When Boris said we had to shut our doors on the 20th March it was a heavy blow for the whole Pole Community. To be able to open up again we certainly had to do our best to provide a safe environment for all and things definitely had to change.
Whilst reading the government guidelines and staying as up to date as possible we created policies for our students return. There’s a lot to read but we hope the following policies reassure you we are doing everything we can to provide a safe environment for you to train in.
Understanding Covid 19
This information has been taken from The World Health Organization, the NHS website and our local government and was correct at the time of publishing- 23rd July 2020.
When signing this policy you confirm and agree to have read and understood the information contained here.
This policy sits alongside our Covid-19 informed consent and both forms require a signature to be able to attend a class at I Would Rather Be Pole Dancing.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
COVID-19 spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
Most people infected with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.
How is Covid-19 spread?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the ground. People can catch COVID-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus. This is why it is important to stay at least 2 meters away from others.
These droplets can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People can become infected by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. This is why it is important to wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand rub, and to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalisation.
Most common symptoms:
– Fever.
– Dry cough.
– Tiredness.
Less common symptoms:
– Aches and pains.
– Sore throat.
– Diarrhoea.
– Conjunctivitis.
– Headache.
– Loss of taste or smell.
– A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
Serious symptoms:
– Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
– Chest pain or pressure.
– Loss of speech or movement.
How can I prevent infection and protect myself and others from the spread COVID-19?
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
– Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
> Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
– Maintain at least 2 metre (6 feet) distance between yourself and others you don’t live with.
> Why? When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.
– Avoid going to crowded places.
> Why? Where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has COVID-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 2 metre (6 feet).
– Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
> Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.
– Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands.
> Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
– Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others.
> Why? Avoiding contact with others will protect them from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
– If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, but call by telephone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority.
> Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
– Keep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities.
> Why? Local and national authorities are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Specifically, what the UK Government have advised:
– Keep your distance from people outside your household or support bubble
– Avoid being face-to-face with people if they are outside your household or support bubble
– Keep your hands and face as clean as possible
– Keep indoor places well ventilated
– Avoid crowded spaces
– Work from home if you can
– If you have to travel (for example, to work or school), think about how and when you travel
– Use Face coverings
– Avoid shouting or singing close to people outside your household or support bubble
– Reduce the number of people you spend time with in a work setting
– Wash your clothes regularly
– When at work or in business or public premises, follow the advice on site
UPDATE:
As of 24th July 2020, in England you must by law wear a face covering in the following settings:
– Public Transport
– Shops and Supermarkets
Measures can be taken if people do not comply with this law. Transport operators can deny service or direct someone to wear a face covering. If necessary, the police and Transport for London authorised officers can issue fines of £100 (halving to £50 if paid within 14 days). Shops and supermarkets will be expected to encourage compliance with the law (as they would do more generally) and can refuse entry. In both cases, if necessary, the police have the powers to enforce these measures, including through issuing a fine of £100 (halving to £50 if paid within 14 days).
You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet. More information on face coverings can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
What to do if you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
– Stay at home (self-isolate) – do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate.
– Get a test – get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms. Get a test here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
Self-isolate if:
– You have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
– You’ve tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
– You live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive
– Someone in your support bubble has symptoms or has tested positive
– You’re told by NHS Test and Trace that you’ve been in contact with a person with coronavirus
How to self-isolate:
– You must not leave your home if you’re self-isolating.
– Do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
– Do not go on public transport or use taxis
– Do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
– Do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
– Do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one
– Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.The test needs to be done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.
Get a test here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
Tell people you’ve been in close contact with that you have symptoms
– You may want to tell people you’ve been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
– They do not need to self-isolate unless they’re contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service. But they should take extra care to follow social distancing advice, including washing their hands often.
– If they get any coronavirus symptoms, they must self-isolate and get a coronavirus test as soon as possible.
How long to self-isolate
You’ll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:
– Someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
– Someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
– You’ve been told by NHS Test and Trace that you’ve been in contact with someone who has coronavirus
After your test, how NHS Test and Trace will contact you:
– You’ll be contacted by email, text or phone.
– Text messages will come from NHStracing. Calls will come from 0300 0135000.
– You’ll be asked to sign in to the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing website at https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk.
– If you cannot use the contact tracing website, they will call you.
Resources:
The World Health Organization – https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
The UK Government – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
NHS Test and Trace – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/
Covid 19 Informed Consent
Please find below I Would Rather be Pole Dancing’s safety statement with regards to Covid-19.
Please sign to say that each time you attend the studio, you agree to the following.
