All UK nations move to COVID-19 ‘green phase’

Today, Tuesday 10 May, each of the four nations in the UK will be moving from the amber to the green phase of The College of Optometrists’ COVID-19 classification system.

This phase sees us enter a ‘new normal’ and incorporates the good practice established over the past two years to ensure patient and public safety. ‘Living with COVID-19’, the Government’s current strategy, does not mean a return to practice and business as it was before the pandemic.

We ask registrants to read the College’s updated Guidance for Professional Practice and the latest COVID-19 advice from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. Our COVID-19 statements will also continue to apply where it is marked that they do so in the green phase. These can be found on our COVID-19 page.

The following measures will continue to apply, as outlined by the College:

Universal masking. All staff should continue to wear a fluid-resistant face mask. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommend that all people/patients visiting health care settings should continue to be recommended to use a face covering.
Regular asymptomatic lateral flow device testing, as recommended by each nation’s health system.
Maintaining high standards of infection prevention and control procedures, including good hand hygiene, decontaminating equipment after use or contact with a patient and keeping up to date with the recommended immunisations.
A mechanism is in place to enable people with symptoms of respiratory infection to postpone their eye care unless it is urgent or an emergency.

Our statements and guidance should be read alongside the following nation specific guidance:

You can also find all the latest statements and guidance on our COVID-19 page.