UPDATE:  In light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, Women in Sustainability has taken the decision to temporarily stop offering in-person events until the summer.

However we believe it is vital to keep supporting our community, especially at times like these. We will therefore be establishing a programme of digital events for you to join over the forthcoming months and will share that with you as soon as we can.

 

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All of us here at Women in Sustainability and our WINS Hub Leads are thinking of and are in sympathy with everyone impacted by the current COVID-19 outbreak.

As responsible event organisers we continue to monitor the evolving situation, closely guided by information from the UK Government, Public Health England and the World Health Organisation.

Current guidance from Public Health England is as follows:

• If you have been in contact with someone with coronavirus or have returned from an affected area identified by the Chief Medical Officer as high risk and you are feeling unwell with a cough, difficulty breathing or fever, stay at home and use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111.
• Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
• To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
• Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

At the current time and based on our understanding of what is known of COVID-19 and other similar respiratory viruses, it is likely that older people and those with chronic medical conditions may be vulnerable to severe disease. As more information emerges, recommendations may change.

 

So far the risk to individuals in the UK remains low and there is no restriction on travel or trade. In light of this, our events will take place as normal and we will continue to adhere to UK Government guidance.

 

We are taking extra measures, in tandem with our host organisations, to ensure the health and safety of our WINS event attendees:

• We are following the UK Government and Public Health England to stay up to date with the latest developments
• We are checking with our hosting organisations to ensure that they are implementing comprehensive daily cleaning schedules including the monitoring of toilet facilities, public and event space on a more frequent basis.
• We are adding signage regarding hygiene and hand washing at our events.
• We will refund your ticket if you are unable to attend due to having to self-isolate, start to feel unwell or have been in contact with someone with coronavirus.

 

If you have returned to the UK from China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Macao, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos or Italy  in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath, you should immediately:

 

·       Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu

·       Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country

 

If you have travelled to any of the locations detailed below since 19 February, you should immediately self-isolate by staying indoors avoiding contact with other people and call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to these areas:

·       Iran

·       Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy covering the 10 small towns in Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo)

·       Special care zones Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of South Korea

·       Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days)

 

Some useful information sources are detailed below:

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

 

If you have any questions or concerns, email us here. We will update this website as and when Government guidance changes.