30 December 2020

More areas in England to move to Tier 4

Infectious diseases England

Today’s announcement will see more areas in England move to Tier 4 lockdown arrangements.

The College’s Amber guidance applies to optometrists working in Tier 4 areas, involving the prioritising of urgent and essential cases and only seeing routine patients if there is capacity.

As the new variant of the virus is much more transmissible, we should ensure scrupulous observance of PPE, social distancing and handwashing guidance.

Useful links

This article was correct at time of publication. 

Related news

Optometry bodies say funding uncertainty on GOC education plans threatens patient safety
Policy Public health

Joint statement on our vision for safe and sustainable patient eye care services
Infectious diseases

COVID-19: Joint statement from the Optometry Schools Council (OSC) and College of Optometrists
Infectious diseases Policy Public health

Related further reading

Twenty-three years travelling on the optometric ‘Yellow Brick Road’

For the very last issue of Optometry in Practice, Professor Jonathan Jackson MCOptom reflects on the past two decades of the journal and its contribution to our learning.

Children Contact lenses Glaucoma Infectious diseases

High-priority contact lens patient care during COVID-19 in the UK

This article describes an audit to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected hospital contact lens services.

Contact lenses Infectious diseases

Infection control in optometric practice

The General Ophthalmic Services Contract in England requires that a contractor has ‘appropriate arrangements for infection control and decontamination.’

Infectious diseases Public health