Covid-19 FAQs

If you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, even if they’re mild:

• Get a tested to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible
• Stay at home and do not have visitors (self-isolate) until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.

Please inform us at COVID@courtauld.ac.uk as soon as possible, stating when you first displayed symptoms and who you have been in contact with at The Courtauld in the 48 hours prior.

Please consult with the NHS vaccine information and also read the FAQs for students by NHS England.

Booking details are on the NHS website to book your first, second or booster dose.

The Courtauld is strongly encouraging all of our students and staff to take up their full course of vaccinations, including the booster.

All staff, students, volunteers, visitors and contractors coming into Courtauld premises should consider wearing a face covering in some spaces – for example:

• Reception areas
• Corridors and lifts
• Common Rooms
• Libraries
• The Courtauld Gallery
• The Learning Centre
• All communal areas of Duchy House
• Plant Rooms and similar such spaces

Wearing a face covering does not alter the requirement to adhere to and respect other COVID-secure measures, that The Courtauld continues to deploy. All staff, students, volunteers, visitors and contractors must continue to:

• • When in the presence of others indoors –  for example when attending seminars, lectures, meetings, using Library facilities etc. to ensure that that at least one window in the room is open to aid the movement of fresh air and ventilation.
  • Follow good hand hygiene rules with sanitiser and regular hand washing
  • Not to come to site if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have been told to isolate or quarantine or have tested positive.
  • The Courtauld also recommends all staff and students take up their full course of COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters where applicable.

All staff, students, volunteers, visitors and contractors coming into Courtauld premises should consider wearing a face covering in some spaces – for example:

• Reception spaces, corridors, lift lobbies and lifts
• Common rooms
• Libraries
• Teaching spaces i.e. lecture theatres, seminar rooms and conservation studios
• The Learning Centre
• Communal areas of Duchy House
• Plant Rooms and similar such spaces

and where you may come into contact with people you do not regularly interact and meet for example but not limited to reception, library and academic support staff.

• Visitors to the Gallery are recommended to wear a face-covering but we recognise they may choose not to do so.
• All workers whilst working in areas that are open to students and the public i.e. our receptions, galleries, Art Café and retail spaces and when coming into close contact with visitors, volunteers and students are encouraged to wear a face covering.

Continuous assessment of ventilation efficiency will be undertaken at The Courtauld, including regular updates to staff and students about how they can support with ventilation, i.e. keeping at least one window in seminar  rooms open during usage.

The Courtauld Gallery and the lecture theatres at Vernon Square are mechanically ventilated and adjustments to fresh-air flow rates have and will continue to be adjusted as necessary.

You can find the cleaning arrangement for each building below:

Vernon Square will be cleaned Monday to Friday before 09:30 hours as per normal cleaning arrangements with all toilets left fully stocked and hand-sanitizer units and disinfectant wipes throughout the building checked and replenished.

In addition, a full-time cleaning operative will continue to be will be deployed seven days per week throughout the Autumn Term to focus on touch-point cleaning, paying particular attention to those surfaces that will be frequently touched.  This will include but not limited to, staircase banisters, including handrails and call buttons in the lifts and door handles on the main entrances doors entering the building.

In addition, table surfaces, including payment kiosk, coffee machine, handles to microwaves, fridges and doors in the third floor common room will be cleaned at least twice a day.  Where accessible and not in use, study surfaces and desks throughout the Book Library, Library Study Room (VG01), PhD Study room (V301) and Associate Lectures room (V310) will also be wiped down at least once during the day.

Disinfectant wipes will be made available in the Research Forum, seminar rooms, Book Library, Library Study Room (VG01), PhD Study room (V301) and Associate Lectures room (V310) and it is recommended students and staff using these facilities wipe down desk surfaces and computer equipment before use.   Used wipes to be disposed of in waste bins provided within the rooms.

Somerset House, areas being used and occupied within the East Wing (including spaces being brought into use in the West Wing from mid-October 2021) will be cleaned before 09:30 hours as per normal cleaning arrangements with all toilets left fully stocked and hand-sanitizer units and disinfectant wipes throughout the building checked and replenished.

In addition, a part-time time cleaning operative will continue to be will be deployed Monday to Friday throughout the Autumn Term to complete touchpoint cleaning of communal spaces within the East Wing i.e. reception, staircase bannister, lift, including surfaces throughout the Book, Witt and Conway Library that will be in use by Book Library, Digital Media staff and volunteers.

Separate touchpoint cleaning arrangements applicable to the Gallery and facilities that will be used by visitors will be implemented from November 2021 as part of the preparations for re-opening of the Gallery.

Duchy House, cleaning hours will continue be extended to allow for a full-time cleaning operative to be to deployed Monday to Sunday for the duration of the Autumn Term to support enhanced cleaning of touchpoint surfaces, including but not limited to handrails and call buttons in the lifts and door handles throughout the common parts and those in shared spaces i.e. laundry, kitchens, shower rooms.   The cleaning of kitchen surfaces and appliances (microwaves, kettles, cookers) will continue to be enhanced with these items disinfected at least once per day.

The Courtauld holds a supply of LFD kits and will continue to make these available to student and staff upon request, subject to availability.

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. If you need to self-isolate, please contact advice@courtauld.ac.uk so that we can ensure that you receive online teaching and support where possible.

If you are self-isolating because you have Covid-19, pease inform us at COVID@courtauld.ac.uk as soon as possible, stating when you first displayed symptoms and who you have been in contact with at The Courtauld in the 48 hours prior.

If staff need to self-isolate, but are well, we will look at rescheduling teaching or delivering this online. If staff are unwell, teaching will either be rescheduled or delivered by someone else.

If you are self-isolating because you have Covid-19, pease inform us at COVID@courtauld.ac.uk as soon as possible, stating when you first displayed symptoms and who you have been in contact with at The Courtauld in the 48 hours prior.

We are fully committed to supporting students with disabilities. Please contact wellbeing@courtauld.ac.uk to discuss how we can best support you.

We have detailed protocols in place for self-isolation in our student accommodation – if you are staying in Duchy House, this will be provided to you.

General: If your question relates to the coronavirus, please contact Anthony Tyrell at: Anthony.Tyrrell@courtauld.ac.uk or phone 020 3947 7593.

Students: Please contact Student and Academic Services by email in the first instance:  advice@courtauld.ac.uk

Staff: If you are travelling overseas and / or your work is affected by the coronavirus, please contact Human Resources

Visitors: Please get in touch with the event organiser – contact details of our departments can be found here.

Local community: If you live or work in the community around our Vernon Square campus and your question relates to The Courtauld’s response to the coronavirus, please contact:

Telephone: 44 (0) 20 3947 7717 (office hours, Monday to Friday)

Email: Vs.security@courtauld.ac.uk