COVID-19 Guidelines and Risk Assessment

Updated Guidelines for Attendance at S. Agatha’s Church, Portsmouth
(22^nd September 2020)

• If anyone has a new, continuous cough or a high temperature or loss of or change to sense of smell or taste, they are required to stay at home and otherwise self-isolate.  Anyone shielding should continue to follow the UK  government’s advice.  Anyone who becomes unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 at S. Agatha’s Church, should go straight home and follow the UK government’s stay at home guidance; in such event, other congregation members in attendance should immediately wash their hands. 
  These guidelines are to minimise the risk of the spread of COVID-19 to friends, the wider community, and particularly the vulnerable.
• All visitors should follow the guidelines on social distancing, i.e. a strict adherence to distancing of at least 6′ (2m or 3 steps) between individuals and households.  It is the duty of parents or guardians to ensure children maintain these social distancing guidelines – this includes catching coughs and sneezes, hand washing or the application of hand sanitiser etc. Visitors should limit their interactions with others, i.e. avoid mixing in groups greater than six, unless of the same household or support bubble.
• Individuals who are over 70 or who are otherwise more vulnerable to COVID-19 are advised by the government to stay at home as much as possible.  If anyone in this category does enter S. Agatha’s Church, they are advised to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside of their household.
• A steward will be present at the entrance to provide all visitors with hand sanitiser and to control the flow of visitors entering and exiting.  Floor markings will further guide visitors as to the flow of individuals or households within the church. New visitors to S. Agatha’s who have not already provided their contact details are required to sign the visitor’s book with a provided (and sanitised) pen.
• All books, service sheets or other devotional material, and any matches or for the lighting of votive candles will be provided and will have been quarantined for 48 hours before and after use. Items which cannot be easily cleaned should also be subject to the 48 hour quarantine after use. If visitors bring their own materials, they must take due care that these do not come into contact with individuals of another household or support bubble.
• No food or drink will be provided within the church, so all visitors are invited to bring their own reasonable provisions and to take due care that these do not come into contact with individuals of another household.

A risk assessment of the church premises has been conducted and is available for your consideration either by the entrance or below.
We will continue to monitor the governmental guidelines and other circumstances to reasonably ensure the safety of all attendees.