Reminders of safety measures following recent cases of COVID-19

Issued 5th March 2021

Those across the Western Isles are being reminded about important safety precautions to take to avoid spreading COVID-19 in our communities.

Following the identification of recent positive cases of COVID-19 on Lewis, a significant number of individuals have been required to self-isolate by Test and Protect, after being identified as close contacts of positive cases.

SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE
It is of vital importance that everyone who has to attend their workplace follows safety precautions at all times (indoors & outdoors) whilst at work, including:

• 2 metre physical distancing;
• wearing a face mask/covering (covering both mouth & nose, and tight to your face);
• keeping hands and hard surfaces clean;
• not attending work if you or anyone in your household has symptoms;
• where applicable, appropriate use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

NHS Western Isles is reminding everyone that THE VIRUS DOESN’T TAKE A TEA BREAK, so those in workplaces must ensure that they continue with safety precautions during tea and lunch breaks. Take breaks alone if at all possible, and where this is not possible, ensure you keep a two-metre distance from others at all times and follow the precautions above.

HOUSEHOLDS MUST STAY AT HOME IF ANYONE HAS SYMPTOMS
In addition, one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to ensure you stay at home if you, or anyone else within your household or extended household, has symptoms regardless of how mild.

If anyone in your household has symptoms, you must all stay at home and self-isolate. Do not attend work, do not go shopping, and do not send children in the household to school or nursery. The symptomatic person should arrange a test and everyone in the household (and extended household) must continue to self-isolate until the test results are back. Depending on the test result, the Test and Protect team will advise on any future isolation requirements.

Symptoms include:

• A new and persistent cough
• A loss of or change in taste or sense of smell
• A high temperature

Additional symptoms to look out for include unexplained:

• Tickly or sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore bones, muscles or joint pain
• General flu-like symptoms
• Gastro-intestinal symptoms (e.g. stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting

CAR SHARING
We are aware that, with the current disruption affecting the bus service in Lewis and Harris, some individuals from different households may have to car share.

Car sharing with someone from outwith your household does present a risk of spreading COVID-19 – however if you have no other option than to car share with others, we would encourage you to follow the following safety measures:

1. Limit the number of people in the vehicle – the fewer, the better;
2. Wash your hands (or hand sanitise) before entering and after leaving the vehicle;
3. Maintain good ventilation and open windows for the duration of the journey;
4. Sit as far apart as possible, and avoid sitting face to face or side by side (preferably one person driving and one in the back);
5. Wear a face mask or face covering for the duration of the journey. Do not pull it down or remove it to have conversations. Ensure it is covering your mouth and nose and is not loose on your face. Avoid touching the face mask/covering, and dispose of disposable masks/replace your face covering after the journey.
6. Ensure you cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue, and dispose of the tissue in a bin after leaving the vehicle;
7. Wipe down surfaces that people touch (e.g. door handles) before entering the car and after the journey; and
8. If there is no other alternative but to car share, take steps where possible to share with the same individual/s each time.

OF VITAL IMPORTANCE: DO NOT CAR SHARE IF YOU, OR ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR EXTENDED HOUSEHOLD, HAS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19: SELF ISOLATE & BOOK A TEST IMMEDIATELY