To the best of my knowledge, I:
– Have not shown any of the symptoms of Covid-19 in the past 14 days. According to the NHS and Gov.UK the main symptoms are: High temperature, New continuous cough, Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
– Have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or shown any of the above symptoms in the past 14 days and /or I have been in contact with patients that have tested positive for Covid 19 but I have worn full PPE and will be showered and changed from all work wear before each class.
– Have worn a protective mask when in public situations where social distancing is not consistently possible.
– Understand I could be a carrier of Covid-19 and be asymptomatic.
– Understand that I could contract Covid-19 from an asymptomatic person at our studio or from a contaminated surface at our studio.
– Am fully aware of the studio’s safety procedures and policies to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and will follow these procedures.
– Agree to inform the studio immediately if I have developed symptoms within a two week period of being in the studio, or if I have learnt that I have been in direct contact with someone who has later tested positive for Covid-19 within the same two week period or travelled in the last 14 days to a Covid-19 risk area.
– Agree to inform the studio of any allergies that I may have to cleaning products, PPE or similar that may be used at this time and may adversely affect my health.
– Agree that my data provided on this form can be used to contact me if I have been in a class with a person that has developed symptoms or has been in direct contact with somebody who has later tested positive for Covid-19.
– Understand that if I wilfully and intentionally violate the stated hygiene policy and social distancing policy in our studio, the studio has the right to immediately remove me from class and suspend me from attending any future classes, without a refund.
– Agree to inform the studio immediately if I learn that any of the above information changes or I obtain new information.
Covid 19 Symptoms Policy
To protect our students and ensure we are staying as healthy as possible during the Covid-19 outbreak please read and adhere to the following guidelines.
If you are unwell, DO NOT ATTEND THE STUDIO. We understand you don’t want to miss classes but we must put the health of instructors and other students first.
If you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.
If you have recently travelled to an area affected by Covid-19 please stay away from the studio for 14 days. You can find information about affected areas here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
If you have been in contact with someone who may have Covid-19 please stay away from the studio for 14 days. Please seek advice from NHS 111 if you’re concerned.
If you turn up to a class and are displaying any of the following symptoms, the instructor has the right to refuse to allow you to join the class and ask you to go home without a refund.
– A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
– A 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)
– A 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
If you develop any of the symptoms above during class, your instructor may need to:
– Ask everyone in the class to leave
– Move you to a different space
– Use my own PPE
– Close the studio for a period of time for deep cleaning
If you develop any of the above symptoms within 14 days of attending the studio please get in contact with your instructor immediately – nia@iwouldratherbepoledancing.com – Nia – 07890 191514.
You will be required to take a free test through the NHS and will be able to return to classes when you have a negative result or after your 14 day self isolation period. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-an-antigen-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
Students who have been in the same class as you will also be informed (as they will need to self isolate and also be tested) however your name will remain anonymous.This is the current NHS test and trace procedure (23rd July 2020) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/.
If a student tests positive the studio will close for a minimum of 2 days for a deep clean and all classes will be cancelled during that time. Refunds for any classes affected will be reimbursed as a credit to your account.
SOCIAL DISTANCING POLICY
At I Would Rather Be Pole Dancing we have implemented the below social distancing policy to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
We require all students, instructors and other visitors to the studio to abide by the below guidance at all times. Failure to do so may result in removal from the studio with any future attendance suspended without a refund.
– Before attending the studio, please familiarise yourself with the new studio floor plan and one way system.
– Please remain in your vehicle or wait outside of the building – Entry is only permitted 5 mins prior to your class this will allow the previous class time to exit, and time for our team (me) to clean the studio ready for you.
– Any attendees to the studio are required to adhere to a minimum of 2 metres social distancing from anybody that they do not live with.
– During entrance and exit of the building we require you to wear a mask at all times as social distancing cannot be maintained on stairways. As a courtesy, if you hear someone else travelling towards you make your presence verbally known so they have the opportunity to move to a safer distance.
– Please leave the building immediately after your class.
– The studio door will remain unlocked during each class. Entry is only permitted 5 mins before your class start time.
– Please enter the studio and bear to the right to line up for your class keeping 2m apart at all times. There will be clear markers on the floor to indicate where to stand. Please do not touch any surfaces while you wait in line.
– Your instructor will inform you when it is safe for you to enter onto the studio floor, please walk in an anti clockwise direction around the room using the arrows provided and make your way to the next available free pole and stand next to it.
– We have marked out 2 metre boxes around each pole. This is known as your personal exercise zone. Please be aware of the space allocated to you and your equipment and stay within those boundaries at all times.
– Do not cross into other student’s equipment area at any point during your class, (including when entering the room).
