This article contains information on general guidance, stay at home guidance, advice for commmunity buildings, advice for community groups, protecting the isolated & vulnerable and advice for community transport.
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
The NHS website has more information about how coronavirus is spread and answers common questions about the virus.
The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:
- Cough
- Difficulty in breathing
- Fever
GENERAL GUIDANCE
As the information about Coronavirus is ever-changing, everyone should follow all advice from Public Health England and the NHS and keep up to date with any new developments.
Common sense is key in a situation like this and are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel
- Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds each time with soap and water or hand sanitiser, especially when you; Get home or into work, blow your nose, sneeze or cough, or eat or handle food.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Please find further information, from the following sites:
Coronavirus: latest information and advice
What to do if you’re asked to self-isolate
STAY AT HOME GUIDANCE
This advice is intended for people with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), including those with a diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, who must remain at home until they are well.
- If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started
- This action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious
- Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home
- Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home
- Stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible
- Sleep alone, if that is possible
- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water
- Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
- You do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
ADVICE FOR VILLAGE HALLS & COMMUNITY BUILDINGS
As it stands at the moment, halls can remain open, however Village Hall Management Committees running charitable halls have a duty of care in providing a safe facility for the community to use.
Your committee must bear in mind that extra precautions need to be made as your hall provides a activities for those groups who are most at risk from the virus.
PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE:
- Take notice of the Government and Public Health England websites and keep up to date with the ongoing situation
- Keep the Hall very clean and ensure that soap and/or hand sanitiser is available, paper towels are available and hand driers are working efficiently
- Avoid the use of hand towels for the time being
- Put up a notice about hand washing, particularly in toilets and kitchen areas. Poster available here: Catch it bin it kill it
- Advise hirers that they are expected to act responsibly and take notice of Government and Public Health England advice which includes who is and isn’t allowed to be in public spaces
- Regarding cancellation of any bookings follow the steps in their hiring agreement and activities in the event of the hall having to close, we suggest that you contact your insurance company to discuss what may be covered under your insurance policy regarding cancellation of events
USEFUL RESOURCES
Public Health England have produced a range of sample posters and it would be wise to use one of these as the basis for putting on the front door a poster asking people who have possible Coronavirus symptoms not to come into the hall.
Resources can be found at: PHE Resources.
ADVICE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS
- Group members must advise the rest of the group if they are self-isolating
- The importance of hand hygiene – See general guidance above
- Cancellation of events:
- If your group is an planning event which will bring together large numbers of people, keep your plans under review. If your events depend on volunteers, be aware that some may prefer to stay home.
- If you are hosting a formal meeting, such as an AGM, plan for reduced attendance or the need to move locations and times meetings and refer to your organisation’s governing document to see what it says about remote participation and quorum
- Check cancellation policies for venue bookings you’ve made or are about to make
- Hosting a group meeting: Some members may prefer not to attend a group meeting, therefore consider:
- Is the meeting is really essential or can it be cancelled or postponed?
- Consider electronic alternatives such as Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime. No one should be made to feel that they must attend
PROTECTING THE ISOLATED AND VULNERABLE
Neighbourhood Watch has produced comprehensive guidance on protecting the isolated and vulnerable. Please click here
GUIDANCE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
The Community Transport Association has produced a document called Coronavirus/COVID-19: Guidance for Community Transport for Community Transport Groups to use. This document includes useful information such as:
- precautions you should take
- cleaning your vehicle
- cancelling services.
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