on your baby while feeding at the breast\nConsider wearing a face mask while breastfeeding, if available\nFollow recommendations for pump cleaning after each use\nConsider asking someone who is well to feed your expressed breast milk to your baby.\n\nIf you choose to feed your baby with formula or expressed milk, it is\nrecommend that you follow strict adherence to sterilisation\nguidelines. If you are expressing breast milk in hospital, a dedicated breast\npump should be used. Further information on infant feeding during the\ncoronavirus pandemic is available from\nUnicef."}
{"_id":"UKtest715","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have recently given birth\nQ. After the birth, is there any increased risk to me or my baby?\nThere is no evidence that women who have recently had a baby and are otherwise\nwell are at increased risk of contracting coronavirus or of becoming seriously\nunwell. A recently pregnant woman\u2019s immune system is regarded as normal unless\nshe has other forms of infection or underlying illness. You should however\nremain well-nourished with a balanced diet, take mild exercise as you feel fit\nand ensure social distancing guidance is followed. Children, including\nnewborns, do not appear to be at high risk of becoming seriously unwell with\nthe virus. However, close observation of hygiene, as always, is important and\nparticularly with family members resident in the house. Anyone who enters the\nhome should take standard hygiene precautions, including washing their hands,\nand be careful about handling your baby if they have symptoms of any illness\nincluding the coronavirus.\nIt is important that your baby is feeding well and gaining weight, and if you\nhave any concerns, please contact your midwife. Once restrictions are lifted,\nwe would caution against large family gatherings to celebrate your baby\u2019s\narrival until more is known about the spread of the virus in the community.\nDo not put off seeking medical advice if you have concerns about your baby\u2019s\nhealth during the pandemic. Seek medical advice if your baby has a fever,\nlethargy, irritability, poor feeding or any other symptoms you may have\nconcerns about."}
{"_id":"UKtest716","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have recently given birth\nQ. Will I be able to stay with my baby\/give skin-to-skin if I have suspected or confirmed coronavirus?\nYes, if that is your choice. Provided your baby is well and doesn\u2019t require\ncare in the neonatal unit, you will stay together after you have given birth.\nIn some other countries, women with confirmed coronavirus have been advised to\nseparate from their baby for 14 days. However, this may have potential\nnegative effects on feeding and bonding.\nA discussion about the risks and benefits should take place between you and\nyour family and the doctors caring for your baby (neonatologists) to\nindividualise care for your baby. This guidance may change as knowledge\nevolves."}
{"_id":"UKtest717","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What effect will coronavirus have on my baby if I am diagnosed with the infection?\nAs this is a very new virus, we are just beginning to learn about it. There is\nno evidence to suggest an increased risk of miscarriage.\nEmerging evidence suggests that transmission from a woman to her baby during\npregnancy or birth (vertical transmission) is probable. It is important to\nemphasise that in all reported cases of newborn babies developing coronavirus\nvery soon after birth, the babies were well.\nGiven current evidence, it is considered unlikely that if you have the virus\nit would cause problems with your baby\u2019s development, and none have been\nobserved currently.\nAcross the world, emerging reports suggest some babies have been born\nprematurely to women who were very unwell with coronavirus. It is unclear\nwhether coronavirus caused these premature births, or whether it was\nrecommended that their babies were born early for the benefit of the women\u2019s\nhealth and to enable them to recover.\nIn the recent UK study of 427 pregnant women with\ncoronavirus published on 11 May, the data reported outcomes for babies who\nwere born to women with coronavirus severe enough that the woman required\nhospital admission. Although almost one in five were born prematurely and were\nadmitted to a neonatal unit, fewer than 20 babies were born very prematurely\n(when the women were less than 32 weeks\u2019 pregnant). One in 20 babies born (12\nbabies in total) had a positive test for coronavirus, but only half of these\nbabies \u2013 6 babies - had a positive test immediately after birth, suggesting\nthat transmission of the coronavirus infection from a woman to her baby is\nlow. The number of babies born at term (37 weeks or later) to women who had\ntested positive for coronavirus that required neonatal care was similar to the\nnumber of babies born to women without the virus \u2013 about 1 in 10."}
{"_id":"UKtest718","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What is the advice for pregnant women with older children attending school\/nursery\/external childcare?\nPregnant women were placed in the vulnerable category by the Chief Medical\nOfficer on 16 March as a precaution during the coronavirus pandemic. The\ngovernment\u2018s guidance on schools and early years settings\nadvises that: children and young people who live with\nsomeone who is pregnant (vulnerable) can attend school and early years\nsettings. See the next question for information about pregnant women who are\nclassed as extremely vulnerable.\nAll pregnant women are advised to follow government guidance on staying alert\nand safe (social\ndistancing). Pregnant women\nare at no greater risk of contracting coronavirus or becoming seriously unwell\nthan other healthy adults. However, there are additional concerns for pregnant\nwomen in the third trimester. This is based on the challenges in caring for\nwomen who are heavily pregnant, and the risk of the baby needing to be born\nearly for the woman\u2019s wellbeing.\nA recent report from a UK study showed that so far all pregnant women who\nbecame seriously unwell with coronavirus were in the third trimester. This\nemphasises the importance of more stringently practicing social distancing\nfrom 28 weeks of pregnancy.\nIf you choose to take your children to school\/nursery\/external childcare, you\nshould ensure you practice social distancing \u2013 stay two meters away from\nteachers\/carers and other parents and do not go inside the building. If this\nis difficult, then consider staggering your child\u2019s drop off and pick up\ntimes. Remember to wash your hands when you return home and ensure that your\nchildren wash their hands when they leave the childcare setting. Alcohol gel\ncan be used if they cannot wash their hands with soap and water.\nIf you are concerned about the choice of returning to school or other\nchildcare settings based on the risk to children attending, helpful\ninformation is available from the\nRCPCH."}
{"_id":"UKtest719","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Who should care for my other children when I go into hospital for labour and birth?\nGovernment guidelines recommend that guidelines on social distancing should be\nfollowed by everybody in the UK wherever possible. It is reasonable to leave\nthe home when you need to do so for a medical reason (i.e. attending a clinic\nappointment or attending the maternity unit to have your baby). It is\nimportant that you are supported by a well birth partner when attending the\nmaternity unit for the birth of the baby; however, your other children must\nnot go with you into the maternity unit. If this means that there is nobody\nelse available at home to care for your other children, then it is necessary\nfor the children to be cared for by another close family member or friend.\nPlease discuss this with the chosen person in advance. When choosing another\nperson to care for your children in this situation, please do not ask somebody\nwho is vulnerable to the severe effects of coronavirus (e.g. people over the\nage of 70, other pregnant women or individuals with significant medical\nproblems). Also, please make a back-up plan, in the case the person you had\nplanned to ask is self-isolating because either they, or someone else in their\nhome, are unwell with coronavirus when you need them."}
{"_id":"UKtest720","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Who should I contact about my antenatal and postnatal care appointments?\nIf you have been allocated a local health continuity team or a named\ncommunity midwife\nYou should continue to contact your continuity team or community midwife by\ntelephone to discuss any questions or concerns you might have and to check on\narrangements for all scheduled and future appointments.\nIf you have not been allocated a local health continuity team or a named\ncommunity midwife\nYou should contact your GP surgery or local maternity unit in order to be\nconnected to an appropriate continuity team or named community midwife so you\ncan discuss any questions or concerns you might have and to check on\narrangements for all scheduled and future appointments. If you are unsure when\nyour next appointment is you should make contact as above to help us care for\nyou."}
{"_id":"UKtest721","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will my birth partner be tested for coronavirus?\nIt is possible that your birth partner may also be offered testing for\ncoronavirus when you are admitted to hospital. Your maternity team will be\nable to advise you further."}
{"_id":"UKtest722","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will my childbirth choices be affected by the coronavirus pandemic?\nWe understand this must be a stressful and anxious time if you are pregnant\nand due to give birth in the coming months. Maternity units everywhere are\nworking around the clock right now to manage additional pressures and\nfacilitate women\u2019s choices.\nLike all areas of NHS care, maternity services will be affected by the\npandemic but units are working to ensure services are provided in a way that\nis safe, with the levels of staff that are needed and the ability to provide\nemergency care where necessary.\nIf you have chosen to give birth at home or in a midwife-led unit that is not\nco-located with an obstetric unit, it is worth noting that these services rely\non the availability of ambulance services to allow for rapid transfer to\nhospital, and the right number of staff to keep you safe. If these are not in\nplace, it is possible that your Trust or Board may not be able to provide\nthese services."}
{"_id":"UKtest723","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What research is being done to monitor the impact of coronavirus on pregnant women and their babies?\nThe UK is conducting near-real-time surveillance (observation) of women who\nare hospitalised and test positive for coronavirus during pregnancy, through\nwell-established systems already used by all maternity units \u2013 this is the UK\nObstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS).\nImperial College London are also running a surveillance programme (PAN-\nCOVID) to monitor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes for\nwomen with coronavirus.\nThe COVID-19 Symptom Study app has been\ndeveloped by King\u2019s College London and health science company ZOE. Members of\nthe public, including pregnant women, can use this app to report on their\nhealth during the coronavirus pandemic.\nWe will update our information if and as soon as there is any change in the\nevidence."}
{"_id":"UKtest724","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Are some pregnant women more at risk of becoming seriously unwell from coronavirus than others?\nData from the UKOSS study of 427 pregnant women in\nMay 2020 found the majority of women who have become severely ill were in\ntheir third trimester of pregnancy, emphasising the importance of social\ndistancing from 28 weeks of pregnancy.\nThe study also found pregnant women from black, Asian and minority ethnic\n(BAME) backgrounds are more likely than other women to be admitted to hospital\nfor coronavirus. Pregnant women over the age of 35, those who are overweight\nor obese, and those women who have pre-existing medical problems, such as high\nblood pressure and diabetes, also appear to be at higher risk of developing\nsevere illness.\nAll pregnant women are advised to follow government guidance on staying alert\nand safe (social\ndistancing). If you develop\ncoronavirus you are still most likely to have no symptoms or a mild illness\nfrom which you will make a full recovery. It is important that all pregnant\nwomen who develop more severe symptoms or whose recovery is delayed should\nseek help, particularly if you are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell\nand being admitted to hospital.\nHealthcare professionals are also being advised that women known to be at\nhigher risk should be told at each contact that they may be at risk of\ncomplications of coronavirus, and advised to seek help early if they become\nconcerned about their health or that of their baby.\nThe increased risk to pregnant women from a BAME background will mean that\nyour maternity team may book you additional appointments, or refer you to a\ndoctor or specialist clinic should there be any concerns about your health or\nyour baby\u2019s.  \nThe Royal College of Midwives has developed new\nguidance for midwives and\nmaternity support workers to ensure that they are aware of the increased risks\nfor BAME women and can pass on relevant advice and\nsupport to the women in their care."}
{"_id":"UKtest725","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. What can I do to reduce my risk of catching coronavirus?\nThe most important thing to do is to follow government\nguidance. For pregnant\nwomen and the rest of their households, this includes:\n\nWash your hands regularly\nUse a tissue when you or anyone in your family coughs or sneezes, discard it and wash your hands\nAvoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (these symptoms include high temperature and\/or new and continuous cough)\nAvoid non-essential use of public transport when possible\nWork from home, when possible\nAvoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together\nAvoid gatherings with friends and family; keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet and social media\nUse telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest726","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Should I plan a pregnancy during the coronavirus pandemic?\nBecoming pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic is a matter of personal\nchoice.\nThe Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) recommend that when\nconsidering a pregnancy, women and their partners consider the risks of\ncoronavirus transmission associated with routine contacts with healthcare\nprofessionals during pregnancy, particularly if pregnancy complications may\nnecessitate frequent hospital attendance.\nFor more information, see the FSRH clinical statement: Information to support\nmanagement of individuals requesting to discontinue contraception to plan a\npregnancy during the Covid-19 outbreak."}
{"_id":"UKtest727","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. How many postnatal appointments will I have?\nYour postnatal care will be individualised to meet your needs and those of\nyour baby. You should have at least three postnatal appointments with your\nlocal continuity team or community midwife. These will take place once you\nhave been discharged from hospital: on your first full day at home, then on\nday 5 and day 10. These appointments may be a mixture of face-to-face care at\nhome or in a clinic, and telephone consultations, where this is appropriate.\nAfter your postnatal appointment on day 10, your care will be transferred to\nyour local health visiting team. You will be given information about this."}
{"_id":"UKtest728","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nOccupational health guidance for pregnant women who work in a public-facing role\nQ. What is the advice for pregnant healthcare workers after 28 weeks\u2019 gestation, or with an underlying health condition?\nIf you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks\u2019 pregnant), or have an\nunderlying health condition \u2013 such as heart or lung disease \u2013 we strongly\nrecommend you avoid direct patient contact. It is better to work from home\nwhere possible, avoid contact with anyone with symptoms of coronavirus, and\nsignificantly reduce unnecessary social\ncontact.\nData from the UKOSS study of 427 pregnant women in\nMay 2020 found the majority of women who have become severely ill were in\ntheir third trimester of pregnancy, emphasising the importance of social\ndistancing from 28 weeks of pregnancy.\nWe encourage employers to seek opportunities for pregnant healthcare workers\nin their third trimester to work flexibly in a different capacity, to avoid\nroles where they are working directly with patients.\nWhatever gestation of your pregnancy, you should discuss your individual\ncircumstances with your local Occupational Health department.\nThe evidence base for this new virus is growing rapidly and, as and when new\ninformation emerges, the government and professional bodies will update the\nguidance.\nMaternity Action has published FAQs around rights and benefits during\npregnancy and maternity\nleave which you may find\nhelpful."}
{"_id":"UKtest729","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have recently given birth\nQ. Will my baby be tested for coronavirus?\nIf you have confirmed or suspected coronavirus when the baby is born, doctors\nwho specialise in the care of newborn babies (neonatal doctors) will examine\nyour baby and advise you about their care, including whether they need\ntesting."}
{"_id":"UKtest730","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection\nQ. What happens if I go into labour during my self-isolation period?\nIf you go into labour during self-isolation, you should call your maternity\nunit for advice, and inform them that you have suspected or confirmed\ncoronavirus infection.\nIf you have mild symptoms, you will be encouraged to remain at home (self-\nisolating) in early labour, as usual practice.\nYour maternity team have been advised on ways to ensure that you and your baby\nreceive safe, quality care, respecting your birth choices as closely as\npossible.\nWhen you and your maternity team decide you need to attend the maternity unit,\ngeneral recommendations about hospital attendance will apply:\n\nYou will be advised to attend hospital via private transport where possible, or call 111\/999 for advice, as appropriate\nYou will be met at the maternity unit entrance and provided with a surgical face mask, which will need to stay on until you are isolated in a suitable room\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest731","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nGeneral information and advice for all pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. I am pregnant \u2013 what do I need to do?\nAs a precaution, you should follow government advice about social distancing,\nstay away from public places and avoid anyone who has symptoms suggestive of\ncoronavirus. It is still considered necessary for pregnant women to go out for\nessentials, such as food shopping, exercise and to attend antenatal\nappointments.\nIf you are in your third trimester (more than 28 weeks\u2019 pregnant) you should\nbe particularly attentive to social distancing and minimise any contact with\nothers.\nAll pregnant women should follow the Public Health England advice:\n\nGuidance on social distancing for all vulnerable people including pregnant women\nGuidance for individuals and households with possible coronavirus infection\n\nOn 24 March, additional\n\u2018shielding\u2019 measures\nwere announced for people defined on medical grounds to be at very high risk\nof severe illness from coronavirus, including pregnant women with significant\nheart disease (congenital or acquired). If you are pregnant and have\nsignificant heart disease, it is strongly recommended that you follow these\nshielding measures to keep yourself safe."}
{"_id":"UKtest732","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nInformation for all pregnant women about childbirth choices and birth partners during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. Will I be able to have my birth partner with me on the postnatal ward?\nTo ensure compliance with social distancing measures and prevent the spread of\ncoronavirus, visitor restrictions are in place across all hospital wards,\nincluding antenatal and postnatal wards. We understand it may be upsetting not\nhaving your birth partner with you on the postnatal ward after you have given\nbirth, but these restrictions are in place to reduce the risk of transmission\nof coronavirus to you, your baby, the maternity staff and birth partners\nthemselves. Please be reassured that during this time, midwifery, obstetric\nand support staff will do their best to support the needs for all women and\nthe practical challenges of caring for newborns after birth."}
{"_id":"UKtest733","title":"","text":"Coronavirus infection and pregnancy\nAdvice for all pregnant women on attending antenatal and postnatal care during the coronavirus pandemic\nQ. How will the coronavirus pandemic affect my routine antenatal and postnatal appointments?\nWe understand that it could be a stressful and anxious time if you are\npregnant or have recently given birth during the coronavirus pandemic. The NHS\nis working to ensure that you, your baby and your family are supported and\ncared for during these uncertain times. This means that there may be some\nchanges to how, when and where you attend essential routine appointments and\nhow safe care and support are given to you. You will be told about any changes\nby your local maternity service.\nAntenatal and postnatal care is based on years of evidence to keep you and\nyour baby safe in pregnancy and birth, and beyond. Antenatal and postnatal\ncare should therefore be regarded as essential and you should be encouraged to\nattend, despite being advised to engage with social distancing measures.\nYour local maternity team may reduce routine appointments, provide more home\nvisits or deliver some care and support over the phone or by video to reduce\nthe number of times you need to travel and attend hospital\/clinics. You will\nbe informed of any changes to your care in advance."}
{"_id":"UKtest734","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nDoes someone with a paediatric first aid certificate still need to be on site?\nThe requirements in the EYFS on paediatric first aid certification have been\nmodified and statutory guidance on\nEYFS has been published setting out what this means.\nThe existing requirement remains in place where children aged 0 to 24 months\nare on site. Paragraph 3.25 and Annex A of the EYFS set out the requirements,\nincluding that \u2018at least one person who has a current paediatric first aid\n(PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when\nchildren are present, and must accompany children on outings.\u2019 The existing\nrequirements also remain unchanged for childminders, as they are already\nrequired to have full PFA certification.\nThe requirement is modified where children aged 2 to 5 are on site (with no\nchildren aged below 24 months) to a best endeavours duty to have someone with\na full PFA certificate on site. If all steps set out in the guidance have been\nexhausted and settings cannot meet the PFA requirement, they must carry out a\nwritten risk assessment and ensure that someone with a current First Aid at\nWork or emergency PFA certificate is on site at all times. New entrants (level\n2 and 3) will not need to have completed a full PFA course within their first\n3 months in order to be counted in staff to child ratios.\n[EYFS]: early years foundation stage\n  [PFA]: paediatric first aid"}
{"_id":"UKtest735","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nWhat should happen to vulnerable children if their provider is closed?\nWhere the setting which vulnerable children usually attend is closed, the\nsetting should notify the local authority (and social worker, where relevant)\nthat these vulnerable children need alternative provision. Settings should\nwork with the families of vulnerable children and local authorities (and\nsocial workers, where relevant) to support this.\nWhere a setting has closed, and a child moves to a different early years\nsetting, the closed provider should do whatever it reasonably can to provide\nthe receiving setting with any relevant welfare and child protection\ninformation. The receiving setting should be aware of the reason the child is\nvulnerable and any arrangements in place to support them. As a minimum, the\nreceiving setting should, as appropriate, have access to a vulnerable child\u2019s\nEHC plan, child in need plan, child protection plan or, for looked-after\nchildren, their personal education plan, and know who the child\u2019s social\nworker is (and, for looked-after children, who the responsible virtual school\nhead is).\nThe transfer of necessary information should ideally happen before a child\narrives at the new setting and, where that is not possible, as soon as\nreasonably practicable. Any exchanges of information will ideally happen\nbetween the designated safeguarding leads (or deputies), and\/or between\nspecial educational needs co-ordinators\/named individual with oversight of\nspecial educational needs provision for children with EHC plans.\nWhilst providers must continue to have appropriate regard to data protection\nand General Data Protection Regulation GDPR, they do not prevent the sharing\nof information for the purposes of keeping children safe. For more information\nplease read the Department for Education\u2019s guidance: Information sharing\nadvice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young\npeople, parents and carers\nguidance.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest736","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nResponsibilities\nAre childcare settings expected to share resources?\nThe priority is to ensure children of critical workers, and vulnerable\nchildren, can access provision. Local authorities should work with settings to\nmanage local demand and should coordinate support from other settings in the\narea. Settings are expected to be flexible and work together where required."}
{"_id":"UKtest737","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nWhat if a setting has a large number of vulnerable or critical worker children?\nSince the aim of closures is to slow the spread of coronavirus, settings may\nwish to make arrangements with other settings to reduce the number of children\nin their care, if a large number of children are eligible to attend."}
{"_id":"UKtest738","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nWill schools assess children against the EYFS profile this academic year?\nThe Secretary of State for Education has announced that there will be no exams\nor assessments in schools this summer. This includes no assessment of children\nin reception year against the early learning goals that form the EYFS profile.\nThis also means no moderation by local authorities.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest739","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nChildminders\nCan childminders work with other childminders to look after more priority children together?\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold, if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for\nYes \u2013 up to 3 childminders (or a mix of up to 3 childminders and assistants)\ncan work together in the same domestic premises. However, if more than 3\nchildminders work together they will need to apply to Ofsted to register\nchildcare on domestic premises.\nIf registered to deliver childcare on domestic premises, 4 or more\nchildminders (or a mix of 4 or more childminders and assistants) can work\ntogether in the same domestic premises, which would enable them to care for\nlarger groups of children and still meet ratio requirements. Further details\nof requirements for childminders and childcare on domestic premises is\navailable."}
{"_id":"UKtest740","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nWill children attend their usual childcare setting?\nOur priority is ensuring sufficient childcare for vulnerable children and\nchildren of critical workers. We are asking settings to stay open to do this,\nbut we acknowledge this may not always be possible.\nWhere a setting is unable to stay open, local authorities will work with local\nsettings to determine the best way to support vulnerable children and the\nchildren of critical workers."}
{"_id":"UKtest741","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nWhat will happen to funding for free childcare places during this period of disruption?\nOn 17 March 2020, the Chancellor confirmed that the government would continue\nto pay local authorities for free early years entitlement places for 2-, 3-\nand 4-year-olds.\nWe have published guidance on the use of free early education entitlements\nfunding setting out\nhow local authorities can use their free entitlement funding differently,\nredistributing it - in exceptional cases and only when all other options have\nbeen exhausted - in order to secure childcare for the children of critical\nworkers, and for vulnerable children, where their usual arrangements are no\nlonger possible.\nLocal authorities will need to ensure there are sufficient childcare places at\nthis time, and to redistribute funding across settings accordingly \u2013 in a\nclearly focused and targeted way. This ability to redistribute free\nentitlement funding in exceptional circumstances will enable local authorities\nto ensure that critical workers, including NHS staff, are able to access\nchildcare where they need it. Any setting which sees their early entitlement\nfunding reduced, in order to fund childcare places elsewhere, will be able to\nincrease the proportion of their salary bill eligible for the Coronavirus Job\nRetention Scheme in line with DfE\u2019s guidance on financial support for\neducation, early years and children\u2019s social\ncare on access to the scheme."}
{"_id":"UKtest742","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nAre settings covered by their insurance during this period of disruption?\nBusiness interruption insurance\nFor childcare providers which have a policy that covers government-ordered\nclosure and unspecified notifiable diseases, the government\u2019s social\ndistancing instructions are sufficient to allow businesses to make a claim\nagainst their insurance, provided the other terms and conditions in their\npolicy are met.\nPublic liability insurance\nFor childcare providers with public liability insurance, the Association of\nBritish Insurers\u2019 members continue to offer cover to settings, whether open or\nclosed, with no change to terms and conditions to existing policies.\nProviders should check their terms and conditions with their insurance\ncompany."}
{"_id":"UKtest743","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nWhat happens if staff need to renew their paediatric first aid certificates?\nIf PFA certificate requalification training is prevented for reasons\nassociated directly with coronavirus, or by complying with related government\nadvice, the validity of current certificates can be extended by up to 3\nmonths. This applies to certificates expiring on or after 16 March 2020.\n*[PFA]: paediatric first aid"}
{"_id":"UKtest744","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nI am not a critical worker and my child isn\u2019t vulnerable. Do I still need to apply or reconfirm for the 30 hours entitlement if I\u2019m not currently accessing a place?\nWe encourage all eligible parents to continue to apply for, and reconfirm,\ntheir 30 hours entitlement, even when childcare settings remain closed to all\nbut vulnerable children and children of critical workers. This will ensure a\nsmooth transition back into childcare when settings fully reopen."}
{"_id":"UKtest745","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\n\nWhat arrangements do settings need to make about meals for children attending the setting?\nWhere maintained nursery schools are open for children of critical workers,\nand vulnerable children, they should continue to provide free school meals to\nchildren who would normally receive them.\nIn all other settings where free school meals do not apply, settings may\ncharge for meals in line with national entitlements guidance. As per existing\nguidance, they should consider the impact of charges on disadvantaged\nfamilies."}
{"_id":"UKtest746","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nWhat if a member of staff already has an enhanced DBS check but is moving temporarily to another early years setting?\nWhere members of the early years and childcare workforce are already engaging\nin regulated activity and already have the appropriate DBS check, there is no\nexpectation that a new DBS check should be obtained for them to temporarily\nmove to another setting to support the care of children.\nThe onus remains on the receiving setting to satisfy themselves that someone\nin their setting has had the required checks, including by seeking assurance\nfrom the current employer rather than requiring new checks.\n*[DBS]: Disclosure and Barring Service"}
{"_id":"UKtest747","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nHow do we identify which children are the children of critical workers?\nChildcare settings should speak with parents or carers to identify who\nrequires a place.\nIf it proves necessary, settings can ask for simple evidence that the parent\nin question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or payslip."}
{"_id":"UKtest748","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nAre childcare settings expected to stay open if only one vulnerable or critical worker child attends?\nIf providing suitable care for a child is not possible, we ask that\narrangements are made to merge provision with other settings, in consultation\nwith the local authority."}
{"_id":"UKtest749","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nResponsibilities\nCan provision be shared across local authority areas?\nIf a childcare setting is unable to open, local authorities should try to\ncoordinate provision for children who meet the criteria in other settings in\ntheir area. If this is not possible, local authorities should consider working\nwith neighbouring local authorities while keeping in mind the impact on\nchildren."}
{"_id":"UKtest750","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nShould settings offer longer opening hours to care for the children of critical workers?\nSettings should try to be as flexible as possible for critical workers who\nwork shifts or atypical hours."}
{"_id":"UKtest751","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nHow are vulnerable children defined?\nThe government encourages vulnerable children and young people to attend\neducational settings, unless they have underlying health conditions that put\nthem at severe risk.\nDuring the coronavirus outbreak, vulnerable children are defined as those who:\n\nare assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked after child\nhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan, and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment\nhave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children\u2019s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued educational provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted children, those who are young carers, and those living in temporary accommodation\nand others at the provider\u2019s and local authority\u2019s discretion\n\nVulnerable children\u2019s attendance is encouraged, where it is appropriate for\nthem. A brief summary of attendance expectations, across the different groups\nof vulnerable children and young people, is as follows:\n\nfor vulnerable children who have a social worker, attendance is encouraged where this is appropriate in line with the advice set out by Public Health England\nfor vulnerable children who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, attendance is encouraged where it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely, or more safely, met in the educational environment\nfor vulnerable children who are deemed otherwise vulnerable, at the childcare setting, school or local authority\u2019s discretion, attendance is encouraged where this is appropriate\n\nEducational providers, local authorities, social workers, parents\/carers, and\nother relevant professionals (where applicable), should work together closely\nto consider factors, such as the balance of risk, including health\nvulnerabilities, family circumstances, risks outside the home, and the child\nor young person\u2019s assessed special educational needs. Further detail on\nsupporting vulnerable children is set out in Supporting vulnerable children\nand young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19)\noutbreak.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care"}
{"_id":"UKtest752","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nHow can settings continue to offer care if staff are sick or self-isolating?\nChildcare settings who are experiencing staff shortages should work with their\nlocal authority to identify how appropriate provision can be put in place.\nThey can pool staff with another setting, or take on qualified and Disclosure\nand Barring Service (DBS) checked staff from other educational settings\n(including local registered childminders) which have been closed, or invite\nlocal registered childminders to work with them at the setting. Registered\nchildminders can already do this under the 50\/50 registration flexibility they\nhave.\nSettings must obtain criminal records checks for new members of staff,\nincluding volunteers. If an application has been made but the DBS disclosure\nhas not arrived, new staff and volunteers can still care for children as long\nthey are supervised by someone who has a DBS check. Under no circumstances can\nan unchecked member of staff be left alone with children.\n*[DBS]: Disclosure and Barring Service"}
{"_id":"UKtest753","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nCan settings take on new staff (including volunteers) even if a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check has not been completed?\nThe requirements set out at paragraph 3.11 of the EYFS remain in place.\nSettings must obtain criminal records checks for new members of staff\nincluding volunteers. If an application has been made but the DBS disclosure\nhas not arrived, new staff and volunteers can still care for children as long\nthey are supervised by someone who has a DBS check. Under no circumstances can\nan unchecked member of staff be left alone with children.\nWhere new staff are recruited, or new volunteers enter the childcare setting,\nthey should continue to be provided with a safeguarding induction.\n[EYFS]: early years foundation stage\n  [DBS]: Disclosure and Barring Service"}
{"_id":"UKtest754","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nChildminders\nWill early years entitlement funding continue for childminders?\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold, if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for\nOn 17 March 2020, the Chancellor confirmed the government would continue to\npay local authorities for free early years entitlement places for 2-, 3- and\n4-year-olds,\nWe have published guidance on the use of free early education entitlements\nfunding setting out\nhow local authorities can use their free entitlement funding differently,\nredistributing it \u2013 in exceptional cases and in a clearly focussed and\ntargeted way \u2013 in order to secure childcare for the children of critical\nworkers, and for vulnerable children, where their usual arrangements are no\nlonger possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest755","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nCan childcare settings continue to charge parents during coronavirus-related closures?\nWe are working hard to mitigate the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) on all\nparts of our society, including individuals and businesses. We expect\nnurseries to comply with the law and take a reasonable and proportionate\napproach to parents\u2019 fees, in light of these unprecedented circumstances, and\nto communicate any arrangements clearly with them."}
{"_id":"UKtest756","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nHow do early years settings access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)?\nThe CJRS scheme opened for applications on 20 April and guidance on how to\naccess the scheme can be found at Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job\nRetention Scheme. Early years providers remain eligible for\nthe CJRS while continuing to receive early entitlement funding via local\nauthorities.\nThe CJRS guidance, published by HM Revenue and Customs on\n26 March, states that where employers receive public funding for staff costs,\nand that funding is continuing, we expect employers to use that money to\ncontinue to pay staff in the usual fashion - and correspondingly not furlough\nthem. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public\nfunding for staff costs. Employers should not be able to receive public\nfunding for staff cost and furlough payments for the same staff.\nOn 17 April, DfE published guidance setting out how the CJRS and early\nentitlement funding\ninteracts, confirming that early years\nsettings can access the CJRS to cover up to the proportion of its pay bill\nwhich could be considered to have been paid for from that provider\u2019s private\nincome.\nA private provider should only furlough employees, and therefore seek support\nthrough the CJRS, if they meet the following conditions:\n\nthe employee works in an area of business where services are temporarily not required and where their salary is not covered by public funding\nthe employee would otherwise be made redundant or laid off\nthe employee is not involved in delivering provision that has already been funded (free entitlement funding)\n(where appropriate) the employee is not required to deliver provision for a child of a critical worker and\/or vulnerable child\nthe grant from the CJRS would not duplicate other public grants received, and would not lead to financial reserves being created\n\nIf it is difficult to distinguish whether staff are funded through free\nentitlement or private income for the purposes of meeting the first 3\nconditions as listed above, then an early years provider can access the CJRS\nto cover up to the proportion of its paybill which could be considered to have\nbeen paid for from that provider\u2019s private income.\n*[CJRS]: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme"}
{"_id":"UKtest757","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nChildminders\nAre childminders eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme?\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold, if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for\nEligibility for the scheme is based on employment structures and not\nprofessions. You can apply if you are self-employed, or a member of a\npartnership, and have lost profits due to coronavirus, as well as meeting\nfurther eligibility criteria. HM\nRevenue and Customs will contact individuals who are eligible and invite them\nto apply online."}
{"_id":"UKtest758","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nCan childcare practitioners send their children to schools and childcare settings?\nChildcare practitioners are critical to the coronavirus response. Critical\nworkers are encouraged to send their children to school or childcare settings."}
{"_id":"UKtest759","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nDo other aspects of safeguarding requirements remain the same?\nAll other aspects of the safeguarding and welfare section of the EYFS still\napply, including requirements relating to child protection arrangements.\nProviders should consider whether any refresh or review is needed of their\nchild protection arrangements, policy and procedures, in light of the\ncoronavirus outbreak.\nSettings must continue to have a practitioner designated to take lead\nresponsibility for safeguarding. It is acceptable for the safeguarding lead\nnot to be based on-site if this is not practical, for example they may be\nworking from home, or be based at another setting, as long as they are still\navailable to provide support, advice and guidance to staff. It is important\nthat all childcare staff and volunteers have access to a trained designated\nsafeguarding lead or deputy, and know on any given day who that person is and\nhow to speak to them.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest760","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nIs there any flexibility for parents who have missed the deadline for 30 hours codes?\nLocal authorities also have the ability to relax the validity dates on 30\nhours codes where critical worker parents were ordinarily eligible and\nexpecting to take up a 30 hours childcare place between 1 April 2020 and 31\nAugust 2020, but have missed the reconfirmation\/application deadline of 31\nMarch 2020. This will enable children to take up their places in the summer\nterm.\nWe are therefore asking local authorities and childcare providers who are\napproached by the parents of vulnerable children, or critical workersm who\nhave missed the 31 March 2020 deadline, to accept their codes, having first\nchecked the child\u2019s date of birth to ensure summer term eligibility. To be\neligible for a summer term 30 hours place the child must have turned 3 before\n1 April 2020.\nAt this time, only the children of critical workers and children who are\nvulnerable, are able to access childcare. A list of children prioritised for\neducation provision can be found in guidance on Critical workers who can\naccess schools or educational\nsettings. We have asked all\nearly years settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020, and will\nupdate the guidance on 30 hours in due course."}
{"_id":"UKtest761","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nCan parents continue to claim their 30 hours free early education entitlement?\nWe are making some temporary changes to the 30 hours free entitlement so that\nall eligible parents, including critical workers, are not disadvantaged during\nthe coronavirus outbreak.\nSpecifically, parents who will not meet the minimum income threshold (16 hours\nper week at National Minimum\/Living Wage) due to lower earnings as a direct\nresult of coronavirus will be treated as meeting that test during the\noutbreak. This will apply only to parents who need to apply for, or reconfirm,\ntheir 30 hours place during the outbreak this year.\nSubject to parliamentary approval of a temporary amendment to the 30 hours\nfree childcare regulations, we intend to allow critical workers who exceed the\nmaximum income threshold (\u00a3100k per year), due to increased hours as a direct\nresult of the coronavirus outbreak, to remain eligible for 30 hours for the\ncurrent tax year.\nThese are temporary changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak which will\nbe reviewed as the situation develops."}
{"_id":"UKtest762","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nIf childcare settings are open for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, can they accept other children if they have enough staff and space?\nNo. At this time, settings should only care for children of critical workers\nand vulnerable children.\nIf a childminder is not looking after vulnerable children, or the children of\ncritical workers, they can provide childcare for the children of one household\nwho are not critical workers or vulnerable children."}
{"_id":"UKtest763","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nIs it necessary to prioritise children?\nThe first aim of the partial closure of educational settings has been to\nreduce the overall population of children and families moving around local\nareas, as far as possible, in order to reduce the number of social\ninteractions, and thus flatten the upward curve of the coronavirus outbreak.\nThe second aim is to continue to care for priority children \u2013 those who are\nvulnerable, or whose parents are critical to the coronavirus response, so that\nthey can continue to work."}
{"_id":"UKtest764","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nDoes the Early Years Foundation Stage still apply?\nThe Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory\nframework sets the standards that schools and childcare settings\nmust meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5\nyears old.\nWe have amended legislation to allow for the temporary disapplying and\nmodifying of a number of requirements within the EYFS, giving settings\nflexibility to respond to changes in workforce availability and potential\nfluctuations in demand while ensuring children are kept safe. These temporary\nchanges came into force on 24 April 2020.\nFull details of the amendments can be found in the guidance on early years\nfoundation stage statutory framework\n(EYFS), which also includes details about how the temporary\narrangements will be brought to an end. Settings and local authorities should\nfully familiarise themselves with these changes to ensure they understand the\nflexibilities available to them and are meeting the modified requirements,\nespecially in relation to paediatric first aid, during the coronavirus\noutbreak.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest765","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nIs it still a requirement for early years settings to have a separate baby room for children under the age of 2 during this period of disruption?\nThe EYFS requirement to have a separate baby room is a safety issue for the\nprotection of very young children particularly when they are asleep. Paragraph\n3.59 of the EYFS already allows for the mixing of children when this is\nappropriate. If the layout of the premises does not allow for a separate \u2018baby\nroom\u2019 with its own door, a suitable area may be partitioned off to provide\nsafety for younger children.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest766","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nChildminders\nWhen can childminders reopen to more children?\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold, if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for."}
{"_id":"UKtest767","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nOfsted\nWhat is Ofsted doing about unregistered provision?\nOfsted is aware that these are extremely worrying times for both settings and\nparents. However, the health, safety and well-being of children is our first\nconsideration, and government continues to expect childcare to take place only\nwithin registered settings.\nOfsted will consider legal enforcement action against those who set up\nunregistered childcare, in line with their duties as a regulator. This is in\norder to keep children as safe as possible in these difficult times.\nSee Ofsted\u2019s response to coronavirus\n(COVID-19) for more information."}
{"_id":"UKtest768","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nCan settings vary staff to child ratios and qualifications?\nParagraph 3.30 of the EYFS states:\n\u2018Exceptionally, and where the quality of care and safety and security of\nchildren is maintained, changes to the ratios may be made.\u2019\nWe consider the extent of the coronavirus outbreak to be an exceptional\ntemporary circumstance in which the staff to child ratios set out in the EYFS\ncan be changed if necessary. However, childcare settings or schools remain\nresponsible for ensuring the safety and security of children in their care.\nAmendments made to regulations from 24 April allow further exceptions to be\nmade to the qualification level that staff hold in order to be counted in the\nratio requirements. Settings should use reasonable endeavours to ensure that\nat least half of staff (excluding the manager) hold at least a full and\nrelevant level 2 qualification to meet staff to child ratio requirements, but\nthis is not a legal requirement.\nIn nursery classes in maintained schools, caring for children aged 3 and over,\nreasonable endeavours should be used to ensure that at least one member of\nstaff is a school teacher. Where this is not possible, there must be at least\none member of staff for every 8 children, with at least one member of staff\nwho holds at least a full and relevant level 3 qualification. Providers should\nuse their reasonable endeavours to ensure that at least half of other staff\nhold at least a full and relevant level 2 qualification.\nFurther detail is set out in Early Years Foundation Stage: disapplications\nand modifications for early years provision open during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) outbreak.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest769","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nWhat are the expectations on settings regarding staying in touch with parents whose child is at home?\nWe recognise that many settings have already shared resources for children who\nare at home and are grateful for this. We encourage them to continue working\nwith parents to ensure children can continue to learn at home.\nThe Department for Education\u2019s Hungry Little\nMinds campaign features tips and\npractical activities that parents can do at home with children to support\ntheir early learning. There are many simple ways to help children learn and it\ndoes not have to feel like \u2018learning\u2019. Having everyday conversations, make-\nbelieve play and reading together all make a big difference to children\u2019s\ndevelopment. Settings can also direct parents to the BBC\u2019s Tiny Happy\nPeople.\nSettings should work with local authorities to monitor the welfare of\nvulnerable children who are not attending provision, and other children they\nmight wish to keep in touch with, for safeguarding purposes."}
{"_id":"UKtest770","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nChildminders\nCan childminders get involved in supporting the continuation of provision for priority children?\nTo align with the government\u2019s position on nannies, we are updating our\nguidance for early years settings to confirm that paid childcare can be\nprovided to the children of one household from Wednesday 13 May 2020. This\nincludes childminders, who may choose to look after the children of one\nhousehold, if they are not already looking after vulnerable children or those\nof critical workers. From 1 June 2020, childminders can look after children of\nall ages, in line with their current Ofsted registration, and within usual\nlimits on the number of children they can care for\nChildminders can continue to look after vulnerable children and children of\ncritical workers.\nIn addition, under existing registration arrangements, childminders can work\nfor up to 50% of the time on non-domestic premises.\nChildminders who do not already have approval to work up to 50% of their time\non non-domestic premises will need to seek approval from Ofsted, after seeking\ninitial support from their local authority. If childminders have the capacity,\nand there is a local need, they could help support with staff shortages in\ncentre-based childcare provision."}
{"_id":"UKtest771","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nAre early years staff eligible for coronavirus testing?\nYes. The government announced that all essential workers, and members of their\nhouseholds who are showing symptoms of coronavirus, can be tested. This list\nof essential workers includes early years staff.\nFor further information, please read guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)\ngetting tested."}
{"_id":"UKtest772","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nAre early years and childcare settings opening on the 25 May 2020 bank holiday?\nEarly years and childcare settings should decide, in consultation with the\nparents of children who are currently attending settings, whether it is\nnecessary for them to continue to look after critical workers\u2019 children and\nvulnerable children on Monday 25 May 2020."}
{"_id":"UKtest773","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nFunding\nWhat additional business support is available to childcare settings during this period of disruption?\nThe government has announced a package of\nsupport for workers and\nbusinesses which will benefit childcare settings.\n\nthe Chancellor has announced that private childcare settings will be eligible for a business rates holiday for one year - that means non-local authority providers of childcare (registered with Ofsted and providing EYFS) will pay no business rates in 2020 to 2021\nnurseries in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief will benefit from small business grant funding of \u00a310,000\nnurseries, which were already eligible for a charitable status relief, will also pay no business rates at all in 2020 to 2021\nsome settings operate from shared spaces which may now benefit from a 100% rates relief. We strongly encourage those shared spaces to reflect any business rates saving in their rent charges\nthe Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme means that, for employees who are not working but kept on payroll, the government will contribute 80% of each worker\u2019s wages of up to \u00a32,500, backdated to 1 March 2020. Further guidance provides details on how early years providers with a mixture of public and private funding should access the scheme\nthe Self-employment Income Support Scheme for those who are self-employed or members of a partnership and have lost profits due to coronavirus. The scheme allows individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of trading profits up to a maximum of \u00a32,500 per month for 3 months. HMRC will contact individuals who are eligible and invite them to apply online\nfor the self-employed (including childminders), the minimum income floor will also be temporarily relaxed, meaning Universal Credit can be accessed at a rate to match statutory sick pay (SSP)\nthe Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest-free for 12 months, an increase from 6\nVAT payments due with VAT returns between now and the end June 2020 will be deferred. UK VAT registered businesses will not need make those payments until March 2021\nthe Secretary of State for Business announced on 28 March 2020 that he will make changes to enable UK companies undergoing a rescue or restructure process to continue trading to help them avoid insolvency. This includes temporarily suspending wrongful trading provisions retrospectively from 1 March 2020 for 3 months for company directors so they can keep their business going without the threat of personal liability\nworking tax credit has been increased by \u00a31,000 a year\nthe government has also announced a \u00a320 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and an increase in the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents\n\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest774","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising children\nShould settings only offer places to children where both their parents are critical workers, alongside children of single-parent critical workers?\nChildren with at least one parent or carer who is critical to the coronavirus\nresponse can attend a setting if required."}
