CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 15th DECEMBER 2021

Covid Update

Shops, supermarkets, and businesses across Scotland will have to re-introduce social distancing protections and limit the number of people in their stores under new guidance to stop the spread of Omicron.

The exact guidance will be issued later this week for different sectors, but the regulations will see two metre distancing guidelines that limit the number of customers in shops returning to Scotland.
The First Minster said: “For example in retail, it will involve a return to the kind of protections in place at the start of the pandemic – for example measures to avoid crowding and bottlenecks.
This will include physical distancing, measures to control the flow of customers and protective screens.”

Measures will also be introduced for the hospitality trade to avoid crowding at bars and between tables and businesses will be reminded of the still existing but widely ignored requirement to collect contact details of diners and drinkers.
A £100 million fund is to be made available to compensate the hospitality industry, but retail will have to bear the cost of restrictions which are likely to have a huge effect on Christmas trade.

Key workers who cannot work from home are being asked to test regularly before going to work.

Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to “minimise your social mixing” and only socialise with up to two other households either side of Christmas.
The First Minister stressed she was “not asking anyone to cancel Christmas” but advised people to limit their socialising either side of the holiday.
Setting out the guidance, Ms Sturgeon said: “Turning to Christmas Day specifically, or Christmas Eve or Boxing Day or whenever you have your main family celebration, we are not asking you to cancel or change your plans, and we are not proposing limits on the size of household gatherings.”
She added: “My key request today is this: before and immediately after Christmas, please minimise your social mixing with other households as much as you can.
“However, if you do plan on socialising, either at home or in indoor public places, we are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three. And make sure you test before you go.”

Covid Update- Critical Worker Exemption Updated today

Please see the link below issued by the Scottish Government over the weekend, which provides information on critical worker exemption and explains what support is available for people who are asked to self-isolate because of Covid-19.
Only essential workers within the “critical national infrastructures”, which includes the food industry can apply for the exemption.
The exemption is not for the whole of the sector, and you will still need to make a strong case to Scottish Government that key members of your staff who otherwise would need to self-isolate should be classed as exempt.

Important Update today
Firstly, you do not have to wait until a member of staff falls into the self-isolation category, you can apply for the exemption on their behalf (see below) in advance and get “in principle” approval so they can continue working if a house member is found to have the virus.

Secondly, you can apply for a group of staff who work in the same team to be exempt in one application, rather than individually.

Thirdly, currently all applications are being turned around in less than 24 hours provided all the relevant information is submitted, see link below for what you need to provide.

If you do need to apply, we recommend that in your submission you highlight that the fact that you are coming up to the busiest time of the year and that any staff shortages will impact severely on your ability to get food out to the people in your community. It will be important to stress the key role that this member of the team plays within the overall business and the negative impact that would result on your operational capacity should he/she be unable to turn up for work for a prolonged absence.

Please see the link below for more details!

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-test-and-protect/pages/critical-workers-exemption/

Covid compliance inspections of food premises
We have been made aware of local authorities, covid compliance officers, visiting members premises to check on the covid protocols in place.
It is strongly recommended that you ensure that staff on the counter, serving the public, wear face coverings. Local authorities are responding to “complaints” by members of the public.
If a member of staff is exempt from wearing face coverings, then social distancing measures or physical barriers (screens) must be in place to separate from other staff members and the public.
The only other exception in butchers' shops, to wearing face coverings, is when using knives, when preparing food products, or using machinery. This is where a food hygiene or health and safety issue may occur. When these activities are taking place, please ensure physical distancing and/or physical barriers are in place.

Please get in touch if you need to discuss.

Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922
The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is staffed every weekday.
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.