Covid rates are stubbornly high in Cheshire West and recent GP advice is if anyone has any cold, flu or Covid symptoms, whether they test positive or negative, they should not come to our venues.
Although the vaccination programme has been highly effective, current vaccines aren’t as effective against the Omicron variant. They are cutting serious illness and the need for hospitalisation but are not cutting transmission. For some it is still a nasty illness, e.g. requiring a day or two in bed, with age (over 75) still the biggest risk factor for being very unwell.
Our client group and some volunteers, fall into the vulnerable and very very vulnerable groups.
As we continue our face to face services we ask you (whether you are a volunteer or someone receiving our services) to:-
- Be fully vaccinated, unless medically exempt.
- Not to attend – whether you test negative or positive – if you have any Covid, flu or cold like symptoms.
- Take a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) before you attend our services.
- Use hand sanitiser as you enter the premises.
- Wear a mask as a matter of personal choice. Please respect others and help them keep safe.
- Wear a mask while in the car if you are a volunteer driver or passenger, as well as have a window open.
- Keep 1 m apart from others as much as possible. We will arrange tables and chairs accordingly.
- Not to attend our services for 10 days if someone you live with or has been staying in your home, has had a positive Covid test.
- If you have been in contact (but not close contact) with someone who has tested positive, do not attend for 5 days and only attend after that if you are Covid negative and wear a mask at the venue.
- After you have tested Covid positive, do not return to the service until either it is 10 days since you tested positive and you have recovered, or you have tested negative on 2 consecutive days starting on day 5 (where day 0 = day you tested positive) provided you have recovered.
- PLEASE : inform us if you or someone in your household has tested positive within 2/3 days of you attending one of our services.
For our part we will:-
- Clean/sanitise all touch points (e.g. door knobs) if they seem unclean.
- Have good ventilation (e.g. by opening windows) and/or air purifiers in each room our service uses.
- Set out tables and chairs so that people are at least 1 m apart.
This is based on guidance from gov.uk last updated 14 April 2022
Advice for people at high risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)
People at high risk from coronavirus (COVID-19) are advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else. This means you are no longer advised to stay at home (shield). But there are still things that can help keep you safe.
Do
- get vaccinated against COVID-19 – everyone aged 12 and over can book vaccination appointments now
- wait for at least 14 days after you’ve had your 2nd dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before meeting with people
- meet people outside if possible
- open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside
- ask friends and family to take a rapid lateral flow test before visiting you
- limit the number of people you meet and avoid crowded places
- wear a face covering in shops, on public transport and when it’s hard to stay away from other people (particularly indoors or in crowded places)
- wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day