{"_id":"UKtest775","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nWhat needs to happen if a child is attending a different setting than usual?\nImportant information should be provided by the parent or carer to the setting\non day one, including emergency contact details, dietary requirements and\nmedical needs to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the child."}
{"_id":"UKtest776","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nDo early years and childcare settings need personal protective equipment (PPE)?\nThe majority of staff in education settings will not require PPE beyond what\nthey would normally need for their work, even if they are not always able to\nmaintain a distance of 2 metres from others. PPE is only needed in a very\nsmall number of cases including:\n\nchildren, young people and students whose care routinely already involves the use of PPE due to their intimate care needs should continue to receive their care in the same way\nif a child, young person, or other learner, becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus while in their setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home. A face mask should be worn by the supervising adult if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. If contact with the child or young person is necessary, then gloves, an apron and a face mask should be worn by the supervising adult. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn\n\nRead further guidance on safe working in\nsettings.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest777","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nResponsibilities\nWhat are childcare settings responsible for?\nChildcare settings are responsible for safeguarding and caring for children\nwho attend the settings as set out in the early years foundation stage\nstatutory (EYFS) framework and Working together to safeguard\nchildren.\nAt this time, settings should try to remain open to care for children who are\nvulnerable or whose parents are critical to the coronavirus response. However,\nwe understand that it may not be possible for all settings to remain open at\nthis time. Childcare settings should work with local authorities to agree the\nprovision needed locally to support the needs identified. Settings should take\nsteps to prepare for welcoming back more children from 1 June 2020, including\nto reopen if they had previously closed.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest778","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nDo settings need to meet the learning and development requirements in sections 1 and 2 of the EYFS?\nFollowing the amendments to the EYFS from 24 April, early years settings only\nneed to use reasonable endeavours to deliver the learning and development\nrequirements set out in the EYFS. We understand that these are exceptional\ncircumstances and the priority at this time is keeping children safe and well\ncared for. As far as possible, children should also benefit from a broad range\nof educational opportunities.\n*[EYFS]: early years foundation stage"}
{"_id":"UKtest779","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nEarly Years Foundation Stage\nWill settings be required to undertake the progress check at age 2?\nSettings will not be required to undertake the progress check at age 2 during\nthe coronavirus outbreak."}
{"_id":"UKtest780","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak\nConsiderations for settings that are open during this period\nWill it be mandatory for all registered childcare settings to remain open in some form?\nWe understand that some settings may be unable to stay open, especially if\nthey are experiencing severe staff shortages due to self-isolation and\nsickness. Local authorities will work with local settings to determine the\nbest way to ensure sufficient childcare for vulnerable children and the\nchildren of critical workers."}
{"_id":"UKtest781","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPreparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June\nCan schools operate a staggered return or a rota system for pupils returning from 1 June?\nSchools should not plan on the basis of a rota system for pupils returning\nfrom 1 June, either daily or weekly. We are asking schools to welcome back\neligible pupils full-time, and do not expect schools to implement flexible\napproaches, such as rota systems."}
{"_id":"UKtest782","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nSchools and early years settings in some areas are operating in \u2018hubs\u2019 - for example, groups of schools\/settings operating at a single site. Is this permitted?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWith significantly reduced pupil numbers, and risks of understaffing due to\nillness, we understand that shared provision through multi-school or early\nyears hubs and clusters is an option being considered in some areas. In some\ncases, arrangements are already in place.\nPlease see guidance on Using clusters and hubs to maintain provision in\neducational settings."}
{"_id":"UKtest783","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nDo schools which remain open have to accept temporary attendees?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWe encourage schools which remain open for their own registered pupils who are\nvulnerable or the children of critical workers to support the country\u2019s\nresponse to the coronavirus outbreak by also providing temporary education and\ncare for children whose own schools are closed.\nWe have used legal powers to modify the definition of \u2018pupil\u2019 in law for such\nchildren in relation to registration requirements. This means there is no\nexpectation that they will remain permanently at any school they attend\ntemporarily because of measures taken in response to coronavirus.\nSchools should not apply their admission arrangements in temporarily offering\nplaces to such children and they should not register them as pupils. These\nchildren should return to their normal school as soon as it reopens."}
{"_id":"UKtest784","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nIf education and care for vulnerable children, and the children of critical workers is being provided by a school or setting that is not the child\u2019s normal school or setting, where should they be registered?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWhere another school provides education and care for vulnerable children and\nthe children of critical workers whilst their normal school is temporarily\nclosed because of coronavirus,these children should not be registered as\npupils. We have used powers to temporarily relax the requirement to register\nthem. These children should return to their\nnormal school once it reopens.\nChildren that temporarily attend another school are still considered as pupils\nat the host school for all other purposes other than registration. Host\nschools do not have to apply their normal admission policies in order to\neducate and care for these children, on a temporary basis, alongside their\nregistered pupils.\nHowever, they will still need to fulfil their safeguarding, medical, special\neducational needs (SEN), and other duties in relation to these children.\nSchools will not be able to charge for the education of these children and\nwill be able to apply their normal behaviour policy."}
{"_id":"UKtest785","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising pupils\nIs it necessary to prioritise children?\nThe first aim of the partial school closure measures was to reduce the overall\npopulation of children moving around local areas, in order to further reduce\nthe number of social interactions, and thus flatten the upward curve of the\ncoronavirus outbreak.\nHowever, the second aim was to continue to care for children whose parents are\ncritical to the coronavirus response, so that they can continue to work where\nalternative childcare arrangements cannot be made, and for children who are\nvulnerable.\nNow that we have made progress in reducing the transmission of coronavirus we\nare encouraging all eligible children to attend \u2013 it is no longer necessary\nfor parents of eligible children to keep them at home if they can. These\npriority groups remain eligible to attend as schools open to more students.\nIn the first phases of wider opening, we will prioritise younger children, for\nseveral reasons. Firstly, because there is moderately high scientific\nconfidence in evidence suggesting younger children are less likely to become\nunwell if infected with coronavirus; and secondly because evidence shows the\nparticularly detrimental impact which time spent out of education can have\nupon them.\nThe three year groups within mainstream primary have been prioritised because\nthey are key transition years \u2013 children in Reception and year 1 are at the\nvery beginning of their school career and are mastering the essential basics,\nincluding counting and the fundamentals of reading and writing, and learning\nto socialise with their peers. We know that attending early education lays the\nfoundation for lifelong learning and supports children\u2019s social and emotional\ndevelopment. Year 6 children are finishing Key Stage 2 and are preparing for\nthe transition to secondary school, and will benefit immensely from time with\ntheir friends and teachers to ensure they are ready.\nFrom 1 June, as more children return to schools, we appreciate that each\nsetting\u2019s circumstances will be slightly different. Any setting that cannot\nachieve the small groups recommended as part of the protective measures\nguidance should discuss options with their local authority or\ntrust. If necessary, settings have the flexibility to focus first on\ncontinuing to provide places for priority groups and then, to support\nchildren\u2019s early learning, settings should prioritise groups of children as\nfollows:\n\nearly years settings - 3 and 4 year olds followed by younger age groups\ninfant schools - nursery (where applicable) and Reception\nprimary schools - nursery (where applicable), Reception and year 1\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest786","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nWhat is expected of schools in terms of opening hours?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWe expect schools to operate for their normal hours. Where possible, we would\nencourage breakfast club and after school provision, to help support the\nchildren of workers critical to the coronavirus response."}
{"_id":"UKtest787","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising pupils\nIs it compulsory for critical workers to send their children to school?\nWe strongly encourage children and young people in priority groups (such as\nchildren of critical workers) to attend, unless they are self-isolating or\nthere are other reasons for absence (such as shielding due to health\nconditions)."}
{"_id":"UKtest788","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nIf children are attending an alternative setting, will transport be provided?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nHome to school transport provided or organised by schools, trusts or local\nauthorities varies widely. Schools, trusts and local authorities should work\ntogether and with relevant transport providers to put in place arrangements\nwhich fit the local circumstances, including the measures being put in place\nto reduce contact."}
{"_id":"UKtest789","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising pupils\nWhat are our expectations regarding vulnerable children and young people attending educational settings?\nVulnerable children and young people\u2019s attendance is expected, where it is\nappropriate for them (i.e. where there are no shielding concerns for the child\nor their household, and\/or following a risk assessment for children with an\nEHC plan), so that they can gain the educational and wellbeing benefits of\nattending. Vulnerable children and young people \u2013 regardless of year group \u2013\nthat have not been attending in the recent period are expected to return to\nschool where this would now be appropriate for them to do so. A brief summary\nof attendance expectations across the different groups of vulnerable children\nand young people is as follows:\n\nfor vulnerable children and young people who have a social worker, attendance is expected unless the child\/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable).\nfor vulnerable children and young people who have an education health and care (EHC) plan, attendance is expected where it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment. Read further guidance on temporary Changes to education, health and care (EHC) needs and assessments\nfor vulnerable children and young people who are deemed otherwise vulnerable, at the school, college or local authority discretion, attendance is expected unless the child\/household is shielding or clinically vulnerable (see the advice set out by Public Health England on households with possible coronavirus infection, and shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable).\n\n*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care"}
{"_id":"UKtest790","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nCan provision be shared across local authority areas?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nIf a school is unable to open, local authorities should try to co-ordinate\nprovision for pupils in other schools in their area. If this is not possible,\nlocal authorities should consider working with neighboring local authorities,\nwhile keeping in mind the impact on children. Regional school commissioners\n(RSCs) can support conversations between local authorities where necessary.\nSome multi-academy trusts operate across different local authorities, and can\nassist in making arrangements between their schools if appropriate.\n*[RSCs]: regional schools commissioners"}
{"_id":"UKtest791","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nResponsibilities\nWhat are local authorities responsible for?\nLocal authorities are responsible for co-ordinating a response to the\ncoronavirus arrangements. Working with education settings (including academies\nand the independent sector), they should use the critical worker\nlist, and the definition\nof vulnerable\nchildren, to support schools\nand trusts to ensure that there is sufficiency for these priority groups, and\nfor those groups eligible for return to settings from 1 June.\nLocal authorities are also responsible for monitoring demand and capacity.\nThis may involve working with schools to provide places in alternative\nsettings if necessary, and supporting residential special schools, alternative\nprovision, and other special settings to remain open, wherever possible.\nThey are also responsible for supporting trusts and schools to assess the\nrisks for children and young people whose education, health and care (EHC)\nplans they maintain, and ensuring those children are safely cared for whether\nat school\/college or at home.\n*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care"}
{"_id":"UKtest792","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nWill it be mandatory for all schools, colleges and early years settings to remain open in some form?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWe are asking all schools and early years settings to remain open for children\nof critical workers and vulnerable children.\nWe acknowledge that some schools and early years settings may be unable to do\nso, and will support them to work with local authorities, regional school\ncommissioners, and neighbouring schools and settings, to continue to support\nthese children."}
{"_id":"UKtest793","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nWhat else needs to happen if a child is attending a different setting than usual?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nImportant information should be provided on day one, including emergency\ncontact details, dietary requirements and medical needs to safeguard the\nhealth, safety and welfare of children."}
{"_id":"UKtest794","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nAre schools opening on the May bank holiday?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nSchools should decide, in consultation with the parents of children who are\ncurrently attending school, whether it is necessary for them to continue to\nlook after critical workers\u2019 children and vulnerable children over the May\nbank holiday."}
{"_id":"UKtest795","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising pupils\nHow are vulnerable children defined?\nDuring the coronavirus outbreak vulnerable children and young people are\ndefined as those who:\n\nare assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child\nhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan and it is determined, following a risk assessment, that their needs can be met as safely or more safely in the educational environment; or\nhave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by education providers or local authorities (including children\u2019s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued education provision - this might include children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children\u2019s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (\u2018not in employment, education or training\u2019), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers, and others at the provider and local authority discretion\n\nRead the guidance on how schools should continue to support vulnerable\nchildren.\n*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care"}
{"_id":"UKtest796","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nResponsibilities\nWhat are schools responsible for?\nBetween 23 March and 1 June, educational and childcare settings are\nresponsible for providing places only to priority children (vulnerable\nchildren, and children of critical workers.\nWhile as many schools as possible should try to stay open for priority pupils\nat this time, this will not be possible for all settings, and the local\nauthority should oversee arrangements so that pupils are able to access\nprovision elsewhere.\nWe are also asking that schools prepare for wider opening on the assumption\nthat eligible year groups can return to schools from 1 June.\nFrom the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we are asking that schools\nwelcome back eligible year groups as part of the wider opening of educational\nsettings, alongside priority groups.\nMaintained, academy and independent schools should work with local authorities\nto ensure provision is available for priority and eligible groups."}
{"_id":"UKtest797","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nAre schools opening during May half term?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nWe trust schools to make arrangements that work for their school community, in\nconsultation with parents and carers of vulnerable children and those who are\ncritical workers"}
{"_id":"UKtest798","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPreparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June\nWhat public health advice should schools follow?\nKeeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. DfE\u2019s guidance on\nimplementing protective measures in education and\nchildcare settings contains detailed advice for settings on:\n\ncleaning, including supplies of cleaning and handwashing products\ntesting and tracing\nPPE (personal protective equipment)\nwhat settings should do in response to a case of coronavirus being confirmed\n\nSchools should refer to this guidance and continue to follow the advice from\nPublic Health England. These measures, along with handwashing,\ncleaning, and self-isolation, will lower the risk of transmission.\nAlongside good hygiene and cleaning, one of the main protective measures we\ncan take to reduce transmission is to have small group and class sizes. By\nreturning pupils gradually settings can initially reduce the number of\nchildren and young people in classrooms compared to usual and put protective\nmeasures in place to reduce risks.\nChildren will need to stay within their new class\/group wherever possible and\nwe will ask settings to implement a range of protective measures including\nincreased cleaning, reducing \u2018pinch points\u2019 (such as at the start and end of\nday), and utilising outdoor space.\nSettings should also consider ways to minimise use of public transport to get\nto and from school at peak times, in consultation with local authorities.\nFurther guidance on safer travel for passengers, including children, can be\nfound at Safer travel guidance for\npassengers.\nStaff and pupils in all settings will be eligible for testing if they become\nill with coronavirus symptoms, as will members of their households. A negative\ntest will enable children to get back to childcare or education, and their\nparents to get back to work. A positive test will ensure rapid action to\nprotect their classmates and staff in their setting.\nThose who are clinically vulnerable, or are living with someone who is, should\nfollow our protective measures\nguidance.\n*[DfE]: Department for Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest799","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPreparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June\nWhich pupils can attend school?\nFrom the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking primary\nschools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6,\nalongside priority groups. We will ask secondary schools, sixth form and\nfurther education colleges to offer some face-to-face support for year 10 and\nyear 12 students (and equivalents) who are due to take key exams next year,\nalongside the full time provision they are offering to priority groups.\nAlternative provision settings should mirror the approach being taken for\nmainstream schools and also offer some face-to-face support for years 10 and\n11 students (as they have no year 12). Special schools, special post-16\ninstitutions and hospital schools will work towards a phased return of more\nchildren and young people without a focus on specific year groups.\nThe following principles will apply to this phase of wider opening by schools:\n\nchildren and young people in eligible year groups are strongly encouraged to attend (where there are no shielding concerns for the child or their household), so that they can gain the educational and wellbeing benefits of attending\nvulnerable children of all year groups continue to be expected to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so (for children with education health and care (EHC) plans this will be informed by a risk assessment approach)\n\nchildren, young people and staff who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to shield. We do not expect people in this category to be attending school or college, and they should continue to be supported to learn or work at home as much as possible. Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) people are those considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Few if any children will fall into this category, but parents should follow medical advice if their child is in this category. Staff in this category should work from home where possible, and refer to the detail in our protective measures guidance\n\n\na child\/young person or a member of staff who lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), including those who are pregnant, can attend their education or childcare setting\n\nif a child\/young person or staff member lives in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable, as set out in the guidance on shielding, it is advised they only attend an education or childcare setting if stringent social distancing can be adhered to and, in the case of children, if they are able to understand and follow those instructions. This may not be possible for very young children and older children without the capacity to adhere to the instructions on social distancing. If stringent social distancing cannot be adhered to, we do not expect those individuals to attend. They should be supported to learn or work at home\nstaff and children or young people should not attend if they have symptoms or are self-isolating due to symptoms in their household\nprotective measures will be put in place for staff and pupils, as far as is possible, to ensure that the risk of transmission is reduced\n\n*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care"}
{"_id":"UKtest800","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPrioritising pupils\nHow are critical workers defined?\nChildren with a parent or carer who is listed as a critical\nworker are eligible for a\nschool place.\nWe will monitor closely the experience of schools in identifying critical\nworkers and their capacity to respond to the needs of critical workers.\nGovernment is working with representatives of school leaders to ensure they\nhave the clarity they need in identifying critical workers. We will publish\nupdates to guidance should it prove necessary to provide further points of\nclarification over the identification of critical workers.\nWe can confirm that:\n\nresearchers are included if their work is critical to the coronavirus response\npharmacists are included in the list of health and social care staff that are essential to the coronavirus response\nstaff who work for the embassies of other countries, and who are essential to the coronavirus response, are included in the definition of local and national government\nparliamentarians and essential parliamentary staff are also included in this list\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest801","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nCan schools flex on legal requirements in order to deliver this service?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nThe Coronavirus Act 2020 allows for the temporary disapplication or\nmodification of some requirements on schools, including within the early\nyears foundation stage, to enable them to focus on this core new\nask. Schools should focus on safeguarding\nduties as a priority. Where schools and trusts\nhave concerns about the impact of staff absence \u2013 such as their designated\nsafeguarding lead or first aiders \u2013 they should discuss immediately with the\nlocal authority or trust."}
{"_id":"UKtest802","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nWhat arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?\nAre schools expected to share resources?\nWe are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and\nvulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable\nto do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.\nLocal authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and\nindependent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected\nwhilst their normal schools are closed.\nIf some schools are experiencing high demand for places, or severe staff\nshortages, local authorities will co-ordinate support from other schools in\nthe area. Schools are expected to be flexible and work together where\nrequired."}
{"_id":"UKtest803","title":"","text":"Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak\nPreparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June\nHow will schools be supported in preparing for wider opening?\nSchools, and all childcare providers, have been serving a vital role by\ncontinuing to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are\nvulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the coronavirus\nresponse.\nWe have worked closely with the sector, and will continue to do so over the\ncoming weeks to support the wider opening of schools, colleges and childcare\nsettings. We have published guidance on actions for education and childcare\nsettings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June\n2020, which sets out the overarching aims and principles of this\nnext phase, including information about protective measures which will be in\nplace. We will work with the profession to produce more detailed guidance\nahead of 1 June 2020.\nAll schools are different, and it is not possible for government to set\nspecific national guidelines that could be universally applicable. Instead, we\nhave created an initial planning\nframework to help school leaders and trusts to start to think\nthrough the steps they might need to take to enable them to open their schools\nfor more pupils. This framework can be seen as a starting point from which\nschools and trusts may choose to develop their own plans, providing\noperational guidance to support school and trust leaders in agreeing the best\napproaches for their circumstances."}
{"_id":"UKtest804","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nAre iGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate also cancelled?\nYes. Summer exams for both international GCSEs and the International\nBaccalaureate have been cancelled in all countries this year. The awarding\norganisations that provide international GCSEs have published information\nabout the arrangements they are putting in place for this year1 which reflect\nthose being made for qualifications covered by Ofqual\u2019s consultation\ndecisions."}
{"_id":"UKtest805","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nDoes this mean that every exam in every module in every subject has been cancelled, or will a limited number go ahead at GCSE and\/or A level?\nExam boards will not be issuing papers for this summer\u2019s GCSE, AS and A levels\nso there will not be the opportunity to sit them in any subject."}
{"_id":"UKtest806","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhat will happen to those who have already done some non-exam assessment?\nStudents who were due to sit A level, AS level or GCSE exams this summer will\nreceive a calculated grade. The calculated grade process will take into\naccount a range of evidence including, for example, non-exam assessment and\nmock results. To make sure that grades are fair between schools and colleges,\nexam boards will put all centre assessment grades through a process of\nstandardisation using a model developed with Ofqual, the independent\nqualifications regulator. There\u2019s separate guidance from Ofqual on awarding\nGCSE, AS and A levels which includes the implications for non-exam\nassessment."}
{"_id":"UKtest807","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWill the past performance of the school be taken into account when devising the calculated grade?\nOfqual\u2019s guidance says that one of the sources of evidence schools and\ncolleges should draw on is the performance of this year\u2019s students compared to\nthose in previous years. However, this is only one of the sources of evidence\nthat will be taken into account. Ofqual\u2019s consultation, which ran from 15 to\n29 April, included proposals for how the standardisation process at national\nlevel should take the past performance of schools and colleges into account.\nResponses have been reviewed and decisions from this\nconsultation were published on 22\nMay."}
{"_id":"UKtest808","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nHow will colleges, sixth-forms and universities cope with the fact that these students will have missed out on some of their education?\nThese are extraordinary circumstances. We are working with schools, sixth-\nforms, colleges and universities to ensure that we do everything we can to\nbest help students prepare for and progress to the next stage of their\neducation."}
{"_id":"UKtest809","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nHow will you ensure that certain groups of students (for example those from disadvantaged backgrounds) do not lose out because of bias in teachers\u2019 assessments?\nOfqual is developing a fair and robust process that takes into account a broad\nrange of evidence, including assessments by schools and colleges of the grades\nthat students would have been likely to obtain if exams went ahead and their\nprior attainment. Ofqual\u2019s overriding aim is to make sure arrangements this\nsummer are as fair as possible for all students.\nOfqual ran a\nconsultation from 15 to 29 April\nseeking views on aspects of their proposed assessment arrangements for GCSEs,\nAS and A levels, including an equality impact assessment informed by a review\nof the research literature on bias in teacher assessments.\nOfqual has taken feedback to its consultation, and the findings from its\nliterature review and equalities impact assessment, into account in finalising\nthe arrangements for these qualifications this summer. Decisions from this\nconsultation were published on 22\nMay. Ofqual has also published additional guidance for schools and colleges on\nobjectivity in grading and ranking.\nPupils who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their ability will have\nthe opportunity to sit an exam as soon as is reasonably possible in the\nautumn."}
{"_id":"UKtest810","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhat about vocational and technical qualifications?\nWe recognise that many students will be taking vocational or technical\nqualifications (VTQs) and our priority is to ensure that students and adult\nlearners taking these qualifications can move on as planned to the next stage\nof their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form courses,\napprenticeships in the autumn, getting a job or progressing in work.\nWe know one approach to assessment of vocational and technical qualifications\nwill not fit all, given the diversity of the VTQ landscape.\nOfqual published the response to its consultation on VTQs and its framework\nfor awarding results this summer on 22 May. The measures set out that\nqualifications used for progression to further or higher education, such as\nsome BTECs, should wherever possible be issued with a calculated result, in\nline with the approach proposed for GCSEs, AS and A levels. For other\nvocational qualifications, such as those that are used for entry into\nemployment where demonstration of practical competence is necessary, it won\u2019t\nbe appropriate to calculate a result. For these, Ofqual will work with the\nawarding organisation to determine whether the assessment can be adapted. Only\nas a last result should assessment be delayed.\nVTQ students will have access to a right of appeal if they believe any part of\nthe assessment process was not followed correctly. Students who do not feel\ntheir result reflects their ability will be able to sit an assessment at the\nnext available opportunity. Most vocational and technical qualifications have\na number of assessment windows during the year. Ofqual will require that where\nawarding organisations normally offer an autumn assessment opportunity, they\nmust take all reasonable steps to continue to do so. Where they do not\nnormally offer an autumn assessment opportunity, they should do so where there\nare enough learners who need to take an assessment or where it would be unfair\nnot to.\n[VTQs]: vocational or technical qualifications\n  [VTQ]: vocational or technical qualification"}
{"_id":"UKtest811","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhat will young people with university offers do?\nThe grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same status as\ngrades awarded in any other year. There is no reason for the usual admissions\ncycle to be disrupted.\nUniversity representatives have already confirmed that they expect\nuniversities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can\nprogress to higher education."}
{"_id":"UKtest812","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nCan schools and colleges take incomplete coursework into account?\nOfqual\u2019s guidance on awarding GCSE, AS and A\nlevels makes it clear that schools and colleges do not need to\nask students to complete any unfinished non-exam assessment work for the\npurposes of grading. Where they do choose to take into account coursework\ncompleted after 20 March, Ofqual is advising head teachers and principals to\nexercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many\ncases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the\nwork is done."}
{"_id":"UKtest813","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nIf students already have an unconditional offer, does that remain?\nYes. An unconditional offer means you have already met the entry requirements,\nso the place is the student\u2019s if they want it."}
{"_id":"UKtest814","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhat if students are unhappy with their calculated grade?\nOfqual and the exam boards are working to ensure that candidates are awarded a\nfair grade that recognises the work they have put in. If an A level, AS level\nor GCSE student does not believe the correct process has been followed in\ntheir case, they will have access to a right of appeal on that basis. Ofqual\nhas consulted on the arrangements for these\nappeals and announced its\ndecisions on 22 May. In addition,\nif a student does not feel their grade reflects their performance, they will\nhave the opportunity to take an exam in the autumn. Ofqual launched a\nconsultation on 22 May on the details of the autumn series of\nexams.\nDfE has also published guidance on centre\nresponsibility for autumn GCSE, AS and A level exam\nseries.\nStudents will also have the option to take their exams in summer 2021, in line\nwith usual practice."}
{"_id":"UKtest815","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWill A level students get the predicted grades that were used for university applications?\nNo. We know that simply using predicted grades would not be fair to all\nstudents. The \u2018centre assessment grade\u2019, which the exam boards will ask\nschools and colleges to submit for A and AS levels and GCSEs, will take into\naccount an assessment of the likely grade that students would have obtained\nhad exams gone ahead, and these will be standardised across schools and\ncolleges. For this reason, students\u2019 final calculated grades will not\nnecessarily be the same as either the predicted grades used for university\napplications, or the centre assessment grade put forward by their school or\ncollege."}
{"_id":"UKtest816","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhen will students get their results?\nA and AS level results will be published on 13 August and GCSE results on 20\nAugust, as originally planned. This will enable progression to higher and\nfurther education to take place in the normal way. It will also allow students\ntime to decide whether they wish to sit exams in the autumn, and to prepare\nfor those exams if necessary.\nResults days for other qualifications are set by individual exam boards.\nResults for vocational and technical qualifications used for progression to\nfurther or higher education will be available on the same days as A level and\nGCSE results. Students who are taking such qualifications should check the\nplanned results day with their school or college."}
{"_id":"UKtest817","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWill universities, colleges and sixth forms accept these grades?\nThe calculated grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same\nstatus as grades awarded in any other year. They will therefore be accepted by\nall institutions.\nUniversity representatives have already confirmed that they expect\nuniversities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can\nprogress to higher education."}
{"_id":"UKtest818","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nCan private centres run GCSEs, AS levels or A levels if they choose to do so?\nNo. Exam boards will not be issuing papers for this summer\u2019s GCSE, AS and A\nlevels so there will not be the opportunity to sit them at any centre."}
{"_id":"UKtest819","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWhat about private candidates or home educated students?\nWhere schools and colleges have accepted entries from external candidates\n(students who they have not taught themselves, because they have been home-\neducated, following distance-learning programmes or studying independently),\nthose students should be taken account of in the process of producing centre\nassessment grades, where the head teacher or principal is confident that they\nand their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student\u2019s achievement to\nmake an objective judgement.\nOfqual and the exam boards have been exploring the options for those students\nwho do not have an existing relationship with an exams centre and who need\nresults this summer for progression purposes. The Joint Council for\nQualifications has published some guidance for exam centres on accepting\nprivate candidates which sets out\nthe options that will be available. Unfortunately, not all external candidates\nwill be able to be awarded a calculated grade this summer because some will\nnot be in a position to provide sufficient evidence to enable their exam\ncentre to include them in their centre assessment grades and rankings.\nStudents in this position will need to sit exams to get their grades, either\nin the autumn or in summer 2021.\nOfqual has asked organisations that represent higher and further education\nproviders to consider the steps that providers could take when making\nadmissions decisions this summer for any private candidates who do not receive\na grade. They have said that they believe that institutions will consider a\nrange of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to\nprogress wherever possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest820","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nDo universities need to start making unconditional offers \/ should students accept an unconditional offer now that exams are cancelled?\nUniversities should not begin making new unconditional offers and applicants\nshould feel no pressure to accept such offers, as they will be awarded a\nformal calculated grade for each exam they would have taken."}
{"_id":"UKtest821","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nIf students take the exam option, will they still be able to go to university this year?\nStudents who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance\nwill have the opportunity to sit an exam as soon as is reasonably possible\nafter the beginning of the new academic year.\nOur aim is for results to be awarded before Christmas, and Ofqual is working\nwith exam boards to work out how this could be delivered. Universities\nrepresentatives have assured us that universities will be as flexible as\npossible in their admissions.\nAny student wanting to understand the implications on university admission of\ntaking these autumn exams should speak to the university from which they have\nan offer after receiving their calculated grade in the summer."}
{"_id":"UKtest822","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nWill students be required to do further work to contribute towards their grade?\nOfqual\u2019s guidance on awarding GCSE, AS and A\nlevels makes clear that there is no requirement for schools and\ncolleges to set additional mock exams or homework tasks for the purposes of\ndetermining a centre assessment grade, and no student should be disadvantaged\nif they are unable to complete any work set after schools and colleges were\nclosed. Where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges\nwere closed on 20 March, Ofqual is advising head teachers and principals to\nexercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many\ncases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the\nwork is done."}
{"_id":"UKtest823","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020\nDid exams and assessments need to be cancelled?\nFrom Friday 20 March, all educational settings were closed to everyone except\nthe children of critical workers and vulnerable children.\nThe coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is expected to continue having a\nsignificant impact on the education system, and the country, for months to\ncome. Therefore, exams and assessments have been cancelled to give pupils,\nparents, and teachers certainty, and enable schools and colleges to focus on\nsupporting vulnerable children and the children of critical workers."}
{"_id":"UKtest824","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nWhat happens if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in a setting?\nWhen a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms compatible with\ncoronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days.\nTheir fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days. All staff and\nstudents who are attending an education or childcare setting will have access\nto a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus, and are encouraged to get\ntested in this scenario.\nWhere the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return\nto their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-\nisolation.\nWhere the child, young person or staff member tests positive, the rest of\ntheir class or group within their childcare or education setting should be\nsent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members\nof that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child,\nyoung person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently\ndevelops symptoms.\nAs part of the national test and trace programme, if other cases are detected\nwithin the cohort or in the wider setting, Public Health England\u2019s local\nhealth protection teams will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise\nschools and other settings on the most appropriate action to take. In some\ncases a larger number of other children, young people may be asked to self-\nisolate at home as a precautionary measure \u2013 perhaps the whole class, site or\nyear group. Where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and\ncontrol, which will reduce risk of transmission, closure of the whole setting\nwill not generally be necessary."}
{"_id":"UKtest825","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nShould educational settings ask parents to report pupils\u2019 temperatures at the start of each day?\nParents, carers and settings do not need to take children\u2019s temperatures every\nmorning. Routine testing of an individual\u2019s temperature is not a reliable\nmethod for identifying coronavirus. Educational and childcare settings should\nreiterate to parents the need to follow the standard national advice on the\nkind of symptoms to look out for that might be due to coronavirus, and where\nto get further advice.If anyone in the household develops a fever, or a new\ncontinuous cough, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or\nsmell (anosmia), they are advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance for\nhouseholds with possible coronavirus infection\nguidance (which states that the ill person should remain in isolation for 7\ndays and the rest of the household in isolation for 14 days)."}
{"_id":"UKtest826","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nWhat does implementing protective measures look like in alternative provision (AP)?\nAP settings should follow the same principles and guidance as mainstream\nschools. As much as possible, protective measures should be adhered to and\nclass or group sizes should be small. Staff should use simple language to\nexplain safety measures, and reiterate and reinforce key messages. Safe\nroutines for access to toilets, hand-cleaning and break and lunch times should\nbe put in place. Teaching resources can be used to aid understanding.\nSettings may need to carry out a risk assessment, if it is deemed that a child\nor young person may not be able to follow instructions, to determine what\nmitigations need to be put in place and whether, in rare circumstances, they\nshould stay at home. For those children and young people with a social worker,\nour expectation is that they should attend their educational setting unless a\nrisk assessment concludes they will be safer at home.\n*[AP]: alternative provision"}
{"_id":"UKtest827","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nWhat happens if someone becomes unwell at an educational or childcare setting?\nIf anyone in an education or childcare setting becomes unwell with a new,\ncontinuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their\nnormal sense of taste of smell (anosmia), they must be sent home and advised\nto follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus\ninfection guidance.\nIf a child is awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a\nroom where they can be isolated behind a closed door, depending on the age of\nthe child and with appropriate adult supervision if required. Ideally, a\nwindow should be opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate\nthem, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.\nIf they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should\nuse a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and\ndisinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.\nPPE should be worn by staff caring for the child while they await collection\nif a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained (such as for a very young child\nor a child with complex needs).\nIn an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life\nis at risk. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.\nIf a member of staff has helped someone with symptoms, they do not need to go\nhome unless they develop symptoms themselves (and in which case, a test is\navailable) or the child subsequently tests positive (see \u2018What happens if\nthere is a confirmed case of coronavirus in a setting?\u2019 below). They should\nwash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who\nis unwell. Cleaning the affected area with normal household disinfectant after\nsomeone with symptoms has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection\non to other people. See the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings\nguidance.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest828","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nWill children and young people be eligible for testing?\nWhen settings open to the wider cohort of children and young people, all those\nchildren and young people eligible to attend, and members of their households,\nwill have access to testing if they display symptoms of coronavirus. This will\nenable them to get back into childcare or education, and their parents or\ncarers to get back to work, if the test proves to be negative. Parents will\nhave a number of routes to access testing for them and their children. Visit\nthe guidance on coronavirus testing and how to arrange to have a\ntest."}
{"_id":"UKtest829","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings\nAdditional questions\nWill contact tracing be in place in educational and childcare settings?\nThe government is developing a new national test and trace programme. This\nwill bring together an app, expanded web and phone-based contact tracing, and\nswab testing for those with potential coronavirus symptoms. This programme\nwill play an important role in helping to minimise the spread of coronavirus\nin the future. It will also include more traditional methods of contact\ntracing if a child, young person or parent tests positive. This could include,\nfor example, direct discussion with parents and schools or colleges on recent\ncontacts. The government is recruiting 18,000 contact tracers to support\ncontact tracing and will recruit more if needed. They will play an important\npart in tracing the contacts of those with coronavirus, including children."}
{"_id":"UKtest830","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic Transport\nCan I use public transport to get to green spaces?\nYou should avoid using public transport wherever possible."}
{"_id":"UKtest831","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nI don\u2019t have to stay at home anymore?\nYou should stay at home as much as possible. The reasons you may leave home\ninclude:\n\nfor work, where you cannot work from home\ngoing to shops that are permitted to be open - to get things like food and medicine\nto exercise or spend time outdoors\nany medical need, including to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person\n\nThese reasons are exceptions and a fuller list is set out in the\nregulations. Even when doing\nthese activities, you should be minimising time spent away from the home and\nensuring that you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household."}
{"_id":"UKtest832","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nAre day trips and holidays ok? Can people stay in second homes?\nDay trips to outdoor open space, in a private vehicle, are permitted. You\nshould practise social distancing from other people outside your household.\nLeaving your home - the place you live - to stay at another home for a holiday\nor other purpose is not allowed. This includes visiting second homes.\nPremises such as hotels and bed and breakfasts will remain closed, except\nwhere providing accommodation for specific reasons set out in law, such as for\ncritical workers where required for a reason relating to their work."}
{"_id":"UKtest833","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nOn what date can I expand my household group?\nThe government has asked the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)\nto advise on the concept of \u201cbubbles\u201d, which would mean allowing people to\nexpand their household group to include one other household. For the time\nbeing, you cannot visit friends or family, except to spend time outdoors with\nup to one person from a different household."}
{"_id":"UKtest834","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nBorders \/ international visitors\nAre you isolating people at the border now?\nPlease note - these measures are NOT yet in force. We will set out further\ndetail, including from when these will be in force, in due course.\nThe scientific advice shows that when domestic transmission is high, cases\nfrom abroad represent a small amount of the overall total and make no\nsignificant difference to the epidemic. Now that domestic transmission within\nthe UK is coming under control, and other countries begin to lift lockdown\nmeasures, it is the right time to prepare new measures at the border."}
{"_id":"UKtest835","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nDo people need to wear face coverings at work?\nFace coverings are not compulsory. However, if you can, people are advised to\nwear face coverings in enclosed public spaces where social distancing is not\npossible or where you are more likely to come into contact with people you do\nnot normally meet. For example, on public transport or in some shops. Face\ncoverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease\nif you are suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms. You should be\nprepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by police officers and\nstaff for the purposes of identification.\nA face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as\npart of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers; these\nshould continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against\nrisks in their workplace such as health and care workers and those in\nindustrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards."}
{"_id":"UKtest836","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nWorkers\u2019 rights\nMy employer is asking me to come to work but I\u2019m scared.\nEmployers and staff should discuss and agree working arrangements.\nEmployers should make all efforts to help people to work from home where they\ncan. But where work cannot be done at home, employers should take clear,\npractical steps to help protect workers and create safe places to work, such\nas shift working or staggering processes. To identify the precautions needed\nto manage risk, your employer should discuss the workplace risk assessment\nwith you to identify the practical ways of managing those risks.\nIf you remain concerned that your employer is not taking all practical steps\nto promote social distancing then you can report this to your local authority\nor the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of action, including\nwhere appropriate requiring your employer to take additional steps.\nWe have published further specific \u201cCOVID-19 Secure\u201d\nguidelines on how to make workplaces safe, which have been developed in\nconsultation with over 200 business leaders and trades union organisations."}
{"_id":"UKtest837","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nCan weddings go ahead?\nThere\u2019s no change at this time, but we have set out our intention to enable\nsmall wedding ceremonies from 1 June. We understand the frustration couples\nplanning a wedding must be feeling at this time. As with all the necessary\ncoronavirus restrictions on register offices, places of worship and other\nvenues, we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so. We will work\nclosely with faith leaders and local government over the coming weeks to go\nthrough the practicalities."}
