Policy Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Postponement of all SAHGB events for six months with immediate effect in the light of the COVID-19 global pandemic (March 2020)

Trustees continue to follow recommendations from Public Health England (PHE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the current pandemic. At time of writing, PHE policy is to relieve pressure on an over-stretched NHS by prolonging the period of what is now certain to be an epidemic: flattening the transmission curve. In addition to pressures on hospital beds, especially in ICUs and HDUs, critically ill and vulnerable people may require the use of ventilators and ECMOs for which the NHS is presently under-resourced. By extending that period there will be fewer critically-ill patients at any given time, relieving pressure on NHS staff and mitigating the rationing dilemmas. This affects SAHGB events because, in addition to the timeline of epidemic impact – starting in the coming week-10 days, and peaking in 10-14 weeks, it is likely to be prolonged well into the autumn. Furthermore, it is presently unknown whether it will become endemic, or whether it recurs some weeks after initial infection. This means long-term planning is almost as contingent as the short- and mid-term. 

Consequently, and in line with best practice across educational and professional sectors, the SAHGB Trustees have decided to suspend our entire calendar of events for Spring/Summer 2020 with immediate effect, starting with the Architectural History Workshop on 21/3/20. Organisers will work to reschedule as many of the postponed events as possible. Presently we assume the events programme will resume in September, but in these uncertain times there are no guarantees. Policy updates will appear here: https://www.sahgb.org.uk/as we learn more about this dynamic and fast-moving situation.