Coronavirus - District response

Coronavirus Guidance for Property

Update from 24 February 2022

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR ENGLAND ONLY.  FOR INFORMATION IN OTHER REGIONS, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW:

Scotland – please refer to the Scottish Guidance for the Safe Use of Places of Worship

Wales –please refer to the Guidance for Re-Opening Places of Worship

For specific guidance in the Isle of Man and Channel Islands (Guernsey & Jersey), please follow the links for specific local regulations and guidance.

The Government has announced that from 24 February 2022 all remaining domestic restrictions will be removed in England.  These include:

  • Removing the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test;
  • No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those under the age of 18 to test daily for 7 days, and remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate;
  • Revoke The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations;
  • Routine contact tracing with also end.

From the 1 April, the Government will set out the ongoing steps that people with Covid-19 should take to minimise contact with other people.  This will align with the ending of free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England and the ending of the need for employers to explicitly consider Covid-19 in their Health and Safety Risk Assessments.

Further information on this can be found here – COVID-19 Response - Living with COVID-19.docx (publishing.service.gov.uk).  A useful summary of these changes is contained on pages 22 – 23.

What churches might still consider going forward?

The Government is still encouraging safer behaviours to reduce the risk of infection.  Churches may still wish to consider these to help those using their buildings feel safe and welcome:

  1. Consider letting fresh air in if possible:

Try to maintain adequate ventilation to rooms, where possible and practical.  See - Ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

  1. Consider wearing face coverings in areas of high risk:

It may be suitable in crowded or enclosed spaces, particularly if ventilation is poor, to wear face coverings, particularly where you share spaces with people you do not normally meet.

  1. Considerations if feeling unwell:

Anyone experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should still consider taking a test and staying at home and avoiding contact with others if the test is positive.  Particularly if working in higher risk environments or with those who might be vulnerable.

  1. Consider how to encourage ongoing good hygiene practice:

It may be helpful to continue to provide hand sanitiser in convenient areas for everyone to use; keep established practices of cleaning surfaces touched regularly and rooms with high use by different groups such as toilets and kitchens.  Similarly, continue to encourage good hygiene when considering handling shared objects, communal resources and food & drink.