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Know the symptoms of Covid-19

Do not come to work or enter the building if you are suffering from any of these symptoms:

• high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

In addition, these symptoms might also indicate Covid-19 infection:

• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Loss of smell

If you are in any doubt, use the checking system below:

• NHS 111 Covid-19 self-checking tool
• University guidance and protocols

Risk assessment

• The University risk assessment is here

You must not enter the building if the following apply:

• you are suffering from symptoms of Covid-19 - isolate and book a PCR test if you are showing symptoms of Covid-19
• you tested positive by LFD (you must now isolate for 7 5 days and can return after 2 negative tests on days 5 and 6 and 7)
• you are a close contact or live with someone who has tested positive and you are not double vaccinated (14 days after 2nd vaccine)
  • if you are a double vaccinated close contact you can return to work if necessary but are advised to take one LFD test every day for 7 days
• you have tested positive by PCR for Covid-19
• you have been told to isolate by NHS test and trace

When should you start re-testing following a positive covid test?

• For a PCR test, you should not retest (unless advised otherwise by the NHS) within 90 days of a positive test as a PCR may still pick up trace remnants of the virus.
• For LFD tests the guidance is as follows:
  • If the person tests negative at day 5 and 6 and 7, they are then out of their isolation period and assumed to be clear of the infection. They can start their routine LFD testing again straight away. Any new symptoms or any new positive result will be taken as indication of a new infection, and they will need to enter a new isolation period.
  • If the person tests positive at either day 5 or 6 or 7, they need to continue to isolate till day 10. They should wait until day 14 to re-introduce routine testing. After day 14, any new positive test, or any new symptoms, are most likely to be due to a new infection and they will need to enter a new isolation period.

Restrictions are in place for certain areas of the building as per the list below. The reason restrictions exist are to:

• Ensure we have a resilient track and trace system in place
• Ensure that welfare and rest facilities are not overloaded
• Assist with ensuring high traffic areas are clean
• Maintain indoor air quality to prevent the potential spread of virus
• Ensure we remain Covid-Secure as per existing government guidance and legislation

The restrictions we have in place are as follows:

• Masks are mandatory inside as per University guidance.
• A booking system exists to monitor occupancy and to provide tracing information should it be required
• Laboratory access is restricted to booked slots only to control occupancy to safe levels
• Fieldwork activities are controlled in Covid-secure ways

Covid-secure lead for Environment & Geography

• The Covid-secure lead for the Environment Building is Dave Hay.
• Email - dave.hay@york.ac.uk
• Telephone (office) 01904 324071
• Telephone (mobile) 0739 195 8989