{"_id":"UKtest838","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nVulnerable groups, shielding, 70 year olds and over, and care homes\nHow long will shielding be in place?\nWe\u2019ve advised individuals with very specific medical conditions to shield\nuntil the end of June and to do everything they can to stay at home. This is\nbecause we believe they are likely to be at the greatest risk of serious\ncomplications from coronavirus.\nWe know this is challenging guidance to follow, which is why we have a support\nscheme in place to provide help with access to food and basic supplies, care,\nmedicines and social support.\nWe are keeping the guidance to shielded\npeople under review."}
{"_id":"UKtest839","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nCan I meet my friends and family in the park?\nYou can meet one other person from outside your household if you are outdoors.\nPublic gatherings of more than 2 people from different households are\nprohibited in law. There are no limits on gatherings in the park with members\nof your household."}
{"_id":"UKtest840","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nWho is allowed to go to work?\nIn the first instance, employers should make every effort to support working\nfrom home, including by providing suitable IT and equipment as they have been\nalready. This will apply to many different types of businesses, particularly\nthose who typically would have worked in offices or online.\nWhere work can only be done in the workplace, we have set out tailored\nguidelines for employers to help protect their workforce and customers from\ncoronavirus while still continuing to trade or getting their business back up\nand running. We have published detailed COVID-19 secure\nguidelines, which has been developed in consultation with businesses and trades\nunions.\nThese \u2018back to work\u2019 guidelines apply to those in essential retail like:\n\nsupermarkets\nthose in construction and manufacturing\nthose working in labs and research facilities\nthose administering takeaways and deliveries at restaurants and cafes\ntradesmen, cleaners and others who work in people\u2019s homes\nthose who are facilitating trade or transport goods\nand so on\n\nNon-essential retail, restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms and leisure centres will\nremain closed. They will reopen in a phased manner provided it is safe to do\nso.\nThere are specific guidelines for those who are vulnerable, shielding, or\nshowing symptoms."}
{"_id":"UKtest841","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nVulnerable groups, shielding, 70 year olds and over, and care homes\nDoes easing restrictions apply to healthy 70 year olds and over?\nThe advice for those aged 70 and over continues to be that they should take\nparticular care to minimise contact with others outside their household.\nIf they do go out more frequently, they should be careful to maintain distance\nfrom others. They and everyone should continue to comply with any general\nsocial distancing restrictions.\nWe know that those aged 70 and over can be absolutely fit and healthy and it\u2019s\nnot the case that everybody over 70 has a chronic health condition or an\nunderlying disease.\nBut unfortunately, we also know that as you get older, there is a higher risk\nof coronavirus having a more serious impact with infection. Complications and\ndeaths are more common in the elderly, even those without pre-existing\nconditions.\nAnyone who has been advised to shield by the NHS or their GP, including those\n70 and over, should continue to do this until at least the end of June."}
{"_id":"UKtest842","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nCan students return to their family home if they\u2019ve been in halls all this time?\nIn general, leaving your home - the place you live - to stay at another home\nis not allowed.\nIf a student is moving permanently to live back at their family home, this is\npermitted."}
{"_id":"UKtest843","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nWhat can I do that I couldn\u2019t do before?\nThere are a limited number of things you can now do that you could not do\nbefore:\n\nspend time outdoors \u2013 for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing\nmeet one other person from a different household outdoors - following social distancing guidelines\nexercise outdoors as often as you wish - following social distancing guidelines\nuse outdoor sports courts or facilities, such as a tennis or basketball court, or golf course \u2013 with members of your household, or one other person while staying 2 metres apart\ngo to a garden centre\n\nAt all times, you should continue to observe social distancing guidelines when\nyou are outside your home, including ensuring you are 2 metres away from\nanyone outside your household. As with before, you cannot:\n\nvisit friends and family in their homes\nexercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre, or go swimming in a public pool\nuse an outdoor gym or playground\nvisit a private or ticketed attraction\ngather in a group of more than two (excluding members of your own household), except for a few specific exceptions set out in law (for work, funerals, house moves, supporting the vulnerable, in emergencies and to fulfil legal obligations)\n\nIf you are showing coronavirus symptoms, or if you or any of your household\nare self-isolating, you should stay at home - this is critical to staying safe\nand saving lives."}
{"_id":"UKtest844","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic Transport\nShould people wear face coverings on public transport?\nIf you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing\nisn\u2019t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not\nnormally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded\nareas, for example on public transport or in some shops. The evidence suggests\nthat face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of\nthe disease if you are suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms.\nYou should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by\npolice officers and staff for the purposes of identification.\nIf people choose to wear them, we are asking people to make their own face\ncoverings at home, using scarves or other textile items. We are publishing\nguidance to help illustrate the\nprocess.\nWe urge the public not to purchase medical or surgical masks as these should\nbe reserved for health and social care workers."}
{"_id":"UKtest845","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nAre you reopening tennis courts \/ golf courses \/ basketball courts etc?\nYes. Sports courts can re-open, but you should only partake in such activities\nalone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside\nyour household, while practising social distancing. You should take particular\ncare if you need to use any indoor facilities next to these outdoor courts,\nsuch as toilets.\nYou should not use these facilities if you are showing coronavirus symptoms,\nor if you or any of your household are self-isolating."}
{"_id":"UKtest846","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nBorders \/ international visitors\nIs this for foreign travellers only or British people returning home from holiday or living overseas?\nPlease note - these measures are NOT yet in force. We will set out further\ndetail, including from when these will be in force, in due course.\nAll arrivals including British nationals will be required to provide their\ncontact information and self-isolate upon arrival, other than those on a short\nlist of exemptions."}
{"_id":"UKtest847","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nAre there restrictions on how far I can travel for my exercise or outdoor activity?\nNo. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance. You\nshouldn\u2019t travel with someone from outside your household unless you can\npractise social distancing - for example by cycling. Leaving your home - the\nplace you live - to stay at another home is not allowed."}
{"_id":"UKtest848","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nSchools and Childcare\nCan children go back to early years settings, schools or university?\nWe initially urge those who are currently eligible to use school provision\n(children of critical workers and vulnerable children) to attend. As soon as\nit is safe to do so we will bring more year groups back to school in a phased\nway when it is safe to have larger numbers of children within schools, but not\nbefore. Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority.\nSchools should prepare to begin opening for more children from 1 June. The\ngovernment expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and\nfor Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller class sizes\nfrom this point.\nSecondary schools and further education colleges should also prepare to begin\nsome face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next\nyear, in support of their continued remote, home learning.\nThe government\u2019s ambition is for all primary school children to return to\nschool before the summer for a month if feasible."}
{"_id":"UKtest849","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nWorkers\u2019 rights\nWhat if they try to fire me because I won\u2019t go to work but cannot work at home?\nWe urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the\nconcerns of their staff. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic\nagreement about their working arrangements.\nIf individuals need advice, they should approach ACAS where they can get\nimpartial advice about work disputes."}
{"_id":"UKtest850","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nWill you open pubs \/ cinemas \/ hairdressers in July?\nThe roadmap sets out that some businesses\n(like pubs, cinemas or hairdressers) will not open until Step 3 is reached.\nThe government\u2019s current planning assumption is that this step will be no\nearlier than 4 July and subject to further detailed scientific advice,\nprovided closer to the time, on how far we can go. When they do reopen, they\nshould also meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines."}
{"_id":"UKtest851","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nPublic spaces \/ outdoor activities \/ exercise\nCan I go out to help a vulnerable person?\nYou can go out to care for or help a vulnerable person, or to provide other\nvoluntary or charitable services, following the advice set out here. You\nshould not do so if you have coronavirus symptoms, however mild.\nWherever possible, you should stay at least two metres away from others, and\nwash your hands for at least 20 seconds (or use hand sanitiser if soap and\nwater are not available)."}
{"_id":"UKtest852","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nWhat is a critical worker?\nCritical workers are those working in\nhealth and care and other essential services, who can still take their\nchildren to school or childcare and can use hotels and other accommodation\nservices for work related purposes - for example if they can\u2019t get home after\na shift or need to isolate from their families. This critical worker\ndefinition does not affect whether or not you can travel to work \u2013 if you are\nnot a critical worker, you may still travel to work provided if you cannot\nreasonably work from home."}
{"_id":"UKtest853","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nWill a face covering stop me getting COVID-19?\nThe evidence suggests that face coverings can help us protect each other and\nreduce the spread of the disease if you are suffering from coronavirus, but\nnot showing symptoms.\nTo protect yourself, you should continue to follow social distancing measures\nand isolation guidance and wash your hands regularly."}
{"_id":"UKtest854","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nEnforcement\nHow will police enforce the new rules?\nThe police and local authorities have the powers to enforce the requirements\nset out in law if people do not\ncomply with them. The police will act with discretion and common sense in\napplying these measures, but if you breach the law, the police may instruct\nyou to go home, leave an area or disperse, and they may instruct you to take\nsteps to stop your children breaking these rules if they have already done so.\nThe police can also take you home or arrest you where they believe it is\nnecessary.\nIf the police believe that you have broken the law \u2013 or if you refuse to\nfollow their instructions enforcing the law \u2013 a police officer may issue you\nwith a fixed penalty notice of \u00a3100 (reduced to \u00a350 if paid within 14 days),\nan increase of \u00a340 from the previous \u00a360 fixed penalty amount. If you have\nalready received a fixed penalty notice, the amount for further offences will\nincrease in line with the table below.\nFirst offence \u00a3100\nSecond offence \u00a3200\nThird offence \u00a3400\nFourth offence \u00a3800\nFifth offence \u00a31600\nMaximum penalty \u00a33200\nFor both individuals and companies, if you do not pay your fine you could be\ntaken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines."}
{"_id":"UKtest855","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nBorders \/ international visitors\nWhat is self-isolation and which countries will it apply to?\nPlease note - these measures are NOT yet in force. We will set out further\ndetail, including from when these will be in force, in due course.\nWe will be asking people travelling to the UK to make some sacrifices to stop\ncoronavirus cases from being imported. In the same way as people in the UK\nhave made large sacrifices to control the spread of coronavirus.\nSo what we will be asking people to do on entering the UK is supply their\ncontact details and details of their accommodation, and to self-isolate in\ntheir accommodation for 14 days, other than those on a short list of\nexemptions.\nWe will set out further details shortly."}
{"_id":"UKtest856","title":"","text":"Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do\nGoing to work \/ Safer spaces\nWhat is meant by the phased approach?\nNot all forms of work will return to normal at once. People will have to\nprepare for a new type of normal. We need to make sure that any changes we do\nmake are carefully monitored and that we aren\u2019t doing anything to increase the\nrisk of infection and push the Reproductive value \u2018R\u2019 above 1. \u2018R\u2019 describes\nhow many people on average will be infected for every one person who has\nCOVID-19.\nWe will ensure that businesses have time to prepare their premises to operate\nas safely as possible.\nWe will set out more detail about the phasing in due course."}
{"_id":"UKtest857","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nI am on a fixed-term contract which would ordinarily have given enough time to complete the training and the EPA. If the training is delayed, and I have not completed my EPA before I leave employment, can I do the EPA afterwards?\nYou must be employed when you are taking your EPA, so where a break in\nlearning has been necessary, and the planned end-date for your apprenticeship\nhas had to move back, please speak to your employer and training provider. We\nwould expect them to work with you to reschedule your training which may also\ninclude reviewing your apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement. We\nwill keep this under review as the situation evolves.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest858","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nShould employers use the \u2018Stop\u2019 or \u2018Pause\u2019 apprentice facility in the apprenticeship service?\nIn circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19), employers should use the\n\u2018Pause\u2019 function in the service. Employers must ONLY use the \u2018Stop\u2019 function\nwhen they are certain that training will not resume at any point. Using\n\u2018Pause\u2019 will stop payments temporarily, and allow the employer and apprentice\nto resume the apprenticeship at a later date.\nWe are reviewing options to simplify the process of re-starting apprentices on\nthe service, including to facilitate a transfer to a different apprenticeship\nor employer in due course."}
{"_id":"UKtest859","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nCan you release early the 20% completion payment that would normally be withheld until the end of apprenticeship training to manage cash flow challenges faced by training providers?\nGovernment policy does not allow payment for services in advance of delivery.\nThe government has set out a substantial package of support to\nbusinesses) to mitigate\nthe impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak."}
{"_id":"UKtest860","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhat about the level 2 English and maths exit requirements for level 3 and higher apprenticeships?\nThis requirement applies to intermediate (level 2) apprentices only.\nApprentices undertaking a level 3 or higher apprenticeship are still required\nto hold or achieve an approved level 2 English and maths qualification before\nthey can successfully complete their apprenticeship."}
{"_id":"UKtest861","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nHow are the ESFA monitoring the number of cancelled and postponed EPAs?\nEPAOs are an important element to delivering quality apprenticeships. In order\nto support them, and the wider market, to meet the future demand, we have\nasked end-point organisations to complete a weekly return to the ESFA\nrecording all coronavirus (COVID-19) related EPA cancellations.\nWe sent each organisation on the register of end-point assessment\norganisations a copy of the template return, which should be sent back to the\napprenticeship assessment mailbox.\nThis information will help us to understand and manage the post coronavirus\n(COVID-19) pipeline of apprenticeship assessment.\n[EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations\n  [ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency\n  *[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest862","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nWhat happens to my funding reservation as a non-levy employer if my apprentice can\u2019t start?\nReservations will expire if they are not turned into a commitment within 3\nmonths of the apprenticeship start date, detailed in the reservation. Where a\ncommitment is needed and a previous reservation has expired, a new reservation\nmust first be made."}
{"_id":"UKtest863","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nHow will invigilation of assessments be conducted remotely?\nRemote tests should be supervised by an appropriately trained invigilator or\nassessor who has the necessary qualifications, training or experience and who\nhas not been involved in the training, preparation or line management of the\napprentice.\nTests must only be carried out within a supervised and controlled environment\nand EPAOs must ensure that all testing meets security requirements and that\nthe details of invigilators are recorded and available for confirmation by EQA\nproviders.\n[EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations\n  [EQA]: external quality assurance"}
{"_id":"UKtest864","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nWill levy payments be paused for employers?\nThe apprenticeship levy is an important part of our aim to raise\napprenticeship quality which supports employers to make a long-term,\nsustainable investment in training. Due to this, HM Treasury have no current\nplans to pause the collection of the apprenticeship levy because of the\ncoronavirus (COVID-19) disruption.\nThe Chancellor has set out an unprecedented package of support for businesses\nand employers and stands ready to announce further action wherever necessary."}
{"_id":"UKtest865","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nAre the evidence arrangements around obtaining learner signatures being relaxed during coronavirus (COVID-19)?\nWhen starting a new apprenticeship, and throughout training, signatures are\nrequired to form part of the evidence pack. Examples of where the funding\nrules ask for evidence of signatures to be retained are:\n\nthe apprenticeship agreement\nthe commitment statement\nexternal audit reports for subcontractors\nevidence linking to additional payments such as additional learning support and the care leavers bursary\ncontracts for services\nagreements that an apprentice has passed all gateway requirements\n\nIt is expected that where providers already have a digital\/electronic\nsignature process, they must continue to utilise their existing processes in\naccordance with the respective funding rules.\nWhere a provider has no digital or electronic systems and processes in place\nto capture a learner or employer signature then, under normal circumstances, a\nwet signature is required for recruitment and evidence of continuing learning.\nA wet signature is created when a person physically \u2018marks\u2019 a document.\nIt is recognised that providers delivering training and\/or recruiting learners\nduring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will experience difficulty in\nobtaining learner and employer wet signatures. Therefore, where providers do\nnot have systems and processes in place for electronic\/digital signatures,\nduring the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions we will allow\nconfirmation\/evidence to be obtained through email.\nFor the purpose of audit evidence, we expect a record of acknowledgement or\nadoption of a genuine electronic message or document.\nAcceptable alternative evidence includes:\n\nan email from the learner and\/or employer\u2019s email address with details of the confirmation and their typed name at the end of the message\na typed name on an electronic form or document emailed from the learner and\/or employer\na signed scanned document attached to an email from the learner and\/or employer\nphoto taken on a camera\/digital medium of the signed document attached to an email from the learner and\/or employer\n\nWe are allowing providers to use this type of electronic confirmation during\nthe period of restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19), only where no other\nusable digital or electronic processes exist. This is not to be used as\nalternative evidence as part of the provider\u2019s business as usual process once\nthe coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted.\nFollowing the period of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, providers using\nthe above alternative evidence must resume their usual process for obtaining\nwet signatures on relevant documentation. Providers must ensure that all\nalternative evidence replacing wet signatures received during the coronavirus\n(COVID-19) restrictions is genuine and irrefutable, and the evidence is\nretained for audit purposes."}
{"_id":"UKtest866","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWhere an apprentice is furloughed can they and their employer still take part in a progress review?\nYes, where apprentices are furloughed, they can continue to train for their\napprenticeships as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue\nfor their employer. This includes progress reviews.\nIf the employer (line manager) is also furloughed, then we appreciate that\narranging a progress review may be more difficult at this current time. But,\nprovided the discussion is about the progress of the apprenticeship, they are\nable to take part in the discussion."}
{"_id":"UKtest867","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nMy provider has put my apprentice on a break in learning because they can\u2019t deliver training. As the apprentice is working as normal and I want their apprenticeship to continue, can I override this break in learning?\nWe have committed to apprenticeship training providers continuing to be paid\nretrospectively for the training that they have delivered and can evidence.\nWhere training cannot take place for any reason, and this may include the\nability of the provider to continue delivery, an apprentice must be put on a\nbreak in learning to pause payments. Providers are working hard to develop\nflexible learning packages to ensure continuity of training where possible and\nfor some, this may take some time. If you have concerns, we encourage you to\ndiscuss these with the provider."}
{"_id":"UKtest868","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nIf my apprentice continues to do off-the-job training, can this be more than one day a week?\nYes. The normal off-the-job training rules will apply, so training can be done\nas a block where this is agreed between the provider and the employer. The 20%\nminimum off-the-job training over the length of the apprenticeship will still\nneed to be satisfied."}
{"_id":"UKtest869","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nWill you increase the time available to employers to spend their levy funds?\nEmployers already have 24 months in which to spend their levy funds before\nthese expire. For now, we do not intend to make any changes to current\narrangements."}
{"_id":"UKtest870","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhat evidence do I need to provide to show the apprentice did not take the level 2 English and\/or maths functional skills test before entering them for EPA?\nYou should add a dated note to the evidence pack for the apprentice explaining\nthat the test was not taken due to revised guidance during coronavirus\n(COVID-19)."}
{"_id":"UKtest871","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhat will happen if I am not well enough to take my EPA?\nIf you are unwell, or in a period of self-isolation, and unable to attend your\nEPA, please contact your training provider as soon as you are able, to allow\nthem maximum time to re-schedule your assessment.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest872","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhat does this mean for the arrangement for gateway prior to EPA?\nWe want to make it as straightforward as possible to continue EPA. Lifting the\nrule to take the test for intermediate (level 2) apprentices should help them\nto progress to EPA during the coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest873","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nI am having to move critical worker staff into different and\/or business critical roles that are connected to their apprenticeship. Can they continue training?\nWhere apprentices can remain on their programme, they should continue to\nfulfil the minimum 20% off-the-job training entitlement. Off-the-job training\ncan already be delivered flexibly at a time and way to suit the employer and\napprentice (remote observations, distance learning, etc.) and many providers\nhave developed additional training material in response to coronavirus\n(COVID-19). If a critical worker apprentice has been redeployed into another\nrole, then some of this activity may still count towards off-the-job training\nbut this should be discussed and agreed between the employer and provider. All\noff-the-job training must be relevant new training that develops the\nknowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship and, where funding is\nbeing accessed, it must be delivered by an organisation on the Register of\nApprenticeship Training Providers. Evidence of delivery must be kept."}
{"_id":"UKtest874","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nI need to take care of myself\/a family member. Can I continue my apprenticeship learning at home?\nYes, this may be possible, depending on your apprenticeship and whether\ne-learning is available from your training provider. Please check their\nwebsite or contact them to discuss your options."}
{"_id":"UKtest875","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nHow do I record progress towards my apprenticeship while I am subject to different working conditions like working from home?\nYou should already be recording your off-the-job training activity using an\napproach agreed with your training provider. Please continue to use this in\nthe coming weeks."}
{"_id":"UKtest876","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nMy employer is making me redundant. What happens to my apprenticeship?\nPlease speak to your training provider if you are made redundant as your\napprenticeship training may be able to continue.\nYour training provider may still be able to offer training, based on your\ncircumstances, in the short term. They may even be able to support you in\nfinding a new employer.\nIf that move becomes permanent, you should look to see which alternative\napprenticeship your apprentice can transfer to at Find Apprenticeship\nTraining\nand liaise with your training provider in the usual way."}
{"_id":"UKtest877","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions\nI am a levy-payer with funds in my account. Why can\u2019t my funds be used to continue to pay the provider even though they can\u2019t deliver training? This will help them cope with the financial impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).\nWhere training cannot take place for any reason, an apprentice must be put on\na break in learning. When on a break in learning the individual will still be\nemployed and classed as an apprentice, and they can continue working, but we\ncannot pay for training delivery that isn\u2019t taking place.\nWhere the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak results in loss of income due to\nceased or reduced delivery of training, training providers should consider\ntheir eligibility and apply for the wide range of financial support that HM\nTreasury has already announced for businesses. Read the support for\nbusinesses guidance."}
{"_id":"UKtest878","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhere the EPA plan states that assessment must be conducted face-to-face, but cannot be under the current circumstances, can we conduct these remotely?\nWhere an assessment method requires face to face engagement, this can be\nconducted remotely, subject to the following conditions:\n\narrangements are cleared in advance by the EQA provider\nthe apprentice\u2019s identity is verified\n\nremote tests are supervised by an appropriately trained invigilator or assessor who:\n\nhas the necessary qualifications, training or experience\nand who has not been involved in the training, preparation or line management of the apprentice\nappropriate technology and systems are in place\nthe impact that remote assessment may have on apprentices is to be taken into consideration to ensure a fair and reliable assessment of occupational competence\nhere alternatives are not appropriate, a pause and rescheduling might be the only action. An extension of 12 weeks is allowable for those EPA plans where a time limit is specified from gateway to EPA. It is to be logged on and shared with EQA providers on a timely basis\n\n\n\n[EQA]: external quality assurance\n  [EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest879","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWhat happens to the apprentice during a period of unpaid leave in terms of monies, do they have access to universal credit?\nThrough the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to\naccess support to continue paying part of their employees\u2019 salary for those\nemployees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. HMRC\nwill reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of \u00a32,500 per\nmonth.\nAlternatively, Universal Credit may be available for both workers and the\nunemployed alike, as long as they meet the other conditions of entitlement\n(including that the applicant and their partner have savings of under \u00a316,000\nbetween them). Apprentices may be entitled to access Universal Credit during a\nperiod of unpaid leave. They may also have access to Universal Credit even if\nthey were working and being paid. Being laid off or on fewer hours could\nincrease the rate of Universal Credit entitlement.\nApprentices on unpaid leave may also be eligible for other\nbenefits."}
{"_id":"UKtest880","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nDue to business continuity measures, all staff are required to be available at their usual place of work in their usual job role. How can my apprentices continue their learning?\nIf your apprentices are required to attend their usual place of work in their\nusual job role (critical workers), there are several options available:\n\napprentices could engage in digital or distance learning at a convenient time within their agreed working hours\nthey could be offered additional on-site mentor support\nthey could take a short pause in their learning of less than 4 weeks while still completing by their planned end-date\nthey could take a formal break in learning of 4 weeks or more and re-calculate the planned end-date upon their return to learning\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest881","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWill there be a requirement to go back and take the level 2 functional skills test after the apprenticeship has been achieved?\nStudying and taking the test for intermediate apprentices is suspended until\nJuly 2020, upon which time we will review this position. There will be no\nrequirement for those apprentices who are passed through gateway to go back\nand take the level 2 functional skills test."}
{"_id":"UKtest882","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nI have been furloughed, can I still take my end-point assessment?\nYes, where apprentices are furloughed, they can sit their EPA providing that\nthey meet the conditions for furloughed apprentices.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest883","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nCan an existing member of staff start an apprenticeship whilst they are furloughed?\nYes, a furloughed member of staff can start an apprenticeship, but they must\nstill meet the learner eligibility and programme eligibility criteria of the\napprenticeship funding rules. For example, the apprenticeship must be a real\njob, the candidate must require a programme that has a minimum training\nduration of 12 months, with a minimum of 20% off the job training over this\nduration to become occupationally competent. With regards to learner\neligibility the provider should consider how they would assure the ESFA of the\nidentity and eligibility of the individual and how they would carry out the\ninitial assessment.\n*[ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest884","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWhat funding support is currently available to support redundant apprentices?\nThe existing funding support relating to redundancy is outlined in the table\nbelow. In additional to this funding support, a package of pastoral support is\ncurrently being put together and information will follow on this shortly.\nApprentice is within 6 months of the final day of training We will fund 100%\nof the remaining costs of the price negotiated between the provider and the\nprevious employer, up to the funding band maximum.Within this 6 month period:-\nIf the apprentice finds a new employer where they can complete their\napprenticeship, the new employer assumes outstanding liabilities and benefits\nfrom that point.- If the apprentice takes a job with an employer which is not\nrelated to their apprenticeship, we will continue to fund the remaining costs.\nApprentice is between 6 months and 12 months of the final day of training We\nwill fund the remaining costs of the price negotiated between the provider and\nthe previous employer, for a maximum of 12 weeks. Within this 12 week period:-\nIf the apprentice finds a new employer where they can complete their\napprenticeship, the new employer assumes outstanding liabilities and benefits\nfrom that point.- If the apprentice takes a job with an employer which is not\nrelated to their apprenticeship, we will continue to fund the remaining costs\nfor up to 12 weeks.- If a new employer is not found within 12 weeks, the\napprentice is withdrawn from the programme but can return to the same\napprenticeship at a later date, without the need to satisfy the 12 month\nminimum duration rule.\nApprentice is more than 12 months away from the final day of training We will\nfund the remaining costs of the price negotiated between the provider and the\nprevious employer for a maximum of 12 weeks.Within this 12 week period:- If\nthe apprentice finds a new employer where they can complete their\napprenticeship, the new employer assumes outstanding liabilities and benefits\nfrom that point.- If the apprentice takes a job with an employer which is not\nrelated to their apprenticeship, we will continue to fund the remaining costs\nfor up to 12 weeks.- If a new employer is not found within 12 weeks, the\napprentice is withdrawn from the programme. If they return at a later date to\nthe same apprenticeship, they would need to satisfy the 12 month minimum\nduration rule."}
{"_id":"UKtest885","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWhy should I continue my learning if I can\u2019t attend my place of work?\nWe do not want the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to\nprevent apprentices continuing to learn where this is still possible. Not\nbeing able to apply the learning straight away might present some challenges,\nbut there are benefits from carrying on with the apprenticeship during this\ntime, including continued engagement and progression that can all be applied\nto the job once it is safe and practical to do so."}
{"_id":"UKtest886","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWill I be paid for continuing my learning if I have been furloughed?\nYes. While furloughed you will still be paid by your employer and pay taxes\nfrom your income. While you cannot undertake work for your employer while on\nfurlough you can undertake training. Where training has been required by your\nemployer you should be paid the appropriate minimum wage for the time spent\ntraining. This will be covered as part of your furlough payment in the first\ninstance.\nYour time spent training must be paid at the appropriate minimum wage. Where\nthe total furlough payment amount equates to less than the appropriate minimum\nwage for the total amount of your time spent training, during the furlough\nperiod, your employer should top up your furlough payment."}
{"_id":"UKtest887","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nMy employer is asking me to take a period of unpaid leave. What happens to my apprenticeship during that time?\nMany employers who had planned to ask employees to take unpaid leave during\nthis period will now be able to access the government\u2019s Coronavirus Job\nRetention Scheme and receive financial support to keep you employed. You\nshould speak to your employer about this to understand whether you are still\nbeing asked to take unpaid leave or if your status is now considered to be\nfurloughed. There is a section on furloughed apprentices in this document.\nIf you are still being asked to take unpaid leave, then you can take a break\nfrom your apprenticeship and resume when you return to work. Please get in\ntouch with your training provider, who will inform us of a break in learning.\nOnce you are back at work you can resume your apprenticeship, which your\ntraining provider can help with too. You should refer any queries around terms\nand conditions, including wages, to your employer in the first instance.\nACAS may also be a good source of information."}
{"_id":"UKtest888","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWe can deliver part of the EPA, but some sections require direct observation. How do we deal with these components?\nThese elements of the EPA will need to be rescheduled if they cannot be\nundertaken remotely. If the EPA timeframe needs to be extended beyond what is\nallowed in the assessment plan, the EPAO should seek agreement from the EQA\nprovider. Where a specified assessment method for a specific standard might be\nadjusted without threatening safety and in a manner in which it meets the\noriginal intent, EPAOs should discuss this option with their EQA provider, who\nmay refer it to IFATE for authority. The substitution of assessment methods is\nnot considered appropriate at this time.\nWith the prior authority of their EQA provider, assessments may be conducted\nin an appropriate simulated environment, such as a training facility.\n[EPA]: end-point assessment\n  [EQA]: external quality assurance\n  [EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations\n  [IFATE]: Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education"}
{"_id":"UKtest889","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nIf the current situation continues for a long period of time, would you consider awarding the apprenticeship without the EPA?\nWe would not consider this to be appropriate at the current time. Our\nintention is to safeguard the quality of apprenticeships, and at this time we\nbelieve that the EPA is an important part of that.\nEQA providers have agreed flexibilities which apply to over 60 standards from\nActuarial Technician to Senior Equine Groom to Adult Care Worker. These\nflexibilities have the potential to allow thousands of apprentices to\nundertake EPA, despite the current operating constraints.\n[EPA]: end-point assessment\n  [EQA]: external quality assurance"}
{"_id":"UKtest890","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nGateways are being delayed and we cannot complete the EPA in the required timeframe. Can we extend the EPA timeframe due to the current disruption?\nApprentices who are deemed ready for assessment, and cannot be assessed due to\nassessor illness, or coronavirus (COVID-19) related measures, are allowed to\ntake a break before taking their EPA and for the EPA to be rescheduled.\nIf the EPA timeframe needs to be extended beyond what is allowed in the\nassessment plan (where specified), EPAOs are responsible for agreeing\nextensions to EPA timeframes during the current disruption. EPAOs should work\nclosely with EQA providers to ensure that quality of EPA is maintained. For\napprentices whose gateway is being delayed, the training provider must report\nthis as a break in learning in the ILR.\n[EPA]: end-point assessment\n  [EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations\n  [EQA]: external quality assurance\n  [ILR]: individualised learner record"}
{"_id":"UKtest891","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nI am having to move critical worker staff into different and\/or business critical roles that aren\u2019t related to their apprenticeship. What happens to their apprenticeship if they can\u2019t continue training?\nApprenticeship training must be linked to the job role that the individual is\nundertaking. Where this link is broken temporarily, it is our goal that\napprentices can promptly resume their apprenticeship and continue to\nsuccessful completion of EPA at a future date. Funding rules currently state\nthat a break in learning must be initiated by the apprentice. Employers and\ntraining providers can now temporarily also report and initiate a break in\nlearning where the interruption to learning is greater than 4 weeks. This\nguidance document sets out what employers and training providers need to do\nwhen breaks in learning are more or less than 4 weeks, and if that break\ncommences during or after March.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest892","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nIf I can\u2019t work\/attend training, will I still be paid?\nAn apprenticeship is a job with training, so even when you are not able to do\nyour training, you are still employed, unless you have been notified otherwise\nby your employer. You will be paid in line with the details in your employment\ncontract.\nWhere you are unable to work, we suggest speaking to your employer about their\npolices on pay. The government is providing a range of support to employers to\nhelp them retain and pay the wages of employees (including apprentices) during\nthe coming months."}
{"_id":"UKtest893","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nAs an employer how will I know if I need to top up an employee\u2019s wages if they are furloughed but continuing with their apprenticeship?\nWhere training is undertaken by furloughed employees, at the request of the\nemployer, they are entitled to be paid at least their appropriate National\nMinimum Wage for this time. In most cases, the furlough payment of 80% of an\nemployee\u2019s regular wage, up to the value of \u00a32,500, will provide sufficient\nmonies to cover these training hours. However, where the overall time spent\ntraining during the furlough period, attracts a minimum wage entitlement in\nexcess of the furlough payment, employers will need to pay the additional\nwages. This is because time spent training is treated as working time for the\npurposes of the minimum wage calculations, and therefore must be paid at the\nappropriate rate, taking into account the increase in minimum wage rates from\n1 April 2020.\nEmployers should consider the hours that an employee is expected to train\nduring the period of the furlough (which must be a 3-week minimum). Employers\nwill need to ensure that the furlough payment provides sufficient monies to\ncover these training hours. Where the entire furlough payment equates to less\nthan the appropriate minimum wage entitlement for the training hours during\nthe furlough period, the employer will need to pay the additional wages to\nensure at least the appropriate minimum wage is paid for the time spent\ntraining.\nOur worked examples show how to calculate whether the furlough payment equates\nto less than the appropriate minimum wage entitlement for time spent training.\nExample 1:\n18 year old first year apprentice is on a 37 hours per week contract and has\nbeen furloughed. They are continuing to train for 1 day per week (7.5 hours\nper week).\nIn terms of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulations they are entitled to\n\u00a34.15 for every hour they train. (Note that the NMW legislation does not apply\nto time not in work or training.)\nOver the 3 week furlough period (the pay reference period) this amounts to an\nNMW entitlement of \u00a393.38 (\u00a34.15 x 7.5 hours x 3 weeks).\nThe 80% furlough payment that they have received from their employer is \u00a3368.\nThis furlough payment provides sufficient money to cover these training hours.\nExample 2:\n22 year old second year apprentice is on a 37 hours per week contract and has\nbeen furloughed. They have agreed, with their employer and provider, to train\nfor 4 days per week (7.5 hours per day) (to cover as much off-the-job training\nas possible during this period).\nIn terms of the National Minimum Wage regulations they are entitled to \u00a38.20\nfor every hour they train. (Note that the NMW legislation does not apply to\ntime not in work or training.)\nOver the 3 week furlough period (the pay reference period) this amounts to a\nNMW entitlement of \u00a3738 (\u00a38.20 x 7.5 hours x 4 days x 3 weeks).\nThe 80% furlough payment that they have received from their employer is\n\u00a3728.16. This furlough payment does not provide sufficient money to cover\nthese training hours and the employer would need to top up the difference\n(\u00a39.84).\nNote in both cases above the apprentice, prior to furlough, was paid at\/close to the National Minimum Wage.\n  [NMW]: National Minimum Wage"}
{"_id":"UKtest894","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWhen an apprentice is working from home, can we count anything they do as off-the-job training?\nOff-the-job training is a statutory requirement for an English apprenticeship.\nIt is training which is received by the apprentice during the apprentice\u2019s\nnormal working hours, for the purpose of achieving the knowledge, skills and\nbehaviours of the approved apprenticeship referenced in the apprenticeship\nagreement.\nAll off-the-job training must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship, but\nthis can now be delivered more flexibly, including remote working.\nEmployers may set employees training tasks when they\u2019re working from home, but\nwhere these are not directly linked to the apprenticeship, it cannot be\nclassed as off-the-job training."}
{"_id":"UKtest895","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nCan an employer recruit a new member of staff into the business as an apprentice?\nYes, an employer can recruit and start apprenticeships as they would have done\nprior to coronavirus (COVID-19), if all personal and programme eligibility\nfunding rules can be met and the provider is still able to support this\nactivity.\nIt is important to note that an employer can only claim for furloughed\nemployees that were on the PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. Therefore,\nit would not be possible for an employer to recruit an apprentice after this\ndate where the intention is to furlough this person immediately and claim wage\nsupport from the CJRS."}
{"_id":"UKtest896","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nCan EPAs be staggered to ease pressure on EPAOs?\nIt is the responsibility of the end-point assessment organisation to agree the\nschedule of EPA. You should refer to the assessment plan for the\napprenticeship standard to check if there is a time limit for the assessment\ntaking place following gateway.\nWhere an EPA cannot be undertaken immediately, a pause and rescheduling might\nbe the only action. An extension of 12 weeks is allowable for those EPA plans\nwhere a time limit is specified from gateway to EPA. It is to be logged on and\nshared with EQA providers on a timely basis.\n[EPA]: end-point assessment\n  [EQA]: external quality assurance"}
{"_id":"UKtest897","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nCan I change training provider if they are offering more on-line\/digital delivery?\nA change in training provider can occur at any time, although it is likely to\nbe more difficult in the current climate.\nWhen an apprentice and employer start working with a new training provider,\nactivity must take place to ensure that the apprenticeship programme and\napprentice are eligible for funding. Examples of necessary activity include:\n\ninitial assessment of the apprentice\ncompletion and signing of agreements\n\nEvidence must be collected and retained to support this activity but can be\nheld in a digital or electronic format."}
{"_id":"UKtest898","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nIf I need to self-isolate, what will happen to my apprenticeship?\nApprenticeships have been designed to be responsive to changes in apprentices\u2019\ncircumstances, for example during a period of illness. If you need to self-\nisolate, please talk to your employer and training provider about the best way\nto continue with your apprenticeship or report a break in learning.\nOptions include:\n\nan increase in e-learning\na short pause of less than 4 weeks in your apprenticeship while you are in self- isolation. This will not affect the planned end-date of your apprenticeship\na formal break in learning of 4 weeks or more that your training provider should report to the ESFA. This will result in the planned end-date for your apprenticeship being re-planned upon returning to learning to take into consideration the duration in line with the length of your break\nre-scheduling planned assessment activity for a later date\n\nThe appropriate steps will be agreed based on your and your employer\/ training\nprovider\u2019s situation.\n*[ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest899","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nMy employer is enforcing a work from home policy and my classroom provision has been withdrawn. What are my options?\nIf you are unable to attend scheduled learning events, there are several\noptions available to you:\n\nyour training provider may provide digital or distance learning\nyou can take a short pause if it is likely your apprenticeship can resume in less than 4 weeks and you will still be able to complete your apprenticeship by the planned end-date\nyou can take a formal break in learning of 4 weeks or more which your training provider should report to the ESFA and will result in the planned end-date of your apprenticeship being re-planned upon returning to learning, to take into consideration the duration of your break\n\nPlease talk to your employer and training provider to agree the appropriate\nsteps for your circumstances.\n*[ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency"}
{"_id":"UKtest900","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWill training providers be paid more for rescheduling off-the-job training and bringing it forward?\nNo, the normal monthly payment profile will apply over the length of the\napprenticeship, as it currently does whether providers deliver blocks of\ntraining or more evenly spaced training. Providers should factor this in if\nthey are considering a change to the delivery methodology and timetable."}
{"_id":"UKtest901","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nCan training continue for furloughed apprentices?\nYes, where apprentices are furloughed, they can continue to train for their\napprenticeships, as long as it does not provide services to or generate\nrevenue for their employer."}
{"_id":"UKtest902","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nApprentices are ready for EPA but can\u2019t take it. Should they be paid more than the apprenticeship minimum wage now?\nAn apprentice is classed as an apprentice until they have taken their EPA.\nApprentices must be paid at least the apprentice minimum wage, but an employer\ncan choose to pay an apprentice more than this, all employers must comply with\nNational Minimum Wage legislation.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest903","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions\nWhat will happen if an apprentice\u2019s line manager has been furloughed and their employer is unable to confirm their readiness to take EPA with their training provider and EPAO?\nIf the person who would normally sign an apprentice off as ready to take their\nEPA has been furloughed, and there is no suitable alternative, we support\nproviders to make the gateway decision. This temporary arrangement can only be\nrelied upon where the provider can provide evidence to the EPAO that the\napprentice has met the relevant gateway requirements and is ready to sit their\nEPA. Where this is not the case then the EPA should be rescheduled.\nApprentices whose gateway is delayed can have an extension to the assessment\ntimeframe.\n*[EPA]: end-point assessment"}
{"_id":"UKtest904","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nWill employers and training providers need to revise the price of the apprenticeship if the delivery method is changing?\nThe price of an apprenticeship is negotiated and agreed upon by an employer\nand provider. If any material changes occur to the agreed delivery method that\nmay result in a change in price, then this should be discussed and amended.\nWe accept that this might be challenging in the current environment and so,\nwhile we would encourage material changes to be recorded, we understand it may\nnot be possible to do it immediately.\nEmployer-providers will need to ensure that they are only claiming for the\nactual costs incurred throughout the apprenticeship and that these might now\nhave changed."}
{"_id":"UKtest905","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)\nApprenticeship training frequently asked questions\nCan a furloughed apprentice use work technology (laptop etc) to access apprenticeship off-the-job training?\nYes, a work laptop can be used to access apprenticeship training if this is\nthe only option, but the apprentice must be mindful of the fact that whilst\nthey are furloughed they must not carry out their normal work."}
{"_id":"UKtest906","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI am still being charged for childcare although my children cannot attend. Will my Childcare Grant still cover this?\nYes. If you are still being charged by your childcare provider, and you\u2019re\nstill a student, your Childcare Grant will still be paid. The amount payable\nwill remain capped at 85% of the cost charged, or the maximum applicable rate\nof Childcare Grant, whichever is lower.\nIf you use the Childcare Grant Payment Service, you will need to continue to\nreview the invoices and approve your Childcare Grant payments online."}
{"_id":"UKtest907","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI cannot send new medical evidence from my GP because of COVID-19. Do I have to wait until I have new evidence to make my application for Disabled Students\u2019 Allowances (DSAs)?\nNo. Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we understand that you may not be\nable to get any new medical evidence or diagnostic assessment reports. You\nshould send us any evidence you already have so we can check your eligibility\nfor DSAs. If we need additional evidence, we will let you know.\nStudent Finance England will accept an evaluation of need in place of a full\ndiagnostic assessment if you have Specific Learning Difficulties. If you have\nan evaluation of need, you should email it to\ndsa_medical_evidence@slc.co.uk along\nwith your full name, customer reference number and date of birth. Student\nFinance England will accept any evaluation of need completed up to and\nincluding 31 August 2020."}
{"_id":"UKtest908","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nWhat if I cannot post the evidence you\u2019ve asked for because I\u2019m self-isolating or unwell?\nDon\u2019t worry about sending evidence just now if you\u2019re not able to. Our\npriority is your safety and well-being so stay at home. If you send us\nevidence later than normal, we\u2019ll make sure you don\u2019t lose out on student\nfinance because of this."}
{"_id":"UKtest909","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nWill I still get student finance next year if I have to repeat or extend my study?\nYes. We already have a process for handling this type of situation where\nstudents sometimes have to repeat a year for various reasons.\nFor any period of previous study you will still be able to get a Maintenance\nLoan.\nA Tuition Fee Loan is available for the full length of your first course, plus\none extra year if needed. If you don\u2019t have enough years of funding left to\ncover your course fees, you may be able to get an extra year of support due to\ncompelling personal reasons.\nIf you\u2019re eligible for Disabled Students\u2019 Allowances (DSAs), you\u2019ll receive\nDSA support for the duration of your studies. DSAs are unaffected by previous\nstudy."}
