The pandemic has taken its toll on all of us and it is not yet over. In Liverpool, COVID cases remain high and are likely to stay high over winter, with more people becoming seriously ill and needing to be admitted to hospital.

Most importantly, Liverpool City Council want to hear from you about any challenges you may be experiencing in implementing the above actions.

If you feel your organisation would benefit from additional support around this work, whether that be due to high levels of infection or repeat clusters in your setting, language barriers that are impacting your ability to share key messages with your staff, or if you are experiencing any difficulties in accessing testing or encouraging or enabling vaccination among your workforce.

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As of Friday 10 December, rules on face coverings have been updated in England. This means that it is mandatory for the public and staff in public facing areas to wear face coverings in a number of setting including:

  • shops and supermarkets (places that offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
  • shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
  • post offices, banks and building societies
  • estate and letting agents
  • premises providing personal care and beauty treatments
  • visitor attractions and entertainment venues (including but not limited to museums, galleries, cinemas, indoor theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, casinos, skating rinks and bowling alleys)
  • public areas in hotels and hostels
  • indoor areas of open-air sports stadiums
  • public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams, buses, coaches and ferries), taxis and private hire vehicles

There are exemptions to wearing a face covering where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking or exercising. For now, face masks are not required in hospitality settings.

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Additionally, from Monday 13 December office workers who can work from home should do so. Anyone who cannot work from home should continue to go to the workplace. To help prevent the spread of COVID, protect staff and communities and keep businesses and offices open please take a look at the below actions and share these with your workforce.

Vaccination:

Please encourage your unvaccinated staff to take up the offer of vaccination without further delay. It is never too late to have your first vaccine. Important messages to share with your employees include:

→ People still need to get vaccinated even if they have had COVID. Vaccination gives a huge boost in antibodies for people previously infected.

→ It is extremely important that pregnant women get vaccinated. It is much safer for them and their baby to get vaccinated than to get COVID when pregnant.

→ Staff should access their booster jab when invited. They can get it 6 months after the 2nd dose.

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Ventilation:

There should be proper use of face-coverings in communal areas, crowded indoor spaces and on public transport remain very important, along with regular cleaning of hands.

The COVID Pass

From Wednesday 15 December, the NHS Covid Pass is mandatory in venues where large crowds gather. This includes:

→ Unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees

→ Unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees

→ Any event with 10,000 or more attendees

Work from home:

From Monday 13 December, office workers who can work from home should do so, this is to avoid unnecessary mixing of people when infection levels are high. Anyone who cannot work from home should continue to go to the workplace and should be testing regularly.

Testing:

Staff should stay at home if they have symptoms of COVID (even if mild) and book a PCR test. About 1 in 3 people with COVID have no symptoms, but can still infect others. Please encourage staff to do a rapid test twice a week to check if they have the virus.

Government guidance says anyone should use a lateral flow test before they enter an indoor crowded place involving people you would not usually come into contact with. Lateral flow tests are free of charge.

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→ Additional guidance:

Here is guidance on proof of COVID status for you to use at booking or to provide advice for your visitors, customer or audience. As part of government guidance, we kindly ask that venues and audiences do the following;

Proof of your COVID status, which can include;

  • A text or email confirming a negative NHS Rapid Lateral Flow Test, taken up to 48 hours at home or a test centre before attending the event
  • Proof you have received at least two doses of a COVID vaccine, with the second dose at least 14 days before you have arrived at the venue. You can do this using the NHS COVID APP or an NHS Pass letter (available by phoning 119 and select NHS COVID pass service
  • If you are from outside the UK, presenting your COVID vaccination card or any overseas proof of vaccination status

If you are under 18:

  • You should have confirmation from a parent or guardian that you have not received a positive COVID-19 test

The NHS COVID Pass is available through the NHS App, nhs.uk, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. You will also be able to show text or email confirmation of vaccine status.

Order NHS Rapid Lateral Flow Tests here or pick them up from any pharmacy or test site. Once you have taken a test you can report the result here COVID-19 NHS Rapid Lateral Flow Test result.

→ Additional resource support links: