For the most up-to-date Government advice, please visit www.gov.uk.

Monday 3 August 2020

The Government has updated its advice for wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces. From 8 August 2020, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in the following settings:

  • funeral directors
  • premises providing professional, legal or financial services
  • cinemas
  • theatres
  • bingo halls
  • concert halls
  • museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos or visitor farms, or other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites.
  • nail, beauty, hair salons and barbers – other than where necessary to remove for treatments
  • massage parlours
  • public areas in hotels and hostels
  • place of worship
  • libraries and public reading rooms
  • community centres
  • social clubs
  • tattoo and piercing parlours
  • indoor entertainment venues (amusement arcades, funfairs, adventure activities e.g. laser quest, go-karting, escape rooms, heritage sites etc)
  • storage and distribution facilities
  • veterinary services.
  • auction houses

It is already obligatory to wear a face covering on public transport, in shops and takeaways, in banks and post offices, and in public transport hubs.

The Government is also encouraging people to wear face coverings in places where social distancing is not possible. As a charity, you may therefore wish to ask your residents to wear face coverings in communal spaces, such as the narrow corridors, communal laundries, and communal rooms. Before implementing this, however, you will need to consider how this will be managed (e.g. what if one or more of your residents chooses not to wear a mask?) and support your residents in finding a suitable face covering. They can use disposable facemasks, washable cloth face masks, or a scarf or bandana.

If you run public tours of your almshouse site, visitors are required to wear masks in any enclosed spaces.

The full government guidance on the wearing of face coverings can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own.

Thursday 30 July 2020

The Government has today announced an extension to the self-isolation rules for anyone experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. Anyone who develops a persistent cough, high temperature and/or a loss of smell and taste should self-isolate for 10 days instead of 7 and get a free Covid-19 test. Those who have been in contact with someone who has contracted Covid-19 should continue to self-isolate for 14 days.

From 1 August, the recent Government announcements on the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions also come into force.

These include:

  • Shielding – the Government will no longer be advising the clinically extremely vulnerable to shield and support from the National Shielding Service will stop. Those who have been shielding will still be able to receive priority supermarket delivery slots and receive support from NHS Volunteer Responders.

    Those who have been shielding should still try to leave home as little as possible and to adhere to strict social distancing rules when they do. As a charity, you may wish to look at how you can best support your vulnerable residents during this transition period. If they have been receiving food parcels from the National Shielding Service, for example, you may wish to support them in delivering their shopping if needed.
  • Working from home – until now, the Government advice has been to work from home where possible. From 1 August, however, this will change and offices will be able to re-open so long as they are ‘COVID secure’. This means that if you have office staff working from home, you now have the discretion to re-open the office so long as hygiene and social distancing measures have been put in place to protect your employees.

For guidance on how to make your workplace COVID secure, visit:

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

We’ve had numerous enquiries in recent weeks from members regarding the opening of communal and guest facilities. Unless you live in an area that has had a local lockdown implemented, the Government guidance allows you to open these facilities should you wish to. We would suggest carrying out a risk assessment and, if you do decide to re-open these facilities, ensure they are COVID secure.

Detailed government guidance on the re-opening of communal facilities can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities.

To see if you area has a local lockdown in place, visit:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-restrictions-areas-with-an-outbreak-of-coronavirus-covid-19. 

Tuesday 21st July 2020

The Government has recently released guidance on the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities. Due to the communal nature of many almshouses, members may find this guidance useful, although it does not significantly add to guidance outlined in previous updates.

The full guidance can be found here.

The key points from the guidance are:

  • Measures are in place to ensure all users of community facilities follow the guidelines on social distancing, including strict adherence to social distancing of 2 metres or 1 metre with risk mitigation (where 2 metres is not viable) are acceptable.
  • It is against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces). However, premises or locations which are COVID-19 secure will be able to hold more than 30 people, subject to their own capacity limits.
  • Centre managers are required to also consider what changes might be needed to enable safe access to the building. These may include:
    • Making use of multiple exit and entry points: to introduce a one-way flow in and out of the premises, with appropriate floor markings or signage. Any changes to entrances, exits and queues should take into account the need to make reasonable adjustments for those who need them, such as people with disabilities.
    • Managing the arrival and departure times of different group so as to reduce the pressure at exits and entrances.
    • Queue management: the flow of groups in and out of the premises to be carefully controlled to reduce the risk of congestion. It may be necessary to introduce socially distanced queuing systems.

One point which is particularly significant for almshouses is the guidance on vulnerable people which states:

Certain groups of people are at increased risk of severe disease from coronavirus (COVID-19), including all people aged 70 or over. Such individuals are advised to stay at home as much as possible and, if they do go out, to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside of their household.

If any of the guidance is not clear or you would like further support, please do not hesitate to contact The Almshouse Association and we will endeavour to help.

To access previous updates, click below:

– June 2020
– May 2020
– April 2020
– Pre-April 2020.

updated 3 August 20