Covid-19 measures in schools, hospitals and offices (FOI)

​Request

A

Please advise me what, if any, measures have been implemented by the Government of Jersey within their schools, hospitals and offices to ensure social distancing is adhered to by children, patients, employees and visitors?

B

Please advise me what, if any, improvements have been implemented by the Government of Jersey within their schools, hospitals and offices to ensure airflow via air conditioning units does not increase the possible spread of Covid-19?

Response

A

Each government building has compiled a workplace safety plan detailing the measures to be taken to ensure safe working practices for employees, visitors and service users during the Covid-19 pandemic and is in line with overall Government of Jersey advice. These plans have been shared with employees and include distancing and hygiene requirements. This includes the following measures:

• remote working for staff wherever possible

• reduction in the maximum occupancy levels in communal areas

• posters, banners and floor stickers displayed

• divider screens installed on desks

• manning of doors – ie hospitals

• in settings where social distancing is not possible then the use of PPE is practiced following the latest guidance as approved by the Medical Officer of Health

• hand sanitiser is in place at the entrance and exit to buildings and is placed at the end of desk pods and in kitchens

• vehicles have maximum occupancy levels, and contain cleaning kits and guidance

• a Safe room and cleaning kit are in place in buildings to enable the rapid isolation of any staff member, or visitor, who displays symptom/s of Covid-19 and deep cleaning is then undertaken

• where possible each building operates a one-way system with different entry and exit points, where this is not possible there are signs showing passing points

• desk spacing has been assessed and distancing advised as per each level of the strategy

Department specific guidance is as follows:

Education:

Guidance for education and childcare: coronavirus (Covid-19) outlines all of the measures which schools have been adhering to in terms of physical distancing and the use of the ‘bubble’ approach. Please see details in the following link:

Guidance for education and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Prison: Prisoners:

Seven day isolation for new prisoners. Face masks mandatory in certain areas. Restricted visits and closed visits for at risk groups. A separate wing has been allocated to most at-risk groups. One wing has been modified to hold Covid-19 positive patients, should an outbreak occur. This is for prisoners who will not require hospital treatment but will need some daily healthcare input. Arrangements are in place if a need occurred to transfer to prisoners to hospital for critical / ITU care.

Prisoner Visits:

Strict protocols in place. Pre-entry visitor requirements in place, contact tracing details, temperature checks. One-way systems, hand washing and sanitisation points and Information leaflets /notices on display. Maximum of two visitors per prisoners, social distancing, zero physical contact. Facemasks are mandatory. Restricted visits and closed visits for at risk groups. Children under 12 not permitted unless in closed visits. 

The Prison, as at 11 November 2020, has now moved to provision of Perspex panels between visitor and prisoner. 

Fire Service:

Has split critical, emergency response teams across two locations.

Police:

Staff have specific guidelines on the use of PPE when dealing with the public as their duties may include contact with infected individuals failing to comply with self isolation requirements.

The custody area has been segregated to keep known Covid-19 infected detainees, separate from other areas.

Library Services St Helier, Les Quennevais and Mobile Service:

An automated service system is in place to reduce the need for interaction between staff and customers

Office of Superintendent Registrar, Royal Square

Civil wedding ceremonies are now conducted at St Helier Town Hall under Covid-19 Guidelines.

B

Departments implement and follow planned maintenance schedules to ensure that ventilation rates and filters to plant are kept maintained as to reduce the risk of all known infections, not only Covid-19.

A review has been undertaken and where applicable alterations to the ventilation and controls in line with COVID 19 guidelines provided by professional bodies such as CIBSE and REHVA have been made.

Where possible ventilation has been increased by opening doors and windows in order to achieve maximum air replacement and exchange rates so that air containing respiratory droplets are not recirculated.