By September 2021, we expect that some, but maybe not all, Heathfield residents will have had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. We do not make this a condition of moving in, but it is strongly advised. Local current walk-in clinics offer free Covid vaccination – no need to be registered with a doctor, or to produce your NHS number or any ID.

The universities and colleges where our residents are studying have each issued their own Coronavirus guidelines. Follow these links to find guidance from UEA, NUA, City College Norwich and Access Creative.

General COVID advice for Heathfield

We want you to feel safe at Heathfield, but also to be able to enjoy your student life.

As a Heathfield resident, please …

• respect all Heathfield residents and our staff
• use hand sanitiser regularly
• wash your hands regularly
• self-isolate if you feel unwell and report it to Sarah or David
• if it’s not OK, say.

We have …

• carried out a risk assessment
• installed sanitiser on entry/exit
• displayed clear messaging about staying Covid safe
• removed the shared hand towels in the toilets: please remember to take your own and use that – or use the hand sanitiser provided in each of the toilets and wash your hands in your room
• made the washing machines and the dryer free to use so that you can wash your clothes more regularly, as recommended
• provided disinfectant spray in all the kitchens  – please use them regularly

Outside Heathfield …

• to protect your fellow residents at Heathfieldh, always wear a face covering in shops, on public transport, and in crowded places

When you walk into Heathfield …

• always use the hand sanitiser provided before …
• tapping in the code for the internal Reception door
• checking your post box

If you have visitors …

• always record them on the visitors’ sign-in sheet; information on the visitor sign-in sheets will be retained for 21 days for track and trace purposes
• ask them to scan the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app QR code displayed in Reception, in the Centre, and in each flat kitchen
• if a visitor comes into your flat, ensure they respect social distancing at all times; if your flatmates are sensitive about social distancing, take your visitor to the garden, the Garden Room or the Heathfield Centre
• limit the number of different visitors you receive over time to reduce risk

Once you are inside Heathfield …

• wash your hands
• put anything you brought into the building with you in your own room, or into your kitchen cupboard
• if you have been in a crowded place off-site, consider changing your clothes, washing them, and showering
• open windows to ensure good ventilation, especially where you are in a group of people, and …
• … expect to have to wear an extra sweater to keep warm!

Shared kitchens and bathrooms

• in addition to the weekly visit from our housekeepers, it is your shared responsibility as a group of flatmates to keep the common spaces in your flat clean, now more than ever
• we recommend that you agree a rota to include all residents of the flat, and ensure that the work is fairly shared between everyone so that each person can feel comfortable and safe
• in the kitchen, you may prefer to avoid sharing cutlery and crockery: you may wish to keep the items you use in your own kitchen cupboard, but if not, be very careful to wash everything you use very thoroughly before you put it away
• in addition to regular cleaning, use the disinfectant provided to clean the kitchen surfaces and the tables before and after you prepare your food (you can ask David and/or Sarah for more disinfectant at any  time)
• socialise with other residents and/or visitors in larger, ventilated shared spaces (the garden, the Garden Room, or the Heathfield Centre)

Stay well. Remember …

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds; use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth unless you’ve just washed your hands
• check the symptoms on the chart above if you feel unwell
• tell us promptly if you are worried about any symptoms you are experiencing
• ask to use our forehead no-contact thermometer if you think you have a fever
• we will look after you if you are ill

Remember: You can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms. Always keep yourself and others safe.