Following the UK government’s announcement of another 4-week lockdown from Thursday, 5th November to Wednesday, 3 December 2020 to control the rapid spread of the coronavirus, Books2Africa can confirm that we will stay open during this period. Courier collections and shipments, processing of donated items at our Canterbury processing centre and remote working will continue considering the following exceptions that apply to the charity and our COVID-19 measures in place.
Exceptions that apply to Books2Africa
- Work and volunteering: The government’s advice is: “You can leave home for work purposes, or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where you cannot do this from home”. As such, our Processing Team working at our Canterbury Processing Centre will continue to come into work, following safe transport guidelines.
- Businesses and venues which can remain open: The government’s advise is that “Storage and distribution facilities” are permitted to stay open, following COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Furthermore, our charity shop will only operate a Click and Collect model following government advice that non-essential retail can continue to “operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services”.
Our COVID-19 Measures
In addition to the COVID measures introduced in June 2020, which continue to remain in force, as well as our COVID-19 Risk Assessment, we have now introduced the following additional measures:
- Temperature Checks: Mandatory temperature checks for all team members working at our Processing Centre. All team members should report to the supervisor on duty upon arrival for their shift for a temperature reading using an infrared thermometer. Those with a temperature will be asked to leave the premises immediately and follow the government guidelines on getting tested and self-isolating etc.
- Contact Tracing: The NHS QR code has been printed and displayed throughout the premises for team members and visitors to check in using the NHS Contact Tracing App and be alerted in the event that anyone who visited our premises tests positive for COVID.
More information on the 4-week lockdown can be found on the UK government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
As always, thanks for your continued support, and be encouraged – if we got through the first lockdown, we will get through this one too!
Stay safe.
