UPDATED INFORMATION: Colleague update in response to the Government’s introduction of ‘Plan B’

Important update. The Government has issued new rules around self-isolation and testing:

From Tuesday 14 December, fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case – whether Omicron or not – should take a rapid daily lateral flow test (LFT) for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.

• People who are fully vaccinated and identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19 should take a lateral flow test every day for 7 days.
  • Anyone who tests positive via LFT, or develops symptoms, should self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the result. If the PCR is positive then people must self-isolate for 10 days from either the day they took the positive LFT, or from when they developed symptoms. People do not have to continue with LFTs while they isolate.
  • If the PCR is negative, fully-vaccinated people can stop self-isolating, but should continue to do daily rapid tests for the remaining 7 days.
• Anyone who tests positive, or develops symptoms will need to self-isolate
• Anyone who is unvaccinated is not eligible for this new testing policy and must self-isolate for 10 days

Internal Staff Communication

Following the UK Government’s announcement (08-12-21) in response to the Omicron Variant of COVID19, the Museum has prepared an internal document to share the latest update, the actions that are being taken to comply with the guidance and the protocols we’ve put in place to provide additional reassurance.

The Museum is fortunate in that we do not have any event where we can hold 500 people internally planned at any one time, and are well below the 4,000 outdoor event capacity. Therefore, visitors will NOT be required to produce the NHS COVID Pass.

We are reviewing the changing advice regularly and will update and inform everyone of these changes as we know about them.

The latest guidance that directly impacts us include:

• Face coverings in almost all internal areas are now mandatory – with the exception of hospitality  – from Friday 10 December
• Guidance on isolation has changed – from Tuesday 14 December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Please see update above for further details
• Guidance on working from home has changed – from Monday 13 December

Full details can be found here.

In addition to the mandatory steps we must take in line with the latest guidance, we have also decided to take some additional measures to help manage our Christmas period:

• Respraying of all distancing markers where queues may form
• Respraying of ‘no entry’ markers
• On entry to the Museum – Visitors will be offered a mask if they do not have one
• Information  on admissions screens and entry boards as people enter
• Doors and windows opened wherever possible
• Hand sanitiser stations across site
• Repeated signage across site referring to masks and social distancing – especially in high traffic areas.
• COVID event risk management form regularly completed (minimum 3 times a day) to allow for a dynamic Risk Assessment of events
• Track and trace points updated and made obvious at relevant catering outlets
• Additional staff to act as stewards to provide extra engagement opportunities for visitors. Particularly in expected areas with heavy traffic or where queues may form
• Communication material will be sent to all expected visitors prior to our events, including key messages on what we’re doing at the museum and what we require them to do

The planning of our current programmes (Unwrapping Christmas and An Enchanted Christmas)  and Enterprise offer already includes COVID-safe protocols for front line colleagues. These can be found below, or via your team manager:

As you would expect the Museum has consistently maintained its compliance with  COVID-safe protocols and we will continue to follow these. Noted below are a few additional measures, as well as a reminder to all colleagues of adherence to existing protocols, these include:

• Wearing a face covering at all times whilst in indoor public areas, unless exempt
• Washing and/or sanitising hands on entering the Museum
• Observing respectful behaviours re social distancing when passing others
• Ensuring COVID protocols in terms of sanitising any ‘touch points’ in common areas are adhered to  
• Taking a  Lateral Flow Test (LFT) Twice weekly
• An increase the number of rest areas – details of this will be shared shortly via team managers
• All rest areas will have limits on numbers using these areas at any one time

We appreciate that staff may have strong views on compliance with face coverings, however, please do not offer an opinion or enter into a debate about the wearing of face coverings with visitors.

Working From Home (Office Staff Only)

Our approach to working from home has to take into consideration that we remain open to visitors and the support that is required for our frontline colleagues, visitor programmes, and site maintenance.

As a result, we recommend the following:

• Individual teams are required to assess the onsite operational  support required versus work that can be effectively carried out from home,  with the aim of reduced staff in offices on any given day
• Office staff that cannot work from home, can continue to work on site

Meetings

• Default position for all meeting should be via Teams
• If face to face meetings are essential , then these should be undertaken following the COVID protocols in place, ensuring that surfaces are sanitised, masks are worn and ventilation is present
• Capacity limits in meeting rooms will return
• External meetings should be restricted to business critical only, where a meeting is required (e.g. contractor) please ensure that the COVID paperwork is completed. This can be found below:

Lateral Flow Tests

We are no longer able to access free Lateral Flow Tests as an employer. However, these are given for free by NHS-affiliated organisations (e.g. pharmacies, test centres etc). We would encourage all colleagues to access a Lateral Flow Test kit from one of these. Visit the .gov.uk website to do find more information.

Isolation Rules

At the time of this communication the rules are as follows:

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test.

For those who are close contacts the official guidance has now been updated, as per the notice at the top of this post: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/daily-rapid-testing-for-covid-19-contacts-launches-this-week

If you are contacted by NHS T&T please inform your line manager for further advice.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

If you have any questions or concerns please speak to your line manager.