CORONAVIRUS: UPDATES AS AT 18 MARCH 2020

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IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARTS SOCIETY, LEEDS

UPDATE  ON CANCELLATIONS AS AT 18 MARCH 2020

Dear Members,
As the Coronavirus crisis continues to develop, I’m writing to bring you up to date with our Society’s response and plans, summarised as follows:

As previously announced, today’s lecture is cancelled.
Our 15 April lecture is cancelled.
Our 20 May Lecture is cancelled
Our 19 June lecture is cancelled

Our 15 April lunch is cancelled
Our 29 April Study Day is cancelled
Our 14 May Visit is cancelled
Our 16 September Annual General Meeting is postponed until 18 November (this date to be confirmed)

Please continue to check your Spam folder for Newsflashes, and also please check with your friends that they have seen this message.  Also please check with friends who may not use the internet that they are aware.

We will of course continue to keep you up to date with Arts Society matters via Newsflashes as they evolve, so please keep a look-out!

Look after yourselves and keep well.

On behalf of the committee

Marie-Paule Sheard
Chair

URGENT: LECTURE OF 18 MARCH CANCELLED

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Dear Members

Following further consultation and information from the Arts Society we have decided to cancel next week’s lecture. So many other events are being cancelled around the country, it is felt that it would be too risky to go ahead. I have heard from at least one member that the earlier notice had gone to her Junk Mail, so please check with your friends that they have seen this message. Also check with friends who may not use the internet that they are aware.
Our Programme Secretary is in touch with the lecturer and we will rebook her in the future. Given the seriousness of the situation I hope you will all understand. The decision has not been taken lightly. It may be that we also have to cancel the April lecture and the lunch. Those who have already bought a ticket will be refunded. Watch this space!
Look after yourselves and keep well.
On behalf of the committee
Marie-Paule Sheard
Chair

CORONAVIRUS: NOTICE FROM ARTS SOCIETY HOUSE

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FRIDAY, 6 MARCH 2020 
THIS IS SENT TO ALL SOCIETY AND AREA CHAIRS

CORONAVIRUS
 

Dear Colleagues

As the Coronavirus continues to escalate, we are issuing the following important guidance to all of our Societies.  

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes COVID-19 more severely affects older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes).

Based on the WHO’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK from low to moderate. On 10 February, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced enhanced legal powers to protect public health, and earlier this week outlined the UK’s national response to the virus.

Whilst each Society and indeed Member must decide for themselves what precautions it may wish to take, The Arts Society strongly suggests you follow this advice:
• If you or a family member is showing signs of illness, please do not attend your meetings and consult the guidance below.
• We recommend that members consider refraining from any physical contact.
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after meetings for 20 seconds with hot water.

Any individual who feels unwell should follow the advice from Public Health England. If an individual is known to have been infected with COVID-19, then it is standard policy for Public Health to contact all those they have been in contact with. Full co-operation is expected to ensure the risk to others is minimised.

It is currently our expectation that all scheduled national and Area meetings will continue as planned. This is based on the Government guidance that whilst exercising caution, individuals should carry on as normal. We are monitoring the situation closely and will advise in the event of any possible changes.
 
Should there be the necessity for the office in London to close there is a contingency plan in place. Although the switchboard will state that the office is closed where possible direct line phone numbers will have been diverted and emails will continue to be monitored.
 
Please find below a link to the Governments Guidance (updated daily), and also the Government Action Plan.
 
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
 
GOVERNMENT ACTION PLAN:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869827/Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK.pdf
 
Please cascade this update to your Committees and Members.