Managing and reporting Covid-19 has now been aligned with other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI).
Quick links
COVID-19: testing from 1 April 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19
COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19, NICE
SW Councils: Infection Prevention and Control Care Home Pack
COVID-19 treatments for patients who do not require hospitalisation – South & West
Think Flu and Covid-19 Adult Social Care poster
Autumn and Winter seasonal Infection preparedness
UKHSA
UKHSA manage all ARI outbreak, care settings are to report confirmed or suspected ARI outbreaks via the OBRA Tool: https://forms.ukhsa.gov.uk/ReportAnOutbreak
The system will perform an initial triage to assess whether the report concerns:
- a single case or an outbreak
- a residential/nursing care home or another type of ASC setting
- a low-risk, medium risk, or high priority outbreak according to the combination of red and amber flags
The provider reporting via the OBRA tool will receive two automated emails:
- An “acknowledgment email” with a Care OBRA reference number and a copy of your data
- An “advice email” providing immediate information/advice on how to manage the situation reported.
NB: providers may receive an additional “advice email” if, for example, they are reporting a COVID-19 outbreak AND a single case of Flu.
UKHSA will assess the data (within 1-2 working days) and take further action if specialist advice is required. For example, call the provider, send a follow-up email with specific advice, inform relevant partners, such as, LA PH team, IPC, & ICB.
OBRA Tool allows adult social care settings to:
- Report suspected / confirmed ARI’s without the need to ring or email the HPT beforehand.
- Collect all the relevant information and enter it into an electronic platform at a time that suits them.
- Receive a summary of the data entered in the Care OBRA Tool
- Receive immediate email advice on how to manage their situation and automatically identify the higher risk situations.
Completed OBRA’s allow HPT to:
- Identify and prioritise incidents requiring specialist HPT input.
- Focus on interventions that will achieve the greatest public health impact.
- Provide local system partners with timely and accurate information.
Health and Safety Executive
Consider if a RIDDOR report is required RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 – HSE
Outbreak testing guidance.
To find out about testing during an outbreak please visit the COVID-19 testing page.
Outbreak control measures.
An outbreak is defined as 2 or more positive or clinically suspected linked cases of ARI’s within the same setting within a 5-day period, where transmission within the care setting was likely to have occurred.
The care setting should check if the individual/s are eligible for Covid-19 treatment, those that are eligible should be LFD tested, for those who are not eligible for Covid-19 treatment testing is not required unless specifically advised by the HPT or other local partner.
Outbreak management guidance should be followed Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Admissions during outbreak
- Admissions are allowed:
- Admissions from hospitals will no longer have routine Covid-19 testing prior to discharge. COVID-19: testing from 1 April 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Care settings should complete risk assessments for any admission that is known to have an ARI Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- The swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk can advise on admissions during outbreak.