REPORT TO PICKMERE PARISH COUNCIL
1st March 2022
AGENDA ITEM 9.9 COVID PROTOCOLS FOR VILLAGE HALL
1. REPORT
1.1 On 21 February 2022 the Prime Minister announced a complete relaxation of Covid rules for England. A summary of the changes announced is annexed below.
1.2 As a result, it is necessary to decide what measures to take and/or require for users of the Village Hall.
1.3 The Government’s emphasis is on handing responsibility to individuals to keep themselves and other members of the community safe.
1.4 In this context it is proposed that users of the Village Hall should not from 1st March be subject to any Covid rules. However members may wish to request users of the Hall, including attendees at Parish Council and other meetings for the next few months to take into account Government’s advice as to personal responsibility and to adopt a considerate approach when thinking of visiting the Hall – for instance by not attending if they have received a positive Covid test within the last 5 days before the intended visit.
2. RECOMMENDATION
2.1 That the report be noted and members decide accordingly.
Jack Steel
Clerk to the Parish Council
LIVING WITH COVID – SUMMARY OF GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT – 21 February 2022
From 21 February:
• staff and students in most education and childcare settings without symptoms no longer have to test twice weekly
From 24 February:
• people with Covid will no longer be legally required to self-isolate
• guidance will remain in place for those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
• self-isolation support payments of £500 for those on low incomes will no longer be available
• routine contact tracing will end – people in contact with someone with Covid will no longer be advised to self-isolate or take daily tests
• workers will no longer be required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate
From 1 April:
• Covid tests will no longer be free for most people
• the use of Covid passports will no longer be recommended, except for international travel
• employers will no longer have to consider Covid as a separate risk when working out how to keep employees safe.