Image source,PA Media
The British government warned that the continued increase in the number of new crown virus infections may prevent up to a quarter of employees from going to work. Ministers will be responsible for formulating “comprehensive contingency plans” to deal with absenteeism.
The Cabinet Office stated that public sector leaders are required to prepare for “worst-case scenarios” of absenteeism rates of 10%, 20%, and 25%.
During the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the United Kingdom, the number of new cases per day hit record highs many times.
Transportation, the National Health Service (NHS) and schools have been affected by absenteeism.
The rising number of cases has led to a large number of people self-isolating and unable to go to work. This particularly affects industries where employees cannot work from home.
The Cabinet Office stated that Minister Barclay (Steve Barclay, Bai Jianxi) is holding regular meetings with ministers to assess how the proliferation of Omicron variants affects the labor force and supply chain.
The office also stated that the British Prime Minister has urged ministers to cooperate with their respective departments to test preparations and contingency plans to reduce confusion.
Barclays said that the highly contagious Omicron variant means that business and public services “will face disruptions in the coming weeks, especially with a higher than usual rate of employee absenteeism.”
However, his department stated that so far, the interference caused by Omi Keron has been contained in “most of the public sector.”
Current self-isolation rules
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, people who test positive for the new crown must self-isolate for at least seven days. After the end of self-isolation, two rapid antigen tests must be performed 24 hours apart-the first time no earlier than the sixth day.
In Scotland, people who test positive must be quarantined for 10 days.
Throughout the UK, contacts of positive cases must also be quarantined for 10 days if they have not been vaccinated.
Some people have called for an American-style self-isolation system that only takes five days, but the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that this will be counterproductive. If more people are infected, it is more likely to increase the shortage of employees.
The Health and Safety Administration explained in a blog post that the two systems are not in one-to-one correspondence. In the UK, the “clock” of self-isolation starts when a person develops symptoms or tests positive, whichever comes first. But in the United States, self-isolation begins after a positive test result-this may be a few days after symptoms appear.
The British Health and Safety Agency stated that its model shows that 10-30% of people are still infectious by the sixth day, depending on how quickly they get test results after they develop symptoms.
The bureau said that after seven days of self-isolation and getting two negative rapid antigen test results, it will be equivalent to the protection of self-isolation for 10 days. In this case, 5% of people are still infectious.
“It will be very difficult”
Ian Wilson, owner and director of Bellcare, a company that provides in-home services for the elderly and the disabled in Cambria, is worried that those who need it will not get help-because there is not enough. People provide services.
Ian Wilson said that as a boss, even if the salary can be increased, there are not enough caregivers to hire.
“The number of people in need of care means that you have to be very busy,” Wilson told the BBC. “Once your staff (because of Omi Keron) starts to shrink, it becomes very, very embarrassing.”
Although “Bellcare” was able to raise the minimum wage under government subsidies from April last year to now, Wilson said: “If people don’t come, it will be very difficult.”
Wilson’s company employs about 120 people, and it is easy to use 40 to 50 more caregivers during certain periods.
“We still have a Brexit system. We used to have overseas employees,” Wilson said. “We can now apply for a license to hire overseas employees, but to be honest, this procedure is time-consuming and costly, so it won’t be resolved next week. problem.”
Wilson said: “I don’t know what the government’s plan for emergency measures is. We can only work with what we have, and the people we have can only do so many hours a day, so yes, it will be very difficult. “
The British Health and Safety Agency said it will always monitor the situation, but believes that the current rules are “current best practice.”
In December, the Minister of Education urged retired teachers to return to the classroom to help solve the new year’s shortage of staff related to the new crown epidemic.
At the end of last semester, due to a shortage of manpower, some schools had to close early or switch to online teaching.
Several train operators had to reduce their service time due to lack of manpower.
Image source,Getty Images
Due to lack of manpower, the retired teacher was asked to return to the classroom to help.
The increase in the number of new cases also affects the National Health Service (NHS). According to the National Health Service of England, 24,632 staff members of the agency were suffering from the new crown or were self-isolating on December 26, 31% more than the previous week, and almost doubled from the beginning of the month.
The Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner (Wayallan) said that Prime Minister Johnson should have asked the ministers to start planning for absenteeism several weeks ago.
“Boris Johnson’s lack of leadership meant that his government was indecisive and procrastinated, dragging the contingency plan to the last minute,” she said.
“Under the record-breaking number of new crown infections, the Prime Minister must immediately respond to the pressure of the workplace, ensure the operation of key services, keep schools open, and ensure people’s safety.”
England reported 162,572 new cases last Saturday (January 1) – a record high for five consecutive days – and the number of admissions to hospitals for the new crown is also at the highest level since 2021.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland did not release figures on Saturday.
England is currently in the “Plan B” of epidemic prevention restrictions, including mandatory wearing of masks in most indoor public places, nightclubs and other large venues requiring the use of new crown passes, and directing people to work at home when possible.
These measures will expire after six weeks of implementation-it is expected to end on or around January 4, and a review will be conducted three weeks later on January 26.
Other places in the UK have imposed stricter restrictions on dining establishments.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that any further restrictions in England “must be the last resort”.