Monday, 5 October 2020
Message to External Court Users of Liverpool County and Family Court following positive COVID-19 Tests
We have today been notified that two of our colleagues who work at Liverpool County and Family Court have tested positive for COVID-19. There were last in the building on Monday 28 September and Thursday 1 October respectively. Both are reported as well, and we wish them a speedy recovery.
As 72 hours has now passed since the second individual was in the building, there is no requirement for additional deep cleaning to be undertaken. We will ask any colleagues who have been in close contact* with the individuals to self-isolate.
We will be contacting public health agencies for advice, guidance and support in accordance with HMCTS policy given this is the third positive case at Liverpool County and Family Court in the last 14 days.
If you attended Liverpool County and Family Court within the last 14 days, we ask you to closely monitor your own health and report to see if you become symptomatic with a cough or fever or lose your sense of taste/smell. COVID-19 Public health guidance is available on GOV.UK. As per Government advice you do not need to get a COVID-19 test if you are not displaying any symptoms.
We understand the level of concern this may cause for court users and we are taking this situation very seriously. We are responding in a way that is responsible, proportionate and consistent with NHS and public health advice. The measures we have put in place in all our buildings, as part of our COVID-19 risk management arrangements, are extensive and satisfy public health guidelines for a COVID-secure environment; these include social distancing, modified search on entry procedures, wearing of face coverings in all public areas and frequent cleaning. Our buildings are not considered ‘close contact’* settings.
We will keep you updated as matters progress.
Yours faithfully,
Sue Linton
Operations Manager, North West Region HMCTS.
(*Close contact is defined as “spending more than 15 minutes within 2m of someone, face-to-face contact of less than 1 metre with someone, skin to skin contact with someone or sharing a vehicle with them”).