During December 2021 and January 2022 there was a high incidence of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. As a consequence the Government put a number of precautions, known as Plan B, in place.
On 22 December 2021 our members were notified that it had been decided that we would not re-open the Headway North Cumbria Day Centre on 10 January 2022, as originally planned, but that re-opening would be delayed until the situation becomes clearer and we could be confident about re-opening safely.
With a fall in the number of COVID-19 cases in Cumbria and the Government’s recent relaxing of precautionary measures it has been decided that we will re-open the Day Centre on Monday 7 March 2022. The venue will be the New Waterton Hall and timings will be 13:30 – 15:00 – as they were at the end of 2021. The Day Centre will run on a weekly basis thereafter, except on Bank Holidays.
The intent is to start with a limited range of activities on offer, with a view to gradually building up to the offering of pre-COVID levels after Easter. This is subject to having sufficient volunteers to organise and facilitate activities. In particular the following should be noted:
– No crafts on 7 March 2022, though dominoes will be offered. 7 March will be used to discuss intentions with members and to establish their ideas regarding the way ahead for the Day Centre.
– Crafts will resume on 14 March 2022.
– The Annual General Meeting will be held on 21 March 2022.
– Table tennis / pool table will be introduced, as required, and on demand.
– Cooking will resume on 25 April 2022 – after the Easter Break.
Members will be aware that, in England, the Government has removed legal restrictions regarding COVID-19 and replaced them with guidance on how to live with COVID-19. With this in mind we offer the following advice to volunteers, members and carers attending the Day Centre:
– test regularly and ideally take a Lateral Flow Test (whilst they are still available free of charge) before attending the Day Centre.
– do not attend the Day Centre if you test positive for COVID-19 and/or have symptoms.
– ensure that you have been vaccinated.
– wear a face mask and social distance (where practicable) when you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
– wash and/or sanitise your hands regularly.