Peterborough businesses urged to let staff work from home to prevent COVID outbreaks

Dr Liz Robin said that while the recent lockdown had allowed coronavirus rates ‘to be reduced or stabilised’ there was still work to be done to keep the virus under control - and made a plea to businesses in the city to let as many workers as possible work from home during the winter season to protect vulnerable residents and the NHS.

She said: “The recent lockdown has allowed us to reduce or stabilise rates of COVID 19 across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. But we can’t be complacent, and the only way we can avoid another rise in COVID cases locally is by working together.
“Outbreaks happen in a variety of locations, in people’s homes, in schools, in care homes, and today I’d like to talk about work place outbreaks.

“I want to start by thanking employers for everything you have done to make your workplaces COVID secure. I know a huge amount has been achieved in quite a short time.
“But many of you will know from experience the impact of a workplace outbreak on your staff and sometimes on their families if they pass the virus on.

“It can also impact customers and it can have a financial impact on the business.

“So I am calling on all organisations across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to think hard about who you have working from your premises and whether any of your staff might be able to work effectively from home.

“The fewer people in the workplace the less likely you are to have an outbreak.

“So for staff who can do so effectively, please do ask them to work from home.

“A common theme in some work place outbreaks has been staff not social distancing, particularly at break times or just before and just after work. So it is vital to remind employees of the need to social distance at all times.

“It is also important they understand the legal requirements to wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces and that the covering needs to cover both their nose and mouth in order to be effective.

“More than ever now we need your help to stop the spread of COVID so please continue with all the actions that you’ve been taking to make your work place safe and prevent outbreaks in your organisation.

“This will help protect our vulnerable residents and our NHS over the winter while we look forward to a better spring when the vaccine should start to have an impact.”