We understand how worrying the present situation must be for all ADIs and hope that everyone will do as much as they possibly can to reduce their personal risk and to consider the people they come into contact with.  Both from the point of view of whether that person is likely to be carrying the virus, and also whether an individual may be at particular risk because of age or vulnerability.  This is a time when we need to look out for ourselves, and for others.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways.  News on this virus is changing on a daily basis and it’s important not to panic.

As ADIs we need to be sensible as we are in close contact with people in the vehicles we use. The best way to act is to be prepared and to talk to each client as they get in the car about what we need to consider and to let them know you are following NHS guidelines.

• Use hand sanitiser in the car
• Let clients know that between lessons you are wiping the steering wheel, indicators, washer stalk and light stalk, gear lever, handbrake, door handles, seat belt buckle and interior mirror
• Don’t teach any clients if they have coughs or colds or a fever. Government advice is that anyone in this condition should be self-isolating for 7 days that includes ourselves
• Keep up basic hand washing as regularly as possible and for at least 20 seconds in hot water when you have touched surfaces that others have had contact with. Ask clients to wash hands before they come out to the car and when they get back after a lesson
• Bin tissues as soon as you can and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze and not with your hands.

The advice currently from the gov.uk website (14 March 2020) is that most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places. Also that you only need to stay away from public places (self-isolate) if advised to by the 111 online coronavirus service or a medical professional. If you are more worried about symptoms and have already looked at 111 online, call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.

What to do if you or one of your member of staff or pupils becomes unwell and believe that they have been exposed to COVID-19

If the person has not been to specified areas in the last 14 days, then normal practice should continue. If someone becomes unwell and has travelled to China or other affected countries, the unwell person should be removed to an area which is at least two metres away from other people. If possible find a room or area where they can be isolated behind a closed door. If it is possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. The individual who is unwell should call NHS 111 from their mobile, or 999 if an emergency, and explain which country they have returned from in the last 14 days and outline their current symptoms.

Business advice to consider 

The link below is the government advice currently and contains what to do if for example tax and other bills can’t be paid due to less money coming into the business.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses 

• Try not to panic. Easy to say we know but this is a time to set aside some time, sit down calmly with a clear head and look at your business. There will be a way through this if it becomes difficult, you are planning ahead and it hasn’t actually happened yet.
• Look at your variable costs in the business you have control over, can any of those cost be cut back for a short time? For example; can you wash your own car instead of using a car wash? Take your own coffee rather than buy one from outlets during the day?
• Do not stick your head in the sand, if you’re looking at bills coming in and you’re not going to be able to cover them then contact the companies concerned. Be proactive, businesses are all in this situation together and it is in the interest of everyone to work together. For example; can they help by extending the time you have to pay?
• Can you cut back on your day to day living costs so you can pay yourself less for a short time? You know you best and know what you could cut back on if needs be.
• Look into what help is available from government for the self-employed with regards to the Corona Virus and claim what your entitled to.
• You might want to consider your terms and conditions and whether you are going to charge for cancellations.  This situation is exceptional and well outside the norm, one that no-one could have foreseen.  If you charge students for a missed lesson because they are coughing, or self-isolating you will possibly lose them afterwards.
• You might want to consider sending all your students a text, email or message setting out your position.
• Let your students know what precautions you are taking to protect their safety and your own, and what you expect of them.
• Unfortunately this situation will get worse before it gets better, so our advice would be to immediately cut down on your outgoings.

Financially the temptation may be to work through any illness or give lessons to pupils with symptoms but this could well be counterproductive. You are more likely to have to stop working altogether in a few days’ time. Working throughout the outbreak on a reduced diary with healthy pupils and keeping healthy yourself is by far the best way to get through this difficult time.

NASP recommend that if customers have to cancel, the ADI should consider the health and safety of themselves and other customers and consider taking the short term financial hit (re-cancellation charges) rather than risk the chance of losing two weeks or more off sick.

The short term financial gain of trying to continue to work may do an ADI’s long term reputation harm and where they operate as well as their own and everybody else’s health that enter and leave their place of business.

Please note that these measures may change in the coming weeks so instructors need to keep up to date with the news.

 

DVSA advice issued 14th March 2020

We’re sending you this email because the government’s advice about the coronavirus outbreak has changed.

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:

  • a high temperature
  • a new continuous cough

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

  • you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
  • your condition gets worse
  • your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

What DVSA is doing
We are emailing instructions to anyone with a test booked in the next week to let them know what they need to do.

Theory tests and driving tests
We will rebook your pupil’s test free of charge if it has to be cancelled or changed because either:

  • they have coronavirus symptoms
  • you have coronavirus symptoms and they were going to use your car

It will be done free of charge even if it’s done at short notice (within 3 clear working days of the test).

This includes ADI part 2 tests.

ADI part 3 tests and standards checks

We’ll email you directly if you have an ADI part 3 test or standards check booked in the next week.

We will rebook your ADI part 3 test free of charge if it has to be cancelled or changed because either:

  • you have coronavirus symptoms
  • the pupil you were intending to bring has coronavirus symptoms

It will be done free of charge even if it’s done at short notice (within 3 clear working days of the test).

We will also rebook your standards check if you have to cancel or change it because of coronavirus.

More information
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published guidance for employees, employers and businesses.

Find out more about the government’s response to coronavirus.

 

 The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis.  We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.