{"_id":"UKtest910","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nWill my payments be delayed?\nNo. SLC can confirm that students will receive their scheduled or next\ninstalment of their Maintenance Loan at the planned start of their summer\nterm, regardless of whether their university or provider has made alternative\narrangements for teaching."}
{"_id":"UKtest911","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nIf my placement is delayed what impact will this have on my student finance?\nIf your current academic year gets extended, meaning your course lasts longer\nthan 30 weeks and 3 days, we will assess you for what we call a \u2018Long Courses\nLoan\u2019.\nThe Long Courses Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan so to be eligible, you\nmust be getting the extra Maintenance Loan that depends on your household\nincome.\nYour university or college will have to tell us about this extension before we\ncan assess you for the Long Courses Loan."}
{"_id":"UKtest912","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nMy childcare provider has closed and you\u2019ve sent me a CCG2 form. If I can\u2019t send this back will I still be paid Childcare?\nDon\u2019t worry about sending us a CCG2 form just now if you\u2019re not able to. Our\npriority is your health and well-being so stay at home. When we get your form\nlater in the year we\u2019ll finalise your payments then.\nIf you have been overpaid, we\u2019ll reduce your 2020\/21 grant entitlement by the\noverpayment amount. We understand this may cause you financial hardship.\nShould this happen, we will work with you at the time to find a more\naffordable way for you to pay back the overpayment."}
{"_id":"UKtest913","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nIf my academic year gets extended, will student finance be extended to help me cover that?\nYes. If your current academic year gets extended, meaning your course lasts\nlonger than 30 weeks and 3 days, we will assess you for what we call a \u2018Long\nCourses Loan\u2019.\nThe Long Courses Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan so to be eligible, you\nmust be getting the extra Maintenance Loan that depends on your household\nincome.\nYour university or college will have to tell us about this extension before we\ncan assess you for the Long Courses Loan.\nIf you\u2019re eligible for Disabled Students\u2019 Allowances (DSAs), you\u2019ll receive\nDSAs support for any extensions given by your university or college."}
{"_id":"UKtest914","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nCan I still contact you if I need help?\nWe\u2019re pleased to confirm that we have now began to operate a partial service\nin our contact centres for students in\nEngland,\nWales and Northern\nIreland following a temporary closure.\nWe only have a limited number of staff available and we are prioritising\nurgent enquiries so please do not call if you have a general enquiry.\nOur Student Finance England social media team are now available to answer\nquestions about your funding on Facebook\nand Twitter.\nStudents in Wales can find out general information on the Student Finance\nWales Facebook and\nTwitter pages."}
{"_id":"UKtest915","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI\u2019ve had to come back from the UK before the end of my year abroad. I\u2019m now doing alternative study, will I still get my student finance?\nYes. If you are continuing your studies remotely, your tuition fees and living\ncosts will still be paid as planned."}
{"_id":"UKtest916","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI am a Migrant Worker, how will COVID-19 affect my student finance?\nAny payments which shown in your online account will be paid to you as\nscheduled.\nWe will not be asking for any more evidence of employment for the rest of the\n2019 to 2020 academic year.\nIf your employment situation changes, you can send us evidence of this later\nwhen it\u2019s safe to do so."}
{"_id":"UKtest917","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI am looking to reapply as a Migrant Worker, how will the COVID-19 outbreak affect this?\nWe understand that you may be worried about qualifying as a Migrant Worker due\nto changes in your employment. We are working with the government to answer\nany questions you may have and will have an update soon.\nIf your employment hasn\u2019t been affected, you should apply now for 2020 to\n2021.\nIf your employment has been affected, you can apply now as an EU student to\nensure your Tuition Fee Loan is in place. You can apply for Migrant Worker\nfunding later, once we have clear guidance for you."}
{"_id":"UKtest918","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nWill I still get paid if I\u2019m not studying on campus anymore or my school, college or university has closed?\nFurther Education\nFor Advanced Learner Loans, we will continue to make scheduled fee payment to\nproviders. Providers must continue to inform us if and when a learner\u2019s\ncircumstances change.\nFor Education Maintenance Allowance in Wales, colleges are allowed to continue\nEMA payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, at their discretion. Learner\nabsence for reasons of illness, self-isolation or college closure can all be\ntreated as authorised absences."}
{"_id":"UKtest919","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nMy parent\/partner has recently lost their job. How will this affect my student finance?\nSome student finance is based on your household income so we\u2019ll need financial\ndetails from your parent(s) or partner to calculate how much funding you can\nget. However, we understand that financial circumstances can change and we\nhave a process in place to help with that. This process makes sure you won\u2019t\nlose out on any student finance you\u2019re entitled to.\nDuring the student finance application process your parent(s)\/partner will be\nasked to provide financial details from a previous tax year. If they\u2019ve lost\ntheir job and are not earning as much now as they did then, we can look at\nyour application based on their \u2018Current Year Income (CYI)\u2019. But this can only\nbe done after they\u2019ve given us the details of the previous tax year.\nThere are different rules for the CYI process depending on where you live in\nthe UK and also the type of student finance you\u2019re applying for \u2013 to find out\nthe specific rules that apply to you go to the relevant website:\n\nStudent Finance England\nStudent Finance Wales\nStudent Finance Northern Ireland\n"}
{"_id":"UKtest920","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nI cannot get to a Study Needs Assessment Centre because of COVID-19. What should I do?\nNeeds Assessments can be done remotely if you cannot attend in person. The\nAssessment Centre will confirm in their report that your assessment was\ncompleted remotely.\nIf you prefer a face to face assessment, or the disability\/condition you have\ncannot be assessed remotely, you should contact your Assessment Centre as soon\nas you can. They will give you further information about booking your Needs\nAssessment.\nIf your Needs Assessment is completed remotely or face to face, we will only\nprocess your application for Disabled Students\u2019 Allowances once we receive the\nreport from your Assessment Centre."}
{"_id":"UKtest921","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nMy parent\/partner has recently lost their job. How will this affect my student finance?\n2019\/20 Academic year\nIf your student finance has already been calculated for 2019\/20 using the CYI\nprocess, we may need to contact your parent(s) or partner for financial\nevidence for the 2019\/20 tax year. In this case, we\u2019ll get in touch with them\nin late 2020. If their income is different to what they estimated previously,\nyour student finance will have to be recalculated."}
{"_id":"UKtest922","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nWill travel grant entitlement be affected for students that have to return early to the UK due to COVID-19?\nAs long as you\u2019ve spent at least 50% of your term abroad, any travel grant\nclaims for that time abroad can still be submitted and will be processed as\nnormal. Also, any payments already made to you will not be changed."}
{"_id":"UKtest923","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for current students\nHow is my non-medical helper support affected by COVID-19?\nIf the type of support offered by your non-medical helper is now done\nremotely, your Disabled Students\u2019 Allowances (DSAs) will still cover the cost\nof this. You should agree that remote support is acceptable with your non-\nmedical helper provider.\nWe understand that you may not have been able to attend classes because they\nwere cancelled by your university or college, and this could have impacted\nyour non-medical helper support. For Student Finance England, cancellations of\nyour non-medical helper will not be paid from your DSAs allowances.\nThe rules are different for Student Finance\nWales and Student\nFinance Northern Ireland."}
{"_id":"UKtest924","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nWhat if I cannot post the evidence you\u2019ve asked for because I\u2019m self-isolating or unwell?\nDon\u2019t worry about sending evidence just now if you\u2019re not able to. Our\npriority is your safety and well-being so stay at home. If you send us\nevidence later than normal we\u2019ll make sure you don\u2019t lose out on student\nfinance because of this."}
{"_id":"UKtest925","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nWill my application be delayed?\nAlthough these are extraordinary circumstances, we will continue to process\nany applications that have been received as quickly as we can. We do not\ncurrently expect any delays."}
{"_id":"UKtest926","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nI am looking to apply as a Migrant Worker, how will the COVID-19 outbreak affect this?\nWe understand that you may be worried about qualifying as a Migrant Worker due\nto changes in your employment. We are working with the government to answer\nany questions you may have and will have an update soon.\nIf your employment hasn\u2019t been affected, you should apply now.\nIf your employment has been affected, you can apply now as an EU student to\nensure your Tuition Fee Loan is in place. You can apply for Migrant Worker\nfunding later, once we have clear guidance for you."}
{"_id":"UKtest927","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nCan I still apply for student finance?\nNew and existing students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can continue\nto apply for student finance and we will continue to process any applications\nthat have been received as quickly as we can.\nPostgraduate and part-time undergraduate student finance applications for\nacademic year 2020 to 2021 are scheduled to open later this year. We will keep\nyou updated on our social media channels."}
{"_id":"UKtest928","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nI cannot post my DSA1 form to you because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Can I email it?\nYes. If you\u2019ve printed and signed your DSA1 form, we can accept a scanned copy\nof it. We can also accept a digital version of the form with your digital\nsignature.\nThe process is different depending on who is providing your DSAs.\n\nFor Student Finance England, send your form to dsa_team@slc.co.uk\nFor Student Finance Wales, send your form to sfw_dsa_team@slc.co.uk\nFor Student Finance Northern Ireland, send your form to the DSAs officer are your local Student Finance NI (SFNI) office.\n\nPlease be aware, these email addresses may not be able to respond to general\nDSA queries."}
{"_id":"UKtest929","title":"","text":"Guidance Guidance for prospective students\nI cannot complete my DSA1 form as my university or college is closed. What should I do?\nWhen filling in the DSA1 form, you can leave Section 5 blank. You should ask\nyour university or college to send us an email confirming:\n\nyour full name\nyour customer reference number (if known)\nthe academic year you\u2019re applying for\nyour course start date\nyour course end date\nyour year of study. For example, year 1 of 3\nyour level of study. For example, undergraduate or postgraduate\nwhether you\u2019re in attendance on your course or studying as part of a distance learning course\nwhether you\u2019re studying full-time or part-time\nif you\u2019re studying part-time, the intensity of your course. For example, 50% of the full-time equivalent\n\nFor Student Finance England, your college or university should email\ndsa_team@slc.co.uk\nFor Student Finance Wales, your college or university should email\nsfw_dsa_team@slc.co.uk\nFor Student Finance Northern Ireland, your college or university should email\nthe DSAs officer at your local Student Finance NI (SFNI) office."}
{"_id":"UKtest930","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nShould social care visits to extremely clinically vulnerable children and young people continue?\nExtra care should be taken visiting children and young people who are\nextremely clinically vulnerable and so are at very high risk of severe illness\nfrom coronavirus because of an underlying health condition. They should follow\nshielding guidelines and stay\nat home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact where possible.\nCoronavirus brings additional risk and complexity to social work practice and\nmay necessitate some different ways of working which should always be risk-\nbased.\nVisits to provide essential support such as social care or personal care\nshould continue only following a robust risk assessment."}
{"_id":"UKtest931","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nHow should I care for young children or children with special educational needs who do not understand why they must stay apart or who ignore distancing guidelines?\nYoung children and children with special educational needs may not be able to\nunderstand the need for social distancing and may also seek close interaction\nwith their peers or adults to provide reassurance at a period of disruption to\ntheir routines.\nIt is imperative that education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings\nconduct risk assessments around managing groups of children within the\nsetting. This should include limiting the number of children in each group and\nreducing this to provide more space in each classroom or learning area.\nAs far as possible, small groups of children should be supported by consistent\nstaffing, and groups should remain as consistent as possible throughout the\noutbreak."}
{"_id":"UKtest932","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nHow should PPE and face coverings be disposed of?\nUsed PPE and any disposable face coverings that staff, children, young people\nor other learners arrive wearing should be placed in a refuse bag and can be\ndisposed of as normal domestic waste unless the wearer has symptoms of\ncoronavirus, in line with the guidance on cleaning for non-healthcare\nsettings.\nAny homemade non-disposable face coverings that staff or children, young\npeople or other learners are wearing when they arrive at their setting must be\nremoved by the wearer and placed into a plastic bag that the wearer has\nbrought with them in order to take it home. The wearer must then clean their\nhands.\nTo dispose of waste from people with symptoms of coronavirus, such as\ndisposable cleaning cloths, tissues and PPE:\n\nput it in a plastic rubbish bag and tie it when full\nplace the plastic bag in a second bin bag and tie it\nput it in a suitable and secure place marked for storage for 72 hours\n\nWaste should be stored safely and securely kept away from children. You should\nnot put your waste in communal waste areas until the waste has been stored for\nat least 72 hours. Storing for 72 hours saves unnecessary waste movements and\nminimises the risk to waste operatives. This waste does not require a\ndedicated clinical waste collection in the above circumstances.\nSettings such as residential care homes or special schools that generate\nclinical waste should continue to follow their usual waste policies.\nFurther information is also available in the cleaning non-healthcare settings\nguidance.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest933","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat care should be taken in residential settings, including residential schools, residential special schools and children\u2019s care homes?\nResidential settings in which no one is showing symptoms should respond to\ncoronavirus like any other domestic household. However, it is important that\nsoft toys are not shared between children.\nWhere a child in a residential setting develops symptoms of coronavirus:\n\nstaff can continue to enter and leave the home as required, consistent staff rotas should be used where possible and staff should follow good infection prevention control\nthe isolation guidance for residential settings should be followed\nstaff should wear PPE for activities requiring close contact\nstaff should adhere to social distancing guidelines as far as they are able to, but should take account of children\u2019s emotional needs\n\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest934","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat care should be taken in foster care settings?\nFoster homes in which no one is showing symptoms of coronavirus should respond\nto coronavirus like any other domestic household. This should not prevent the\ndelivery of care to children.\nIf foster carers are caring for a child who develops symptoms of coronavirus,\ntheir fostering service should:\n\nassess the ability of the carer to continue to deliver care to the child\nensure the foster home follows the guidance for households to avoid the spread of infection\nconsult the foster carer on how best to protect themselves and the child\n\nIf foster carers develop symptoms of coronavirus, their fostering service\nshould:\n\nassess the ability of the carer to continue to deliver care to the child\nensure the foster home follows the guidance for households to avoid the spread of infection\nif additional support is needed for the carer or child, ensure that staff providing this care are provided with PPE prior to entering the home and follow the guidance below on home visiting\n\nFoster carers are able to request PPE from their fostering service provider,\nif needed, in line with guidance for local authorities on children\u2019s social\ncare.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest935","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nIs PPE required for tasks involving changing nappies or general care for babies?\nStaff should follow their normal practice when changing nappies and caring for\nbabies more generally, provided the child is not showing symptoms of\ncoronavirus. This includes continuing to use the PPE that they would normally\nwear in these situations, for example aprons and gloves. If a child shows\nsymptoms, they should not attend a childcare setting and should be at home.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest936","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat specific steps should be taken to care for children with complex medical needs, such as tracheostomies?\nThere are a small number of medical procedures which increase the risk of\ntransmission through aerosols (tiny droplets) being transferred from the\npatient to the care giver. These are known as aerosol generating procedures\n(AGPs). Within education and children\u2019s social care settings these are only\nundertaken for a very small number of children with complex medical needs,\nsuch as those receiving tracheostomy care.\nStaff performing AGPs in these settings should follow Public Health England\u2019s\npersonal protective equipment (PPE) guidance on aerosol generating\nprocedures, and wear the correct PPE\nwhich is:\n\na FFP2\/3 respirator\ngloves\na long-sleeved fluid repellent gown\neye protection\n\nThe respirator required for AGPs must be fitted correctly (known as \u2018fit\ntesting\u2019) by an individual trained to do this. Staff in education and\nchildren\u2019s social care settings that need support with fit testing should\ncontact the appropriate health lead for the child\/young person. This could be\neither via the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND for support from the local\nClinical Commissioning Group, or via the lead nursing team in the health\nprovider.\n[AGPs]: aerosol generating procedures\n  [PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest937","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nHow should I care for children who regularly spit?\nIf non-symptomatic children present behaviours which may increase the risk of\ndroplet transmission (such as spitting), they should continue to receive care\nin the same way, including any existing routine use of PPE.\nTo reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, no additional PPE is\nnecessary, but additional space and frequent cleaning of surfaces, objects and\ntoys will be required. Cleaning arrangements should be increased in all\nsettings, with a specific focus on surfaces which are touched a lot. Read\nguidance on cleaning for non-healthcare\nsettings.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest938","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nIn non-residential settings, what should be done if a child, young person or other learner becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus and needs to be cared for until they can return home?\nIf anyone in an education, childcare or non-residential children social care\nsetting becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or\nhas a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste of smell, they must\nbe sent home and advised to follow the guidance for households with possible\ncoronavirus\ninfection.\nIf a child is awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a\nroom where they can be isolated behind a closed door, with appropriate adult\nsupervision if required depending on the age of the child. Ideally, a window\nshould be opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move\nthem to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.\nIf they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should\nuse a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and\ndisinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.\nPPE should be worn by staff caring for the child while they await collection\nif direct personal care is needed and a distance of 2 metres cannot be\nmaintained (such as for a very young child or a child with complex needs).\nIn an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life\nis at risk. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.\nIf a member of staff has helped someone with symptoms they do not need to go\nhome unless they develop symptoms themselves. They should wash their hands\nthoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell.\nCleaning the affected area with normal household disinfectant after someone\nwith symptoms has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to\nother people. Read guidance about cleaning non-healthcare\nsettings.\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest939","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nHow to work safely in specific situations, including where PPE may be required\nReference to PPE in the following situations means:\n\nfluid-resistant surgical face masks\ndisposable gloves\ndisposable plastic aprons\neye protection (for example a face visor or goggles)\n\nWhere PPE is recommended, this means that:\n\na facemask should be worn if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained from someone with symptoms of coronavirus\nif contact is necessary, then gloves, an apron and a facemask should be worn\nif a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of fluids entering the eye from, for example, coughing, spitting or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn\n\nWhen PPE is used, it is essential that it is used properly. This includes\nscrupulous hand hygiene and following guidance on how to put PPE on and take\nit off safely in order to\nreduce self-contamination.\nFace masks must:\n\ncover both nose and mouth\nnot be allowed to dangle around the neck\nnot be touched once put on, except when carefully removed before disposal\nbe changed when they become moist or damaged\nbe worn once and then discarded - hands must be cleaned after disposal\n\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest940","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat care should be taken in early years settings?\nBecause it is challenging to reduce contact between young children in early\nyears settings, regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, objects and\ntoys, as well as handwashing, are particularly important. The use of soft toys\nand toys with intricate parts or that are otherwise hard to clean should be\navoided. Read guidance on cleaning for non-healthcare\nsettings.\nSettings should manage risks by keeping children in small groups and trying,\nas far as possible, to keep the same children and staff members together from\nday to day. Settings should consider staggering mealtimes and should\ndiscourage parents and carers from gathering at setting entrances. As far as\npossible, parents and carers should not enter early years premises."}
{"_id":"UKtest941","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat care should staff visiting families in their own homes take?\nSocial workers, other children\u2019s social care staff and anyone else considering\nthe need for a home visit should follow the children\u2019s social care services\nguidance and make a judgement\nabout visiting which balances considerations of the:\n\nrisks to children and young people\nrisks to families\nrisks to the workforce\nnational guidance on social distancing and hygiene\nstatutory responsibilities, including safeguarding\n\nStaff and their managers are best placed to make professional judgements of\nrisk in each case and decide what form of contact they need.\nThere are many ways to keep in touch with a child, young person or family\nwithout physical face-to-face contact. It is expected that these will be\nutilised appropriately and proportionately, including in response to any risk\nassessment undertaken for the child on a case by case basis.\nPrior to undertaking a visit, an attempt should be made to ascertain whether\nany member of the household is suffering from symptoms of coronavirus. An\ninitial risk assessment, where possible, should take place by\ntelephone.\nWhere households report no coronavirus symptoms, no PPE is required, but a\ndistance of 2 metres should be maintained where possible. Where this is not\npossible, you should undertake a risk\nassessment. Good basic hygiene should be followed, such as\nhandwashing or use of sanitiser before and after the visit, and not touching\nyour face during the visit.\nWhere households are reporting coronavirus symptoms, PPE should be worn if a\ndistance of 2 metres cannot be maintained.\nWhere it is not possible to ascertain whether any member of the household is\nsuffering from symptoms of coronavirus prior to face to face contact, steps\nshould be taken where practical, to mitigate risk. These steps include but are\nnot restricted to:\n\nknocking on the front door or ringing the doorbell and then stepping back to a distance of 2 metres in adherence to social distancing guidelines\ntaking PPE as a precautionary measure\n\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest942","title":"","text":"Guidance Safe working in education, childcare and children\u2019s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)\nWhat protection is needed when transporting children?\nIf the children or young people being transported do not have symptoms of\ncoronavirus, there is no need for a driver to use PPE.\nIn non-residential settings, any child, young person or other learner who\nstarts displaying coronavirus symptoms while at their setting should wherever\npossible be collected by a member of their family or household. In exceptional\ncircumstances, where this is not possible, and the setting needs to take\nresponsibility for transporting them home, or where a symptomatic child or\nyoung person needs to be transported between residential settings, you should\ndo one of the following:\n\nuse a vehicle with a bulkhead\nthe driver and passenger should maintain a distance of 2 metres from each other\nthe driver should use PPE, and the passenger should wear a face mask if they are old enough and able to do so\n\n*[PPE]: personal protective equipment"}
{"_id":"UKtest943","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nAre all children and young people with EHC plans expected to attend?\nVulnerable children and young people are expected to attend, if it is\nappropriate for them (for example where there are no shielding concerns for\nthe child or young person or their household, and\/or following a risk\nassessment for children or young people with an EHC plan). This is so they can\naccess the educational and wellbeing benefits of attending. Vulnerable\nchildren and young people \u2013 regardless of year group \u2013 who have not been\nattending in the recent period are expected to return to nursery, early years,\nschool or college provision if it is now appropriate for them to do so.\nThere is further information on attendance outlined in the guidance on\nactions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening\nfrom 1 June 2020.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest944","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nDoes school or college provision have to be delivered as it usually is for children and young people with EHC plans?\nDue to the unprecedented circumstances presented by coronavirus, the section\n42 Children and Families Act 2014 duty to secure the provision within an EHC\nplan has been temporarily modified so that local authorities and health\ncommissioning bodies must use their \u2018reasonable endeavors\u2019 to discharge this\nduty. This means that local authorities and health bodies must consider what\nthey need to provide for each individual child or young person with an EHC\nplan during the period that the modified section 42 duty is in force. For some\nchildren and young people, the provision specified in their plan will continue\nto be delivered, but for others, the provision may need temporarily to be\ndifferent to that which is set out in their EHC plan.\nMore information is available in the guidance on changes to the law on\neducation, health and care needs assessments and plans due to\ncoronavirus.\nAs per the actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider\nopening from 1 June 2020\nguidance, no school will be penalised if it is unable to offer a\nbroad and balanced curriculum to its pupils during this period.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest945","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nCan the risk assessment be reviewed or changed as events change?\nYes. Local authorities and educational settings will need to revisit and\nupdate risk assessments as circumstances change. For example, the needs of\nsome children and young people may be able to be met at home but only for a\nfinite amount of time."}
{"_id":"UKtest946","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWho might be involved in supporting learning for those children and young people who remain at home, on a full or part time basis?\nEducational settings should ensure that pupils and students who are not\nattending settings full time in person continue to engage in learning as far\nas is possible (for example through remote education), and that an increasing\nfocus is put on preparing the way for their return. Providers should engage\nproactively with parents and carers to explain the support that their children\nare receiving, to discuss the plans for returning and to consider how parents\ncan support this and any additional help they might need.\nWe have an experienced, expert workforce of special educational needs\ncoordinators (SENCos), education psychologists, speech and language\ntherapists, qualified teachers of sensory impairments, other therapists, and\nteaching assistants often with specialist knowledge.\nDesigning at-home learning and support for children and young people with EHC\nplans could involve any or all of these professionals, to design or adapt\ninterventions or learning materials. For example, this might involve designing\na speech and language intervention that parents can deliver at home, or\nadapting or selecting online learning materials.\nFor those children and young people with EHC plans in mainstream schools and\ncolleges, SENCos will typically lead on ensuring that they have access to\nmaterials they can use to learn, often drawing on other professionals to\nsource or adapt online learning that addresses a child or young person\u2019s\nspecial educational needs. Similarly, education psychologists may play a key\nrole in recommending the essential provision for a child or young person to\nreceive at home.\nIn addition to a suite of online lessons and materials available from the Oak\nNational Academy\u2019s specialist\ncurriculum for\nchildren and young people with profound needs, we are helping parents to\nsupport learning at home, including by publishing a list of online learning\nresources for children with\nSEND.\n[EHC]: education, health and care plan\n  [SEND]: special educational needs and disability"}
{"_id":"UKtest947","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWhat does it mean for attendance to be \u2018appropriate\u2019 or \u2018expected\u2019 for particular children and young people?\nThe guidance on vulnerable children and young\npeople refers to pupils\nand students attending if it is \u2018appropriate\u2019. For children and young people\nwith an EHC plan, when a child or young person\u2019s needs can be met as safely or\nmore safely in the educational environment, attendance is deemed \u2018appropriate\u2019\nand these children and young people should be strongly encouraged to attend.\nIf their needs cannot be met as safely or more safely in the educational\nenvironment, attendance is \u2018not appropriate\u2019 at this time and these children\nand young people should remain at home and be supported through remote\neducation and other services, where possible. Local authorities and\neducational providers should keep risk assessments under review, in case\ncircumstances change and a different decision is needed.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest948","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nIs the government prescribing a particular form or process for the risk assessment?\nNo. Local authorities and educational settings will have their own\narrangements in place. We trust local leaders to agree what the most\nappropriate and proportionate formats are."}
{"_id":"UKtest949","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nCan dual-registered children and young people attend both settings?\nMoving between settings will increase the risk of viral spread, however there\nare circumstances where this may be required, such as where a child or young\nperson\u2019s needs cannot be met without provision in two settings. This means\nthat provision in two settings is possible, but will be subject to the child\nor young person\u2019s individual risk assessment, and on the ability of both\nsettings to accommodate the child or young person. These risk assessments are\nlikely to be complex, and the two settings may need to liaise with one\nanother. It may be best for a child or young person to return to only one\nsetting, or to return to one setting first before returning to both, so that\ntheir opportunity to receive on-site education is not delayed due to those\ncomplexities."}
{"_id":"UKtest950","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWho needs to be involved in making\/updating the risk assessment?\nThe key risk assessors should be local authorities and educational settings,\ntaking into account the needs and views of the child\/young person, their\nparents\/carers and social workers and virtual school heads where appropriate.\nWhere an educational setting makes a decision without being able to involve\nthe local authority, for instance where circumstances are changing too\nrapidly, they should inform the local authority of that decision immediately.\nWhere a child or young person is not initially returning to their educational\nsetting, local authorities and educational settings need to ensure that the\nfamily understands the support plan that is in place for them.\nIf a child or young person has a diagnosis of a learning disability (such as\nprofound and multiple learning difficulties, or a severe learning difficulty),\nautism or both, and behaviours that challenge or a mental health condition,\nthe risk assessors should ensure, with the agreement of the family, that the\nchild is identified on the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group dynamic support\nregister (see the nasen guide improving health care: learning disabilities\nand\nautism\nfor further information)."}
{"_id":"UKtest951","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWhat about the risk to staff working hands-on with pupils and students who cannot adhere to strict hygiene practices?\nWe recognise that some children and young people with special educational\nneeds present behaviours that are challenging to manage in the current\ncontext, such as spitting uncontrollably. It will be impossible to provide the\ncare that some children and young people need without close hands-on contact.\nIn these circumstances, staff should minimise close contact wherever possible,\nincrease hand-washing and other hygiene measures, and clean surfaces more\nregularly and maintain existing routine use of personal protective equipment.\nWe recommend that educational settings follow the Public Health England\nguidance on cleaning in non-healthcare\nsettings and the guidance on safe working in education, childcare and\nchildren\u2019s social care\nsettings."}
{"_id":"UKtest952","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nHas the responsibility for special educational provision changed?\nResponsibility for commissioning any at-home special educational provision\nlies with the local authority responsible for maintaining the EHC plan,\nalthough it may be possible for some of the provision to be provided by the\nschool or college or even in a home setting. The local authority should work\nwith the educational setting to ensure that parents and carers are aware of\nthe education, health and care services available to them at home.\nUnder the temporarily modified section 42 duty, local authorities and health\ncommissioning bodies must use their \u2018reasonable endeavours\u2019 to discharge the\nduty to secure or arrange the provision specified in a child or young person\u2019s\nEHC plan. We have published detailed guidance on the changes to the law on\neducation, health and care needs assessments and\nplans due\nto coronavirus. It includes some illustrative examples of the type of\narrangements that might be reasonable for local authorities and health\ncommissioning bodies to put in place.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest953","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nHow does this guidance impact children and young people who have an EHC plan and a social worker?\nThere are a significant number of children and young people with an EHC plan\nand a social worker.\nDecisions about whether these children and young people should attend or\nreturn to an educational setting should be made collaboratively on an\nindividual basis. Local authorities and educational settings should work with\nparents or carers, the child or young person and social workers to undertake\nor update a risk assessment to determine where the child or young person\u2019s\nneeds and best interests can be best met.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest954","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWhat should be considered when updating risk assessments?\nFor children and young people for whom a risk assessment continues to be\nrecommended, up to and\/or after 1 June, their risk assessment will need to\nbalance a number of different risks, including:\n\nthe potential health risks to the individual from coronavirus, bearing in mind any underlying health conditions\/ clinical vulnerability. For further information, refer to the guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus\nthe risk to the individual if some or all elements of their EHC plan temporarily cannot be delivered in the normal manner or in the usual setting, and the opportunities to meet needs in a different way temporarily, for example, in the home or online or in a different way at school\nthe ability of the individual\u2019s parents or carers or home to ensure that their health and care needs can be met safely week-round or for multiple weeks, bearing in mind the family\u2019s access to respite care. (This may be particularly important to consider, from 1 June, for those children and young people who are not in the year groups prioritised for a return to education settings.)\nany risk to siblings or family members if the child or young person\u2019s condition prevents or inhibits self-regulation and if their behaviours cannot be supported or managed by parents or carers at home\nthe potential impact to the individual\u2019s wellbeing of changes to routine or the way in which provision is delivered\nany safeguarding risks for children with a social worker if not in school and the need to support care placements for looked-after children (see the vulnerable children and young people guidance for further information on school attendance for children with a social worker)\nany other out-of-school\/college risk or vulnerability, for example, a child or young person becoming involved in dangerous behaviour or situations (including the risk of exploitation)\n\nIf a risk assessment determines that a child or young person\u2019s needs continue\nto be more safely met at home, local authorities, educational settings and\nparents should consider whether moving either equipment or services into a\nchild or young person\u2019s home would enable them to be supported there. This may\nbe a more feasible solution for day settings than residential settings, and\nmay include:\n\nphysiotherapy equipment\nsensory equipment\nonline sessions with different types of therapists\nphone support for parents in delivering interventions\nin-person services, where necessary\n\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"UKtest955","title":"","text":"Guidance Supporting children and young people with SEND as schools and colleges prepare for wider opening\nQuestions and answers\nWhy is it now safe for some children to return to school or college when it wasn\u2019t previously?\nThere will be many children and young people with EHC plans who, following\ntheir original risk assessment, have not been attending their educational\nsetting because it was determined that their needs could be more safely met at\nhome. Risks change over time, and the phased return to educational settings\nwill only take place if the national risk level is lower than it was when\neducational settings were first asked to close to most pupils and students,\ni.e. if the government\u2019s five key\ntests are met. When that is the case, it will be\nright for educational settings and local authorities, working with families,\nto bring back more children and young people who have not been attending their\neducational setting. This will be based on individual risk assessments and\nwithin the limits of what the educational setting is capable of accommodating,\ngiven any staff absences and the need for protective measures.\n*[EHC]: education, health and care plan"}
{"_id":"WHOtest0","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms and when should I seek medical care?\nIf you have minor symptoms, such as a slight cough or a mild fever, there is\ngenerally no need to seek medical care. Stay at home, self-isolate and monitor\nyour symptoms. Follow national guidance on self-isolation.\nHowever, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever it is important\nthat you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical help. When you attend\nthe health facility wear a mask if possible, keep at least 1 metre distance\nfrom other people and do not touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a child\nwho is sick help the child stick to this advice.\nSeek immediate medical care if you have difficulty breathing or pain\/pressure\nin the chest. If possible, call your health care provider in advance, so\nhe\/she can direct you to the right health facility."}
{"_id":"WHOtest1","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nAre antibiotics effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?\nNo. Antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial\ninfections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work.\nAntibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of\nCOVID-19. In hospitals physicians will sometimes use antibiotics to prevent or\ntreat secondary bacterial infections which can be a complication of COVID-19\nin severely ill patients. They should only be used as directed by a physician\nto treat a bacterial infection."}
{"_id":"WHOtest2","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow long does it take after exposure to COVID-19 to develop symptoms?\nThe time between exposure to COVID-19 and the moment when symptoms start is\ncommonly around five to six days but can range from 1 \u2013 14 days."}
{"_id":"WHOtest3","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow to properly wear a medical mask?\nIf you choose to wear a mask:\n\nBefore touching the mask, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water\nTake the mask and inspect it for tears or holes.\nOrient which side is the top side (where the metal strip is).\nEnsure the proper side of the mask faces outwards (the coloured side).\nPlace the mask to your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so it moulds to the shape of your nose.\nPull down the mask\u2019s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin.\nDo not touch the mask while you are wearing it for protection.\nAfter use, take off the mask with clean hands; remove the elastic loops from behind the ears while keeping the mask away from your face and clothes, to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask. \nDiscard the mask in a closed bin immediately after use. Do not reuse the mask.\nPerform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask \u2013 Use alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash your hands with soap and water.\n\nBe aware that there is a global shortage of medical masks (both surgical masks\nand N95 masks). These should be reserved as much as possible for health care\nworkers.\nRemember that masks are not a substitute for other, more effective ways to\nprotect yourself and others against COVID-19 such as frequently washing your\nhands, covering your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and maintain a\ndistance of at least 1 meter from others. See basic protective measures\nagainst the new coronavirus for more\ninformation.\nFollow the advice of your national health authority on the use of masks."}
{"_id":"WHOtest4","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow can we protect others and ourselves if we don't know who is infected?\nPracticing hand and respiratory hygiene is important at ALL times and is the\nbest way to protect others and yourself ~~.~~\nWhen possible maintain at least a 1 meter distance between yourself and\nothers. This is especially important if you are standing by someone who is\ncoughing or sneezing. Since some infected persons may not yet be exhibiting\nsymptoms or their symptoms may be mild, maintaining a physical distance with\neveryone is a good idea if you are in an area where COVID-19 is circulating."}
{"_id":"WHOtest5","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow to grocery shop safely?\nWhen grocery shopping, keep at least 1-metre distance from others and avoid\ntouching your eyes, mouth and nose. If possible, sanitize the handles of\nshopping trolleys or baskets before shopping. Once home, wash your hands\nthoroughly and also after handling and storing your purchased products.\nThere is currently no confirmed case of COVID-19 transmitted through food or\nfood packaging."}
{"_id":"WHOtest6","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nCan I catch COVID-19 from my pet or other animals?\nSeveral dogs and cats (domestic cats and tigers) in contact with infected\nhumans have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, ferrets appear to be\nsusceptible to the infection. In experimental conditions, both cats and\nferrets were able to transmit infection to other animals of the same species.\nHowever, there is no evidence that these animals can transmit the disease to\nhumans and spread COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets\nproduced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.\nMinks raised in farms have also been detected with the virus. Most likely,\nthey have been infected by farm workers. In a few instances, the minks that\nwere infected by humans have transmitted the virus to other people. These are\nthe first reported cases of animal-to-human transmission.\nIt is still recommended that people who are sick with COVID-19 and people who\nare at risk limit contact with companion and other animals. When handling and\ncaring for animals, basic hygiene measures should always be implemented. This\nincludes hand washing after handling animals, their food or supplies, as well\nas avoiding kissing, licking or sharing food.\nMore recommendations are available on the OIE website:\nhttps:\/\/www.oie.int\/en\/scientific-expertise\/specific-information-and-\nrecommendations\/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus\/\nWHO continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID-19 topics\nand will update as new findings are available."}
{"_id":"WHOtest7","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow long does the virus survive on surfaces?\nThe most important thing to know about coronavirus on surfaces is that they\ncan easily be cleaned with common household disinfectants that will kill the\nvirus. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72\nhours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours on copper and less\nthan 24 hours on cardboard.\nAs, always clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with\nsoap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose."}
{"_id":"WHOtest8","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat is COVID-19?\nCOVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered\ncoronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began\nin Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting many\ncountries globally."}
{"_id":"WHOtest9","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nCan I catch COVID-19 from the faeces of someone with the disease?\nWhile initial investigations suggest the virus may be present in faeces in\nsome cases, to date, there have not been reports of faecal-oral transmission\nof COVID-19. Additionally, there is no evidence to date on the survival of the\nCOVID-19 virus in water or sewage.\nWHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will\ncontinue to share new findings on this topic."}
{"_id":"WHOtest10","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nCan children or adolescents catch COVID-19?\nResearch indicates that children and adolescents are just as likely to become\ninfected as any other age group and can spread the disease.\nEvidence to date suggests that children and young adults are less likely to\nget severe disease, but severe cases can still happen in these age groups.\nChildren and adults should follow the same guidance on self-quarantine and\nself-isolation if there is a risk they have been exposed or are showing\nsymptoms. It is particularly important that children avoid contact with older\npeople and others who are at risk of more severe disease."}
{"_id":"WHOtest11","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat should I do if I have no symptoms, but I think I have been exposed to COVID-19? What does it mean to self-quarantine?\nTo self-quarantine means to separate yourself from others because you have\nbeen exposed to someone with COVID-19 even though you, yourself, do not have\nsymptoms.During self-quarantine you monitor yourself for symptoms. The goal of\nthe self-quarantine is to prevent transmission. Since people who become ill\nwith COVID-19 can infect people immediately self-quarantine can prevent some\ninfections from happening. .\nIn this case:\n\nHave a large, well-ventilated single room with hand hygiene and toilet facilities\nIf this is not available place beds at least 1 metre apart.\nKeep at least 1-metre distance from others, even from your family members.\nMonitor your symptoms daily\nSelf-quarantine for 14 days, even if you feel healthy\nIf you develop difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately \u2013 call them first if possible.\nStay positive and energized by keeping in touch with loved ones by phone or online, and by exercising yourself at home.\n\nHowever, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever it is important\nthat you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical help. When you attend\nthe health facility wear a mask if possible, keep at least 1 metre distant\nfrom other people and do not touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a child\nwho is sick help the child stick to this advice."}
{"_id":"WHOtest12","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow does COVID-19 spread?\nPeople can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease spreads\nprimarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth,\nwhich are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.\nThese droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the\nground. People can catch COVID-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a\nperson infected with the virus. This is why it is important to stay at least 1\nmeter) away from others. These droplets can land on objects and surfaces\naround the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People can become\ninfected ~~~~ by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes,\nnose or mouth. This is why it is important to wash your hands regularly with\nsoap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand rub.  \nWHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways that COVID-19 is spread and will\ncontinue to share updated findings."}
{"_id":"WHOtest13","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nCan COVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?\nCOVID-19 is mainly spread through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who\nis coughing or has other symptoms such as fever or tiredness. Many people with\nCOVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true in the early\nstages of the disease. It is possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has\njust a mild cough and does not feel ill.\nSome reports have indicated that people with no symptoms can transmit the\nvirus. It is not yet known how often it happens. WHO is assessing ongoing\nresearch on the topic and will continue to share updated findings."}
{"_id":"WHOtest14","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease?\nStay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on\nthe WHO website and through your national and local public health authority.\nMost countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and many are\nexperiencing outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have\nsucceeded in slowing their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable\nso check regularly for the latest news.\nYou can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking\nsome simple precautions:\n\nRegularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.\nMaintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and others. Why? When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease. \nAvoid going to crowded places. Why? Where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has COVID-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre. \nAvoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you. \nMake sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. \nStay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others. Why? Avoiding contact with others will protect them from possible COVID-19 and other viruses. \nIf you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, but call by telephone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. \nKeep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities. Why? Local and national authorities are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest15","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nDoes WHO recommend wearing medical masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19?\nCurrently, there is not enough evidence for or against the use of masks\n(medical or other) in healthy individuals in the wider community. However, WHO\nis actively studying the rapidly evolving science on masks and continuously\nupdates its guidance.\nMedical masks are recommended primarily in health care settings, but can\nbe considered in other circumstances (see below). Medical masks should be\ncombined with other key infection prevention and control measures such as hand\nhygiene and physical distancing.\nHealthcare workers\nWhy? Medical masks and respirators such as N95, FFP2 or equivalent are\nrecommended for and should be reserved for, healthcare workers while giving\ncare to patients. Close contact with people with suspected or confirmed\nCOVID-19 and their surrounding environment are the main routes of\ntransmission, which means healthcare workers are the most exposed.\nPeople who are sick and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19\nWhy? Anyone who is sick, with mild symptoms such as muscle aches, slight\ncough, sore throat or fatigue, should isolate at home and use a medical mask\naccording to WHO\u2019s recommendation on home care of patients with suspected\nCOVID-19. Coughing, sneezing or talking can generate droplets that cause can\nspread the infection. These droplets can reach the face of others nearby and\nland on the surrounding environment. If an infected person coughs, sneezes, or\ntalks while wearing a medical mask, this can help to protect those nearby from\ninfection. If a sick person needs to go to a health facility they should wear\na medical mask.\nAnyone taking care of a person at home who is sick with COVID-19\nWhy? Those caring for individuals who are sick with COVID-19 should wear a\nmedical mask for protection. Again, close, frequent and prolonged contact with\nsomeone with COVID-19 puts caretakers at high risk. National decision makers\nmay also choose to recommend medical mask use for certain individuals using a\nrisk-based approach. This approach takes into consideration the purpose of the\nmask, risk of exposure and vulnerability of the wearer, the setting, the\nfeasibility of use and the types of masks to be considered."}
