Covid 19 guidance from March 2022 for Adults 19+ at the Brook Street site
As you will be aware, COVID-19 regulations in the UK have changed. Due to the extremely high levels of immunity in the UK nowadays and given a greater range of medical interventions if people are admitted to hospital, the Government is encouraging us to now transition to a new phase, known as “living with COVID 19”.
There is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test.
However, the Government still recommend, and City College expects, that anyone - learner, staff, supported person or visitor – who has symptoms of Covid or tests positive for Covid with a lateral flow device (LFD) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result should stay at home and not come into college because you could infect vulnerable people.
You should avoid contact with other people for at least five full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received two negative test results on consecutive days.
If you haven’t taken a test but you have any symptoms of Covid (see below), you should stay at home and take a lateral flow or PCR test and not come into college while you have symptoms. You should also wait to come into college until have received two negative test results on days 5 and 6. If you are still positive, you must stay away from college until you have two negative test results on two consecutive days.
The three main symptoms of Covid
· A high temperature (fever) above 37.5
· A new continuous cough
· Losing your sense of taste or smell or things taste or smell different
If you have one or more of the symptoms on this list, it could be a sign that you have Covid.
You should be aware, however, that some people, especially if they have been vaccinated, may not have these symptoms and Omicron seems to sometimes cause different symptoms from the Delta variant. Many people are reporting symptoms such as a sore throat /sneezing /a runny nose / feeling very tired.
Don’t assume these symptoms mean you just have a cold. If you’re not sure, take a rapid lateral flow test or PCR test and don’t come until the college until you have a negative result.
If you live in the same household as, or have had close contact with, someone who has COVID-19 but you don’t have any symptoms, be aware that the infectious period is any time from 2 days before any one of the symptoms start and up to 10 days. So that you don’t infect other people, you should:
•minimise contact with the person who has COVID-19
•work or study from home if you are able to do so
•avoid contact with anyone you know who is at higher risk of becoming severely unwell if they are infected with COVID-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system
•limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
•wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask where you are in contact with other people
•pay close attention to the main symptoms of COVID-19.
If you develop any of these symptoms, order a PCR test. You are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people while you are waiting for your test result
Follow this advice for 10 days after the day the person you live or stayed with symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms
Face Coverings
Face coverings are no longer required be worn but staff and learners in communal areas or classrooms but everyone is are welcome to continue to wear a face covering if they would prefer to do so.
Maintain good hygiene practices and be aware of the importance of good ventilation
We would ask that you continue to maintain good hygiene practices to keep us all safe. These are:
•washing your hands regularly or using the hand sanitiser stations around College
•covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and disposing of tissues in the bins provided.
Also, try to ensure good airflow by opening windows and doors (where possible) to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
Most importantly, get vaccinated
More information on how to get a vaccine can be found on the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...
Local areas may also work with partners to set up “pop up” temporary clinics at locations convenient for students to access. Students registered with a GP can book their appointment at a larger vaccination centre, a community pharmacy run site or at some GP run sites through the National Booking Service website if 18 or over or by phoning 119.
Individuals can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice. You should encourage students to consult the COVID-19 vaccination FAQs for students in Higher Education Institutions and is also relevant for any student aged 18 and over. This has been published by NHS England and provides a range of important information.
We believe that the new measures represent a pragmatic approach which, if infection rates increase, will help to prevent COVID-19 from spreading through City College. We are conscious that we all want to move to a position of everyday normality but are committed to doing everything we can to ensure everyone, including those most vulnerable to covid, remains safe. We will, of course, advise you should there be any need to reintroduce some measures.
We hope that the advice we are following represents a common-sense approach to ‘living with COVID 19 and we thank you for your continued support.
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