08 July 2021
Whether you’re a sports fan or not, two major sporting events, the UEFA Euro 2020 and Wimbledon, have continued to take centre stage this week.
Watching these events evoked a sense of nostalgia in me for a time before the pandemic. It also offered a glimmer of hope for the future. Sports aside, I simply found it uplifting to watch people celebrate once more after a long and dreary start to the year.
As much as I would like life to return to some form of normality and see more events take place, is the timing right to lift some of the restrictions?
Earlier this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for the easing of restrictions in England on 19 July in England, in wearing face masks will no longer be a legal requirement, remaining businesses will reopen, and social distancing rules will be scrapped.
Since the announcement there has been a deluge of debate amongst scientists, politicians and medical professionals about the PM’s decision.
The Financial Times reported on the response within government with some words of caution expressed by the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, and England’s chief medical officer, Chris Witty.
A backlash was expressed by the opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer. Reported in a BBC News article Starmer warned Johnson that he is leading the country into a “summer of chaos and confusion.”
However, Johnson replied that his plans to lift COVID-19 rules was “balanced and reasonable.”
The Guardian reported concerns expressed by more than 100 scientists, doctors and global experts urging Johnson to delay lifting the remaining COVID-19 restrictions, calling it “dangerous and premature.”
There is no denying that this raises many questions for many professions, especially in healthcare. So where does this leave eye care professionals?
The OT team is currently investigating the impact and will produce a detailed news report on the implications for optometrists of restrictions easing on 19 July.
We will aim to address some of the key areas of concern that you might be anticipating. Some of the discussion points will include: the easing of social distancing and how this will impact your practice; mask requirements and the rules in healthcare settings; education and training and the implications for clinical assessments and lectures; the impact on the High Street as the requirement to work from home comes to an ends and impact on domiciliary optometrists of care home restrictions easing.
We hope this will provide some reassurance to our readers about the weeks and months ahead.
How are you feeling about easing of restrictions on 19 July? If you would like to share your thoughts please get in touch with the OT team.
Comments (5)
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Bendre11 July 2021
A timely response to mask wearing and social distancing by the optical governing bodies will be greatly appreciated. During the course of the pandemic guidelines from our governing bodies have at best been sluggish. We now need clear, timely and concise guidance as to how to proceed from the 19th.
In order to keep our staff safe we will not change our current IPC procedures in our business, unless there's a significant expectation to do so. As such I'm concerned about our reception and professional staff being abused by patients who will refuse to wear masks to their appointments, however with clear guidance from our councils, colleges and associations all opticians will be on the same page and these potentially difficult conversations with patients do not have to take place.
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Ian Ashworth09 July 2021
This is the guidan e on the College of Optometrists Covid 19 page at present. Does anyone know how recently this was posted? "As lockdown restrictions are in the process of being eased across the UK, there has been no indication from each UK nation’s health and government bodies of plans to step down infection prevention and control procedures (IPC) or social distancing for primary or secondary healthcare settings in the coming months. While we constantly review our COVID-19 guidance to ensure it is up to date, we anticipate the Amber phase guidance will continue for some period of time, and potentially for the rest of 2021."
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Anonymous08 July 2021
Feel Im going to be totally unsafe for my family in 2 weeks with only my own mask to protect me and all patients and customers breathing coughing and sneezing over me again with the covid rate higher than jan. We will all be closed soon for 10days when we test positive and self isolating if we see a positive px. Change to rules in our place of work makes no sense for health or the economy of the practices
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Ian 1508 July 2021
In the announcement regarding the changes in mask regulations on Monday 5th July to be implemented on 19th July, Chris Witty stated that he would consider to continue wearing a mask in an enclosed space in close proximity to someone he didn’t know, and if a person was uncomfortable that you hadn’t got a mask on, it should be seen as ‘common decency’ that you should put one on. As is quite often the norm, these important details are quite often overlooked when the bigger headlines are ‘No Rules for Masks’! Such a shame. We all must use our common sense!
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Anonymous08 July 2021
Why is there a total lack of guidance from professional bodies regarding what optical practices are supposed to do after 19th July. Even the airlines have stated they are still requiring face masks to be worn! This is a shambles. I see that we will be led by the high street chains who will implement the directives of their head office and managing directors that don’t actually work in front of the patients. As a result smaller chains and independents will be challenged to follow suit or risk losing our patients to High Street opticians that will spend lots of money telling the public that Routine sight tests are now available without the need for social distancing !!! The Generals are always happy to send the troops out over the top of the trenches.
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