{"_id":"WHOtest16","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat is the difference between self-isolation, self-quarantine and distancing?\nQuarantine means restricting activities or separating people who are not ill\nthemselves but may have been exposed to COVID-19. The goal is to prevent\nspread of the disease at the time when people just develop symptoms..\nIsolation means separating people who are ill with symptoms of COVID-19 and\nmay be infectious to prevent the spread of the disease.\nPhysical distancing means being physically apart. WHO recommends keeping at\nleast 1 ~~-~~ metre distance from others. This is a general measure that\neveryone should take even if they are well with no known exposure to COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest17","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat does it mean to self-isolate?\nSelf-isolation is an important measure taken by those who have COVID-19\nsymptoms to avoid infecting others in the community, including family members.\nSelf-isolation is when a person who is experiencing fever, cough or other\nCOVID-19 symptoms stays at home and does not go to work, school or public\nplaces. This can be voluntarily or based on his\/her health care provider\u2019s\nrecommendation. However, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever\nit is important that you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical help.\nWhen you attend the health facility wear a mask if possible, keep at least 1\nmetre distant from other people and do not touch surfaces with your hands. If\nit is a child who is sick help the child stick to this advice.\nIf you do not live in an area with malaria or dengue fever please do the\nfollowing:\n- If a person is in self-isolation, it is because he\/she is ill but not\nseverely ill (requiring medical attention)\n\nhave a large, well-ventilated with hand-hygiene and toilet facilities \nIf this is not possible, place beds at least 1 metre apart \nKeep at least 1 metre from others, even from your family members \nMonitor your symptoms daily \nIsolate for 14 days, even if you feel healthy \nIf you develop difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately \u2013 call them first if possible\nStay positive and energized by keeping in touch with loved ones by phone or online, and by exercising yourself at home. \n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest18","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat is the connection between COVID-19 and animals?\nCOVID-19 is spread through human-to-human transmission.\nWe already know a lot about other viruses in the coronavirus family and most\nof these types of viruses have an origin in animals. The COVID-19 virus (also\ncalled SARS-CoV-2) is a new virus in humans. The possible animal source of\nCOVID-19 has not yet been confirmed but research is ongoing.\nWHO continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID-19 topics\nand will update, as new findings are available."}
{"_id":"WHOtest19","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat should I do if I have come in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?\nIf you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you may be\ninfected.\nClose contact means that you live with or have been in settings of less than 1\nmetre from those who have the disease. In these cases, it is best to stay at\nhome.\nHowever, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever it is important\nthat you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical help. When you attend\nthe health facility wear a mask if possible, keep at least 1 metre distant\nfrom other people and do not touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a child\nwho is sick help the child stick to this advice.\nIf you do not live in an area with malaria or dengue fever please do the\nfollowing:\n\nIf you become ill, even with very mild symptoms you must self-isolate \nEven if you don\u2019t think you have been exposed to COVID-19 but develop symptoms, then self-isolate and monitor yourself \nYou are more likely to infect others in the early stages of the disease when you just have mild symptoms, therefore early self-isolation is very important. \nIf you do not have symptoms, but have been exposed to an infected person, self-quarantine for 14 days. \n\nIf you have definitely had COVID-19 (confirmed by a test) self-isolate for 14\ndays even after symptoms have disappeared as a precautionary measure \u2013 it is\nnot yet known exactly how long people remain infectious after they have\nrecovered. Follow national advice on self-isolation."}
{"_id":"WHOtest20","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat is a coronavirus?\nCoronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals\nor humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory\ninfections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle\nEast Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).\nThe most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest21","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nIs there a vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19?\nWhile some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and\nalleviate symptoms of mild COVID-19, there are no medicines that have been\nshown to prevent or cure the disease. WHO does not recommend self-medication\nwith any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or cure for\nCOVID-19. However, there are several ongoing clinical trials of both western\nand traditional medicines. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and\nmedicines to prevent and treat COVID-19 and will continue to provide updated\ninformation as soon research results become available.\nThe most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are\nto:\n\nClean your hands frequently and thoroughly\nAvoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose\nCover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue. If a tissue is used, discard it immediately and wash your hands.\nMaintain a distance of at least 1 metre from others. \n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest22","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nWhat are the symptoms of COVID-19?\nThe most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness.\nOther symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include aches\nand pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea,\nloss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes.\nThese symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become\ninfected but only have very mild symptoms.\nMost people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital\ntreatment. Around 1 out of every 5 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously\nill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying\nmedical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes,\nor cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness. However, anyone\ncan catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. People of all ages who experience\nfever and\/or cough associated withdifficulty breathing\/shortness of breath,\nchest pain\/pressure, or loss of speech or movement should seek medical\nattention immediately. If possible, it is recommended to call the health care\nprovider or facility first, so the patient can be directed to the right\nclinic."}
{"_id":"WHOtest23","title":"","text":"Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)\nHow to wash fruits and vegetables?\nFruits and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet. Wash them\nthe same way you should do under any circumstance: before handling them, wash\nyour hands with soap and water. Then, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly\nwith clean water, especially if you eat them raw."}
{"_id":"WHOtest24","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nCan adolescents spread COVID-19 to other people even if they have mild or no symptoms?\nYes. Infected people in all age groups \u2013 including adolescents - can transmit\nthe virus to other people, even if they have mild symptoms or do not feel ill.\nThe virus is spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose\nor mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or\nspeaks. These droplets can land on objects and surfaces. People can then\nbecome infected by touching these objects or surfaces, and then touching their\neyes, nose or mouth."}
{"_id":"WHOtest25","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nIn the lockdown, I am spending much more time online playing games, socialising and studying. Should I be worried about this?\nCOVID-19 has abruptly pushed many people\u2019s daily lives online, and you may be\nspending even more hours online than before. While online solutions provide\nhuge opportunities for continuing your learning, socializing and playing, you\nshould try to limit the amount of screen time that is not related to your\nstudies or physical activity. This is because you need to be physically active\nto keep healthy and a positive attitude. In addition, some people are\nsensitive to flickering lights and may get headaches, nausea, and dizziness,\nand even seizures if they spend too much time in front of a screen. Therefore\nit is important to replace some of the recreational screen time with non-\nscreen activities, like listening to music, reading, playing board games, and\nphysical activity, like going for a walk or jog. Excessive gaming can lead to\n\u201cgaming disorder\u201d that leads to reduced sleep or day-night reversal, loss of\nappetite, aggression, headaches, and attention problems. If you experience\nthese symptoms, seek help from your parents or a trusted adult."}
{"_id":"WHOtest26","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nSome of my friends are not sticking to the rules about physical distancing. What should I do?\nExplain to your friends why it is important to protect themselves and others\nby washing their hands, avoiding touching their face, always coughing or\nsneezing into their elbow, sleeve, or a tissue, and cooperating with physical\ndistancing measures and movement restrictions when called on to do so. Maybe\nyou can share ideas for fun virtual activities that your friends can\nparticipate in, and you can encourage them to do them together with you or\nwith other friends. This way you are giving them alternatives rather than just\ntelling them to stay at home. But, remember that you do not have control over\nother peoples\u2019 actions so do not get into an argument or a fight to try to\nchange their minds."}
{"_id":"WHOtest27","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nWhen will this pandemic end so I can go back to school and meet up with my friends?\nWe don\u2019t know when the pandemic will end, but we know it depends on every\nindividual\u2019s contribution in helping stop the transmission. The sacrifices you\nhave made by not seeing your friends and by stopping going to school and other\nactivities are your contributions to fighting the pandemic. By putting\nsocieties and economies on hold, we have reduced the ability of the virus to\nspread through our communities. These defensive measures have helped to limit\nsome of the short-term impacts of the virus, and bought us time to translate\nwhat we have learned about the virus into solutions so that we can get back to\na more familiar way of living. It is important that you continue to practise\nthese measures and encourage your friends to do the same.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-\npublic ****"}
{"_id":"WHOtest28","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nSince my parents stopped going out to work, they have been arguing with each other much more, and in some instances, I have seen one parent harm or hurt the other either verbally or physically. I don\u2019t feel safe at home. What should I do?\nThis is a difficult time. Many people \u2013 including perhaps your parents - are\nworrying about security, health, and money. When people are in the cramped and\nconfined living conditions of lockdown, these tensions and stress can become\neven greater. It is normal to have disagreements. However, if the\ndisagreements become verbal or physical, then it is right to take action.  \nIf you are worried about what is happening in your home, or don\u2019t feel safe,\ntalk to a trusted adult about what worries you, and seek their advice. During\nan argument or a fight, try not to draw attention to yourself so that you\ndon\u2019t end up getting hurt. It might be useful to have a safety plan in case\nthe violence escalates. This includes preparing a bag with essential items,\nlike clothing, documents and electric charger, and having a neighbour, friend,\nrelative, or shelter identified to go to should you need to leave the house\nimmediately for safety reasons. Arrange with the trusted adult to help you\nalert the relevant authorities who can help you stay safe, including the\npolice, emergency health services and social services.  \nIn many of the countries that have been most affected by COVID-19, essential\nservices are still available, including shelters or protection services. If\nthere are no trusted adults for you to share your concerns with, your country\nmay have helplines, including text services so that you can communicate with\nsomeone who can help you or give you advice.\nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.unwomen.org\/-\/media\/headquarters\/attachments\/sections\/library\/publications\/2020\/issue-\nbrief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-\nen.pdf?la=en&vs=5006 \nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/publications-detail\/who-guidelines-for-the-health-sector-\nresponse-to-child-maltreatment ****  \nhttps:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/331699\/WHO-\nSRH-20.04-eng.pdf"}
{"_id":"WHOtest29","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nSince there are few known cases of adolescents getting seriously ill with COVID-19, should I go to a health facility if I develop symptoms of the disease?\nIf you have minor symptoms, such as a slight cough or a mild fever, there is\ngenerally no need to seek medical care. Stay at home, self-isolate and monitor\nyour symptoms. Follow national guidance on self-isolation.  \nAvoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these\nfacilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from\npossible COVID-19 and other viruses.  \nSeek medical care if your health gets worse, or if there is no one in your\nfamily that can take care of you at home. It is important that you follow the\nprocedures put in place by your country. Ask a family member or another\ntrusted adult how you can find out what these procedures are where you live.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-\npublic\nhttps:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/rest\/bitstreams\/1272288\/retrieve"}
{"_id":"WHOtest30","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nIs it safe to have sex at this time?\nThere is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through semen or vaginal\nfluids. However, having sex with someone means that you are very close to\nthem. This puts one person at risk if the other person has COVID-19.\nMasturbation does not involve another person, and carries no risk of COVID-19.\nAlso, having sex with a partner whom you are living with does not carry this\nrisk if both of you are taking steps to protect yourself from the virus. Make\nsure to use condoms and contraception to avoid sexually transmitted infections\nand unintended pregnancy.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/q-a-detail\/contraception-family-planning-and-\ncovid-19 \nhttps:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/resources\/adolescents-and-young-people-coronavirus-\ndisease-covid-19"}
{"_id":"WHOtest31","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI am missing out on my education because of the COVID-19 pandemic. What should I do?\nYour school or place where you are studying are likely to make arrangements\nfor you to catch up or to do exams at another time. Follow the procedures that\nyour school has put in place to reduce the immediate impact of school\nclosures, and to facilitate the continuity of education. If you have access to\ninternet, you can also consult your teachers and other trusted adults to\nidentify and access reliable online learning opportunities and resources,\nincluding those included in the distance learning solutions recommended by\nUNESCO, the United\nNations agency that helps countries improve their education systems. In\naddition, UNESCO is collecting stories from students, teachers and\nparents\nabout how they are coping and continuing to learn during school closures.\nAccess those stories, they might inspire you. You can also contact UNESCO and\nshare your story! Find out how to share it\nhere.  \nIn places where internet connectivity is a problem, many governments have\nstarted to broadcast educational programmes on TV and radio channels during\nschool closures. If you live in such a place, look out for educational\nprogrammes on your local TV and radio channels.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/en.unesco.org\/covid19\/educationresponse\/solutions \nhttps:\/\/www.voicesofyouth.org\/campaign\/studying-home-due-coronavirus-how-\nyoung-people-around-world-are-keeping-their-mood__"}
{"_id":"WHOtest32","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI am on medication for a chronic health condition. Should I change anything?\nIt is important to continue with any medication you may be using for chronic\nand other conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, HIV infection and TB, and\nattend recommended check-ups. Check with your health authorities and health\nprovider if these check-ups should be done differently during the COVID-19\noutbreak. Some services, such as counselling, may be available remotely. For\ntreatment of clinically stable adolescents with HIV and adolescents with TB\nand\/or other chronic conditions, your health provider should consider multi-\nmonth prescriptions and dispensing which will reduce the frequency of your\nvisits to the clinic and ensure continuity of treatment, if movements are\ndisrupted during the pandemic. Adherence to treatment is just as important\nduring this period.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/q-a-detail\/q-a-on-covid-19-hiv-and-\nantiretrovirals"}
{"_id":"WHOtest33","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI am feeling really anxious about COVID-19 and its impact on my life. What should I do?\nIn situations like a pandemic it is very normal to feel anxious and powerless,\nand that is ok. Here are a few suggestions on things that could help you\nproactively manage your anxiety:  \nThink about how you are feeling. Don\u2019t ignore your feelings, especially if\nyou don\u2019t feel well. When your life is disrupted, it is normal to have many\ndifferent feelings: worry, frustration, sad, stress, anger, anxiety - this can\nhappen to everyone. Draw on skills and strategies you have used in the past\nthat have helped you to manage life challenges, and skills to help you manage\nyour emotions. Here are a few examples:\n\nKeep a diary \nExpress your feelings through art, like writing a poem, drawing, dancing, or playing music \nTalk about your feelings and concerns with someone you trust \nTry some breathing exercises. You may find guided breathing exercises online if you have access to internet. \n\nDo something active every day : Any exercise will help, as it reduces\nlevels of the body's stress hormones, which can help your body and mind relax.\nExercise also produces a \u201cfeel good hormone\u201d called endorphins which can help\nto improve your mood. Try taking a walk, running, or any physical activity\noutdoors while keeping a distance from others. For those who are unable to\nleave the house, you could open the window for fresh air and do some indoor\nexercises to stay active.  \nDon\u2019t use smoking, eating, alcohol or other drugs to deal with your\nemotions.\nStay connected with friends and family either by communicating with them\nby phone or internet if you can., If you live close to them and the local\nrules allow you to, you could also talk to them in person while keeping your\ndistance.\nKeep a daily routine as much as possible. Try to go to bed and wake up at\nthe same times every day, making sure you get enough sleep. Plan ahead and try\nto have a balance of activities such as keeping up with schoolwork, physical\nexercise, connecting with friends and family, doing things you enjoy, and\neating regular meals.  \nTalk to a health worker or counsellor if you, or someone you care about:\n\nfeel overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, fears and worries \nfeel like stress gets in the way of your daily routines, or\nfeel like you want to harm yourself or others. \n\nAt this time, you may find it easier to speak to a counsellor than a health\nworker, given that there may be restrictions on movement and health facilities\nmay be busy caring for those with COVID-19.\nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/coronaviruse\/coping-with-\nstress.pdf \nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/coronaviruse\/helping-children-cope-\nwith-stress-print.pdf \nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/coronaviruse\/mental-health-\nconsiderations.pdf \nhttps:\/\/www.un.org\/youthenvoy\/2020\/04\/copingwithcovid-a-webinar-series-on-\nyoung-people-and-mental-health\/ \nhttps:\/\/www.voicesofyouth.org\/campaign\/covid-19-and-youth-mental-health"}
{"_id":"WHOtest34","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI am bored staying home. Since I am very unlikely to get severely ill even if I was to get COVID-19, why is it important that I follow the guidelines to prevent transmission such as keeping physical distance from other people?\nStaying at home is difficult and can get boring, but it may help to do\nsomething you enjoy. This could be reading a book, playing games or listening\nto music. Try to stay connected with friends and family every day either by\ncommunicating with them by phone or internet if you can, or, if you live close\nto them and the local rules allow you to, by talking in-person while keeping\nyour distance.  \nAt the same time, it is still really important that you reduce your chances of\nbeing infected or spreading COVID-19 by washing your hands with soap and water\nor alcohol-based hand rub as often as possible, keeping at least 1 metre (3\nfeet) from other people, and avoiding crowded places. You might be one of the\nunlucky adolescents who does get severely ill if you catch COVID-19, or you\ncould spread it to others and be responsible for them getting really ill or\neven dying. You have the power to make choices that could save lives and\ntogether young people can play an important part in fighting COVID-19.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-\npublic"}
{"_id":"WHOtest35","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nCOVID-19 is everywhere in the news, and I am finding it difficult to know what is true and what is false. What should I do?\nA near-constant stream of news, sometimes contradictory, can cause anyone to\nfeel lost and distressed. Make sure to use reliable sources such as the\nUNICEF and the World Health\nOrganization\u2019s sites to get\ninformation, or to check any information you might be getting through less\nreliable channels.\nIf you have a phone, you can use the WHO Health Alert on WhatsApp to get the latest information about the\npandemic. This is a new service, which is free to use, designed to give\nprompt, reliable and official information 24 hours a day, worldwide. Start by\nclicking WHO Health\nAlert,\nthen simply text the word \u2018Hi\u2019 in a WhatsApp message to get started. Keep in\nmind that overloading yourself with information about the COVID-19 pandemic\ncan also be stressful, so seek information updates and practical guidance at\nspecific times during the day and avoid listening to or following rumours that\nmake you feel uncomfortable.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/coronaviruse\/mental-health-\nconsiderations.pdf"}
{"_id":"WHOtest36","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI know there is a risk of getting COVID-19 at the moment, but I feel fine. Can I still play sports?\nYes. You can still play sports that are in line with the physical distancing\nmeasures and movement restrictions that are in place in your country. Being\nphysically active is good for your health, both physical and mental. Set up a\nregular routine to practice activities or sports that do not require close\ncontact with others every day for 1 hour. You can do individual sports, like\njogging, walking, dancing or yoga. There are many options to try. You can set\nup playground games indoors, such as jump rope and hop-scotch, play with your\nbrothers and sisters, and practice some strength training activities, using\nimprovised weights like bottles full of water or sand. If you have access to\nthe internet, you can also join in online active games or fitness classes, or\nset up your own online physical exercises with your friends or classmates.\nFind an activity that is fun, can be done within the restrictions that are in\nplace in your country, and makes you feel good."}
{"_id":"WHOtest37","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nCan adolescents catch COVID-19?\nYes. All age groups can catch COVID-19. While we are still learning about how\nCOVID-19 affects people, older persons (e.g. persons over 60 years) and\npersons with pre-existing medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart\ndisease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes, appear to develop serious illness\nmore often than others. As this is a new virus, we are still learning about\nhow it affects children and adolescents. Evidence to date suggests that\nchildren and adolescents are less likely to get severe disease, but severe\ncases and death can still happen in these age groups.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/docs\/default-source\/coronaviruse\/key-messages-and-\nactions-for-covid-19-prevention-and-control-in-schools-\nmarch-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=baf81d52_4 \nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/q-a-detail\/q-a-coronaviruses"}
{"_id":"WHOtest38","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI was due to get vaccinated for HPV, meningitis or tetanus, but immunization services have been disrupted. Should I be concerned?\nWHO recommends that all vaccination in schools and mass campaigns should be\npostponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccines provided to\nadolescents have sufficiently flexible schedules to make sure you can get the\nvaccine in time when vaccination services start again. For example, the HPV\nvaccine that requires two doses can be started any time between 9 and 14 years\nof age and the interval between the two doses can be longer. The minimum\ninterval between doses is 6 months, but it can be 12 or 15 months and, if\nnecessary, even longer. It is most important hat you receive the t second dose\nat some point in time to be fully protected.  \nDecisions to continue routine vaccination services are made by each country.\nAsk a family member or another trusted adult how you can get information about\nvaccination services where you live. It is important you get the vaccines you\nare supposed to get, even if they have to be delayed due to the COVID-19\npandemic.\nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/331590\/WHO-2019-nCoV-\nimmunization_services-2020.1-eng.pdf \nhttps:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/331818\/WHO-2019-nCoV-\nimmunization_services-FAQ-2020.1-eng.pdf"}
{"_id":"WHOtest39","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nSchools are reopening in some areas of my country. Is it safe to go back to school?\nA decision to reopen schools in every country and area is made based on\ncareful assessment of the situation, with consensus among all the key parties\ninvolved, including the health and education policy-makers, teachers and other\nschool staff, parents and health and community workers. In addition, the\nreopening of schools are carefully planned and prepared, with all necessary\nmeasures in place to protect the safety and health of everyone in the school\ncommunity.  \nTherefore, if your school reopens, you should feel assured it is safe for you\nto go back to school \u2013 provided that you strictly follow the guidelines and\nrules that will be provided by your school.  \nOf course, if you have any concerns with going back to school, do not hesitate\nto speak out to your teachers and parents or guardians.\nRead more:\nSchool reopening, UNESCO COVID-19 Education Response Education Sector Issue\nNote 7.1, April 2020\nPrepare for school reopening, IIEP-UNESCO's COVID response\nbrief,\nApril 2020"}
{"_id":"WHOtest40","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI heard I can be hurt by online contacts. What are my risks and how I can protect myself online.\nSince you might be spending even more time online than before, it is wise to\nbe aware of some of the risks. First, be careful what content you share\nonline. Risky behaviour, such as sexting or sharing of sexualized content, can\nexpose you to risks of blackmail, harassment and humiliation. Second, spending\nmore time online may increase the chances that you could come into contact\nwith online predators who seek to sexually exploit young people. When in front\nof webcams wear appropriate clothing and do not connect with teachers or\nvirtual classrooms from a bedroom. In addition, it\u2019s important to note that\nsome adolescents \u2013 for example those with disabilities and those perceived to\nbe different or at greater risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 - may be at\nincreased risk of cyberbullying and discrimination. Hurtful, discriminatory or\ninappropriate online contact is never okay. If in doubt, or if you feel\nuncomfortable or distressed about some interactions you have online, tell a\nparent or another trusted adult immediately.  \nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.unicef.org\/media\/67396\/file\/COVID-19%20and%20Its%20Implications%20for%20Protecting%20Children%20Online.pdf"}
{"_id":"WHOtest41","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nWhat should I do if someone in my family gets really ill with COVID-19?\nSeek medical care, if members of your family get seriously ill. If possible,\neither you or an adult should phone the local or national COVID-19 emergency\nnumber for advice on where and how you could get care. If your family member\nis confirmed as having COVID-19, you must be prepared that you and other known\ncontacts will need to monitor your symptoms, and continue to self-quarantine\nfor 14 days, even if you feel healthy.\nRead more:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-\npublic"}
{"_id":"WHOtest42","title":"","text":"Q&A: Adolescents, youth and COVID-19\nI don\u2019t like the way someone touches me at home and we are both at home all the time because of the pandemic. What should I do?\nIt is wrong for anyone to do this. And it is not your fault in any way. If you\nare staying in the same house as the person and\/or are dependent on him (it\nwill usually be a man), that may make some of the things that you could do\ndifficult, especially during stay-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19. Here\nare some things that you can consider doing to improve your safety while in\nthe house.  \n\n\nYou could tell him politely but firmly that you do not want him to touch you and ask him to please stop.\n\n\nYou could inform your parents or other caregivers or trusted adult in the house about what is happening.\n\n\nYou could inform a trusted adult outside your home such as a neighbour or a teacher or family friend or relative. \n\n\nIf you have access to a phone, you could call or text for help and support. This includes calling hotlines\/helplines for children and women who are in need of help or feeling distressed or subjected to abuse, or calling a child protection service in your area. Be careful not to leave your phone calls or text messages where anyone else could access them. \n\n\nIf you need to leave the house immediately because he is hurting or harming you, think of discretely (without him overhearing) pre-arranging with a neighbour or trusted relative or family friend to help you leave the house and stay with them until it is safe for you to return home.\n\n\nIf you have been sexually abused or raped and need urgent medical help or care, go as soon as possible to the nearest hospital or clinic to ask for medical care.   \n\n\nRead more: \nhttps:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/331699\/WHO-\nSRH-20.04-eng.pdf"}
{"_id":"WHOtest43","title":"","text":"Q&A: Be Active during COVID-19\nHow much physical activity is recommended?\nWHO has detailed recommendations on the amount of physical activity people of\nall ages should do to benefit their health and wellbeing. (available\nhere for children under age\nof 5 and\nhere\nfor youth, adults and olders) Here are the minimum levels we recommend:\nInfants under the age of 1 year need to \n\n\nbe physically active several times a day.\n\nChildren under 5 years of age \n\nshould spend at least 180 minutes a day in physical activities, with 3-4 year-olds being moderately or vigorously active for an hour a day. \n\nChildren and adolescents aged 5-17years ****\n\nall children and adolescents should do at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity, including activities that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 days per week. ****\n\nAdults aged over 18 years ****\n\nshould do a total of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week, including muscle-strengthening activities 2 or more days per week.\nolder adults with poor mobility should do physical activity to enhance balance and prevent falls on 3 or more days per week. \n\nBut any physical activity is better than none. Start with small amounts and\ngradually increase duration, frequency and intensity over time.\nBeing active during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for us all. Because\nthe opportunities to be physically active seem to be more restricted, it is\neven more important to plan in every day the ways to be active and to reduce\nthe time spent sitting for long periods. Put simply, it is a critical time to\nensure we all move more and sit less."}
{"_id":"WHOtest44","title":"","text":"Q&A: Be Active during COVID-19\nWhy do we need it?\nRegular physical activity benefits both the body and mind. It can reduce high\nblood pressure, help manage weight and reduce the risk of heart disease,\nstroke, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers. It also improves bone and muscle\nstrength and increases balance, flexibility and fitness. For older people,\nactivities that improve balance help to prevent falls and injuries. For\nchildren, regular physical activity helps support healthy growth and\ndevelopment and reduce the risk of disease in later life, and through regular\nactivity, children can develop fundamental movement skills and build social\nrelationships.\nRegular physical activity also improves mental health and can reduce the risk\nof depression, cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia - and improve\noverall feelings of wellbeing."}
{"_id":"WHOtest45","title":"","text":"Q&A: Be Active during COVID-19\nWhat is physical activity?\nPhysical activity includes all forms of active recreation, sports\nparticipation, cycling and walking, as well as activities you do at work and\naround the home and garden. It doesn\u2019t have to be exercise or sport \u2013 play,\ndance, gardening, and even house cleaning and carrying heavy shopping is all\npart of being physically active.\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many of us are very restricted in our\nmovements, it is even more important for people of all ages and abilities to\nbe as active as possible. Even a short break from sitting, by doing 3-5\nminutes of physical movement, such as walking or stretching, will help ease\nmuscle strain, relieve mental tension and improve blood circulation and muscle\nactivity. Regular physical activity can also help to give the day a routine\nand be a way of staying in contact with family and friends.\nEndFragment"}
{"_id":"WHOtest46","title":"","text":"Q&A: Be Active during COVID-19\nSo how do I stay safe while exercising in COVID-19?\nDo not exercise if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Stay\nhome and rest, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the\ndirections of your local health authority.\nIf you are able to go for a walk or bicycle ride always practice\nphysical distancing and wash your hands with water and soap before you leave,\nwhen you get to where you are going, and as soon as you get home. If water and\nsoap are not immediately available, use alcohol-based hand rub.\nIf you go to a park or public open space to walk, run or exercise always\npractice physical distancing and wash your hands with water and soap, before\nyou leave, when you get to where you are going, and as soon as you get home.\nIf water and soap are not immediately available, use alcohol-based hand rub.\nFollow the directions of your local health authority in regards to any\nrestrictions on the number of people with you and\/or restrictions on the use\nof public outdoor play or exercise equipment.\nIf you are not regularly active start slowly and with low intensity\nactivities , like walking and low impact exercises. Start with shorter\namounts, like 5-10 minutes, and gradually build up to 30 minutes or more\ncontinuously over a few weeks. It is better and safer to be active for short\nperiods more frequently than to try and be active for long periods when you\nare not used to it.\nChoose the right activity so that you reduce the risk of injury and that\nyou enjoy the activity. Choose the right intensity according to your health\nstatus and fitness level. You should be able to breath comfortably and hold a\nconversation while you do light- and moderate-intensity physical activity."}
{"_id":"WHOtest47","title":"","text":"Q&A: Be Active during COVID-19\nHow do I stay active in and around the home?\nTry and reduce long periods of time spent sitting , whether for work,\nstudying, watching TV, reading, or using social media or playing games using\nscreens. Reduce sitting for long periods by taking short 3-5 minute breaks\nevery 20-30 minutes. Simply stand up and stretch or even better, take a walk\naround the house, up and down the stairs, or into the garden. By just moving\naround and stretching you can improve your health and wellbeing. For more\nideas and illustrations of healthy stretches see\nhere.\nSet up a regular routine to be active every day , by planning a physical\nactivity or exercise break either by yourself, by joining an online class, or\nby setting up a time to be active online with your friends or colleagues.\nMaking a specific time to be active helps ensure you get your daily physical\nactivity. Put the time in your diary, and it will help remind you. Stick with\nit, as this will help you build a regular routine, and help you adjust to new\nways of working, study and family life under COVID-19 restrictions\nBe active with your family and friends , **** connecting with others\ncan help you and your family in the home and elsewhere spend time together and\nbe active. Planning time to be active with your children with active games at\nhome, walks in the parks, or cycling can be a way the whole family can relax,\nbe together and be active and healthy whilst at home.\nSet yourself and your family Be Active goals, by choosing a specific type\nof activity, time of day and\/or number of minutes you will do every day. Get\neach family member to choose their own goal which sets a bit of a challenge\nbut is realistic with help from family or friends and motivation. Record your\nprogress on a weekly activity chart and, if you think it would help, reward\nyourself with something you value.\nhttp:\/\/www.euro.who.int\/en\/health-topics\/health-emergencies\/coronavirus-\ncovid-19\/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-technical-guidance\/stay-physically-\nactive-during-self-\nquarantine\/_recache?fbclid=IwAR2RQYVYBnmpDCMjBwqmoz0hZxzmit_9yKzXu6ZhjGNywRTEzWOUQefU8V0\nMore physical activity ideas to help you stay active\nFor Infants under 1 year of age ****\n\nSpend regular time doing floor-based play with your baby in a prone position (\u2018tummy time\u2019) and spread this throughout the day while baby is awake.\n\nFor Children under 5 years of age ****\n\nActive play in and around the home \u2013 invent games which involve being active and can develop skills in throwing, catching, kicking, as well as developing posture and balance.\nActive play and games where children get out of breath, such as running around, skipping and jumping.  \n\nFor Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years ****\n\nActive games and active play with family. ****\nJoin in online active games or activity classes, also look for online physical education classes as well as exercise routines suitable for adolescents.\nSet up playground games indoors such as Jump rope and hop-scotch \u2013 make up new games and challenges that involve being active. \nLearn a new skill \u2013 for example try an learn to juggle. \nEncourage doing some muscle strength training activities such as lifting weights or use improvised weight such as bottles full of water or sand.\n\nFor Adults ****\n\nClimb up the stairs as much as you can, think of it as an opportunity to be active.\nUse household chores as a way to be more physical activity. \nJoin in an online exercise class or make up your own routine to music you enjoy that uses the major muscle groups and raises you heart rate. \nDo some muscle strengthening activities such as lifting weights or improvise using full bottles of water or simply use your own body weight and do sets of press ups, sit ups and squats. \nMake time for fun, such as dancing to music.\n\nWhere to get more help and information\nFor more ideas use internet search platforms and check out social media for\nsuggestions and access to free resources suitable for children of all ages and\nadults of all fitness and abilities."}
{"_id":"WHOtest48","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nI have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and am too unwell to breastfeed my baby directly. What can I do?\nIf you are too unwell to breastfeed your baby due to COVID-19 or other\ncomplications, you should be supported to safely provide your baby with breast\nmilk in a way possible, available, and acceptable to you. This could include:\n\nExpressing milk;\nDonor human milk. \n\nIf expressing breast milk or donor human milk are not feasible then consider\nwet nursing (another woman breastfeeds the child) or infant formula milk with\nmeasures to ensure that it is feasible, correctly prepared, safe and\nsustainable."}
{"_id":"WHOtest49","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nI have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, is it safer to give my baby infant formula milk?\nNo. There are always risks associated with giving infant formula milk to\nnewborns and infants in all settings. The risks associated with giving infant\nformula milk are increased whenever home and community conditions are\ncompromised, such as reduced access to health services if a baby becomes\nunwell, reduced access to clean water and\/or access to supplies of infant\nformula milk are difficult or not guaranteed, affordable and sustainable.\nThe numerous benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential\nrisks of transmission and illness associated with the COVID-19 virus."}
{"_id":"WHOtest50","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nCan COVID-19 be passed through breastfeeding?\nTransmission of active COVID-19 (virus that can cause infection) through\nbreast milk and breastfeeding has not been detected to date. There is no\nreason to avoid or stop breastfeeding."}
{"_id":"WHOtest51","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nFollowing delivery, should a baby still be immediately placed skin-to-skin and breastfed if the mother is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19?\nYes. Immediate and continued skin-to-skin care, including kangaroo mother\ncare, improves the temperature control of newborns and is associated with\nimproved survival among newborn babies. Placing the newborn close to the\nmother also enables early initiation of breastfeeding which also reduces\nmortality.  \nThe numerous benefits of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding substantially\noutweigh the potential risks of transmission and illness associated with\nCOVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest52","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nI had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and was unable to breastfeed, when can I start to breastfeed again?\nYou can start to breastfeed when you feel well enough to do so. There is no\nfixed time interval to wait after confirmed or suspected COVID-19. There is no\nevidence that breastfeeding changes the clinical course of COVID-19 in a\nmother. Health workers or breastfeeding counsellors should support you to\nrelactate."}
{"_id":"WHOtest53","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nCan women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 breastfeed?\nYes. Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can breastfeed if they wish to\ndo so. They should:\n\nWash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub and especially before touching the baby;\nWear a medical mask during any contact with the baby, including while feeding;\nSneeze or cough into a tissue. Then dispose of it immediately and wash hands again;\nRoutinely clean and disinfect surfaces that mothers have touched.\n\nIt is important to replace medical masks as soon as they become damp and\ndispose of them immediately. Masks should not be reused or touched in the\nfront."}
{"_id":"WHOtest54","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nIf a mother confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 does not have a medical face mask should she still breastfeed?\nYes. Breastfeeding unquestionably reduces mortality in newborns and infants\nand provides numerous lifelong health and brain development advantages to the\nchild.\nMothers with symptoms of COVID-19 are advised to wear a medical mask, but even\nif this is not possible, breastfeeding should be continued. Mothers should\nfollow other infection prevention measures, such as washing hands, cleaning\nsurfaces, sneezing or coughing into a tissue.  \nNon-medical masks (e.g. home-made or cloth masks) have not been evaluated. At\nthis time, it is not possible to make a recommendation for or against their\nuse."}
{"_id":"WHOtest55","title":"","text":"Q&A: Breastfeeding and COVID-19\nIn communities where COVID-19 is prevalent, should mothers breastfeed?\nYes. In all socio-economic settings, breastfeeding improves survival and\nprovides lifelong health and development advantages to newborns and infants.\nBreastfeeding also improves the health of mothers."}
{"_id":"WHOtest56","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nWhat areas should be prioritized for disinfection in non-health care settings?\nDisinfection practices are important to reduce the potential for COVID-19\nvirus contamination in non-healthcare settings, such as in the home, office,\nschools, gyms, publicly accessible buildings, faith-based community centres,\nmarkets, transportation and business settings or restaurants. High-touch\nsurfaces in these non-health care settings should be identified for priority\ndisinfection such as door and window handles, kitchen and food preparation\nareas, counter tops, bathroom surfaces, toilets and taps, touchscreen personal\ndevices, personal computer keyboards, and work surfaces."}
{"_id":"WHOtest57","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nAre public systems for disinfecting individuals such as spraying via tunnel or chambers safe to use?\nNo. Spraying of individuals with disinfectants (such as in a tunnel, cabinet,\nor chamber) is not recommended under any circumstances. This practice could be\nphysically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected\nperson\u2019s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact. Even if\nsomeone who is infected with COVID-19 goes through a disinfection tunnel or\nchamber, as soon as they start speaking, coughing or sneezing they can still\nspread the virus.\nThe toxic effect of spraying with chemicals such as chlorine on individuals\ncan lead to eye and skin irritation, bronchospasm due to inhalation, and\npotentially gastrointestinal effects such as nausea and vomiting. In addition\nto health safety concerns, the use of chlorine in large-scale spraying\npractices may prevent this resource from being used for important\ninterventions such as drinking water treatment and environmental disinfection\nof health care facilities."}
{"_id":"WHOtest58","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nWhat protection measures should people take when using disinfectants?\nIt is important to reduce your risk when using disinfectants:\n\nThe disinfectant and its concentration should be carefully selected to avoid damaging surfaces and to avoid or minimize toxic effects on household members (or users of public spaces).\nAvoid combining disinfectants, such as bleach and ammonia, since mixtures can cause respiratory irritation and release potentially fatal gases.\nKeep children, pets and other people away during the application of the product until it is dry and there is no odour. \nOpen windows and use fans to ventilate. Step away from odours if they become too strong. Disinfectant solutions should always be prepared in well-ventilated areas.\nWash your hands after using any disinfectant, including surface wipes. \nKeep lids tightly closed when not in use. Spills and accidents are more likely to happen when containers are open. \nDo not allow children to use disinfectant wipes. Keep cleaning fluids and disinfectants out of the reach of children and pets. \nThrow away disposable items like gloves and masks if they are used during cleaning. Do not clean and re-use.\nDo not use disinfectant wipes to clean hands or as baby wipes.\nThe minimum recommended personal protective equipment when disinfecting in non-health care settings is rubber gloves, waterproof aprons and closed shoes. Eye protection and medical masks may also be needed to protect against chemicals in use or if there is a risk of splashing.\n\nNote: Where cleaning and disinfection are not possible on a regular basis\ndue to resource limitations, frequent hand washing and avoiding touching the\nface should be the primary prevention approaches to reduce any potential\ntransmission associated with surface contamination."}
{"_id":"WHOtest59","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nHow should I clean food items from the grocery store, for example fruit, vegetables or packaged items?\nThere is no evidence to date of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being\ntransmitted via food or food packaging. Coronaviruses cannot multiply in food;\nthey need an animal or human host to multiply.  \nThe COVID-19 virus is generally thought to be spread from person to person\nthrough respiratory droplets. Currently, there is no evidence to support\ntransmission of the COVID-19 virus associated with food.  \nBefore preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with\nsoap and water for at least 40-60 seconds. Regular food safety and handling\nguidance should be followed.\nSee: https:\/\/www.who.int\/activities\/promoting-safe-food-\nhandling.\nFor food service businesses, please see the below guidance on COVID-19 and\nFood Safety: https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/risk-communication\/food-and-\nagriculture-sectors."}
{"_id":"WHOtest60","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nWhich surface disinfectants are effective against COVID-19 in non-health care setting environments?\nIn non-health care settings, sodium hypochlorite (bleach \/ chlorine) may be\nused at a recommended concentration of 0.1% or 1,000ppm (1 part of 5% strength\nhousehold bleach to 49 parts of water). Alcohol at 70-90% can also be used for\nsurface disinfection. Surfaces must be cleaned with water and soap or a\ndetergent first to remove dirt, followed by disinfection. Cleaning should\nalways start from the least soiled (cleanest) area to the most soiled\n(dirtiest) area in order to not spread the dirty to areas that are less\nsoiled.  \nAll disinfectant solutions should be stored in opaque containers, in a well-\nventilated, covered area that is not exposed to direct sunlight and ideally\nshould be freshly prepared every day.  \nIn indoor spaces, routine application of disinfectants to surfaces via\nspraying is not recommended for COVID-19. If disinfectants are to be applied,\nthese should be via a cloth or wipe which is soaked in the disinfectant."}
{"_id":"WHOtest61","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nWhat is the guidance for the disinfection of outdoor spaces such as open markets, roads?\nIn outdoor spaces, large-scale spraying or fumigation in areas such as streets\nor open market places for the COVID-19 virus or other pathogens is not\nrecommended. Streets and sidewalks are not considered as routes of infection\nfor COVID-19. Spraying disinfectants, even outdoors, can be noxious for\npeople\u2019s health and cause eye, respiratory or skin irritation or damage.  \nThis practice will be ineffective since the presence of dirt or rubbish for\nexample, inactivates the disinfectant, and manual cleaning to physically\nremove all matter is not feasible. This is even less effective on porous\nsurfaces such as sidewalks and unpaved walkways. Even in the absence of dirt\nor rubbish, it is unlikely that chemical spraying would adequately cover\nsurfaces allowing the required contact time to inactivate pathogens."}
{"_id":"WHOtest62","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nWhat are the recommended practices once back home after outdoor activities?\nThorough hand hygiene: washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-\nbased hand gel, should be performed before touching surfaces, items, pets, and\npeople within the household environment. Please see:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/gpsc\/clean_hands_protection\/en\/.  \nWhile outside, people should always follow physical distancing measures,\nstaying at least one metre from another person; perform hand hygiene by\nwashing hands frequently with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub;\nfollow good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose with your bent\nelbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose and\nmouth; and avoid crowded places."}
{"_id":"WHOtest63","title":"","text":"Q&A: Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings\nAre gloves recommended for the community in public spaces to protect against COVID-19, for example when going to the grocery store supermarket?\nNo. The use of gloves by the public in public spaces is not a recommended or\nproven prevention measure. Wearing gloves in public spaces does not replace\nthe need for hand hygiene, nor does it offer any additional measure of\nprotection against the COVID-19 virus than hand hygiene. Gloves do not provide\ncomplete protection against hand contamination, as pathogens may gain access\nto the hands via small defects in gloves or by contamination of the hands\nduring glove removal. People can also transfer pathogens from one surface to\nanother by touching with gloved hands, or even transfer pathogens to the\nmouth, nose, or eyes if they touch their face with gloved hands."}
{"_id":"WHOtest64","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nWhat is the best contraceptive method to use during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nAll modern methods of contraception help to prevent pregnancy. Women and their\npartners can choose any modern contraceptive method that is acceptable to and\nsafe for them. The best method of contraception is the one that works well for\nyou.\nThere is a wide variety of modern methods, one of which may suit you best. For\nmore information see here.\nCondoms, when they are used consistently and correctly, are the only method of\ncontraception that help to prevent unintended pregnancy and protect against\nsexually transmitted infections, including HIV. They can be used together with\nother methods of contraception to protect against both unintended pregnancy\nand sexually transmitted infections.\nEmergency contraceptive pills can prevent up to 95% of pregnancies when taken\nwithin 5 days after intercourse, and they can be taken by anyone with or\nwithout a health condition"}
