CLEANERS are among those who cannot work from home as the country is plunged into the third national lockdown.
Boris Johnson announced another round of nationwide measures on Monday, which includes an order to stay at home except for essential reasons or work purposes.
Coronavirus cases and deaths continue to soar, pushing the NHS to the brink of being overwhelemed.
It comes with fears that Brits could be under lockdown restrictions until the end of March.
Official government guidance says: “Anyone who can work from home should do so. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work.”
Can cleaners go to work?
Cleaners are among those who can go to work so long as they take precautions and follow social distancing.
Government guidelines say that cleaners are still allowed to work in homes in England during the third lockdown.
It states: “From 6 January, a national lockdown applies in all of England. You can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home.
“Where it is necessary for you to work in other people’s homes – for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople – you can do so.
“Otherwise, you should avoid meeting for work in a private home or garden, where COVID-19 Secure measures may not be in place.”
The government also published detail guidance on how to keep Covid-safe when working in other people’s home.
Households must comply with the same guidelines as public and private venues, including social distancing and increased hygiene measures.
The guidance also says that cleaners should “ensure the household understands that social distancing and hygiene measures that should be followed once work has commenced.”
The guidance also says cleaners should aim to reduce the amount of time spent in a confined space where possible.
These restrictions do not apply to live-in cleaners, who should be considered a member of the household they work in.
Cleaners should also dispose of all household waste and and cleaning products on the property.
They should not go to work if they have symptoms. By law from 28 September businesses may not require a self-isolating employee to come into work.
The government says this guidance applies to all those working in, visiting or delivering to home environments, like repair services, fitters, meter readers, plumbers, cooks, visiting childcare providers and surveyors.
Can I clean in a house where someone is shielding or isolating?
Cleaners will not be able to enter homes of people on the shield list unless the work is to boost their safety as they isolate.
People on the shield list are deemed as particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
The guidance reads: “No work should be carried out in a household which is isolating because one or more family members has symptoms or where an individual has been advised to shield – unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household.”
Cleaners however are allowed to work in the home of somebody who is vulnerable but hasn’t been asked to shield as long as precautions are taken.
The guidance reads: “When working in a household where somebody is clinically vulnerable, but has not been asked to shield, for example, the home of someone over 70, prior arrangements should be made with vulnerable people to avoid any face-to-face contact, for example, when answering the door.
“You should be particularly strict about handwashing, coughing and sneezing hygiene, such as covering your nose and mouth and disposing of single-use tissues.”
