January Meeting 2022 and Latest Covid Guidance

Dear everyone,

Let me begin by wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

Not much to be happy about at the moment I hear some of you reply.  Yes it’s another year that begins  shrouded with uncertainty, anxiety and for some fear. I personally hold on to the fact that the vaccinations given so far appear to have dented the severe health impact the virus has brought to us over the last 2 years but as we all understand we must continue to be vigilant and mindful.

I want to reassure you all that when you come along to our meetings we will follow current Government and National WI guidelines and we will mitigate as far as possible the threat of the virus and this challenging variant.

It has therefore been a difficult decision for us, but based on the stubbornly high infection numbers at the moment, we feel that as a  sensible and precautionary measure we will NOT offer teas/coffees after the presentation this month . Obviously this will be under review for our next meeting .

See below for a summary of what we need to do, most of it we do already.

HEADLINES

1. Please continue to sanitise on entry and now ALSO upon leaving Clarence House.
2. Wear a face covering at ALL times.
3. Continue to keep a safe distance from others. Its not mandatory but is recommended.
4. Suggest, as usual, that you take a lateral flow test before you attend.
5. For this meeting there will be No teas/coffee at the end of the presentations.

GUIDANCE SUMMARY

From Friday 10th December 2021 the law requires us to  wear a mask / face covering in most inside settings in England and to keep it on at all times only removing it when you leave the premises. These settings  include Community Centres, social clubs and village halls .  The exemption is a venue that is used in the main for drinking and eating such as pubs, bars and restaurants, gyms and others listed by the Government.

The current Government guidance  further states “ In indoor settings where a face covering is not legally required, you should still continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.”

These legal requirements apply to our social venue and meeting room at Clarence House .

If you are exempt from wearing a mask please let me know before the meeting. You do not need to tell me what your exemption is.

Should you purchase a drink from the bar then you obviously need to remove it whilst you drink but please put it back on as soon as you finish.

We will also continue to keep our seating well spaced so please retain these spaces. The virus is airborne as you know and spreads from our breath into the air around us. The mask helps to prevent that spread and keeping a distance when not wearing a mask also reduces risk.

Keeping a distance for a tactile person like myself is tough but I understand the need. One day I shall be hugging you all so watch out !

We will ensure, as we have done before, that the room has ventilation, as far as we are able, by opening doors to move and dilute any amount of virus that may be hanging around so it might be a little chilly so please do wear something warm. Thermal vests are all the rage for 2022!

Taking a lateral flow test before we come together is recommended to ensure that you are not infectious to keep everyone safe.  Not having any symptoms as you know is a common element of this mutation .

I know how much you all love coming to our meetings but please stay at home if you have any symptoms and get well.

The January meeting on defibrillators promises to be very interesting and instructive and may enable any one of us someday to save a life. I really hope that, despite the need to wear a mask throughout , and not being able to have a hot drink post meeting that these measures will not deter you from coming along nor impair your enjoyment of this extremely useful lecture .

I hope you have found this message helpful .

It’s a challenging time for us all but it is not a hopeless one .

Together we will get through this . “This too will pass “ ..

PNEUMONIC ( all my own work !)

S - Sanitise and keep space between ourselves.

T - Test - please, if you are able, take a lateral flow test before you attend.

A - Alert to our behaviours as we may be asymptomatic.

M - Masks to be worn at all times whilst indoors - compulsory.

P - Prevention is better than cure.

S - Stamps. Please bring  them along to our next meeting.!!

Thank you very much for your co-operation.

I look forward to Seeing you on 12th January.

Julie (Sandell)