{"_id":"WHOtest65","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI am a policy maker. What can I do to make sure people can access contraception and family planning information and services?\n\n\nPlan and develop innovative strategies to ensure as many eligible people as possible can access information and contraception during this period. \n\n\nIncrease use of mobile phones and digital technologies to help people make decisions about which contraceptive methods to use, and how they can be accessed. \n\n\nEnable health care workers to provide contraceptive information and services as per national guidelines to the full extent possible. This is particularly important where pregnancy poses a high risk to health. \n\n\nExpand availability of contraceptive services (including both information and methods) through places other than healthcare facilities, such as pharmacies, drug shops, online platforms and other outlets. This can be with or without prescription depending on national guidelines and contraceptive method. \n\n\nRelax restrictions on the number of repeat issues of prescription-only hormonal contraceptives that can be issued. \n\n\nEnsure access to emergency post-coital contraception, including consideration of over the counter provision. \n\n\nEnable access to contraception for women and girls in the immediate post-partum and post abortion periods when they may access health services. \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest66","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nWhy is providing contraception\/ family planning, as well as family planning services and information, important during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nContraception and family planning information and services are life-saving and\nimportant at all times. Sexual activity does not cease with the COVID-19\npandemic, it is therefore crucial to ensure that people are able to access\nrights-based services and information to initiate and \/ or continue use of\ncontraception.\nBy preventing unintended pregnancies, contraception helps to protect girls and\nwomen from the negative health consequences of unintended pregnancies, which\ncan save their lives. Contraception reduces the need for abortion, meaning\nthat women and girls are less at risk of unsafe abortion, which again can be\nlifesaving.\nCondoms, when used consistently and correctly, help to prevent both unintended\npregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV).\nIn addition, by preventing the negative health consequences associated with\nunintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted infections\n(including HIV), contraception can help alleviate additional pressure on\nalready-stretched health systems which are working hard to address COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest67","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI want to remove or replace my implant or IUD \u2013 can I do this during COVID-19 pandemic?\nRemoval of long acting methods such as implants or IUDs, after the recommended\nperiod of use (and routine follow up appointments) may not be prioritized by\nyour country\u2019s health system during this health emergency. Seek advice from\nyour health provider. If you are experiencing side effects or desire urgent\nremoval for other reasons, contact a provider to find out what options suit\nyou best, and which are available and feasible.\nIf, due to restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic you cannot\nhave your long acting method removed straight away, it is important to use\nanother method of contraception to avoid pregnancy at this time.\nThere are no medical problems caused by delaying removal of long acting\nmethods such as implants or IUDs. Do not try to remove the contraception\nmethod yourself; wait until you are able to access health care from a trained\nprovider."}
{"_id":"WHOtest68","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nIs contraception\/ family planning safe to use during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYes. All modern methods of contraception are safe to use, including during the\nCOVID-19 pandemic.\nIf you have had a baby in the last six months or have a health condition, such\nas diabetes, high blood pressure, or breast cancer \u2013 or if you smoke \u2013 seek\nadvice from a health care professional to ensure you are using a method of\ncontraception which is suitable and safe for you."}
{"_id":"WHOtest69","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI can\u2019t access my contraceptive method of choice. What do you advise?\nIf you cannot access your contraceptive method of choice \u2013 perhaps because it\nrequires a prescription, or because it can only be given to you by a health\nworker \u2013 consider using condoms, fertility awareness-based methods,\nlactational amenorrhea (if you are exclusively breastfeeding), or other\ncontraceptive methods that are recommended for self-care in your country.\nDepending on the situation in your country, methods recommended for self-care\ncould include the pill or mini-pill, emergency contraception pills, and DMPA-\nSC (Sayana Press\u00ae)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest70","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI want to avoid getting pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic. What can I do?\nIf you do not want to become pregnant, you should start or continue to use\nyour contraceptive method of choice. You may be able to access information and\ncontraceptive services from a healthcare provider by phone or online.\nIf you cannot access these services you may opt for a method that is available\nwithout a prescription (such as condoms, spermicides, pills, or emergency\ncontraceptive pills) from a nearby pharmacy or drug shop."}
{"_id":"WHOtest71","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI am a programme manager. What can I do to help people access contraception and family planning information and services?\n\n\nIncrease use of telehealth for counselling and sharing of messages related to safe and effective use of contraception and for selection and initiation of contraceptives. \n\n\nEnsure adequate inventory to avoid potential stock outs at all levels of the health system. \n\n\nPrepare advisories for users on how they can access contraceptive information, services and supplies. \n\n\nMonitor contraceptive consumption in your area to identify any potential pitfall and shortage.\n\n\nIncrease availability and access to the contraceptives which can be used by the client without service provider support.\n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest72","title":"","text":"Q&A: Contraception\/Family planning and COVID-19\nI want to change my contraceptive method \u2013 is this possible?\nYes. It may be difficult however, to access all the methods of contraception\nthat are normally available in your country due to restrictions on movement,\nlack of supply, as well as increased demands on health providers and services.\nIf you have a pre-existing health condition, consult a provider to find out\nwhat options suit you best, and which are available and feasible. Seek advice\nand information from your health provider and consider using methods that do\nnot have medical restrictions like minipills, condoms, fertility awareness-\nbased methods, diaphragm, spermicides or lactational amenorrhea if you are\nexclusively breastfeeding."}
{"_id":"WHOtest73","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nWhat conclusions can we draw about the fair allocation of scarce resources within countries during the COVID-19 outbreak?\n\nHealth care workers (caring for patients) and first responders can justifiably be prioritized when allocating some resources because of their contribution to the health and well-being of the community. Their health helps preserve the health of others.\nParticipants of research aimed at developing vaccines, therapies or other critical resources should receive some priority in receiving those resources because they have also helped save others by their participation. This is not an absolute priority \u2013 for example, it should not take precedence over giving priority to those most at risk in the case of resources such as vaccines.\nWhile the principle of first come, first served is often applied when allocating resources in health care settings, it is rarely appropriate in an emergency. In practice, it is very likely to favour certain groups, such as those closest to a distribution centre, those with access to better information, or those who are most well-off.\nYounger populations appear to be at lower risk in the COVID-19 context. Consequently, the principle of youngest first should have low priority for vaccine, but perhaps may have more weight if they do become sick and need critical care resources.\nThe allocation of different resources may find ethical justification in different principles or values. For instance, if a novel vaccine is found to be safe and effective, a lottery-based allocation may be justified among those as highest risk, the old and those with co-morbidities, if they outnumber available vaccines.\nMaximizing utility should be balanced with the principle of priority to the worst-off: centralizing the availability of resources in larger centres may extend their benefits to more people, but may exclude isolated populations and challenge our concern for those at highest risk.\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest74","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nWhat are the key ethical considerations that governments, vaccine manufacturers and funders should take into account to ensure a fair distribution of vaccines globally?\nCountries are equally vulnerable to COVID-19 and have a shared responsibility,\ngrounded in solidarity, to collaborate globally to mitigate the outbreak. Each\ngovernment has special obligations to its own citizens, but the fair\nallocation of vaccines globally requires us not to simply appeal to self-\ninterest, claims of resource ownership and the prioritization of compatriots.\nVaccines should be allocated in a way that prioritizes those who fall into the\ncategories presented in the below table. (Where individuals or populations\nfall into multiple categories, they should receive even higher priority.)\nPriority populations, and rationale for prioritization\nPriority population|  Rationale for prioritization\n---|---  \nThose at greatest risk of becoming infected and seriously ill\n| Maximize benefit of vaccine  \nThose who, if vaccinated, would prevent the greatest spread of the virus\n| Maximize benefit of vaccine  \nThose who have volunteered to participate in research aimed at developing the\nvaccine\n|\nReciprocal obligation to those who were voluntarily put at risk to aid in this\neffort  \nThose falling into each category may change over time."}
{"_id":"WHOtest75","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nAre the ethical considerations the same for all medical countermeasures, including therapeutics, vaccines and personal protective equipment (PPE)?\nGenerally, the considerations may be different. The allocation of different\nresources may find ethical justifications in different principles or values.\nFor instance, once a novel vaccine is found to be safe and effective, to\nprioritize those at highest risk, as well as populations like health care\nworkers who may be more likely to serve as vectors for transmission, is\njustified.\nWithin those subgroups, some suggest that a lottery-based (i.e., random)\nallocation may be justified, given that resources will be limited and we can\nassume nearly equal benefits will be derived from any recipient within that\ngroup. This is not the case, however, for other resources such as ventilators,\nwhere some individuals may derive significantly more benefit than others.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest76","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nWhat is the basis for deciding who should have priority access to scarce resources?\nThe ethical basis for deciding which individuals or groups might be\nprioritized, including the principles to be applied, are presented in the\nbelow table:\nEthical considerations when deciding who to prioritize\nPrinciple|  Description|  Practice implication\n---|---|---\nEquality|\nEach person\u2019s interest should count equally unless there are good reasons that\njustify the differential prioritization of resources.\nIrrelevant characteristics of individuals, such as race, ethnicity, creed,\nability or gender, should not serve arbitrarily as the basis for the\ndifferential allocation of resources.\nThis principle can be used to justify the allocation of resources by a lottery\n\u2013 that is, randomly by chance \u2013 or by a system of first come, first served.\n|\nMay be most appropriate to guide the allocation of scarce resources among\nindividuals or populations who can be expected to derive the same benefit from\nthe resource, for example, vaccines among high-risk populations, or\nventilators among those with similar clinical indicators for benefit.  \nBest outcomes (utility)|\nThis principle can be used to justify the allocation of resources according to\ntheir capacity to do the most good or minimize the most harm, for example,\nusing available resources to save the most lives possible.\n|\nMay be most appropriate to guide the allocation of scarce resources that\nconfer substantially different benefits to different individuals, for example,\nventilators to those expected to derive the most benefit.  \nPrioritize the worst off|\nThis principle can be used to justify the allocation of resources to those in\ngreatest medical need or those most at risk.\n|\nMay be most appropriate to guide the allocation of resources that are designed\nor intended to protect those at risk, for example, PPE for health care\nworkers, vaccines for those most at risk of infection and severe illness, or\nthose most in need, as in the case of provision of drugs in short supply to\nthose needing them most urgently.  \nPrioritize those tasked with helping others\n|\nThis principle can be used to justify the allocation of resources to those who\nhave certain skills or talents that can save many other people, or because\nsomething is owed to them on account of their participation in helping others.\n|\nMay be most appropriate to guide the allocation of resources to health care\nworkers, first responders, etc.  \nAllocation principles may be relevant or justified at different stages of\nresource scarcity (from less scarcity to more scarcity). For example, where\nlittle scarcity exists, the allocation of resources such as ventilators may be\nmost justified by the principle of first come, first served (which promotes\nthe value of equality). When those resources become increasingly scarce, their\nallocation may be justified according to a principle that prioritizes those\nmost in need. With even greater scarcity, a principle that aims to maximize\nbenefit from the resource may be most justified. At each stage, allocation\nshould aim to promote equality \u2013 that is, first come, first served, or random\nallocation, when no relevant factors distinguish individuals within a\nparticular scheme of allocation (for example, among those with similar needs,\nor among those who can be expected to benefit similarly from the resources, or\namong those that are at similar levels of risk).\nIn addition, multiple principles may be combined within an allocation scheme.\nFor example, an allocation scheme for PPE might find its justification in a\nprinciple prioritizing those most at risk as well as a principle prioritizing\nthose tasked with helping others, which would support priority allocation of\nPPE to health care workers."}
{"_id":"WHOtest77","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nCan I adapt previous frameworks for pandemic influenza to guide resource allocation for COVID-19?\nMany ethical frameworks have been produced for resource allocation, some of\nwhich have been included in pandemic plans. Those frameworks provide useful\nguidance in the current scenario. Yet, when applying them, we must take into\naccount the type of health care resource, the context, and the stage of the\npandemic. That is, while the ethical principles that apply to resource\nallocation might be the same in different pandemics, they can lead to\ndifferent decisions, given contextual circumstances. For example, this\npandemic appears to significantly impact older adults (those 60 years of age\nor older), and such characteristics are relevant to shaping priorities for the\nallocation of resources during COVID-19. As a result, it may be inappropriate\nto use critical care triage guidelines that have age cut-offs that\ndeprioritize or exclude those aged over 60 years.\nWhen applying ethical guidelines for resource allocation, we should consider\nthe extent to which resources are overwhelmed in the current context. It would\nbe inappropriate, for instance, to exclude population groups from being\nallocated a resource (for example, ventilators) at the outset of a pandemic\nwhen capacity remains. When resources are scarce, though \u2013 when there is an\ninsufficient supply to meet everyone\u2019s needs \u2013 resource allocation should be\nguided by well established, broadly applicable ethical principles, unless\nthere are characteristics of the outbreak that justify different courses of\naction. Irrelevant characteristics of populations within countries, such as\nethnicity, race or creed, should play no role in any resource allocation in\nany pandemic. This reflects our commitment to treating people with equal\nrespect."}
{"_id":"WHOtest78","title":"","text":"Q&A: Ethics and COVID-19: resource allocation and priority setting\nHow should decision-makers make considered ethical judgements about these matters, given the likelihood that there will not be enough of a resource? Who should be involved in decision-making on scarce resources?\nFor most decisions, multiple ethical values and principles will be relevant to\ndeliberations about how to allocate resources. This is likely to generate some\ndisagreement, because different people may weigh the values differently. Some\nmay prioritize equality while others might put more emphasis on best outcomes\nor prioritization of the worst-off. For this reason, it is imperative that the\ndifferent values be weighed and applied to specific allocation issues using a\nfair process.\nA fair process for allocating scarce resources must promote certain ethical\nvalues:\n\nTransparency. In a transparent process, the decisions and their justifications should be made public. This means that the population should be informed about the criteria guiding the decisions.\nInclusiveness. Those affected by allocation decisions \u2013 including individuals, communities or countries \u2013 should be able to exert at least some influence over the decision-making process as well as the decision itself. This also means that decisions 4 should be open to challenge and potentially revisable, perhaps through an appeal process. \nConsistency. Decisions should be consistent so that all persons in the same categories are treated in the same way. This means that favouritism towards one\u2019s own family, religious or political compatriots, or otherwise, is not appropriate. All forms of corruption that are at variance with this principle should be challenged and condemned. \nAccountability. Those making decisions about allocation must be accountable for those decisions \u2013 that is, they should justify their decisions and be held responsible for them. A fair process means that allocation decisions should not be made by individuals, by individual pharmaceutical companies, or, in the case of allocation between countries, by a single country. Resources such as vaccines and therapies should not be stockpiled outside the system of fair allocation.\n\nThe fair allocation of resources is one that is valuable in itself precisely\nbecause it is fair. However, it may also be valuable because a fair system\nengenders solidarity and trust, which are vital to the successful and\nsustained collective response necessary for dealing effectively with any\noutbreak."}
{"_id":"WHOtest79","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nHow can programmes assure continued access to HIV services?\nIt is important to assure continuous access to essential HIV prevention,\ntesting and treatment services also where measurements of confinement are\nimplemented within the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While\naccess to essential services should be maintained, adapted and evidence-based\nmeasures to reduce possible transmission should be considered and implemented.\nThese include[12]:\n\nApplying standard precautions for all patients (including ensuring that all patients cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing, offering a medical mask to patients with suspected COVID-19 infection while they are in waiting in the service, perform hand hygiene etc.) \nHealth care and outreach workers, as well as peer educators and clients should apply adapted hand hygiene measures\nEnsuring triage, early recognition, and source control (isolating patients with suspected COVID-19 infection)\nEnsure there is adequate ventilation in all areas in the healthcare facility\nSpatial separation of at least 1 metre should ideally be maintained between all patients within all types of services\nCleaning and disinfection procedures should be followed consistently and correctly\nDispensing medicines (for treatment of HIV, TB and other chronic conditions such as opioid dependence) for longer periods allowing reduced frequency of patient visits \nConsider reduction of services to the most critical ones (provision of essential treatment and prevention services; services such as counselling sessions may be reduced or adapted)\n\nGenerally, vulnerable populations, including members of key populations, as\nwell as homeless and\/or displaced people may be at increased risk of infection\n\u2013 because of additional comorbidities impacting on their immune system,\nreduced ability to apply measures of confinement and social distancing, as\nwell as generally limited access to health services. It is critical that\nservices that reach these populations such as community-based services, drop-\nin centres and outreach services can continue providing life-saving prevention\n(distribution of condoms, needles and syringes), testing and treatment while\nsecuring safety of staff and clients. Services can be adapted according to\nabove considerations where applicable."}
{"_id":"WHOtest80","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nCan pregnant or postpartum women living with HIV transmit the COVID-19 virus to their unborn child or infant?\nThere are few data on the clinical presentation of COVID-19 in specific\npopulations, such as children and pregnant women[13] but findings from a small\npublished study suggest that there is currently no evidence for intrauterine\ninfection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop COVID-19\npneumonia in late pregnancy[14]. **** Although no vertical transmission has\nbeen documented, transmission after birth via contact with infectious\nrespiratory secretions is a concern. Infants born to mothers with suspected,\nprobable, or confirmed COVID-19 should be fed according to standard infant\nfeeding guidelines[15], while applying necessary precautions for infection\nprevention and control (IPC). As with all confirmed or suspected COVID-19\ncases, symptomatic mothers who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin\ncontact or kangaroo mother care should practice respiratory hygiene, including\nduring feeding (for example, use of a medical mask when near a child if the\nmother has respiratory symptoms), perform hand hygiene before and after\ncontact with the child, and routinely clean and disinfect surfaces with which\nthe symptomatic mother has been in contact[16].\n\nQ&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding \n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest81","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO\u2019s position on use of corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19?\nThe current interim guidance from WHO on clinical management of severe acute\nrespiratory infection when COVID-19 infection is suspected advises against the\nuse of corticosteroids unless indicated for another reason.[8]\nThis guidance is based on several systematic reviews that cite lack of\neffectiveness and possible harm from routine treatment with corticosteroids\nfor viral pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome.[9]"}
{"_id":"WHOtest82","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nAre people living with HIV at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19?\nPeople living with HIV with advanced disease, those with low CD4 and high\nviral load and those who are not taking antiretroviral treatment have an\nincreased risk of infections and related complications in general. It is\nunknown if the immunosuppression of HIV will put a person at greater risk for\nCOVID-19, thus, until more is known, additional precautions for all people\nwith advanced HIV or poorly controlled HIV, should be employed[1],[2]. __\nAt present there is no evidence that the risk of infection or complications of\nCOVID-19 is different among people living with HIV who are clinically and\nimmunologically stable on antiretroviral treatment when compared with the\ngeneral population. Some people living with HIV may have known risk factors\nfor COVID-19 complications, such as diabetes, hypertension and other\nnoncommunicable diseases and as such may have increased risk of COVID-19\nunrelated to HIV. We know that during the SARS and MERS outbreaks there were\nonly a few case reports of mild disease among people living with HIV.\nTo date, there is a case report of a person living with HIV who had COVID-19\nand recovered[3] and a small study on risk factors and antiretrovirals used\namong people living with HIV with COVID-19 from China. This study reported\nsimilar rates of COVID-19 disease as compared to the entire population and\nincreased risk with older age, but not with low CD4, high viral load level or\nantiretroviral regimen[4]. Current clinical data suggest the main mortality\nrisk factors are linked to older age and other comorbidities including\ncardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and\nhypertension. Some very healthy people have also developed severe disease from\nthe coronavirus infection[5].\nPLHIV are advised to take the same precautions as the general\npopulation[6],[7]:\n\n\nwash hands often\n\n\ncough etiquette \n\n\nphysical distancing\n\n\nseek medical care if symptomatic\n\n\nself-isolation if in contact with someone with COVID-19 and \n\n\nother actions per the government response \n\n\nPeople living with HIV who are taking antiretroviral drugs should ensure that\nthey have at least 30 days and up to 6-month supply of medicines and ensure\nthat their vaccinations are up to date (influenza and pneumococcal vaccines).\nAdequate supplies of medicines to treat co-infections and comorbidities and\naddiction should also be ensured."}
{"_id":"WHOtest83","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO\u2019s position on the use of antiretrovirals for the treatment of COVID-19?\nCurrently, there is insufficient data to assess the effectiveness of LPV\/r or\nother antivirals for treating COVID-19. Several countries are evaluating the\nuse of LPV\/r and other antivirals and we welcome the results of these\ninvestigations.\nAgain, as part of WHO\u2019s response to the outbreak, the\nWHO R&D Blueprint\nhas been activated to accelerate evaluation of diagnostics,\nvaccines and therapeutics for this novel coronavirus. WHO has also designed a\nset of procedures to assess the performance, quality and safety of medical\ntechnologies during emergency situations."}
{"_id":"WHOtest84","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nWhat studies on treatment and prevention of COVID-19 with antiretrovirals are being planned?\nSeveral randomized trials are planned to assess the safety and efficacy of\nusing antiretroviral drugs \u2013 mainly LPV\/r \u2013 for treating COVID-19, in\ncombination with other drugs. Results are expected from mid-2020 onwards.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest85","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nHow do we ensure human rights and reduce stigma and discrimination?\nAs the world scales up public health responses to the COVID19 pandemic,\ncountries are being urged to take decisive action to control the epidemic. WHO\nhas urged all countries to ensure an appropriate balance between protecting\nhealth, preventing economic and social disruption, and respecting human\nrights.\nWHO is working with partners including the UNAIDS Joint Programme and the\nGlobal Network of People Living with HIV to ensure that human rights are not\neroded in the response to COVID-19 and to ensure that people living with or\naffected by HIV are offered the same access to services as others and to\nensure HIV-related services continue without disruption.\nTo mitigate potential prison outbreaks of COVID19 and reduce morbidity and\nmortality among people in prisons and other closed settings, it is crucial\nthat prisons and immigration detention centres are embedded within the broader\npublic health response. This requires close collaboration between health and\njustice ministries and includes protocols for entry screening, personal\nprotection measures, physical distancing, environmental cleaning and\ndisinfection, and restriction of movement, including limitation of transfers\nand access for non-essential staff and visitors. In the current context it is\nof critical importance that countries work toward developing non-custodial\nstrategies to prevent overcrowding in closed settings[10]. Governance of\nprison health by a ministry of health, rather than a ministry of justice or\nsimilar, is likely to facilitate this[11]. __"}
{"_id":"WHOtest86","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nIf countries use antiretrovirals for COVID-19, are there concerns about treatment shortages for people living with HIV?\nAntiretrovirals are an efficacious and highly tolerable treatment for people\nliving with HIV. The antiretroviral LPV\/r is currently being investigated as a\npossible treatment for COVID-19.  \nIf they are to be used for the treatment of COVID-19, a plan should be in\nplace to ensure there is adequate and continuous supply to cover the needs of\nall people living with HIV already using LPV\/r and those who will need to\nbegin treatment. However, a relatively small proportion of people are on\nregimens which include LPV\/r, since it is used as a second-line regimen\naccording to WHO\u2019s HIV treatment guidelines. Any country that allows the use\nof HIV medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 must ensure that an adequate\nand sustainable supply is in place.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest87","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nCan antiretrovirals be used to treat COVID-19?\nSeveral studies have suggested that patients infected with the virus causing\nCOVID-19, and the related coronavirus infections (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) had\ngood clinical outcomes, with almost all cases recovering fully. In some cases,\npatients were given an antiretroviral drug: lopinavir boosted with ritonavir\n(LPV\/r). These studies were mostly carried out in HIV-negative individuals.\nIt is important to note that these studies using LPV\/r had important\nlimitations. The studies were small, timing, duration and dosing for treatment\nwere varied and most patients received co-interventions\/co-treatments which\nmay have contributed to the reported outcomes.\nWhile the evidence of benefit of using antiretrovirals to treat coronavirus\ninfections is of very low certainty, serious side effects were rare. Among\npeople living with HIV, the routine use of LPV\/r as treatment for HIV is\nassociated with several side effects of moderate severity. However, as the\nduration of treatment in patients with coronavirus infections was generally\nlimited to a few weeks, these occurrences can be expected to be low or less\nthan that reported from routine use."}
{"_id":"WHOtest88","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nCan antiretrovirals be used to prevent COVID-19 infection?\nTwo studies have reported the use of LPV\/r as post-exposure prophylaxis for\nSARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. One of these studies suggested that the occurrence of\nMERS-CoV infection was lower among health workers receiving LPV\/r compared to\nthose who did not receive any drugs; the other study found no cases of SARS-\nCoV infection among 19 people living with HIV hospitalized in the same ward of\nSARS patients, of whom 11 were on antiretroviral therapy. Again, the certainty\nof the evidence is very low due to small sample size, variability in drugs\nprovided, and uncertainty regarding intensity of exposure.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest89","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nShould pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV with COVID-19 and their newborns be managed differently?\nThere is currently no known difference between the clinical manifestations of\nCOVID-19 or risk of severe illness or foetal compromise for pregnant and non-\npregnant women or adults of reproductive age. Pregnant and recently pregnant\nwomen with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be treated with supportive\nand management therapies, considering the immunologic and physiologic\nadaptations during and after pregnancy which may overlap with COVID-19\nsymptoms. Data are limited but, until the evidence base provides clearer\ninformation, special consideration should be given to pregnant women with\nconcomitant medical illnesses who could be infected with COVID-19. There are\nno reported deaths in pregnant women at time of publishing this\ninformation[17] however, COVID-19 testing of symptomatic pregnant women may\nneed to be prioritized to enable access to specialized care. All recently\npregnant women with COVID-19 or who have recovered from COVID-19 should be\nprovided with information and counselling on safe infant feeding and\nappropriate IPC measures to prevent COVID-19 virus transmission[18].\nWith confirmed disease or under investigation, management is similar to non-\npregnant women, with appropriate isolation of confirmed or under\ninvestigation. Obstetric facilities must be notified and prepared, noting that\neach infant born to any mother with confirmed COVID-19 should be considered a\n\u2018person under investigation\u2019 and should be isolated according to the IPC\nguidance. Currently, it is unknown whether newborns with COVID-19 are at\nincreased risk for severe complications."}
{"_id":"WHOtest90","title":"","text":"Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19\nWhat is the role multi-month prescriptions and dispensing for antiretrovirals and other medicines?\nClinically stable adults, children, adolescents and pregnant and breastfeeding\nwomen as well as members of key populations (people who inject drugs, sex\nworkers, men who have sex with men, transgender people and people living in\nprisons and closed settings) can benefit from simplified antiretroviral\ntherapy delivery models which include multi-month prescriptions and dispensing\n(3-6 month supply) which will reduce the frequency of visits to clinical\nsettings and ensures continuity of treatment during possible disruption of\nmovements during the coronavirus outbreak. Similar consideration should be\ngiven to providing people who are clinically stable on methadone or\nbuprenorphine substitution therapy with an increased possibility for take-home\nmedications to reduce additional burden on the health sector."}
{"_id":"WHOtest91","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nWhy does WHO recommend contact and droplet precautions and not routine use of airborne precautions for healthcare workers providing care to patients with suspected\/confirmed 2019-nCoV infection?\nWHO developed its rapid guidance based on the consensus of international\nexperts who considered the currently available evidence on the modes of\ntransmission of 2019-nCoV. This evidence demonstrates viral transmission by\ndroplets and contact with contaminated surfaces of equipment; it does not\nsupport routine airborne transmission. Airborne transmission may happen, as\nhas been shown with other viral respiratory diseases, during aerosol-\ngenerating procedures (e.g., tracheal intubation, bronchoscopy), thus WHO\nrecommends airborne precautions for these procedures.\nClick here for more information about healthcare worker protection for\n2019-nCoV."}
{"_id":"WHOtest92","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nHow long the 2019-nCoV can survive on a dry surface?\nThere is currently no data available on stability of 2019-nCoV on surfaces.\nData from laboratory studies on SARS-CoV and MERS-\nCoV\nhave shown that stability in the environment depends on several factors\nincluding relative temperature, humidity, and surface type. WHO continues to\nmonitor existing evidence around nCoV and will update when such evidence is\navailable."}
{"_id":"WHOtest93","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nWhat are the recommendation regarding disinfection of vehicles, goods and products coming from China or other COVID-19 affected countries?\nTo date there is no epidemiological information to suggest that contact with\ngoods, products or vehicles shipped from COVID-19 affected countries have been\nthe source of COVID-19 in humans.\nFor these reasons, there is no disinfection recommendations for any goods and\nproducts coming from COVID-19 affected countries given that there is no\navailable evidence that these products pose a risk to public health. WHO will\ncontinue to closely monitor the evolution of COVID-19, and will update the\nrecommendations as needed."}
{"_id":"WHOtest94","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nCan chlorine solutions also be used?\nChlorine solutions are strongly discouraged as they carry a higher risk of\nhand irritation and ill health effects from making and diluting chlorine\nsolutions, including eye irritation and respiratory problems. In addition,\nthere is a risk of loss of antimicrobial effect if exposed to sunlight or\nheat. Preparing chlorine solutions requires training to reach the correct dose\nof 0.05% with varying strengths of bleach available in the private sector.\nEven if stored at a cool dry place with a lid away from sunlight, they have to\nbe renewed daily. In comparison simple soapy water solution do not have any of\nthe above-mentioned health risks and complications including loss of antiviral\neffect due to heat or sunlight. The antiviral effect of soapy water is due to\nthe oily surface membrane of the COVID-virus that is dissolved by soap,\nkilling the virus."}
{"_id":"WHOtest95","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nDoes WHO recommend routine wearing masks for healthy people during the 2019 nCoV outbreak?\nNo. WHO does not recommend that asymptomatic individuals (i.e., who do not\nhave respiratory symptoms) in the community should wear medical masks, as\ncurrently there is no evidence that routine use of medical masks by healthy\nindividuals prevents 2019-nCoV transmission. Masks are recommended to be used\nby symptomatic persons in the community. Misuse and overuse of medical masks\nmay cause serious issues of shortage of stocks and lack of mask availability\nfor those who actually need to wear them.\nIn health care facilities where health care workers are directly taking care\nof suspect or confirmed 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease patients, masks\nare an important part of containing 2019-nCoV spread between people, along\nwith other PPE and hand hygiene.\nClick here for more information on medical mask use."}
{"_id":"WHOtest96","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nAre there special procedures for the management of bodies of persons who have died from 2019-nCoV?\nNo, there are no special procedures for the management of bodies of persons\nwho have died from 2019-nCoV. Authorities and medical facilities should\nproceed with their existing policies and regulations that guide post-mortem\nmanagement of persons who died from infectious diseases."}
{"_id":"WHOtest97","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nIs there a model for setting up an isolation ward and types and products and health requirements?\nA model for setting up an isolation ward is currently under development. PPE\nspecifications for healthcare workers caring for nCoV patients can be found in\nthe disease commodity package at: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications-\ndetail\/disease-commodity-package---novel-coronavirus-(ncov)"}
{"_id":"WHOtest98","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nCan patients with suspected and confirmed nCoV infection be cohorted in the same room?\nIdeally, suspected and confirmed 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease patients\nshould be isolated in single rooms. However, when this is not feasible (e.g.,\nlimited number of single rooms), cohorting is an acceptable option. Some\npatients with suspected 2019-nCoV infection may actually have other\nrespiratory illnesses, hence they must be cohorted separately from patients\nwith confirmed 2019-nCoV infection. A minimum of 1-meter distance between beds\nshould be maintained at all times."}
{"_id":"WHOtest99","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nHow can you clean soiled bedding, towels and linens from patients with COVID-19?\nAll individuals dealing with soiled bedding, towels and clothes from patients\nwith COVID-19 should:\n\nWear appropriate personal protective equipment, which includes heavy duty gloves, mask, eye protection (face shield\/goggles), long-sleeved gown, apron (if gown is not fluid resistant), boots or closed shoes before touching any soiled linen.\nNever carry soiled linen against body; place soiled linen in a clearly labelled, leak-proof container (e.g. bag, bucket)\nIf there is any solid excrement on the linen, such as feces or vomit, scrape it off carefully with a flat, firm object and put it in the commode or designated toilet\/latrine before putting linen in the designated container. If the latrine is not in the same room as the patient, place soiled excrement in covered bucket to dispose of in the toilet or latrine; \nWash and disinfect linen: washing by machine with warm water (60-90\u00b0C) and laundry detergent is recommended for cleaning and disinfection of linens. If machine washing is not possible, linen can be soaked in hot water and soap in a large drum, using a stick to stir, avoiding splashing. If hot water not available, soak linen in 0.05% chlorine for approximately 30 minutes. Finally, rinse with clean water and let linen dry fully in the sunlight.   \n\nAdditional resources for best practices for environmental cleaning can be\nfound in the following two documents:\n1)Infection prevention and control of epidemic-and pandemic prone acute\nrespiratory infections in health\ncare\n\n2)Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in\nResource-Limited Settings which was developed by CDC and ICAN\nin collaboration with WHO"}
{"_id":"WHOtest100","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nAre boots, impermeable aprons, or coverall suits required as routine personal protective equipment (PE) for healthcare workers (HCW) caring for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection?\nNo. Current WHO guidance for HCW caring for suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV\nacute respiratory disease patients recommends the use of contact and droplet\nprecautions, in addition to standard precautions which should always be used\nby all HCW for all patients. In terms of PPE, contact and droplet precautions\ninclude wearing disposable gloves to protect hands, and clean, non-sterile,\nlong-sleeve gown to protect clothes from contamination, medical masks to\nprotect nose and mouth, and eye protection (e.g., goggles, face shield),\nbefore entering the room where suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV acute\nrespiratory disease patients are admitted. Respirators (e.g. N95) are only\nrequired for aerosol generating procedures.\nClick here for more information on PPE for HCW caring for suspected or\nconfirmed nCoV patients."}
{"_id":"WHOtest101","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nIs there a special procedure regarding waste produced by patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV?\nNo. Waste produced during the health care or home care of patients with\nsuspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection should be disposed of as infectious\nwaste.\nClick here for more information on disposing of infectious\nwaste.\nClick here to visit the CDC website."}
{"_id":"WHOtest102","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nWhat are the disinfectants recommended for environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities or homes housing patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection?\nEnvironmental cleaning in healthcare facilities or homes housing patients with\nsuspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection should use disinfectants that are\nactive against enveloped viruses, such as 2019-nCoV and other coronaviruses.\nThere are many disinfectants, including commonly used hospital disinfectants,\nthat are active against enveloped viruses. Currently WHO recommendations\ninclude the use of:\n\n70% Ethyl alcohol to disinfect reusable dedicated equipment (e.g., thermometers) between uses\nSodium hypochlorite at 0.5% (equivalent 5000ppm) for disinfection of frequently touched surfaces in homes or healthcare facilities\n\nClick here for the guidance on clinical management of severe acute\nrespiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is\nsuspected. \nClick here for the guidance on infection prevention and control during health\ncare when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. \nClick here for more information about environmental\ncleaning."}
{"_id":"WHOtest103","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nCan disposable medical face masks be sterilized and reused?\nNo. Disposable medical face masks are intended for a single use only. After\nuse they should be removed using appropriate techniques (i.e. do no touch the\nfront, remove by pulling the elastic ear straps or laces from behind) and\ndisposed of immediately in an infectious waste bin with a lid, followed by\nhand hygiene.\nClick here for more information on using masks in the context of the nCoV\noutbreak."}
{"_id":"WHOtest104","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nDo patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV need to be hospitalized if they have mild illness?\nNo. For patients who have mild illness, e.g., low-grade fever, cough, malaise,\nrhinorrhoea, sore throat without any warning signs, such as shortness of\nbreath or difficulty in breathing, increased respiratory (i.e. sputum or\nhaemoptysis), gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and\/or\ndiarrhoea and without changes in mental status, hospitalization may not be\nrequired unless there is concern for rapid clinical deterioration. All\npatients discharged home should be instructed to return to hospital if they\ndevelop any worsening of illness.\nClick here for more information on admission criteria. \nClick here for more information on caring for mildly symptomatic 2019-nCoV\npatients at home."}
{"_id":"WHOtest105","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nWhat personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used by healthcare workers (HCW) performing nasopharyngeal (NP) or oropharyngeal (OP) swabs on patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?\nHealth care workers collecting NP and OP swab specimens from suspected or\nconfirmed COVID-19 patients should be well-trained on the procedure and should\nwear a clean, non-sterile, long-sleeve gown, a medical mask, eye protection\n(i.e., googles or face shield), and gloves. Procedure should be conducted in a\nseparate\/isolation room, and during NP specimen collection health care workers\nshould request the patients to cover their mouth with a medical mask or\ntissue. Although collection of NP and OP swabs have the potential to induce\nfits of coughing from the patient undergoing the procedure, there is no\ncurrently available evidence that cough generated via NP\/OP specimen\ncollection leads to increased risk of COVID-19 transmission via aerosols."}
{"_id":"WHOtest106","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nAre specialized or referral hospitals required for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection when hospitalization is needed?\nNo. Current WHO recommendations do not include a requirement for exclusive use\nof specialized or referral hospitals to treat suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV\nacute respiratory disease patients. However, countries or local jurisdictions\nmay choose to care for patients at such hospitals if those are deemed the most\nlikely to be able to safely care for patients with suspected or confirmed\n2019-nCoV infection or for other clinical reasons (e.g., availability of\nadvanced life support). Regardless, any healthcare facility treating patients\nwith suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV patients should adhere to the WHO\ninfection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare to protect\npatients, staff and visitors. Click here for the\nguidance."}
{"_id":"WHOtest107","title":"","text":"Q&A: Infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19\nShould blood centers routinely screen blood products for COVID-19 virus?\nNo, although RNA fragments of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in blood of symptomatic\nCOVID-19 patients, this does not mean that the virus is viable\/infectious. In\ngeneral, respiratory viruses are not known to be transmitted by blood\ntransfusion. Blood centers should have routine blood donor screening measures\nin place to prevent individuals with respiratory symptoms or fever from\ndonating blood. As precautionary measures, blood centers might encourage self-\ndeferral of those with travel history to an COVID-19 affected country in the\nprevious 14 days, or of those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are\nclose contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case."}
{"_id":"WHOtest108","title":"","text":"Q&A: Influenza and COVID-19 - similarities and differences\nHow are COVID-19 and influenza viruses different?\nThe speed of transmission is an important point of difference between the two\nviruses. Influenza has a shorter median incubation period (the time from\ninfection to appearance of symptoms) and a shorter serial interval (the time\nbetween successive cases) than COVID-19 virus. The serial interval for\nCOVID-19 virus is estimated to be 5-6 days, while for influenza virus, the\nserial interval is 3 days. This means that influenza can spread faster than\nCOVID-19.  \nFurther, transmission in the first 3-5 days of illness, or potentially pre-\nsymptomatic transmission \u2013transmission of the virus before the appearance of\nsymptoms \u2013 is a major driver of transmission for influenza. In contrast, while\nwe are learning that there are people who can shed COVID-19 virus 24-48 hours\nprior to symptom onset, at present, this does not appear to be a major driver\nof transmission.  \nThe reproductive number \u2013 the number of secondary infections generated from\none infected individual \u2013 is understood to be between 2 and 2.5 for COVID-19\nvirus, higher than for influenza. However, estimates for both COVID-19 and\ninfluenza viruses are very context and time-specific, making direct\ncomparisons more difficult.  \nChildren are important drivers of influenza virus transmission in the\ncommunity. For COVID-19 virus, initial data indicates that children are less\naffected than adults and that clinical attack rates in the 0-19 age group are\nlow. Further preliminary data from household transmission studies in China\nsuggest that children are infected from adults, rather than vice versa.  \nWhile the range of symptoms for the two viruses is similar, the fraction with\nsevere disease appears to be different. For COVID-19, data to date suggest\nthat 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are severe infection,\nrequiring oxygen and 5% are critical infections, requiring ventilation. These\nfractions of severe and critical infection would be higher than what is\nobserved for influenza infection.  \nThose most at risk for severe influenza infection are children, pregnant\nwomen, elderly, those with underlying chronic medical conditions and those who\nare immunosuppressed. For COVID-19, our current understanding is that older\nage and underlying conditions increase the risk for severe infection.  \nMortality for COVID-19 appears higher than for influenza, especially seasonal\ninfluenza. While the true mortality of COVID-19 will take some time to fully\nunderstand, the data we have so far indicate that the crude mortality ratio\n(the number of reported deaths divided by the reported cases) is between 3-4%,\nthe infection mortality rate (the number of reported deaths divided by the\nnumber of infections) will be lower. For seasonal influenza, mortality is\nusually well below 0.1%. However, mortality is to a large extent determined by\naccess to and quality of health care."}
{"_id":"WHOtest109","title":"","text":"Q&A: Influenza and COVID-19 - similarities and differences\nHow are COVID-19 and influenza viruses similar?\nFirstly, COVID-19 and influenza viruses have a similar disease presentation.\nThat is, they both cause respiratory disease, which presents as a wide range\nof illness from asymptomatic or mild through to severe disease and death.  \nSecondly, both viruses are transmitted by contact, droplets and fomites. As a\nresult, the same public health measures, such as hand hygiene and good\nrespiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow or into a tissue and\nimmediately disposing of the tissue), are important actions all can take to\nprevent infection."}
{"_id":"WHOtest110","title":"","text":"Q&A: Influenza and COVID-19 - similarities and differences\nWhat medical interventions are available for COVID-19 and influenza viruses?\nWhile there are a number of therapeutics currently in clinical trials in China\nand more than 20 vaccines in development for COVID-19, there are currently no\nlicensed vaccines or therapeutics for COVID-19. In contrast, antivirals and\nvaccines available for influenza. While the influenza vaccine is not effective\nagainst COVID-19 virus, it is highly recommended to get vaccinated each year\nto prevent influenza infection."}
{"_id":"WHOtest111","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO\u2019s position on the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the context of the COVID-19 response?\nWHO is actively following the ongoing clinical trials that are being conducted\nin response to COVID-19, including studies looking at the use of chloroquine\nand its derivative, hydroxychloroquine, for treatment and\/or prevention.\nCurrently, there is insufficient data to assess the efficacy of either of\nthese medicines in treating patients with COVID-19, or in preventing them from\ncontracting the coronavirus.\nIn the context of the COVID-19 response, hydroxychloroquine was one of the\npotential treatment options that was being assessed as part of the Solidarity\nclinical trial. However, on 25 May 2020, the WHO Director-General\nannounced that the Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial had put a\ntemporary pause on the hydroxychloroquine arm\nof the trial while the safety data are reviewed. This decision follows the\npublication of a recent Lancet study focusing on the effects of\nhydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients who have been hospitalized; authors of\nthe study reported a higher mortality rate among patients who received the\ndrug. The Director-General made clear in his announcement that\nhydroxychloroquine continues to be a safe drug for use in patients with\nmalaria and autoimmune diseases.\nFor public health emergencies, WHO has a systematic and transparent process\nfor research and development (R&D), including for clinical trials of drugs.\nThe WHO \u201cR&D Blueprint\u201d for COVID-19,\ninitiated on 7 January 2020, aims to fast-track the availability of effective\ntests, vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large-\nscale crises. WHO has also designed a set of procedures to assess the\nperformance, quality and safety of medical technologies during emergency\nsituations.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest112","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nShould core malaria vector control interventions be maintained in view of the rapid global spread of COVID-19?\nAs of March 2020, there have been reports of the suspension of insecticide-\ntreated net (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) campaigns in several\nAfrican countries due to concerns around exposure to COVID-19. Suspending such\ncampaigns will leave many vulnerable populations at greater risk of malaria,\nparticularly young children and pregnant women.\nWHO strongly encourages countries not to suspend the planning **** for \u2013\nor implementation of \u2013 vector control activities, including ITN and IRS\ncampaigns, while ensuring these services are delivered using best practices\nto protect health workers and communities from\nCOVID-19 infection. Modifications of planned distribution strategies may be\nneeded to minimize exposure to the coronavirus.\nWHO commends the leaders of Benin, Chad, the Central African Republic, the\nDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda for\ncommitting to move forward with ITN campaigns during the pandemic. Other\ncountries are adapting their net distribution strategies to ensure households\nreceive the nets as quickly and safely as possible.\nTogether with partners, WHO has developed guidance to ensure that those\nsuffering from malaria can safely receive the care they need in COVID-19\nsettings. Tailoring malaria interventions in the COVID-19\nresponse includes guidance on the\nprevention of infection through vector control and chemoprevention, testing,\ntreatment of cases, clinical services, supply chain and laboratory activities.\nThe document is consistent with broader WHO\nguidance on how\nto maintain essential health services during the pandemic."}
{"_id":"WHOtest113","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhy is WHO particularly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in malaria-affected areas?\nExperience from previous disease outbreaks has shown the disruptive effect on\nhealth service delivery and the consequences for diseases such as malaria. The\n2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, for example,\nundermined malaria control efforts and led to a massive increase in malaria-\nrelated illness and death in the 3 countries.\nA new modelling analysis from\nWHO and partners, published on 23 April, found that the number of malaria deaths in\nsub-Saharan Africa could double this year alone if there are severe\ndisruptions in access to insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial medicines\ndue to COVID-19. These projections reinforce the critical importance of\nsustaining efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria during the pandemic.\nIn all regions, protective measures should be utilized to minimize the risk of\nCOVID-19 transmission between patients, communities and health providers. WHO\nand partners have developed guidance\non how to safely maintain malaria\nprevention and treatment services in COVID-19 settings."}
{"_id":"WHOtest114","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO doing to support malaria-affected countries in the context of COVID-19?\nThe WHO Global Malaria Programme is leading a cross-partner\neffort to mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus\nin malaria-affected countries and, where possible, contribute towards a\nsuccessful COVID-19 response. The work is being carried out in close\ncollaboration with colleagues based at WHO headquarters, regional offices and\ncountry level.\nIn March 2020, before the pandemic had secured a strong footing in Africa, WHO\nsounded an urgent call for maintaining core malaria prevention and\ntreatment services while protecting health workers and communities against\nCOVID-19 transmission. The findings of a modelling\nanalysis from WHO and partners,\npublished in April, reinforced the WHO call for continuity of malaria services\nduring then pandemic.\nIn collaboration with partners, WHO developed technical guidance for countries\non how to safely maintain malaria prevention and treatment in COVID-19\nsettings. Tailoring malaria interventions in the COVID-19\nresponse  is consistent with broader WHO\nguidance on how\nto maintain essential health services during the pandemic."}
{"_id":"WHOtest115","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nHow many malaria-affected countries have reported cases of COVID-19?\nMalaria-endemic countries in all WHO have **** regions have reported cases of\nCOVID-19. In the WHO African Region, which carries more than 90% of the global\nmalaria burden, 45 countries had reported approximately 25 000 cases of the\ndisease as of 30 April 2020. The latest situation\nreports on\nthe COVID-19 pandemic are available on the WHO website."}
{"_id":"WHOtest116","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhat additional special measures may be needed in the context of COVID-19?\nIn addition to routine approaches to malaria control, there may be a case for\nspecial measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic \u2013 such as a temporary\nreturn to presumptive malaria treatment, or the use of mass drug\nadministration \u2013 which have proved useful in some previous emergencies. ****\nPresumptive malaria treatment refers to treatment of a suspected malaria case\nwithout the benefit of diagnostic confirmation (e.g. through a rapid\ndiagnostic test). This approach is typically reserved for extreme\ncircumstances, such as disease in settings where prompt diagnosis is no longer\npossible.\nMass drug administration (MDA) is a WHO-recommended approach for rapidly\nreducing malaria mortality and morbidity during epidemics and in complex\nemergency settings. Through MDA, all individuals in a targeted population are\ngiven antimalarial medicines \u2013 often at repeated intervals \u2013 regardless of\nwhether or not they show symptoms of the disease.\nSuch special measures should only be adopted after careful consideration of 2\nkey aims: lowering malaria-related mortality and keeping health workers and\ncommunities safe. WHO is exploring concrete proposals for when and how to\nactivate such measures; guidance will be published in due course."}
{"_id":"WHOtest117","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nShould WHO-recommended preventive therapies be maintained in sub-Saharan Africa?\nYes, delivery of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp),\nseasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), and intermittent preventive treatment\nin infants (IPTi) should be maintained provided that\nbest practices for protecting health\nworkers \u2013 and other front-line workers \u2013 from COVID-19 are followed. Ensuring\naccess to these and other core malaria prevention tools saves lives and is an\nimportant strategy for reducing the strain on health systems in the context of\nthe COVID-19 response.\n Tailoring malaria interventions in the COVID-19\nresponse , developed by WHO and partners\n, includes guidance on how to deliver preventive therapies for pregnant\nwomen and young children in ways that protect health workers and communities\nagainst potential COVID-19 transmission.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest118","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO\u2019s position on the use of Artemisia plant material for the prevention or treatment of malaria and\/or COVID-19?\nThe most widely used antimalarial treatments, artemisinin-based combination\ntherapies (ACTs), are produced using the pure artemisinin compound extracted\nfrom the plant Artemisia annua. In recent years, some news reports have\nsuggested that a range of non-pharmaceutical products made from Artemisia\nplant material \u2013 such as herbal teas and tablets \u2013 may be effective in\npreventing or treating malaria. Now, there are reports that products made from\nArtemisia plant material may also have a preventive or curative effect on\nCOVID-19.\nWHO urges extreme caution over reports touting the efficacy of such products.\nAs explained in a WHO position statement, there is no\nscientific evidence base to support the use of non-pharmaceutical forms of\nArtemisia for the prevention or treatment of malaria. There is also no\nevidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be prevented or treated with products\nmade from Artemisia -based plant material."}
{"_id":"WHOtest119","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nHave there been disruptions in the global supply of key malaria-related commodities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYes. In recent weeks, there have been reports of disruptions in the supply\nchains of essential malaria commodities \u2013 such as long-lasting insecticidal\nnets, rapid diagnostic tests and antimalarial medicines \u2013 resulting from\nlockdowns and from a suspension of the importation and exportation of goods in\nresponse to COVID-19. WHO and partners are working together to ensure the\navailability of key malaria control tools, particularly in countries with a\nhigh burden of the disease, and that efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19\ndo not compromise access to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment\nservices."}
{"_id":"WHOtest120","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nWhat are the key considerations for countries that are working to eliminate malaria or prevent re-establishment of transmission?\nAll of the considerations described above apply to malaria-eliminating\ncountries and those preventing re-establishment of the disease: efforts must\nbe sustained to prevent, detect and treat malaria cases while preventing the\nspread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of those who deliver the services.\nCountries that are nearing malaria elimination must protect their important\ngains and avoid malaria resurgences. Countries that have eliminated malaria\nmust remain vigilant for any imported cases of malaria that may be occurring\nto prevent reintroduction of the disease."}
{"_id":"WHOtest121","title":"","text":"Q&A: Malaria and COVID-19\nAre there any changes to WHO guidance with respect to malaria diagnosis and treatment?\nWHO guidance remains the same. Countries should not scale back efforts to\ndetect and treat malaria; doing so would seriously undermine the health and\nwell-being of millions of people infected with a potentially life-threatening\ndisease.\nAs signs and symptoms of malaria and COVID-19 can overlap (such as a fever),\npublic health messages will need to be adapted in malaria-endemic settings so\nthat people who have a fever are encouraged to seek immediate treatment rather\nthan stay at home; without prompt treatment, a mild case of malaria can\nrapidly progress to severe illness and death."}
{"_id":"WHOtest122","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nHow did WHO reach its scientific conclusions on mask use?\nWHO convenes global teams of experts that collectively review the latest\nstudies. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of more than 80 experts in\ninfection prevention and control from institutions worldwide participate in\nweekly advisory calls to help inform WHO guidance documents. Advice on mask\nuse for healthy individuals in community settings was developed in\nconsultation with several senior experts."}
{"_id":"WHOtest123","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nDoes WHO recommend the use of gloves in the community to prevent transmission of COVID-19?\nNo, WHO does not recommend the regular use of gloves by people in the\ncommunity. The wearing of gloves may increase risks, since it can lead to\nself-infection or transmission to others through touching contaminated\nsurfaces which is not followed by removal of gloves and hand hygiene.\nTherefore, in public places such as supermarkets, in addition to physical\ndistancing, WHO recommends the installation of public hand hygiene stations at\nthe entrance and exit.\nBy widely improving hand hygiene practices, countries can help prevent the\nspread of the COVID-19 virus."}
{"_id":"WHOtest124","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nWhat are non-medical masks and what is their use?\nNon-medical masks are often homemade of breathable fabrics and can be\ncommercially available as well. There are numerous designs for fabric masks,\nbut they generally cover the nose and mouth, are secured with ties or elastic\nloops, include multiple layers of fabric, and can sometimes be washed and re-\nused.\nThe evidence about the benefits of these masks is limited. One good quality\nstudy showed that the risk of respiratory infection is increased (and not\nreduced) in health care workers using cotton cloth masks when compared to\nmedical masks. Cloth masks are currently being recommended by some countries\nas a means of source control in the general population. Although their\nprotective effectiveness to the wearer is unknown, they may protect others if\nthe wearer is a pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carrier.\nWHO is continuing to gather and review data as new studies become available\nand will update guidance accordingly."}
{"_id":"WHOtest125","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nDoes WHO recommend the use of non-medical masks in the community?\nCurrently there is not enough evidence for or against the use of masks\n(medical or other) for healthy individuals in the wider community. WHO\ncontinues to recommend that medical masks be worn by individuals who are sick\nor those caring for them. WHO is actively studying the rapidly evolving\nscience on masks and continuously updates its guidance.\nIn the interim, to support countries in their decision-making process WHO has\nprovided advice through a risk-based approach for the use of masks in the\ncontext of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest126","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nWhat individuals should wear medical masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 according to WHO?\nMedical masks are recommended in health care settings. However, it is\nimportant to remember that the use of masks should be combined with other key\ninfection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene and physical\ndistancing, as they do not serve all purposes to protect against COVID-19.\nWHO recommends the use of medical masks for the following individuals:\nHealthcare workers\nWhy? Medical masks and respirators such as N95, FFP2 or equivalent are\nrecommended for and should be reserved for, healthcare workers while giving\ncare to patients. Healthcare workers are the most exposed because they are in\nclose contact with people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and their\nsurrounding environment, which are the main routes of transmission.\nPeople who are sick and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19\nWhy? Anyone who is sick, even with mild symptoms such as muscle aches,\nslight cough, sore throat or fatigue, should isolate at home and use a medical\nmask as much as possible according to WHO\u2019s recommendation on home care of\npatients with suspected COVID-19. Coughing, sneezing or talking can generate\ndroplets that can spread the infection. These droplets can reach the face of\nothers nearby or land on the surrounding environment. If an infected person\ncoughs, sneezes, or talks wearing a medical mask, this helps to protect those\nnearby from infection.\nAnyone taking care of a person at home who is sick with COVID-19\nWhy? Those caring for individuals who are sick with COVID-19 should wear a\nmedical mask for protection. Close and frequent contact with someone with\nCOVID-19 can put those caring for them at high risk. National decision makers\nmay also choose to recommend medical mask use for certain individuals using a\nrisk-based approach. This approach takes into consideration the purpose of the\nmask, risk of exposure and vulnerability of the wearer, the setting and\nfeasibility of use and the types of masks considered.\nSee \u201cAdvice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19\u201d.\nWHO will continue to update guidance according to scientific findings."}
{"_id":"WHOtest127","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nWhat types of masks are used against the spread of COVID-19?\nMedical masks (also known as surgical masks): these are made from a\nminimum of three layers of synthetic nonwoven materials, and configured to\nhave filtration layers sandwiched in the middle. These masks are available in\ndifferent thicknesses, have various levels of fluid-resistance and two levels\nof filtration. These medical masks reduce the transfer of saliva or\nrespiratory droplets from the wearer to others and to the environment. They\nalso decrease the likelihood of potentially infectious droplets from others\nreaching the mouth and nose of the mask wearer.\nHand hygiene should be performed before putting on a clean mask and after\nremoving the mask. These masks should be worn tightly around the chin and top\nof the nose. The wearer should avoid touching the mask while it is on the face\nand the mask should be immediately discarded if it becomes moist. Importantly,\nwearing a mask must be combined with other preventive measures including\nperforming frequent and appropriate hand hygiene and physical distancing of at\nleast 1 metre (3 feet).\nRespirators (also known as filtering facepiece respirators --FFR) and\navailable at different performance levels such as FFP2, FFP3, N95, N99):\nthese are specifically designed for healthcare workers who provide care to\nCOVID-19 patients in settings and areas where special medical procedures are\nundertaken. Respirators are intended to protect the wearer when these medical\nprocedures aerosolize smaller particles than normal droplets into the air in\nthe health treatment area. Healthcare workers should be fit tested before\nusing a respirator to ensure that the respirator is sealed tightly on the\nwearer\u2019s face and is properly fitted. Respirators with valves should not be\nused as the purpose of source control."}
{"_id":"WHOtest128","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO recommending to countries that are considering public mask use in community?\nFor countries that are currently considering the use of masks, WHO advises\ndecision makers to apply a risk-based approach and consider the following:\nPurpose of mask use: if the intention is preventing the wearer\ntransmitting infection to others (that is source control) or to offer\nprotection to the wearer against infection (that is prevention).\nRisk of exposure to COVID-19\n\ndue to epidemiology\/number of cases in the population: if there is high community transmission and other measures such as contact tracing or ability to carry out testing are not possible. \ndepending on occupation: e.g., individuals working in close contact with public (e.g., community health worker, cashier). \n\nVulnerability of the mask wearer\/population: for example, if supplies are\nadequate medical masks could be used by people with comorbidities, such as\ncardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, older people, immunocompromised\npatients.\nSetting in which the population lives: settings with high population\ndensity (e.g. refugee camps, those living in cramped conditions) and settings\nwhere individuals are unable to keep a safe distance (e.g. crowded buses or\nother transport).\nFeasibility: availability and costs of masks, access to clean water to\nwash non-medical masks, and ability of mask wearers to tolerate adverse\neffects of wearing a mask.\nType of mask: medical mask versus non-medical mask (prioritization of\nmedical masks for health care providers, symptomatic people and their\ncaregivers).\nIn addition to these factors, potential advantages of the use of masks by\nhealthy people in the community setting include reducing potential exposure\nrisk from an infected person during the \u2018pre-symptomatic\u2019 period or if an\ninfected person is asymptomatic.\nThere are potential risks and disadvantages that should be taken into account\nin any decision-making process on the use of masks:\n\nNon-medical or cloth masks could increase potential for COVID-19 to infect a person if the mask is contaminated by dirty hands and touched often, or kept on other parts of the face or head and then placed back over the mouth and nose \nDepending on the type of mask used, could cause difficulty in breathing \nThey can lead to facial skin breakdown \nThey can lead to difficulty with communicating clearly \nThey can be uncomfortable to wear \nIt is possible that mask use, with unclear benefits, could create a false sense of security in the wearer, leading to diminished practice of recognized beneficial preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene. \n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest129","title":"","text":"Q&A: Masks and COVID-19\nWhat is WHO\u2019s view on masks?\nWHO recognizes that there are many questions about the use of face masks to\nprevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the community, and that many countries\nare recommending that people wear them. Wearing a medical mask can limit the\nspread of certain respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19. However, the\nuse of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of\nprotection. Other measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene should\nbe adopted.\nWHO aims to provide the most scientifically sound yet practical\nrecommendations for the safety and wellbeing of individuals in all settings.\nAt present, WHO recommends a risk-based approach to be considered by decision\nmakers when deciding in which settings and circumstances non-medical masks\ncould be used in the community.\nPlease see: Advice on the use of masks."}
{"_id":"WHOtest130","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nWhat are the risks arising from public transport to the venue(s)?\nThe extra risk from participants and spectators travelling on public transport\nin a major city may not be significant compared to the ongoing risk to the\nlocal population using the transport all the time if physical distancing is\nnot possible on public transport."}
{"_id":"WHOtest131","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nShould event organizers arrange screening at venues beyond national government requirements for point of entry (PoE)?\nTemperature screening alone, at exit or entry, is not an effective way to stop\ninternational spread, since infected individuals may be in incubation period,\nmay not express apparent symptoms early on in the course of the disease, or\nmay dissimulate fever through the use of antipyretics; in addition, such\nmeasures require substantial investments for what may bear little benefits. It\nis more effective to provide prevention recommendation messages to travellers\nand to collect health declarations at arrival, with travellers\u2019 contact\ndetails, to allow for a proper risk assessment and a possible contact tracing\nof incoming\ntravellers.\nEvent organizers should also consider the capacity to undertake this and the\nmanagement of suspected cases. However, sporting organizations may have\ncriteria for participation that are stricter than government requirements for\nPorts of Entry into the country that are based on event risk assessment,\nincluding organizers' healthcare capacity.\nAny additional screening questionnaires for participation in events need to be\naligned with public health agencies in the jurisdiction. There is a need to\nconsider how to manage different groups \u2013 athletes, officials and spectators,\nand the large numbers of individuals likely to arrive at a sporting event from\nmany oversea countries \u2013 and to follow both host country and WHO travel\nadvice and to\nassess whether there is difficulty in obtaining accurate information about the\ntravel history of those individuals."}
{"_id":"WHOtest132","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nAre there additional safeguards event organizers can implement or recommend to athletes\/officials\/visitors in the context of COVID-19?\nFollow standard preventative advice to the general public, including physical\ndistancing, in the athletes\u2019 village.\nAlso promote:\n\nsignage, digital messaging to all participants and their entourages about COVID-19 and how to prevent infection\nregular disinfection and cleaning of surfaces, in venues and in personal spaces \nnon-sharing of equipment and cleaning of equipment after each user.\n\nOrganizers are recommended to develop a checklist (include hand gels stations,\nhygiene facilities, etc.). See the event mitigation recommendations checklist\nfor event organizers above."}
{"_id":"WHOtest133","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nWhat should be the criteria for excluding an athlete or other accredited participant from competing?\nAgreed health criteria are needed for the exclusion of athletes from competing\nand for allowing them to return to competition wherever appropriate. These\nshould be consistent with public health guidelines for the general population,\nwith risk profiles based on recent travel to high-risk community transmission\nzones, recent contact with individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having\nCOVID-19, current symptomatology, etc. Athletes who are feeling unwell should\nnot participate in events.\nIf testing of athletes has been agreed with the local public health service\nthere is a need to consider test availability, time taken for receipt of test\nresults and host-country health services capacity.\nCriteria for exclusion of officials\/judges from competition and for allowing\nthem to return to competition where appropriate should follow guidance and\ncriteria for the workplace.\nRequirements for the attendance of all athletes and other accredited\nparticipants should be put in place:\n\u2013 health check: travel declaration and temperature screening\n\u2013 contact tracing protocols ready (with all details of those present)\n\u2013 allowing extra spacing (physical distancing)\n\u2013 following all hygiene precautions.\nIsolation procedures for athletes and other accredited participants (e.g.\nfield-of-play staff, medical teams, officials who have close contact with the\nathletes) who feel unwell or become symptomatic should be clear and documented\nand rehearsed prior to holding the event, especially for higher risk sports,\ne.g. contact sports."}
{"_id":"WHOtest134","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nHow large does a meeting or event need to be in order to be a \u201cmass gathering\u201d?\nHigh profile international sporting events such as the Olympics or World Cups\nas well as international religious events such as the Hajj count as mass\ngatherings. However, lower profile conferences and events can also meet WHO\u2019s\ndefinition of a mass gathering. An event counts as a \u201cmass gatherings\u201d if the\nnumber of people it brings together is so large that it has the potential to\nstrain the planning and response resources of the health system in the\ncommunity where it takes place. You need to consider the location and duration\nof the event as well as the number of participants. For example, if the event\ntakes place over several days in a small island state where the capacity of\nthe health system is quite limited then even an event with just a few thousand\nparticipants could place a big strain on the health system and then be\nconsidered a \u201cmass gathering\u201d event. Conversely, if the event is held in a big\ncity in a country with a large, well-resourced health system and lasts just a\nfew hours, the event may not constitute a \u201cmass gathering\u201d event."}
{"_id":"WHOtest135","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nShould event organizers provide COVID-19 testing?\nNo, testing should be conducted in accordance with local health providers and\nnational guidance. Anyone unwell or symptomatic should not be allowed to\nparticipate in the event. Establish close collaboration with local public\nhealth authorities well before the event, to facilitate testing for athletes,\nofficials or spectators who meet pre-agreed suspect cases definitions.\nConsider host-country health service capacity to manage any COVID-19 activity,\nand other public health issues happening at the event over and above its own\nnational pandemic response."}
{"_id":"WHOtest136","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nWhat if my organization does not have the expertise to assess the risks COVID-19 poses for our planned mass gathering?\nThe national and local public health authorities in the country where you plan\nto hold the mass gathering will most likely know how to conduct a health risk\nassessment. If there is a WHO Country Office there they may also be able to\nprovide some expert support. So too might the WHO Regional Office in your part\nof the world. You can find the names and contact details of the WHO Regional\nOffices at https:\/\/www.who.int\/about\/who-we-are\/regional-offices"}
{"_id":"WHOtest137","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nWhere can I find more advice on assessing and managing health risks around international mass gatherings?\nWHO has produced guidance and also a training course on how to plan for a mass\ngathering. The guidance and the course both look at how to conduct a risk\nassessment, plan for and manage health risks in partnership with the local\nauthorities: https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-\ncoronavirus-2019\/technical-guidance\/points-of-entry-and-mass-\ngatherings You can find advice to give\nindividual participants on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from\nCOVID-19 at: https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-\ncoronavirus-2019\/advice-for-public"}
{"_id":"WHOtest138","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nWhat factors should organizers and health authorities look at when assessing whether the risks are acceptable or not?\nFor countries not currently known to be experiencing community transmission of\nCOVID-19, the priority consideration will be whether the planned mass\ngathering event substantially increases the risk of the virus entering the\ncountry and becoming established, as well as the risk for participants to\nimporting infection back to their home country and further increasing global\nspread. In making this assessment, the organizers and their national or local\nhealth authorities should recognize that the risk of imported cases of\nCOVID-19 is naturally linked to international travel. They should also\nrecognize that it is neither realistic or desirable to aim for zero risk. When\norganizers and health authorities are determining whether to hold a mass\ngathering, they should determine what is an acceptable risk and what\nadditional measures should be implemented to mitigate the risks.\nFor countries where COVID-19 has already started to spread in the community,\nkey consideration will be:\n\naiming at containing or at least slowing down the spread of the virus in the local community\/country.\npreventing participants from other countries being infected with COVID-19 \n\nIn each case the risk should be considered in the context of the known\nfeatures of COVID-19, its severity, its transmissibility and the effectiveness\nof measures to prevent or reduce transmission. The strain already placed on\nthe local health system in responding to COVID-19 outbreak(s), and the\nadditional strain the mass gathering might place on the system also need to be\ntaken into account.\nYou can find more advice on what to look at in the WHO document Key planning\nrecommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19\noutbreak of 14 February 2020. See: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications-\ndetail\/key-planning-recommendations-for-mass-gatherings-in-the-context-of-the-\ncurrent-covid-19-outbreak"}
{"_id":"WHOtest139","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nDoes WHO recommend that all international mass gatherings be cancelled because of COVID-19?\nNo. As each international mass gathering is different, the factors to consider\nwhen determining if the event should be cancelled may also differ. Any\ndecision to change a planned international gathering should be based on a\ncareful assessment of the risks and how they can be managed, and the level of\nevent planning. The assessment should involve all stakeholders in the event,\nand in particular the health authorities in the country or community where the\nevent is due to take place. These authorities and stakeholders are in the best\nposition to assess the level of stress the event might place on the local\nhealth system and emergency services \u2013 and whether this level of stress is\nacceptable in the current situation.  \nIt is WHO\u2019s view that all countries with community transmission should\nseriously consider postponing or reducing mass gatherings that bring people\ntogether and have the potential to amplify disease and support the recommended\nbest practice of physical distancing. Any decision will be supported through\nthe use of WHO tools, in particular the Risk Assessment for Mass Gatherings\nduring COVID-19.  \nIf movement restrictions and further national measures have been established\nin the country, the WHO RA does not apply. However, when the process of re-\nopening\/conducting mass gatherings is being considered post movement\nrestrictions, it will be key to ensure any decisions are based on a risk\nassessment, such as the WHO Mass gatherings COVID-19 risk assessment."}
{"_id":"WHOtest140","title":"","text":"Q&A: Mass gatherings and COVID-19\nIf we go ahead with an international mass gathering, what can we do to reduce the risk of participants catching COVID-19?\nPromote hand washing, respiratory hygiene and social distancing at the event.\nMake sure you have emergency contact details for all participants, including\nwhere they are staying during the event. You should make it clear to them that\nthis information will be shared with the local public health authorities to\nenable rapid contact tracing if a participant at the event becomes ill with\nCOVID-19. The event organisers need to have an agreed preparedness plan in\ncase one or more participants become ill with COVID-19 symptoms. This should\ninclude rapid isolation of the ill person and their safe transfer to a local\nhealth facility. You should consider whether the number of participants at the\nevent could be reduced, making available participation by video or\nteleconference and possibly screening participants for COVID-19 symptoms\n(cough, fever, malaise) at points of entry to the venue. You can find advice\non how individual participants can protect themselves and their loved ones\nfrom COVID-19 at: https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-\ncoronavirus-2019\/advice-for-public"}
{"_id":"WHOtest141","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nWhat should I do if I have symptoms of COVID-19?\n\n\nIf you present symptoms related to COVID-19, seek medical advice. __ Call by phone first if possible and give information about pre-existing health conditions and medicines that you are taking. Follow the instructions of the health-care worker and monitor your symptoms regularly. \n\n\nIf you have difficulty breathing, contact health emergencies immediately as this may be due to a respiratory infection. Call by phone first if possible to learn what to do next.\n\n\n\n\nIf you live with others, make sure that you isolate yourself __ as soon as you suspect infection  __by using the space that you identified in advance. You and other members of the household should also wear a medical mask as much as possible if these are available. You can learnhow to wear a mask here.\n\n__\n\nIf you live with others and home care for COVID-19 is advised by your health-care worker , other household members should follow available guidance on home care for patients with COVID-19 presenting with mild symptoms and management of their contacts (guidance here __ ) . See related flyers for people who are ill , for household members _andfor caregivers  ._\n\n__\n\nIf you live alone and home care for COVID-10 is advised by your health-care worker , ask your family, friends, neighbours, health-care worker or a local volunteer organisation to check in on you regularly and to provide support as needed following existing guidance for caregivers (guidance here __ ) .\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest142","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nWhat can I do to prevent infection?\nTo prevent infection, there are a five things that you can do.\n1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and wate r and\ndry them thoroughly.\nYou can also use alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty\nand if this product is available. Cleaning your hands frequently will remove\nthe virus if it is on your hands. You can learn how to wash your hands hands\nin this video (or this\nvisual). If an alcohol-based hand rub or soap is not\navailable, then using chlorinated water (0.05%) for handwashing is an option,\nbut it is not ideal because frequent use may irritate your skin.\n2. **Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when\ncoughing and sneezing**.\nAnd remember to throw away the used tissue immediately in a bin with a lid and\nto wash your hands. This way you protect others from any virus released\nthrough coughs and sneezes.\n3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.\n****Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If\nyou touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands, you can transfer the\nvirus from the surface to yourself.\n4. Keep physical distance from others.\nIf your national or local authorities have put in place confinement measures,\nit is important to respect them. Taking exercise outside is good for your\nphysical and mental health, but should only be undertaken if regulations for\nyour area allow it. When you do go out, avoid crowded spaces and maintain at\nleast 1 metre distance (3 feet or arms-length) from others. Avoid unnecessary\nvisits to your house. If visits are necessary (e.g. caregiver to support with\nactivities of daily living), ask your visitor to regularly check for symptoms\nto ensure that they are symptom free when visiting you. Ask them to also\nfollow these five key actions, including washing their hands when they first\nenter your home.\n5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces every day.\nThis includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks,\nphones, keyboards, toilets, taps, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, use\ndetergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Learn more by clicking\nhere."}
{"_id":"WHOtest143","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nHow is COVID-19 transmitted?\nPeople can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can\nspread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth,\nwhich are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets\nland on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch\nCOVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, and then touching their eyes,\nnose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from\na person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets."}
{"_id":"WHOtest144","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nIs there a vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19?\nWhile some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and\nalleviate symptoms of mild COVID-19, there are no medicines that have been\nshown to prevent or cure the disease. WHO does not recommend self-medication\nwith any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or cure for\nCOVID-19. However, there are several ongoing clinical trials of both western\nand traditional medicines. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and\nmedicines to prevent and treat COVID-19 and will continue to provide updated\ninformation as soon as research results become available."}
{"_id":"WHOtest145","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nI have recently lost someone I care about. What advice do you have to help me cope?\nLosing someone close to you is always hard, whatever the cause. During these\nextraordinary circumstances, when your usual routine may be disrupted and when\nfunerals may not be permitted, it may be even harder. Following this advice\nmay help.  \n\n\nDo not criticise yourself for how you feel. When you lose a family member or friend to COVID-19, you may experience a range of emotions. You may also have difficulty sleeping or low levels of energy. All these feelings are normal and there is no right or wrong way to feel grief. \n\n\nAllow yourself time to process your emotions in response to your loss. You may think that the sadness and pain that you feel will never go away, but in most cases, these feelings lessen over time. \n\n\nTalk regularly with people that you trust about your feelings.\n\n\n\n\nKeep to your routines as much as you feel able and try to focus on activities that bring you joy.\n\n\n\nSeek advice and comfort from people that you trust __ (e.g. religious\/faith leaders, mental health workers or other trusted members of your community) while maintaining physical distance (e.g. attending virtual mass) . ****\n\n\n\nThink of alternative ways to say goodbye to the person who passed away __ such as writing a letter or dedicating a drawing to your loved one. These are small actions that can help you cope with grief and loss, particularly in situations where funeral services are not permitted\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest146","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nWhat is COVID-19?\nCOVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus, which has not been\npreviously identified in humans. In most cases, COVID-19 causes mild symptoms\nincluding dry cough, tiredness and fever, though fever may not be a symptom\nfor some older people. Other mild symptoms include aches and pains, nasal\ncongestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Some people become infected\nbut don\u2019t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people recover from\nthe disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people\nwho gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and has difficulty breathing."}
{"_id":"WHOtest147","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nWho is at risk of developing severe disease?\nOlder people, and people of all ages with pre-existing medical conditions\n(such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, or\ncancer) appear to develop serious illness more often than others."}
{"_id":"WHOtest148","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nHow can I keep healthy on a daily basis during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nYou can follow these 10 steps to keep healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. \n__\n\n\nKeep to your regular routines as much as possible and maintain a daily schedule for yourself including sleeping, meals and activities. \n\n\nStay socially connected. Speak to loved ones and people you trust every day or as much as possible, using the telephone, video-calls or messaging, through writing letters, etc. Use this time to share your feelings and to do common hobbies together. \n\n\n__\n\nBe physically active every day. Reduce long periods of sitting and set up a daily routine that includes at least 30 minutes of exercise. Make sure to do activities that are safe and appropriate for your level of physical fitness as indicated by your health-care worker. You can use household chores as a way to keep physically active, follow an on-line class (e.g. Tai Chi, yoga) or choose your favourite music and dance to that. __\n\n__\n\nDrink water and eat healthy and well-balanced meals. This will keep you hydrated, help strengthen your immune system and lower the risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases. __For nutrition advice click here.\n\n __\n\n\nAvoid smoking and drinking alcohol . Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 because smoking can affect lung capacity and because the act of smoking increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. Drinking alcohol not only disturbs your sleep but may also increase your risk of falls, weaken your immune system, and interact with any prescription medicines that you are taking. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink or don\u2019t drink alcohol at all. \n\n\nTake breaks from news coverage about COVID-19 as prolonged exposure can cause feelings of anxiety and despair. Seek updates at specific times of the day from a reliable source like the WHO website click here or national or local channels in order to help you distinguish facts from rumours or scams. ****\n\n\n__\n\nEngage in hobbies and activities that you enjoy or learn something new. Cognitive exercise such as reading a book or doing crosswords\/sudoku will keep your mind active and distract you from worrying. You can also use this time to keep a well-being diary (click here for an example.)\n\n __\n\nIf you have ongoing health conditions , take your prescribed medicines and follow the advice of your health-care worker  __regarding any health visits or phone consultations.\n\n __\n\nIf you have an emergency medical condition that is not related to COVID-19 , contact health emergencies immediately and ask what you should do next. Follow the instructions of the health-care worker. ****\n\n__\n\nIf stress, worry, fear or sadness get in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row, seek psychosocial support __ from available services in your community. If you are subject to abuse or violence from others, tell someone you trust and report this to the relevant authorities. You can also seek support from dedicated helplines that may be available in your country. ****\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest149","title":"","text":"Q&A: Older people and COVID-19\nWhat can older people do to prepare for COVID-19 in their community?\nThere is a lot that you can do to prepare for COVID-19 in your community.  \n\n\nInform yourself of the special measures taken in your community as well as the services and the sources of reliable information __ that are availableduring the health emergency (e.g. home deliveries, psychosocial support, health ministry website, alternative access to your pension).\n\n\nCreate a list of the basic supplies that you will need for at least two weeks and try to get these delivered where possible __ (e.g. **** non-perishable food items, household products, batteries for assistive devices you may use, and prescription medicines). Alternatively, ask family members, caregivers, neighbours or community leaders to help with ordering and\/or delivery of groceries or prescription medicines. Make sure that your mobile phone credit is topped up and identify a safe place to charge your phone regularly so that you can keep in contact with family and friends and reach emergency services if needed. \n\n\nMake a list of emergency numbers (e.g. COVID-19 local helpline, nearby hospital and health emergencies numbers, hotline for victims of abuse, psychosocial support hotline) and support contacts (e.g. family members and friends, main caregiver, community care worker, associations of older persons). If you live alone, you may wish to share this list and ask your neighbours, family or caregiver to be in touch regularly, for example, by phone or video chat.\n\n\nDiscuss with your health-care worker __ how your health needs can be addressed during COVID-19. This may involve postponing non-urgent appointments, talking to your doctor or health-care worker by phone or video chat instead of in person and\/or revising your vaccination schedule.\n\n\nIf you rely on the support provided by a caregiver , identify with him or her another person that you trust __ to support your daily living and care needs in case your caregiver is unable to continue to provide care. Together, you can note down all the personal care and assistance that you require and how it should be provided and share it with this trusted person so that they can be ready to provide care in case of need. ****\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you are the primary caregiver of another person who is care dependent (e.g. grandchild, older spouse, child with a disability), identify a person that you and the person that you care for trust to take on your caregiving responsibilities in case you fall sick. Local authorities or volunteer organizations that provide support in these situations in your community might be able to help.\n\n\nIf multiple people live in your home, if possible prepare a separate room or space in your home so that anyone showing symptoms compatible with COVID-19 can be isolated from others. If you do not have space for self-isolation, contact your community leaders or local health authorities to see if there is community space that could help you or other household members self-isolate.\n\n\nThink about what matters most to you regarding care and support, including medical treatment, in case something happens to you and you are unable to make your own decisions. If you want to develop an advanced care plan to record your treatment and care wishes, you can talk about it with your health-care worker or someone that you trust. You can write down your wishes and share them with people you trust. \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest150","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nDo pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 need to give birth by caesarean section?\nNo. WHO advice is that caesarean sections should only be performed when\nmedically justified.  \nThe mode of birth should be individualized and based on a woman\u2019s preferences\nalongside obstetric indications."}
{"_id":"WHOtest151","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nShould pregnant women be tested for COVID-19?\nTesting protocols and eligibility vary depending on where you live.\nHowever, WHO recommendations are that pregnant women with symptoms of COVID-19\nshould be prioritized for testing. If they have COVID-19, they may need\nspecialized care."}
{"_id":"WHOtest152","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nCan I touch and hold my newborn baby if I have COVID-19?\nYes. Close contact and early, exclusive breastfeeding helps a baby to thrive.\nYou should be supported to\n\nBreastfeed safely, with good respiratory hygiene; \nHold your newborn skin-to-skin, and \nShare a room with your baby\n\nYou should wash your hands before and after touching your baby, and keep all\nsurfaces clean."}
{"_id":"WHOtest153","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nI\u2019m pregnant. How can I protect myself against COVID-19?\nPregnant women should take the same precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection as\nother people. You can help protect yourself by: ****\n\nWashing your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.\nKeeping space between yourselves and others and avoiding crowded spaces.\nAvoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.\nPracticing respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.\n\nIf you have fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care\nearly. Call before going to a health facility, and follow the directions of\nyour local health authority. ****\nPregnant women and women who have recently delivered \u2013 including those\naffected by COVID-19 - should attend their routine care appointments."}
{"_id":"WHOtest154","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nCan COVID-19 be passed from a woman to her unborn or newborn baby?\nWe still do not know if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to\nher foetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. To date, the active virus has\nnot been found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk."}
{"_id":"WHOtest155","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nAre pregnant women at higher risk from COVID-19?\nResearch is currently underway to understand the impacts of COVID 19 infection\non pregnant women. Data are limited, but at present there is no evidence that\nthey are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population.\nHowever, due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that\npregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections. It is\ntherefore important that they take precautions to protect themselves against\nCOVID-19, and report possible symptoms (including fever, cough or difficulty\nbreathing) to their healthcare provider.\nWHO will continue to review and update its information and advice as more\nevidence becomes available."}
{"_id":"WHOtest156","title":"","text":"Q&A: Pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19\nWhat care should be available during pregnancy and childbirth?\nAll pregnant women, including those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19\ninfections, have the right to high quality care before, during and after\nchildbirth. This includes antenatal, newborn, postnatal, intrapartum and\nmental health care.  \nA safe and positive childbirth experience includes:\n\nBeing treated with respect and dignity;\nHaving a companion of choice present during delivery;\nClear communication by maternity staff;\nAppropriate pain relief strategies:\nMobility in labour where possible, and birth position of choice.\n\nIf COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, health workers should take all\nappropriate precautions to reduce risks of infection to themselves and others,\nincluding hand hygiene, and appropriate use of protective clothing like\ngloves, gown and medical mask."}
{"_id":"WHOtest157","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nWho is self care for?\nSelf care can be practiced by everyone and evidence-based self-care\ninterventions have the potential to benefit even the most vulnerable\npopulations. For individuals who may need to access information, counselling\nor a health services before, during or after accessing a self-care\nintervention, links with existing health services remains important. Examples\nof providing access to referrals and health facilities for non-COVID-19\nrelated SRH conditions may include ensuring antenatal care visits, delivery\nand postpartum care; retesting and HIV treatment if an individual\u2019s HIV self-\ntest is positive along with other STI diagnostic and treatment as required. In\naddition, crisis centers, shelters, legal aid, and protection services for\nindividuals subject to violence."}
{"_id":"WHOtest158","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nWhy are self-care interventions important during a pandemic like COVID-19?\nWith the major disruptions to the normal functioning of national health\nsystems caused by the need to respond to people who have or are affected by\nthe virus, evidence-based, high-quality self-care interventions can provide an\nimportant alternative to the usual health facility- or health worker-based\nservices. Self-care is a valuable part of a well-functioning health system and\ncan be particularly useful when physical distancing measures make it more\ndifficult for people to access their normal health care services and\nmedications.\nMore information can be found here:"}
{"_id":"WHOtest159","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nWhat is self care?\nWHO\u2019s definition of self care is the ability of individuals, families and\ncommunities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope\nwith illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker."}
{"_id":"WHOtest160","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nWhat self care actions can I take to protect my sexual and reproductive health?\nIn 2019, WHO issued a new guideline that brought together 32 existing or new\nrecommendations on a range of sexual and reproductive health self-care\ninterventions. The guideline has recommendations on pregnancy and newborn\ncare, contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections including HIV\nand HPV, and for sexual health more broadly. The full list of recommendations\ncan be found here:"}
{"_id":"WHOtest161","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nWhat are self-care interventions?\nSelf-care interventions recommended by WHO are evidence-based and can include\ninformation about a sexual or reproductive health issue as well as ways in\nwhich individuals can obtain drugs, devices, diagnostics and\/or digital\nproducts fully or partially separate from formal health services that can be\nused with or without the direct supervision of a health worker. For example,\nself-injectable contraception, HPV self-sampling kits or HIV self-tests."}
{"_id":"WHOtest162","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nIs self care safe?\nFor all of the recommendations on self-care interventions on sexual and\nreproductive health issued by WHO, the evidence to date suggests that self\ncare is safe, with the right level of support by the health service as needed.  \nSelf-care can also benefit health workers, by allowing them to serve a greater\nnumber of patients and deploying their clinical skills where greatest need\nexists. During a pandemic such as COVID-19, adopting self-care as part of the\nhealthcare system can also reduce the exposure of health workers to infection\nas self-care will reduce the number of in-person contacts with a health\nworker."}
{"_id":"WHOtest163","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nHow can I get healthcare support during the COVID-19 pandemic for a self-care intervention?\nThere are a number of ways in which support can be provided:\nDigital technologies and platforms, such as helplines through the phone or\nonline or websites of organizations with recognized expertise may be available\nfor consultation or follow up. Such information sources could enable you to\nthen proceed with obtaining and self-administering an injectable contraceptive\nor self-testing for HIV, for example.  \nIt may also be possible to get over the counter medical devices, medicines,\ninformation and diagnostics through pharmacies or drug stores. Menstrual\nhygiene products, pregnancy tests, condoms and emergency contraception pills\nare usually available over-the-counter and depending on where you live,\ncontraceptive pills and drugs that protect you from getting HIV if you think\nyou have been exposed to risk.  \nYou may also be able to receive communications in a variety of ways that can\nhelp keep you healthy. Examples include notifications and reminders about\ntaking medicines sent by SMS or email."}
{"_id":"WHOtest164","title":"","text":"Q&A: Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and COVID-19\nDo I need to see a health worker for self care actions?\nSelf-care interventions provide individuals, families and communities with a\nway to manage their own health at home. Some self-care actions, such as\nwashing your hands and practicing good respiratory hygiene measures that\nprotect you from COVID-19, do not need you to meet with a health worker. Other\nself-care interventions, such as obtaining a prescription for hormonal\ncontraception and abortion medications or counselling during pregnancy, will\nneed interaction with a health worker. Such support can be provided in\ndifferent ways during this pandemic and will depend on the healthcare\narrangements in place where you live; for example, some medicines are\navailable over-the-counter without a prescription in a pharmacy, or counseling\nand important information during pregnancy and when caring for a newborn can\nbe provided over the phone or online."}
{"_id":"WHOtest165","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nAs a smoker, is my risk of getting the COVID-19 virus higher than that of a non-smoker?\nAt the time of preparing this Q&A, there are no peer-reviewed studies that\nhave evaluated the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with smoking.\nHowever, tobacco smokers (cigarettes, waterpipes, bidis, cigars, heated\ntobacco products) may be more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, as the act\nof smoking involves contact of fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes)\nwith the lips, which increases the possibility of transmission of viruses from\nhand to mouth. Smoking waterpipes, also known as shisha or hookah, often\ninvolves the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the\ntransmission of the COVID-19 virus in communal and social settings."}
