On 12th July, the Government announced its decision to implement step 4 of the recovery plan on 19th July as planned. Although this is the final stage in the recovery plan, which will see many of the legal restrictions lifted, COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others. Government guidance sets out how people can manage these risks including: 1. Meeting in well-ventilated areas where possible, such as outdoors or indoors with windows open. 2. Wearing a face covering where contact is made with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces. 3. Washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. 4. Covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze. 5. Staying at home if unwell, to reduce the risk of passing on other illnesses onto friends, family, colleagues, and others in your community. 6. Considering individual risks, such as clinical vulnerabilities and vaccination status. Further information about how to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus can be found here Step 4 also means there will no longer be a legal requirement for community buildings to have COVID secure measures in place, however with the current increased spread of the virus, it is vital to ensure community buildings continue to be COVID safe. Regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments, in line with the latest Government and Durham County Council Public Health guidance, is an important task for those who manage community buildings, as it helps to keep people as safe as possible and prevent further spread of the virus. It also remains important to respect and be considerate of those who are more vulnerable and who may wish to take a more cautious approach, so it will be appropriate at some activities or events that measures, including wearing face masks and social distancing, are in place so that people who are clinically more vulnerable or not yet fully vaccinated can attend. Good ventilation, or holding activities outdoors, is the best means of reducing the risk of transmission so it will be important to take advantage of the better weather to enable more vulnerable people to enjoy activities with minimal anxiety. We are keeping in close contact with our local Public Health teams and as further guidance is released by the Government, we will update our website pages. In the meantime, if you have a question or query about the latest guidance and how it may affect your organisation, please don’t hesitate to contact us… In the meantime, our staff team are available to help you understand what the changes may mean for your community building and to provide you with information, advice and support with any queries or concerns you may have. If you have already been in contact with one of our Community Support Team, contact them directly or email info@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk
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