Coronavirus confirmed in workplace

[Curious012]

Someone has been confirmed to have coronavirus in my building (not my floor) we have been advised to carry on as business as usual but I feel like we should be advised to work from home. We have been told to go to the office unless notified otherwise.
Is there any official guidence on what to do in this scenario?

Well Google it. Try NHS and Gov.uk websites.

I did google it nothing obvious came up about this specific scenario. Can see there has been a lot of talk on these forums with a lot of information I hadn't found before so thought it would be useful to ask

It's been suggested as part of phase two that everyone who is able might soon be encouraged to work from home, so keep an eye on the government guidance.

Personally I think it would make sense in your situation - have you expressed your concerns to your manager/HR?

I would not being going in! Too many of my family are vulnerable so I don't care what they advice is unless it's to WFH.

I'm fighting against my mild anxiety and dh's insistence to keep the kids off school but I'm checking multiple times a day hoping that the advice is to keep kids off school. Dh thinks I'm being blasé about it but inside I'm absolutely shitting it.

The government advice is not to close workplaces if an infected person has been in.

See the official site for all the info as at today:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-covid-19#what-to-do-if-a-member-of-staff-or-the-public-with-confirmed-covid-19-has-recently-been-in-your-workplace

Official advice is to go in in. unless you’ve been in close contact ie less than 2m away for 15 minutes you’ll be unlikely to contract anything. Even hard surfaces will be mostly infection free by the time you go back in the morning.

If you wash your hands as soon as you get to your office you’ll be fine.

I read about this the other day (similar situation, one floor affected). The affected floor and communal areas such as lifts were being deep cleaned but occupants of other floors were going about their business as normal.

Presumably the situation, like any other work situation, needs to be risk assessed. Surely it would be reasonable for this to be shared with the staff. I think the trade unions are being very quiet, surely they have a role to play.

I think you would be justified to simply inform them you will be working from home - if your job can be done from there.