{"_id":"WHOtest166","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nAs a vaper, am I more likely to be infected or to have more severe symptoms if infected?\nThere is no evidence about the relationship between e-cigarette use and\nCOVID-19. However, existing evidence indicates that electronic nicotine\ndelivery systems (ENDS) and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS),\nmore commonly referred to as e-cigarettes, are harmful and increase the risk\nof heart disease and lung disorders. Given that the COVID-19 virus affects the\nrespiratory tract, the hand-to-mouth action of e-cigarette use may increase\nthe risk of infection."}
{"_id":"WHOtest167","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nWhat does WHO recommend for tobacco users?\nGiven the risks to health that tobacco use causes, WHO recommends quitting\ntobacco use. Quitting will help your lungs and heart to work better from the\nmoment you stop. Within 20 minutes of quitting, elevated heart rate and blood\npressure drop. After 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in the bloodstream\ndrops to normal. Within 2-12 weeks, circulation improves and lung function\nincreases. After 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.\nQuitting will help to protect your loved ones, especially children, from\nexposure to second-hand smoke.\nWHO recommends the use of proven interventions such as toll-free quit lines,\nmobile text-messaging cessation programmes, and nicotine replacement therapies\n(NRTs), among others, for quitting tobacco use."}
{"_id":"WHOtest168","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nWhat can I do to protect people from the risks associated with smoking, smokeless tobacco use and vaping?\n\n\nIf you smoke, use e cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco, now is a good time to quit completely.\n\n\nDo not share devices like waterpipes and e-cigarettes.\n\n\nSpread the word about the risks of smoking, using e-cigarettes and using smokeless tobacco.\n\n\nProtect others from the harms of second-hand smoke.\n\n\nKnow the importance of washing your hands, physical distancing, and not sharing any smoking or e -cigarette products.\n\n\nDo not spit in public places\n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest169","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nWhat about using smokeless tobacco, like chewing tobacco?\nUsing smokeless tobacco often involves some hand to mouth contact. Another\nrisk associated with using smokeless tobacco products, like chewing tobacco,\nis that the virus can be spread when the user spits out the excess saliva\nproduced during the chewing process. * *"}
{"_id":"WHOtest170","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nAs a smoker, am I likely to get more severe symptoms if infected?\nSmoking any kind of tobacco reduces lung capacity and increases the risk of\nmany respiratory infections and can increase the severity of respiratory\ndiseases. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs.\nSmoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight off\ncoronaviruses and other respiratory diseases. Available research suggests that\nsmokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes and death."}
{"_id":"WHOtest171","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tobacco and COVID-19\nDoes nicotine use affect my chances in the context of COVID-19?\nThere is currently insufficient information to confirm any link between\ntobacco or nicotine in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. WHO urges\nresearchers, scientists and the media to be cautious about amplifying unproven\nclaims that tobacco or nicotine could reduce the risk of COVID-19. WHO is\nconstantly evaluating new research, including that which examines the link\nbetween tobacco use, nicotine use, and COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest172","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nDoes the BCG vaccine protect people from COVID-19?\nThere is no evidence at this point that the Bacille Calmette-Gu\u00e9rin vaccine\n(BCG) protects people against infection with COVID-19 virus. Clinical trials\naddressing this question are underway, and WHO will evaluate the evidence when\nit is available. In the absence of evidence, WHO does not recommend BCG\nvaccination for the prevention of COVID-19. WHO continues to recommend\nreserving BCG for neonatal vaccination in settings with a high risk of\ntuberculosis.\n\nMore information\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest173","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nWhat should health authorities do to provide sustainability of essential tuberculosis services during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nPeople-centred delivery of tuberculosis (TB) prevention, diagnosis, treatment\nand care services should be ensured in tandem with the COVID-19 response.  \nPrevention: Measures must be implemented to limit transmission of TB and\nCOVID-19 in congregate settings and health care facilities. Administrative,\nenvironmental and personal protection measures apply to both (e.g. basic\ninfection prevention and control, cough etiquette, patient triage).  \nProvision of TB preventive treatment should be maintained as much as possible.  \nDiagnosis : Tests for TB and COVID-9 are different and both should be\nmade available for individuals with respiratory symptoms, which may be similar\nfor the two diseases.  \nTreatment and care : People-centred outpatient and community-based care\nshould be strongly preferred over hospital treatment for TB patients (unless\nserious conditions require hospitalization) to reduce opportunities for\ntransmission.  \nAnti-TB treatment, in line with the latest WHO guidelines, must be provided\nfor all TB patients, including those in quarantine and those with confirmed\nCOVID-19 disease. Adequate stocks of TB medicines should be provided to all\npatients to reduce trips to collect medicines.  \nUse of digital health technologies for patients and programmes should be\nintensified. In line with WHO recommendations, technologies like electronic\nmedication monitors and video-supported therapy can help patients complete\ntheir TB treatment."}
{"_id":"WHOtest174","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nHow can we protect people seeking tuberculosis care during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nIn a context of widespread restriction of movement of the population in\nresponse to the pandemic and isolation of COVID-19 patients, communication\nwith the healthcare services should be maintained so that people with\ntuberculosis (TB), especially those most vulnerable, get essential services.\nThis includes management of adverse drug reactions and co-morbidities,\nnutritional and mental health support, and restocking of the supplies of\nmedicines.\nEnough TB medicines will need to be dispensed to the patient or caregiver to\nlast until the next visit. This will limit interruption or unnecessary visits\nto the clinic. Mechanisms to deliver medicines at home and even to collect\nspecimens for follow-up testing may become expedient. Home-based TB treatment\nis bound to become more common. Alternative arrangements to reduce clinic\nvisits may involve limiting appointments to specific times to avoid exposure\nto other clinic attendees; using digital technologies to maintain treatment\nsupport. Community health workers become more critical as treatment is more\ndecentralized.\nMore TB patients will probably start their treatment at home and therefore\nlimiting the risk of household transmission of TB during the first few weeks\nis important.\nVulnerable populations who have poor access to healthcare should not get\nfurther marginalized during the pandemic."}
{"_id":"WHOtest175","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nCan tuberculosis and COVID-19 be tested on the same type of specimen?\nThe diagnostic methods for tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 are quite distinct\nand commonly require different specimens.  \nSputum, as well as many other biological specimens, can be used to diagnose TB\nusing culture or molecular techniques.  \nTests for COVID-19 are done most commonly by nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal\nswab or wash in ambulatory patients, but sputum or endotracheal aspirate or\nbronchoalveolar lavage may be used in patients with severe respiratory\ndisease. Molecular testing is the currently recommended method for the\nidentification of infectious COVID-19 and just as for TB, serological assays\nare not recommended for the routine diagnosis of COVID-19.\nThe pipeline for COVID-19 diagnostics has flourished impressively within a few\nmonths. Amongst these is the Xpert\u00ae Xpress SARS-CoV-2 cartridge for use on\nGeneXpert machines, which are machines used in TB diagnosis. WHO is currently\nevaluating this cartridge as well as other tests. Additional resources to roll\nout COVID-19 testing should be mobilized rather than relying only on existing\nresources that are used for TB, to ensure that the diagnostic coverage for TB\nis maintained as necessary."}
{"_id":"WHOtest176","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nDo COVID-19 and tuberculosis spread in the same way?\nWhile both tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 spread by close contact between\npeople the exact mode of transmission differs, explaining some differences in\ninfection control measures to mitigate the two conditions.  \nTB bacilli remain suspended in the air in droplet nuclei for several hours\nafter a TB patient coughs, sneezes, shouts, or sings, and people who inhale\nthem can get infected. The size of these droplet nuclei is a key factor\ndetermining their infectiousness. Their concentration decreases with\nventilation and exposure to direct sunlight.  \nCOVID-19 transmission has primarily been attributed to the direct breathing of\ndroplets expelled by someone with COVID-19 (people may be infectious before\nclinical features become apparent). Droplets produced by coughing, sneezing,\nexhaling and speaking may land on objects and surfaces, and contacts can get\ninfected with COVID-19 by touching them and then touching their eyes, nose or\nmouth . Handwashing, in addition to respiratory precautions, are thus\nimportant in the control of COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest177","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nIs tuberculosis treatment different in people who have both TB and COVID-19?\nIn most cases tuberculosis (TB) treatment is not different in people with or\nwithout COVID-19 infection.  \nExperience on joint management of both COVID-19 infection and TB remains\nlimited. However, suspension of TB treatment in COVID-19 patients should be\nexceptional. TB preventive treatment, treatment for drug-susceptible or drug-\nresistant TB disease should continue uninterrupted to safeguard the patient\u2019s\nhealth, reduce transmission and prevent the development of drug-resistance.  \nWhile treatment trials are ongoing, no medication is currently recommended for\nCOVID-19 and therefore no cautions on drug-drug interactions are indicated at\npresent. TB patients on treatment should nonetheless be asked if they are\ntaking any medicines, including traditional cures, that may interact with\ntheir medication.\nEffective treatments to prevent TB and to treat active TB have been scaled up\nand are in use worldwide. The risk of death in TB patients approaches 50% if\nleft untreated and may be higher in the elderly or in the presence of\ncomorbidity. It is critical that TB services are not disrupted during the\nCOVID-19 response.  \nGathering evidence as this pandemic unfolds will be very important, while\nupholding the norms of professional conduct and patient confidentiality when\nhandling clinical details."}
{"_id":"WHOtest178","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nHow can health authorities ensure supplies of tuberculosis medicines and diagnostics?\nAppropriate planning and monitoring are essential to ensure that procurement\nand supply of tuberculosis (TB) medicines and diagnostics are not interrupted.  \nWHO is monitoring medicine supply at the global level, while The Global Fund,\nthe Stop TB Partnership Global Drug Facility (GDF), USAID, Unitaid and other\ndonors play an essential role in supporting countries to secure adequate and\nsustainable supplies of TB medicines, drugs and diagnostics.\nCountries are advised to place their orders for 2020 delivery as soon as\npossible given anticipated delays in transport and delivery mechanisms."}
{"_id":"WHOtest179","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nWhat measures should be in place to protect staff working in tuberculosis laboratories and healthcare facilities, and community health workers, from COVID-19 infection?\nHealth care facilities, including those that diagnose and care for\ntuberculosis (TB) and lung diseases, are bound to receive patients with\nCOVID-19, many of whom may be undiagnosed. Additional measures may be needed\nto avoid that staff in these centres are exposed to COVID-19 infection.\nThe Information Note includes additional, temporary measures\nthat should be considered. These include alternative arrangements to reduce\nvisits for TB follow-up, precautions for sputum collection, transportation and\ntesting. The note also includes a description of ethical obligations in this\nsetting.\nExisting WHO recommendations for infection prevention and control for TB and\nfor COVID-19 should be strictly implemented, including personal protection\nequipment.\nLessons learnt over many years of TB infection prevention and control, contact\ntracing, investigation and management can benefit efforts to stop the spread\nof COVID-19.  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest180","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nShould all people being evaluated for tuberculosis also be tested for COVID-19 and vice-versa?\nTesting of the same patient for both tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 would\ngenerally be indicated for three main reasons, subject to the specific setting\nin each country:\n\nclinical features that are common to both diseases; or \nsimultaneous exposure to both diseases; or\npresence of a risk factor \n\nAs the pandemic advances, more people of all ages, including TB patients, will\nbe exposed to COVID-19. The Information Note\ncontains\nfurther considerations for simultaneous testing for the two diseases."}
{"_id":"WHOtest181","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nWhat services can be leveraged across both diseases?\nThe response to COVID-19 can benefit from the capacity building efforts\ndeveloped for tuberculosis (TB) over many years of investment by national\nauthorities and donors. These include infection prevention and control,\ncontact tracing, household and community-based care, and surveillance and\nmonitoring systems.  \nAlthough modes of transmission of the two diseases are slightly different,\nadministrative, environmental and personal protection measures apply to both\n(e.g. basic infection prevention and control, cough etiquette, patient\ntriage).  \nTB laboratory networks have been established in countries with the support of\nWHO and international partners. These networks as well as specimen\ntransportation mechanisms could also be used for COVID-19 diagnosis and\nsurveillance.  \nRespiratory physicians, pulmonology staff of all grades, TB specialists and\nhealth workers at the primary health care level may be points of reference for\npatients with pulmonary complications of COVID-19. They should familiarize\nthemselves with the most current WHO recommendations for the supportive\ntreatment and containment of COVID-19.  \nTB programme staff with their experience and capacity, including in active\ncase finding and contact tracing, are well placed to support the COVID-19\nresponse.\nVarious digital technologies used in TB programmes can support the COVID-19\nresponse, including adherence support, electronic medical records and\neLearning."}
{"_id":"WHOtest182","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nWhat is the potential impact of COVID-19 pandemic on essential tuberculosis services?\nModelling work suggests that if the COVID-19 pandemic led to a global\nreduction of 25% in expected TB detection for 3 months \u2013 a realistic\npossibility given the levels of disruption in TB services being observed in\nmultiple countries \u2013 then we could expect a 13% increase in TB deaths,\nbringing us back to the levels of TB mortality that we had 5 years ago. This\nmay even be a conservative estimate as it does not factor in other possible\nimpacts of the pandemic on TB transmission, treatment interruptions and poorer\noutcomes in people with TB and COVID-19 infection (Predicted impact of the\nCOVID-19 pandemic on global tuberculosis deaths in 2020, P.\nGlaziou).\nBetween 2020 and 2025 an additional 1.4 million TB deaths could be registered\nas a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic (Stop TB Partnership\nanalysis).  \nAll measures should be taken to ensure continuity of services for people who\nneed preventive and curative treatment for tuberculosis (TB)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest183","title":"","text":"Q&A: Tuberculosis and COVID-19\nAre people with tuberculosis likely to be at increased risk of COVID-19 infection, illness and death?\nWhile experience on COVID-19 infection in tuberculosis (TB) patients remains\nlimited, it is anticipated that people ill with both TB and COVID-19 may have\npoorer treatment outcomes, especially if TB treatment is interrupted.\nOlder age, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are\nlinked with more severe COVID-19 and are also risk factors for poor outcomes\nin TB.\nTB patients should take precautions as advised by health authorities to be\nprotected from COVID-19 and continue their TB treatment as prescribed.\nPeople ill with COVID-19 and TB show similar symptoms such as cough, fever and\ndifficulty breathing. Both diseases attack primarily the lungs and although\nboth biological agents transmit mainly via close contact, the incubation\nperiod from exposure to disease in TB is longer, often with a slow onset."}
{"_id":"WHOtest184","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nHow does COVID-19 increase risks of violence for women?\nStress, the disruption of social and protective networks, loss of income and\ndecreased access to services all can exacerbate the risk of violence for\nwomen.\nIn many countries, where people are encouraged or required to stay at home,\nthe risk of intimate partner violence is likely to increase. Please see the\nfollowing resource for more detail:\nhttps:\/\/www.who.int\/reproductivehealth\/publications\/emergencies\/COVID-19-VAW-\nfull-text.pdf\n\nIn addition, access to sexual and reproductive health services will likely\nbecome more limited. Other services, such as hotlines, crisis centers,\nshelters, legal aid, and protection services, may also be reduced, making it\ndifficult for women to access the few sources of help that would usually be\navailable."}
{"_id":"WHOtest185","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nWho is most vulnerable?\nWomen who are displaced, who are migrants or refugees, and those living in\nconflict-affected areas, older women and women with disabilities are\nparticularly at risk of violence and are likely to be disproportionately\naffected by violence during COVID-19."}
{"_id":"WHOtest186","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI run a health facility. What can I do to support women survivors of violence during COVID-19?\n\n\nIdentify information on local services for survivors, including on hotlines, shelters, rape crisis centers, and counselling. \n\n\nFind out opening hours, contact details and whether these services can be offered remotely, and establish referral linkages. \n\n\nMake these available to health care providers and easily accessible to patients\/clients coming to your facility. \n\n\nSupport the health care providers in your facility to continue to support women survivors of violence during this time. \n\n\nBe prepared to shift rapidly to providing care through alternative ways, by creating effective response plans; for example, by ensuring frontline healthcare workers have phones and can charge them. \n\n\nEnsure there is a protocol in place to ensure continued safe document storage in case of sudden lockdown. \n\n\nInform survivors of ways they can protect themselves, and provide small credit card-size cards listing relevant phone numbers for support \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest187","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI am worried about someone I know. How can I help?\nIf you know of, or are concerned about, someone in an abusive relationship\nthere are some things you can do:\n\n\nKeep regularly in touch with the person to check that they are safe, ensuring that it is safe for them to be in touch with you. Assume that a perpetrator of violence can see, hear and or monitor communications, so find out how best to communicate with the person that you are concerned about. Send them an SMS or message via email or social media, in a way that is safe for them. Be discrete in connecting with them when the abuser is present in the home so that they are not placed at risk of additional harm. Check each time, as this may change. \n\n\nFind out what services for survivors of violence against women (e.g. shelters, hotlines, counselling services, women\u2019s organizations) are functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic and make this information available through your networks and social media. Only provide this information directly if you can do so discretely without the abuser finding out. \n\n\nIf someone you know needs urgent help for whatever reason, be prepared to call emergency health services, the police, health centre, or hotline. \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest188","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI need medical attention because of violence. Who can help me and where should I go?\nIf you need urgent medical attention, call for an ambulance or contact your\ncountry\u2019s emergency health services. If you need any other support, contact a\nspecialized service if available or a health provider."}
{"_id":"WHOtest189","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI am safe, but I am suffering from mental \/ sexual \/ social \/ long-term physical health problems because of violence. Is there anyone who can help me during COVID-19?\nAs much as possible, reduce sources of stress:\n\n\nMaintain contact with and seek support from family and friends via phone, email, text, etc. \n\n\nTry to maintain daily routines and make time for physical activity and sleep. \n\n\nUse relaxation exercises (e.g. slow breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises \u2013 see WHO Clinical handbook p.70) to relieve stressful thoughts and feelings. \n\n\nEngage in activities that in the past have helped with managing adversity. \n\n\nSeek information about COVID- 19 from reliable sources and reduce the time spent consuming news (for example, 1-2 times per day, rather than every hour). \n\n\nSeek care from a trained health provider for symptoms and conditions including\ninjuries that need medical attention. Due to restrictions on movement, and\npressure on health systems, it may be difficult to access healthcare in person\nat this time. In this case, find out what is available in your locality and\nseek alternatives, including information and support offered by phone or\nonline.  \nIf you are currently receiving healthcare and support for violence-related\nissues this could continue during COVID-19 \u2013 this could even be by phone or\nonline if feasible and appropriate for your health needs."}
{"_id":"WHOtest190","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI am a health worker. How can I help women survivors of violence during COVID-19?\nAs a health worker, there are things you can do to help mitigate the impacts\nof violence on women and children at any time, including during the COVID-19\npandemic.\nWhilst your time and resources may be stretched during this health emergency,\nyou have a duty of care to women who may seek help from you \u2013 often to address\nphysical and mental hurt caused by violence.\nYou may need to adjust how you deliver services, if face-to-face care is not\npossible. Depending on your resources consider mobile phone, WhatsApp or other\ncommunication channels to deliver support, always ensuring you can do this in\na way that is safe for the survivor. Communicate openly with women about any\nchanges in service delivery.\nIf a woman with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 seeks your care because of\nviolence, your response should be the same as for any other survivor. You\nshould however ensure that you are protected from infection, by maintaining\ndistance where possible, wearing protective clothing, practicing respiratory\nhygiene, and washing hands and surfaces with soap and water regularly and\nafter touching, to avoid infection.\nIn any circumstances, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers\nshould provide first-line support, using the LIVES approach to help women\nsurvivors of violence:\nL isten closely, with empathy and no judgement\nI nquire about women\u2019s needs and concerns\nV alidate women\u2019s experiences. Show you believe and understand.\nE nhance their safety.\nS upport women to connect with additional services."}
{"_id":"WHOtest191","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI have harmed or am worried about harming or hurting my partner (and children) with my words or actions. How can I stop?\n\n\nIf you feel yourself getting angry or very annoyed, step away into another room if you can, or outside for a deep breath. \n\n\nCount to ten and breathe in and out until you feel calmer. Count down from 10, or do anything else that may help you stay calm. \n\n\nTalk to a trusted friend, relative, or religious leader and if necessary seek help from local health services or specialized services if available. \n\n\nRecognize that everyone in your family is experiencing stress during this time. \n\n\nDemonstrate kindness and patience in your words and actions. \n\n\nEliminate or reduce your alcohol consumption as much as possible. \n\n\nThe current measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, such as restrictions on\nmovement, as well as financial instability caused by the crisis, are likely to\nadd to your stress. This is normal, and you can control how you react. Take\nmeasures to ensure you manage your stress in a way that is respectful and safe\nto you and your family. Try to be kind to yourself, your partner, children and\nanyone else in the family."}
{"_id":"WHOtest192","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI am a policy maker. What can I do to prevent and address violence against women during COVID-19?\n\n\nWhen making preparedness and response plans for the COVID-19 pandemic, include essential services for violence against women. \n\n\nAllocate adequate resources for services for survivors and identify ways to make them accessible \u2013 particularly in the context of measures to restrict people\u2019s movement. \n\n\nExplore the use of telemedicine, digital health, or mhealth to enhance access to support and services for survivors, while ensuring this is safe for them. \n\n\nExplore alternative shelters for women who may require this. \n\n\nEnsure that lockdown measures do not penalize women for seeking support when experiencing violence, such as by going to the police or hospital to report violence. \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest193","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nHome is not a safe place for me. What can I do?\nIf you are experiencing violence, it may be helpful to reach out to family,\nfriends and neighbors, to seek support from a hotline or, if safe, from online\nservice for survivors of violence. Find out if local services (e.g. shelters,\ncounselling) are open and reach out to them if available.\nMake a safety plan in case the violence against you or your children\nescalates. This includes:\n\n\nIdentifying a neighbour, friend, relative, colleague, or shelter to go to in case you need to leave the house immediately for safety. \n\n\nHave a plan for how you will exit the house safely and how you will reach there (e.g. transport). \n\n\nKeep a few essential items (e.g. identification documents, phone, money, medicines, and clothes) available, and a list of telephone numbers in case of an emergency. \n\n\nIf possible, develop a code with a trusted neighbour so they can come to your aid in case of an emergency. \n\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest194","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nI want to report an incidence of violence during COVID-19. What should I do?\nIf you want to report an incidence of violence, you should follow your\ncountry\u2019s guidance on how to report violence and contact the service where you\nare most likely to get a survivor-centred response.\nSome countries are making exceptions to movement restrictions for reporting of\nviolence specifically. Remember that reporting may put you at risk, so ensure\nyou have a safety plan in place.\nYou may find making a report mentally or emotionally difficult. Seek the\nsupport of friends, relations, neighbours or colleagues, or local support\nservices for survivors of violence."}
{"_id":"WHOtest195","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nWhy should I care about violence against women during COVID-19?\nViolence against women is a grave violation of women\u2019s human rights, no matter\nwhen, where, or how it takes place. There are many forms of violence against\nwomen, which have many potential negative health consequences for women and\ntheir children.\nViolence against women can result in injuries and serious physical, mental,\nsexual and reproductive health problems, including sexually transmitted\ninfections, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies. In extreme cases, violence against\nwomen can result in death.\nThe effects of violence are very often long-lived. Violence \u2013 in all its forms\n\u2013 can have an impact on a woman\u2019s well-being throughout the rest of her life.\nThis is unacceptable, and the risks of violence that women and their children\nface during the current COVID-19 crisis cannot be ignored.\nWhen we are able to prevent violence, or to support women survivors of\nviolence, we help to safeguard women\u2019s human rights, and promote physical and\nmental health and well-being for women throughout their lives. This also helps\nto alleviate pressure on already stretched essential public services,\nincluding the health system."}
{"_id":"WHOtest196","title":"","text":"Q&A: Violence against women during COVID-19\nHas violence against women increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?\nViolence against women is highly prevalent, and intimate partner violence is\nthe most common form of violence. During health emergencies, such as the\nCOVID-19 pandemic, violence against women tends to increase.\nWhilst data are scarce, reports from across the world, including China, the\nUnited Kingdom, the United States of America, and other countries suggest a\nsignificant increase in domestic violence cases related to the COVID-19\npandemic. Reports from other countries suggest a reduction in survivors\nseeking services due to a combination of lockdown measures and not wanting to\nattend health services for fear of infection."}
{"_id":"WHOtest197","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nCan the virus live on the surface of food packaging? How long? Is it necessary to disinfect?\nSee question 10 of Questions relating to food businesses. It\nis not necessary to disinfect food packaging materials, but hands should be\nproperly washed after handling food packages and before eating."}
{"_id":"WHOtest198","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nHow long is it to cook food? To what temperature to kill the virus?\nThis virus is not more resistant to heat than the usual viruses and bacteria\nfound in food. As recommended for good hygiene practice, foods should be\nthoroughly cooked to at least 70\u00b0C. It is recommended to follow the WHO\n5-Keys to Safer\nFood."}
{"_id":"WHOtest199","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nIs it still safe to go to food markets? Animal markets? Wet markets?\nIt should be safe provided it is possible to maintain a safe physical distance\nof at least one metre from all other shoppers and staff, it is possible to\nwash\/sanitize hands, and that Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Hygienic\nPractices (GMP\/GHP) standards are maintained in the market. For more\nrecommendations on how to minimise the risk of transmission of emerging\npathogens in wet markets, see the WHO recommendations to reduce risk of\ntransmission of emerging pathogens from animals to humans in live animal\nmarkets or animal product markets."}
{"_id":"WHOtest200","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nIs food\/grocery delivery safe?\nYes, if the provider follows good personal and food hygiene practices. After\naccepting food\/grocery deliveries, hands should be washed with soap and water."}
{"_id":"WHOtest201","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nCan the virus live on the surface of foods (including fruits and vegetables, frozen foods, pre-packaged foods)?\nCoronaviruses cannot multiply in food \u2013 they need a live animal or human host\nto multiply and survive (see question 10 of Questions relating to food\nbusinesses).  "}
{"_id":"WHOtest202","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nHow to wash fruits and vegetables? Just with water, or something else?\nWashing fruit and vegetables with potable water is sufficient: it is\nrecommended to follow the WHO 5-Keys to Safer\nFood."}
{"_id":"WHOtest203","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nCan I get COVID-19 from food?\nThere is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food or\nfood packaging. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and the transmission route\nis through person-to-person contact and through direct contact with\nrespiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes."}
{"_id":"WHOtest204","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nWhat is the best household disinfectant for surfaces?\nRegular household cleaning and disinfection products will effectively\neliminate the virus from household surfaces. For cleaning and disinfecting\nhouseholds with suspected or confirmed COVID19 illnesses - surface virucidal\ndisinfectants, such as 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and products based on\nethanol (at least 70%), should be used."}
{"_id":"WHOtest205","title":"","text":"Questions relating to consumers\nWhat precautions should consumers take in grocery stores?\nConsumers should maintain a safe physical distance of at least one metre from\nall other shoppers and staff while queuing before entering the store and while\nshopping in the store. If a trolley or basket is used while shopping, sanitize\nthe handle before and after use. Hands should be sanitized before entering the\nstore. Practice good coughing\/sneezing etiquette while in the store. Avoid\ntouching mouth, nose or eyes during shopping. Minimise direct hand contact\nwith food by using available tongs and serving utensils. Use contactless\npayment rather than cash\/notes (where feasible)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest206","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat measures should be taken to ensure safe transport of food during this pandemic?\nThe general guidelines outlined in the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for\nthe Transport of Food in Bulk and Semi-Packed Food.1\nshould be followed, in addition to ensuring that employees delivering foods\nare free from COVID-19, coughing\/sneezing etiquette is practiced by all\ninvolved in food transport and that frequent hand washing\/sanitizing is\npracticed and staff practice physical distancing.\nSee also other Codes of Hygienic Practice for various groups of\nfood."}
{"_id":"WHOtest207","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nHow should shopping trolleys or carts be disinfected?\nThe handles of shopping trolleys or carts should be frequently cleaned using\neither alcohol-based sanitizers or chlorine-based disinfectants (sodium\nhypochlorite). Sanitizers, paper towels and trash bins should be placed\noutside the retail premises close to the trolley park for customers to use."}
{"_id":"WHOtest208","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nShould grocery store workers wear gloves? Masks?\nDisposable Gloves\nGloves may be used by food workers but must be changed frequently and hands\nmust be washed between glove changes and when gloves are removed. Gloves must\nbe changed after carrying out non-food related activities such as\nopening\/closing doors by hand, and emptying bins. Food workers should be aware\nthat wearing gloves can allow bacteria to build up on the surface of the\nhands, so hand washing is extremely important when gloves are removed to avoid\nsubsequent contamination of food. Food workers should not touch their mouth,\nnose and eyes when wearing gloves.\nDisposable gloves can give a false sense of safety and should not be used in\nthe food work environment as a substitute for hand washing. The COVID-19 virus\ncan contaminate disposable gloves in the same way it can get onto workers\nhands and contact surfaces. Removal of disposable gloves can lead to\ncontamination of hands. Wearing disposable gloves can give you a false sense\nof security and may result in staff not washing hands as frequently as\nrequired.\nHandwashing is a greater protective barrier to infection than wearing of\ndisposable gloves. Food businesses need to ensure adequate sanitary facilities\nare provided and ensure food workers thoroughly and frequently wash their\nhands. Soap and water is adequate for hand washing. Hand sanitisers can be\nused as an additional measure but should not replace hand washing.\nWearing of Face Masks\nWHO advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19\nshould be followed. Face Masks do not have to be routinely used by food\nworkers to protect against transmission of COVID-19. However, for some food\nprocessing activities, such as working in abattoirs or handling cooked, ready-\nto-eat foods, wearing face masks is a usual practice.\nWHO recommends that face masks should be used if a person is sick with\nsymptoms of COVID-19 (especially coughing) or looking after someone with\nsuspected or confirmed COVID-19.\nHowever, a food worker who is sick or who has symptoms of COVID-19 should not\nbe allowed to work in grocery stores or other food businesses and should be\nexcluded from work until free of symptoms or deemed fit for work by a medical\ndoctor."}
{"_id":"WHOtest209","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat measures should be taken to ensure safe water is used in food production during this pandemic?\nThere is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted by water used in food\nprocessing. The WHO guidelines for drinking-water\nquality should be followed."}
{"_id":"WHOtest210","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nHow can food businesses remain safe from virus contamination?\nThe main priority is to keep the virus out of the food environment. Several\nkey measures are required including upgrading of cleaning and sanitation\nmeasures, disinfecting surfaces and high-touch points, educating staff on the\nvirus and how to protect themselves and others, reinforcing protocols such as\nphysical distancing, hand washing, and improved security with people staying\nin their vehicles\/sanitizing hands when handing out documents and other\nmaterial. ****"}
{"_id":"WHOtest211","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nHow should food premises be cleaned\/disinfected during this pandemic?\nThe general guidelines outlined in the General Principles of Food\nHygiene\nfor food processing and manufacture premises should be followed. If a\nsuspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified in a food premises then\nthere is a requirement to completely clean the area with a neutral detergent,\nfollowed by decontamination of surfaces using a disinfectant effective against\nviruses. All surfaces that the infected employee has come into contact with\nmust be cleaned, including all surfaces and objects which are visibly\ncontaminated with body fluids\/respiratory secretions, and all potentially\ncontaminated high-contact areas such as toilets, door handles, telephones.\nAlcohol based sanitizers\/surface disinfectants should be used for cleaning\npurposes. In general, alcohol-based disinfectants (ethanol, propan-2-ol,\npropan-1-ol) have been shown to significantly reduce infectivity of enveloped\nviruses like SARS-CoV-2, in concentrations of 70-80% with one-minute exposure\ntime. Chlorine-based disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite) are effective for\nsurface decontamination, as are disinfectants with active ingredients based on\nquaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS).\nAll staff should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact\nwith someone who is unwell with symptoms consistent with coronavirus\ninfection. Staff engaged in environmental cleaning should wear PPE when\nperforming cleaning activities, such as overalls or uniform, single-use\nplastic aprons, gloves and a face mask. Protective clothing (e.g. uniforms,\noveralls, etc.) should be frequently washed at 60\u00b0C or above."}
{"_id":"WHOtest212","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat is known about various conditions affecting survivability of the virus?\nVery little is known about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus survives outside the human\nbody. Probably the most up-to-date summary of scientific information we have\non survival in the environment is from the European Centre for Disease control\n(ECDC) and the following is extracted from their recent technical\nreport:\nRecent publications have evaluated the survival of SARS-CoV-2 on different\nsurfaces. According to van Doremalen et al., the environmental stability of\nSARS-CoV-2 is up to three hours in the air post-aerosolization, up to four\nhours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on\nplastic and stainless steel, albeit with significantly decreased titres [3].\nThese findings are comparable with results obtained for environmental\nstability of SARS-CoV-1. These findings resulted from experiments in a\ncontrolled environment and should be interpreted with caution in the real-life\nenvironment. Moreover, different levels of environmental contamination have\nbeen detected in rooms of COVID-19 patients, ranging from 1 out of 13 to 13\nout of 15 samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 before cleaning. No air\nsamples were positive in these studies, but one sample from an air exhaust\noutlet was positive indicating that virus particles may be displaced by air\nand deposited on surfaces [4,5]. In a study of environmental contamination in\na Chinese hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in\nenvironmental samples from the COVID-19 dedicated intensive care units (ICU),\nthe COVID-19 dedicated obstetric isolation ward and the COVID-19 dedicated\nisolation ward. SARS-CoV-2 was also detected on objects such as the self-\nservice printers used by patients to self-print the results of their exams,\ndesktop keyboards and doorknobs. Virus was detected most commonly on gloves\n(15.4% of samples) and rarely on eye protection (1.7%) [6]. This evidence\nshows the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment of a COVID-19 patient,\ntherefore reinforcing the belief that fomites play a role in transmission of\nSARS-CoV-2; however, the relative importance of this route of transmission\ncompared to direct exposure to respiratory droplets is still unclear."}
{"_id":"WHOtest213","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat is the most appropriate sanitizer to use on surfaces in a food production environment?\nIn general, alcohol-based disinfectants (ethanol, propan-2-ol, propan-1-ol)\nhave been shown to significantly reduce infectivity of enveloped viruses like\nSARS-CoV-2, in concentrations of 70-80% with one-minute exposure time.\nChlorine-based disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite) are effective for surface\ndecontamination, as are disinfectants with active ingredients based on\nquaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest214","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat is the protocol when an employee working in a food business becomes ill with COVID-19?\nStaff who are feeling unwell should not report to work and should seek medical\nadvice. However, in the event that a food worker becomes unwell in the\nworkplace with typical symptoms of COVID-19, they should be removed to an area\naway from other people. If possible, find a room or area where they can be\nisolated behind a closed door, such as a staff office. If it is possible to\nopen a window, do so for ventilation. Arrangements should be made for the\nunwell employee to be removed quickly from the food premise.\nThe employee who is unwell should follow national guidelines for reporting\ncases\/suspect cases of COVID-19. Whilst they wait for medical advice or to be\nsent home, they should avoid any contact with other employees. They should\navoid touching people, surfaces and objects and be advised to cover their\nmouth and nose with a disposable tissue when they cough or sneeze and put the\ntissue in a bag or pocket and then dispose of the tissue in a bin. If they do\nnot have any tissues available, they should cough and sneeze into the crook of\ntheir elbow. If they need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical\nassistance, they should use a separate bathroom, if available.\nAll surfaces that the infected employee has come into contact with must be\ncleaned. Alcohol based sanitizers\/surface disinfectants should be used for\ncleaning purposes. In general, alcohol-based disinfectants (ethanol,\npropan-2-ol, propan-1-ol) have been shown to significantly reduce infectivity\nof enveloped viruses like COVID-19 virus, in concentrations of 70-80%. Common\ndisinfectants with active ingredients based on quaternary ammonium compounds\n(QUATS) and chlorine would also have virucidal properties. All staff should\nwash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water after any\ncontact with someone who is unwell with symptoms consistent with coronavirus\ninfection.\nIf an employee is confirmed as a case of COVID-19 it will be necessary to\nnotify all close contacts of the infected employee so they too can take\nmeasures to minimise further risk of spread. WHO definitions of a contact of a\nCOVID-19 case can be found here. Examples of\ncontacts in the food businesses could include any employee who was in face-to-\nface or physical (i.e., touching) contact; any employee who was within 1 meter\nwith the confirmed case; anyone who has cleaned up any bodily fluids without\nadequate PPE (e.g. gloves, overalls, protective clothing); employees in the\nsame working team or workgroup as the confirmed case, and any employee living\nin the same household as a confirmed case.\nWHO recommends that contacts be quarantined for 14 days from the last\npoint of exposure to the confirmed case.22 At a minimum, staff who have had\nclose contact with the infected employee should be asked to stay at home for\n14 days from the last time they had contact with the confirmed case and\npractice physical distancing. If they become unwell at any time within their\n14-day isolation period and they test positive for COVID-19, they will become\na confirmed case, and should be managed as such.\nStaff who have not had close contact with the original confirmed case should\ncontinue taking the usual precautions and attend work as usual. Organising\nemployees into small teams or workgroups will help to minimise disruption to\nwork processes in the event of an employee reporting sick with symptoms of\nCOVID-19. Closure of the workplace is not recommended.\nMore detailed information can be found in COVID-19 and food safety: guidance\nfor food\nbusinesses.\nFor more information on contacts of COVID-19 confirmed cases, see WHO\nguidance on surveillance and case definitions."}
{"_id":"WHOtest215","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhat specific precautions do food workers need to take?\nPhysical distancing, good personal hygiene with frequent hand washing, and\napplication of general food hygiene measures are the most important\nprecautions food workers should adopt. Physical distancing is very important\nto help slow the spread of coronavirus. This is achieved by minimising contact\nbetween potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals. Frequent\nhand washing with soap and water and use of hand sanitizers are also important\nin reducing the risk of transmission. All food businesses should follow the\nphysical distancing and hand washing guidance of WHO.\nThe Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted several practical guidelines on how to\napply and implement best practices to ensure food hygiene (Codex General\nPrinciples of Food Hygiene,\nCXC 1- 1969),\nhandle meats (Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for\nMeat,\nCXC 58 \u2013 2005),\nand control viruses in foods (Guidelines for the Application of General\nPrinciples of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in\nFood\n(CAC\/GL 79-2012).\nEnhanced food safety practices at this time, such as those recommended in the\nCodex documents mentioned, will reduce the likelihood of contamination of\nfoods with any pathogen and help lowering the public health burden caused by\nalready established foodborne infections, reducing the stress on an already\noverburdened public health system."}
{"_id":"WHOtest216","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nWhen can an employee return to work following illness? Are temperature checks appropriate?\nA return to work policy for staff who have been infected and recovered from\nCOVID-19 should be in place. WHO recommends that a confirmed patient could be\nreleased from isolation once their symptoms resolve and they have two negative\nPCR tests at least 24 hours apart. If testing is not possible, WHO\nrecommends that a confirmed patient can be released from isolation 14 days\nafter symptoms resolve.\nTaking the temperature of food workers is not recommended. Fever is only one\nof the symptoms of COVID-19 and absence of fever alone is not a reliable\nindicator of wellness. As part of a food business \u2018fitness to work\u2019\nguidelines, staff should report to management if they are sick with typical\nCOVID-19 symptoms, particularly fever."}
{"_id":"WHOtest217","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nHow should employees maintain safe distance from one another during food production and processing?\nWHO guidelines are to maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) between fellow\nworkers. Where the food production environment makes it difficult to do so,\nemployers need to consider what measures to put in place to protect employees.\nExamples of practical measures to adhere to physical distancing guidance in\nthe food processing environment are to:\n\nstagger workstations on either side of processing lines so that food workers are not facing one another,\nprovide personal protection equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hair nets, disposable gloves, clean overalls and slip reduction work shoes for staff. The use of PPE would be routine in high risk areas of food premises that produce ready-to-eat and cooked foods. When staff are dressed in PPE it is possible to reduce distance between workers,\nspace out workstations, which may require reduction in the speed of production lines,\nlimit the number of staff in a food preparation area at any one time,\norganise staff into working groups or teams to facilitate reduced interaction between groups, including during change of work shifts.\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest218","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nHow should baked goods and fresh produce be displayed in a food market\/grocery store?\nIt is important to maintain good hygiene practices around open food displays,\nwith ready-to-eat food products such as salad bars, fresh produce displays and\nbakery products. Consumers should always be advised to wash fruits and\nvegetables with potable water prior to consumption. Both customers and staff\nshould strictly observe good personal hygiene practices at all times around\nopen food areas.\nIn order to hygienically manage open food displays and to avoid the\ntransmission of COVID-19 through surface contact, food retailers should:\n\nMaintain frequent washing and sanitising of all food contact surfaces and utensils;\nRequire food service workers to frequently wash hands, and, if using gloves, these must be changed;\nRequire food service workers to frequently clean and sanitise counters, serving utensils and condiment containers;\nMake available hand sanitiser for consumers on their way in and out of the food premises;\nShould consider not openly displaying or selling unwrapped bakery products from self-service counters. Bakery products on open, self-service displays in retail stores should be placed in plastic\/cellophane or paper packaging. Where loose bakery products are displayed in retail stores, these should be placed in plexiglass display cabinets and placed in bags using tongs when customers are served.\nReady-to-eat salads available in retail for self-serve, should also be placed behind plexiglass display cabinets and serving utensils should be frequently sanitized.\n"}
{"_id":"WHOtest219","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food businesses\nCould the virus be transmitted from humans to food animals or vice versa?\nCurrently, there is no evidence to suggest that food animals could be a\npossible route for transmission of COVID-19 to humans or that food animals can\nbecome infected by humans. Studies are underway to better understand the\nsusceptibility of different animal species to the COVID-19 virus and to assess\ninfection dynamics in susceptible animal species. Additional information can\nbe found on the website of the World Organisation for Animal Health\n(OIE)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest220","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nWhat are the lab protocols for identifying the virus in food? On surfaces?\nAs food has not been implicated in the transmission of COVID-19, testing of\nfood or food surfaces for this virus is not recommended. Frequent cleaning of\nfood contact surfaces with virucidal disinfectants such as 0.05% sodium\nhypochlorite (NaClO) or products based on ethanol (at least 70%) should be\ncarried out. Alcohol-based disinfectants (ethanol, propan-2-ol, propan-1-ol)\nhave been shown to significantly reduce infectivity of enveloped viruses like\nSARS-CoV-2, in concentrations of 70-80% with one-minute exposure time.\nChlorine-based disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite) are effective for surface\ndecontamination, as are disinfectants with active ingredients based on\nquaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS)."}
{"_id":"WHOtest221","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nWhat do food inspectors need to consider when reopening a food business when the pandemic is over?\nFood inspectors do not need to intervene when restaurants reopen after having\nclosed upon the advice of national governments."}
{"_id":"WHOtest222","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nIs quarantine necessary for live animals imported from countries experiencing a large numbers of COVID-19 cases?\nNo, food animals have not been implicated in the transmission of COVID-19 and\nthe same import controls should apply as before this pandemic. See Q&A from\nthe World Organisation for Animal Health for more about COVID-19 and animals."}
{"_id":"WHOtest223","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nDo food inspectors need to wear any protective equipment?\nIn the course of conducting a food inspection, food inspectors routinely wear\nprotective equipment. There is no need for additional protective equipment to\nbe used. The primary focus of the additional hygiene and sanitation measures\nimplemented by food businesses should be on keeping the COVID-19 out of their\nbusinesses. COVID-19 virus will only enter business premises when an infected\nperson enters, or contaminated fomites are brought into the premises. Food\nsafety authorities should consider reducing the frequency of food inspections\nduring this pandemic. If food inspectors continue to carry out food\ninspections, they will need to demonstrate that they are free from infection,\nthey will need to practice physical distancing while in the food premises,\nchanging clothes\/shoes between inspections, washing hands before and after\nentering the food premises and good coughing\/sneezing etiquette."}
{"_id":"WHOtest224","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nHow do we ensure the food supply chain remains intact to prevent food shortages?\nWhile many businesses have introduced working from home and teleworking, these\nare not options for food workers who are required to continue to work as\nnormal. Keeping all workers in the food production and supply chains healthy\nand safe is critical to avoid food shortage. Maintaining the movement of food\nalong the food chain is an essential function of all sectors of the food\nindustry and is extremely important for ensuring consumer confidence in the\nfood supply. In order to ensure that the food supply chain remains intact to\nprevent food shortages there is an urgent requirement for the industry to\nintroduce additional measures to protect food workers from contracting\nCOVID-19; to prevent the risk of exposure to COVID-19, and to strengthen\nexisting food hygiene and sanitation practices."}
{"_id":"WHOtest225","title":"","text":"Questions relating to food safety authorities\nHow should imported foods from countries with high prevalence of COVID-19 be treated?\nAs food has not been implicated in the transmission of COVID-19, imported food\nshould be subjected to the same import controls as before the pandemic. See\nFAO guidance on risk based imported food\ncontrol."}