CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 14TH JANUARY 2021

Clarification on restrictions – 14th January 2021

We have received the following update this morning from Food Standards Scotland
I have confirmed this morning with the COVID Regulators group which includes LAs and SG Officials involved in drafting the regulations that butchers will not be affected by the new changes, they are classed as essential retailers. Please see below the paragraph from the intended new guidance that also clarified this.

Bakers, butcher shops and convenience stores where any hot food to go offering is incidental to the primary range of products on sale, such as breads, pies, pastries, meat and general groceries may continue to operate under existing COVID safe protocols, ensuring key mitigating measures and physical distancing is fully observed by all entering the premises.

The main purpose of the changes is to discourage consumers from visiting non-essential shops to pick up orders via click and collect, these retail establishments, as non-essential, should be closed under the current regulations, this does not prevent them from delivering these types of goods to people's homes it simply means they are an on-line facility only thus eliminating non-essential journeys for customers and the potential to enter business and mix with others at collection points.

With regard to wearing of face coverings there is very little appetite as a whole from any retailers to challenge customers since there may be very genuine reasons why these are not applied, the approach appears to be nudge messaging i.e. signage and posters encouraging use and a supply of masks at the retail point to allow consumers who may have forgot or misplaced their mask to be able to apply one, it is also worth pointing out that the wearing of a face covering is only one mitigation measure, the physical distancing is the most important and it is the main message we want to promote.

Hope this is helpful Gordon,

Update to restrictions announced on 13th January 2021

Six changes to Covid-19 restrictions.

Click and collect
(We believe that this point relates to non-food, essential retailers. Butcher shops will still be allowed to trade as we have been, using the current protocols such as screens, face masks, physical distancing and limiting the numbers of customers in the premises. However, it may be that we are asked to move to a serve at the shop door, collection of orders, only service. Home delivery options are encouraged)
.
Limit availability and operation of Click and Collect retail services, with only essential items being allowed.
The availability and operation of click-and-collect services will be limited to retailers selling essential items such as clothes, footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books.

Staggered appointments will need to be offered for customers.

Takeaway services
Customers in Scotland will no longer be allowed to go inside to collect takeaway food or coffee. Businesses will have to operate from a serving hatch or doorway.

The aim is to reduce the risk of customers coming into contact indoors with each other, or with staff.

Alcohol consumption
It will be against the law in all level four areas of Scotland to drink alcohol outdoors in public.

This will mean that buying a takeaway pint and drinking it outdoors will not be permitted.

It is intended to underline the message that people should only be leaving home for essential purposes.
From Saturday it will be against the law in all level 4 areas to drink alcohol in public.

When you do leave home, only for essential purposes, you should only meet one person from a different household in a group no bigger than two

Working from home
The Scottish government is strengthening the obligation on employers to allow their staff to work from home whenever possible.

The law already says that people should only be leaving home to go to work if it is work that cannot be done from home. This is a legal obligation that falls on individuals.

However, statutory guidance is being introduced to make clear that employers support employees to work from home wherever possible.

Home maintenance
The Scottish government is strengthening provisions in relation to work inside people's houses.

Current guidance says that in level four areas work is only permitted within a private dwelling if it is essential for the upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household.
This guidance is now being put into law.

Stay at home message
Amendment to regulations requiring people to stay at home, making it clear people must not leave or remain outside of the home unless for an essential purpose
The Scottish government will seek to close a loophole allowing people to do non-essential things during lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon said regulations would be changed, forbidding people from leaving home for an essential purpose and then doing something considered not to be essential after they have left the house.

Vaccination update
Nearly 200,000 people have been vaccinated in Scotland – that includes 80% of care home residents and 55% of care home staff
Approximately 52% of NHS workers have received their first injection and 2% of over-80s living in the community have been vaccinated
Twenty-four vaccinations will be possible at big centres, such as at Ravenscraig sports centre, by the end of February

The full list of retail outlets allowed to remain open is here under the “shopping experience” drop down menu.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): retail sector guidance – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
If there are any changes to this we will get that information out to all members as soon as possible.

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is now closed following government guidelines.
We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.
Our contact details are below
Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922