Action guide for food and drink
This action card is due to be read in conjunction with the Public Health England National Action Cards for Food and Drink Outlets. It is to be used by the affected business and local authority to coordinate the local response to a COVID-19 case or outbreak.
The action card includes a step by step guide that will be followed in the event of an outbreak.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The most important symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:
- a new continuous cough
- a high temperature
- a loss or change in your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
Anyone with any of the above symptoms should self-isolate at home for at least 10 days from when symptoms start and arrange a test.
Definitions of coronavirus
Suspected case - continuous cough and/or high temperature and/or loss or change in normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
Confirmed case - positive laboratory test case of COVID-19 with or without symptoms.
Direct contact - face to face contact with a case for any length of time including being coughed on, unprotected physical contact (skin to skin), a person who has been within 2 meters of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes or exposure within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer.
Infectious period - the infectious period is from 48 hours prior to symptom onset to 7 days after, or 48 hours prior to test if asymptomatic.
Outbreak - two or more confirmed cases among individuals who are direct close contacts, proximity contacts or in the same cohort or 'bubble'.
Key contact information for local outbreak plan
Public Health England South West Health Protection Team
Phone number: 0300 303 8162
Email: swhpt@phe.gov.uk
Public Health Dorset
Phone number: call customer services on 01305 221000
Email: publichealth-hp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Dorset Council contacts for local outbreak plan
Dorset Council Environmental Health contact numbers:
- Tamsin Horsler 07966 881707
- Laura Brewer 07870 811285
- Nick Parr 07788 347698
- Out of hours: call customer services on 01305 221000
Single cases: EnvhFoodSafety@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Multiple cases emails:
BCP Council contacts for local outbreak plan
BCP Council Environmental Health
- BCP Council 01202 454876
- Caroline Fair 07385 367463
- Jo Hitchens 07791 924073
- Helen Tebbs 07867 353178
- Louise Jones 07378 453005
- Out of hours 0800 0281870
Single cases: foodandhealthandsafety@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Multiple cases:
Food Standards Agency
- phone number: 020 7276 8448
- out of hours phone number:0207 276 8000
Foodincidents@food.gov.uk
Phone number: 119
Actions to take prior to suspected or confirmed case
Inform staff of COVID-19 procedures and undertake preventative measures to avoid outbreak. Further information can be found on national action card or in the table below.
Establish relationship with local authority in order to improve outcomes in the case of an outbreak.
Actions to take in the event of a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus
Suspected case identified: staff member/s
Ask individuals to self-isolate and advise to get tested using Test and Trace (call 119).
Clean environment using appropriate PPE.
If test is positive, follow confirmed case process.
If test is negative, individual can return to work once well and contacts/household can stop isolating.
Confirmed case by PHE/NHS Test and Trace
If staff member, isolate individual for 10 days since onset of symptoms. Also remainder of household need to isolate for 10 days
If customer, follow advice from local health protection team and make relevant contact tracing records available.
Clean/disinfect where possible with appropriate PPE.
Work alongside local authority and PHE if necessary and look at additional measures identified in the national action card.
Contact local authority if further support or information is required.
Keep in contact with individual staff member and allow individual to return to work once isolation period is over.
2+ cases of COVID-19 confirmed
Inform PHE South West Health Protection team who may carry out a risk assessment. PHE and the local authority may establish a local response group to work together to develop a coordinated communications plan.
Clean/disinfect where possible with appropriate PPE.
Response group work together to identify any communities affected and provide any additional support required.
Keep in contact with individuals affected and allow them to return to work once isolation period is over, symptoms aren’t presenting and outbreak is declared over.
| Suspected case identified | Confirmed case by PHE/NHS Test and Trace | 2+ cases of COVID-19 confirmed |
|---|---|---|
|
Staff member(s) Ask individuals to self-isolate and advise to get tested using Test and Trace (call 119) |
If staff member, isolate individual for 10 days since onset of symptoms. Also remainder of household need to isolate for 10 days If customer, follow advice from local health protection team and make relevant contact tracing records available |
Inform PHE South West Health Protection team who may carry out a risk assessment. PHE and the local authority may establish a local response group to work together to develop a coordinated communications plan |
| Clean environment using appropriate PPE | Clean/disinfect where possible with appropriate PPE | Clean/disinfect where possible with appropriate PPE |
|
If test is positive, follow confirmed case process If test is negative, individual can return to work once well and contacts/household can stop isolating |
Work alongside local authority and PHE if necessary and look at additional measures identified in the national action card | Response group work together to identify any communities affected and provide any additional support required |
| Contact local authority if further support or information is required | Keep in contact with individuals affected and allow them to return to work once isolation period is over, symptoms aren’t presenting and outbreak is declared over | |
| Keep in contact with individual staff member and allow individual to return to work once isolation period is over |
Information you will need to share with PHE in event of an outbreak
- details of your organisation
- details of the cases
- contact tracing details of staff and customers
- when the individual(s) became unwell
- nature of the environment, for example site layout and nature of the building
- details of control measures and risk assessment
- has there been any contact with other agencies, for example local authority