Important advice click here to access: COVID-19 Guidance for non healthcare settings

The document provides advice on schools, hotels, travel, workplaces etc.

Certifying absence from work:

By law, medical evidence is not required for the first 7 days of sickness. After 7 days, it is for the employer to determine what evidence they require, if any, from the employee.

This does not need to be a fit note (Med 3 form) issued by a GP or other doctor.

An employee may be advised to isolate themselves and not to work in contact with other people by their doctor or local Health Protection Team if they are a carrier of, or have been  in contact with, an infectious or contagious disease, such as COVID-19.

Employers must use their discretion around the need for medical evidence for a period of absence where an employee is advised to self-isolate due to suspected COVID-19, in
accordance with the public health advice being issued by the government.

Cruise Ships

For people in Orkney worried about the spread of the disease and infection control with the potential arrival of so many cruise ships to Orkney here is the information currently available.

Maritime Declarations of Health are already required for all ships arriving from a foreign port and masters of ships will be made aware of any additional requirements through Notices to Mariners.

Where a ship’s master, in assessing the state of health on board their ship, identifies any
instances of illness (possible cases) then these should be reported at the earliest possible
convenience via established channels to the local Health Protection Team of the next port; the possible case should be isolated until the local Health Protection Team advises
otherwise.

If the suspected case is not seriously unwell you must notify the relevant NHS Health
Protection Team. Contact details for the case must be provided with sufficient information to allow the Health Protection Team to determine follow up action. This will include symptoms, duration, contacts and travel history.

DO NOT disembark the suspected case. Crew, passengers and any possible cases should not be disembarked until the local Health Protection Team advises to do so; they will also advise if any measures are necessary for other passengers and crew as well as the ship itself.

Important information here: NHS Coronavirus – COVID 19