– When you are not on your pole ensure you are 2 metres away from the person next to you (mouth to mouth).
– Pink and purple stickers have been placed on the floor to help your instructor direct you where to stand so as to maintain social distancing whilst in session.
– Please only leave your equipment area to wash your hands, use the bin, go to the bathroom or if you need medical attention. You can use the centre of the room to move around the room to do this but do not enter another students personal exercise zone and always remain 2 metres away from each student. (mouth to mouth)
– When leaving or moving around the studio following the one-way system and arrows as marked on the studio floor.
– The Student storage areas will not be available to you at this time – please only bring into the studio with you what you will need for class.
– Within your personal exercise zone you will have a sanitised ‘shoe box’ sized plastic box that will hold all personal items, please use this to store ALL personal items whilst in session.
– Please ensure you bring your own grip with you as grip will no longer be available at the studio and we will not be allowing students to share grip between them.
– Please wear a face covering when entering and exiting the studio (however not during the exercise class).
HYGIENE POLICY
At I Would Rather Be Pole Dancing we have implemented the below hygiene policy to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 at this point.
We would ask that all students, instructors and other visitors to the studio abide by the below policy at all times. Failure to do so may result in removal from the studio with any future attendance suspended without a refund.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
– Wash hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds. This should be done as a minimum on entering and leaving the studio, after going to the bathroom and after coughing or sneezing. Soap is available upon entry to the studio. Handwashing is available in the toilets and the sink outside of the studio. You can dry your hands with paper towels or cloths provided.
– Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. Sanitizer gel is provided upon entry of the studio and throughout.
– Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm when you cough and sneeze.Put the used tissue in the bin immediately and wash your hands. Blue Roll is available to use throughout your session and specific waste bins that are emptied daily.
– Wear a face covering in situations where it is not possible to continually socially distance.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth while at the studio.
– Avoid any close personal contact (hugs etc…) and follow our social distancing policy.
– Avoid touching any ‘high contact’ areas where possible such as door handles.
EQUIPMENT
– Only use the equipment you have been assigned to for the class.
– Avoid touching any other equipment unnecessarily.
– Only use the cleaning products provided for your piece of equipment. These will be available in your personal exercise zone.
Contents will be:
1 x Plastic Bottle – Disinfectant (to be used to thoroughly clean all equipment within your personal exercise zone before and after your class)
1 x Silver Metal Bottle – Isopropyl Alcohol 80% (to be used to keep the pole clean during your session).
1 x Microfibre Cloth (used for cleaning the pole and equipment – not as a sweat towel)
– Before and after your class you will be asked to thoroughly clean down the equipment within your Personal Exercise Zone.
– For the purpose of maximum hygiene, please bring your own mat as requested.
– Please ensure you have your own grip aid – studio grip will not be available to borrow during this time.
COMMON AREAS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING
– Please remain in your vehicle or wait outside of the building until your class time – Entry is only permitted 5 mins prior to your class this will allow the previous class time to exit. Please exit the building immediately after your class.
– To avoid social crowding and encourage social distancing within the studio the previous ‘sofa area’ has now been adapted and the sofa’s will now only be used as a physical barrier to create a one way system instead of a common relaxation area.
– Please do not touch sofas or storage units whilst you wait for your class. This also extends to door handles, light switches and other high contact areas.
– Please note that the toilets are the responsibility of the building landlord. With this in mind, we would recommend avoiding use if possible, and exercising extra precaution or using the hand sanitiser within the studio regularly.
– The toilet key will be placed in a box at the sanitation station upon entry of the studio, please disinfect all products before use and on return to the studio.
WASTE
– Please ensure all waste is disposed of safely in the bin.
– Please wash your hands after disposing of waste
VENTILATION
– Windows will remain open for the duration of your class to keep the space well ventilated.
– Please wear clothing appropriate to the outside temperature. Please do not touch the windows, let an instructor know if you would like them adjusted.
STUDENT STORAGE
– Please leave all non-essential items in your car, or your home – only bring to the studio exactly what you need for your class. You will be provided with a storage box for your belongings (approximately a shoe box size) that will be in your 2 metre Personal Exercise Zone. All items bought from outside the studio must fit in this and remain here throughout your class.
– When leaving the studio please place used items in the drops provided: Cloth Drop, Box Drop, Bottle Drop.
HYDRATION
– Please ensure you bring your own water bottle with you for class. Water will not be available to purchase during your class.
Did you read all the way to the bottom? OMG you’re an absolute SAINT! Honestly that was the longest thing to write so to read it all with fresh eyes, I am insanely proud of you! If you digested all that info then the pole part will be an absolute BREEZE!