Guidance

[Withdrawn] Guidance for investigating and managing individuals with a suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in healthcare settings

Updated 23 December 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on

Users should instead refer to COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

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The primary audience for this guidance is healthcare staff in England. Country specific advice may be available for each country across the United Kingdom.

Introduction

In response to the emergence and spread of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC), precautions and actions are required in relation to the management of individuals with suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 and their contacts in health care settings. These individuals include:

  • individuals confirmed to have Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2
  • individuals with who have been identified as having suspected Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 by a testing laboratory.
  • close contacts of suspected or confirmed cases with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 even if they are fully vaccinated and irrespective of age

Precautions should also be taken to reflect entry and isolation requirements for individuals who have recently travelled to England from another country (with specific instructions for those on the Red list and their contacts), even if they are fully vaccinated or asymptomatic.

General principles relevant to the management of COVID-19 in the context of risk from Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2

The following principles apply:

Entry and isolation guidance

Travel measures to reduce risk to the UK against new international variants may change over time. For guidance on entry and isolation requirements for travel to England from another country, refer to the following guidance.

Individuals with suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 seeking routine or elective care

Any person with suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 seeking access to non-urgent outpatient, ambulatory or primary care, or elective treatment, should defer their appointment until their isolation period has ended, unless their need is considered urgent (see below).

Individuals with suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 seeking emergency care

Any person with suspected or confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 who requires urgent care should continue to access emergency NHS services whether for COVID-19 symptoms or for non-COVID reasons.

Regardless of the reason for their presentation, vaccination status or age, these individuals requiring emergency admission or care should immediately be isolated in a single room with en-suite bathroom facilities and tested for COVID-19 using a standard PCR test. They should remain in a single room under strict isolation for the duration of their isolation period.

Information on dates and places of travel, and any contact with possible or confirmed cases of COVID-19 should be recorded. Healthcare staff should ensure systems are in place that enable these cases to be easily flagged and identified.

Individuals with suspected infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 admitted to hospital with a negative test on admission

Individuals with suspected infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 should be managed in isolation in a single room with en-suite bathroom facilities, and with appropriate infection control procedures, for the duration of their isolation period, even if they test negative on admission.

Subsequent testing should be according to NHS testing regimes while in hospital. If the patient develops new symptoms compatible with COVID-19, they should be tested again immediately.

Management of individuals with confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 at or during their admission

If an individual has confirmed infection with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2, hospitals should notify their regional health protection team with the details of these individuals for further public health follow up and contact tracing.

Further support for queries regarding risk assessment and case-management may be obtained from the local or regional specialist infectious diseases centre.

Guidance for laboratory staff

Refer to guidance for testing laboratories for additional information.

List of Specialist Infectious Diseases Centres and contact details

East of England

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults) 01223 245151: ID consultant on call

London

Barts Health NHS Trust (Adults) 0207 3777 000: ID consultant on call

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics) 0207 188 7188: ID consultant on call

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (St Mary’s) (Paediatrics) 0203 312 6666: Paediatric ID consultant on call

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (Northwick Park and Ealing) (Adults) 0208 864 3232: ID consultant on call

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (Adults) 0207 794 0500: ID consultant on call

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics) 0208 672 1255: Clinical infection consultant on call

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults) 07908 250924: ID SpR on call

Midlands

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics) 0121 424 2000: ID consultant on call

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (Adults) 0300 303 1573: ID consultant on call

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (Adults) 01782 672904

North East and Yorkshire

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Adults) 01482 875875: ID consultant on call

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults) 0114 271 1900: ID consultant on call

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics) 0191 233 6161: ID consultant on call (adult or paediatrics)

North West

Alder Hey Children’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Paediatrics (with Liverpool)) 0151 228 4811: ID consultant on call

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics (with Alder Hey)) 0151 709 0141: ID consultant on call

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Adults) 07966 621211: ID SpR on call

South East

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (Adults) 01273 696955: ID consultant on call

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Adults and paediatrics) 0300 304 7777: ID consultant on call

South West

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (Adults) 01392 411611: Microbiologist on call

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