CORONAVIRUS & OTHER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS

February 2023 Update

Workplace controls to reduce risk

SRB will continue to reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in line with our Risk Assessment. The following workplace controls remain:

We will continue to consult with our staff on health and safety matters, which will help to minimise risk.

The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are very similar. It is not possible to tell if you have COVID-19, flu or another respiratory infection based on symptoms alone. Most people with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections will have a relatively mild illness, especially if they have been vaccinated.

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home, avoid contact with other people and not attend our offices.

Symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:

• continuous cough
• high temperature, fever or chills
• loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
• shortness of breath
• unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
• muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
• not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
• headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
• sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
• diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick

If you are feeling unwell with these symptoms you should get plenty of rest and drink water to keep hydrated. You can use medications such as paracetamol to help with your symptoms. Antibiotics are not recommended for viral respiratory infections because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

In some cases, you might continue to have a cough or feel tired after your other symptoms have improved, but this does not mean that you are still infectious.

You can find information about these symptoms on NHS.UK.

If you are concerned about your symptoms, or if they are worsening, seek medical advice by contacting NHS 111. In an emergency dial 999.

Outbreaks in our offices

There is now no requirement to report workplace outbreaks of respiratory infections to the local public health team. However, if we experience high levels of people with respiratory symptoms in our workplace the actions detailed above will help to reduce the spread, and they will be promoted and applied more rigorously.