CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 23RD OCTOBER 2020

First Minister statement summary

Nicola Sturgeon has set out that Scotland will have five levels of restrictions.

The new levels approach comes into force on 2nd November.

Level Zero is the closest we can get to normality without a vaccine or treatment. This is similar to what restrictions were in place in August when the virus had been suppressed. You could meet indoors in limited numbers (eight people from three households) and most businesses would be allowed to open.

The FM says Level One is more like the restrictions we had in mid-September. Indoor meetings were reduced to six people from two households. But still a “reasonable degree of normality overall”.

Level Two entails restrictions similar to those in place now outside the central belt – there are limitations on hospitality and there's no gathering allowed inside homes.

Level Three is similar to what is in place in the central belt right now. These tougher restrictions include much of hospitality being closed completely. However, restaurants should be able to open at least partially.

However, Level Four is closer to a full lockdown. It will be used at times when the pandemic is putting pressure on the health service and running the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed. It would include non-essential shops closing. But even under these restrictions, there will be no limit on outdoor exercise, and six people from two households will still be allowed to meet up outside. The FM adds that manufacturing and construction will be kept open too.
Full details in the link here: –

COVID-19 Scotlands Strategic Framework Link

Guidance on procedure if your business has a positive covid-19 case in staff

We have had some queries about what businesses should do if a staff member has a positive covid-19 test, especially with the Christmas trading period almost upon us.
It is important to state that if your business is following all the protocols of distancing, hygiene and separation then it is unlikely that closure would be required. This decision would be made by a contact tracer or Incident management team (IMT).
As long as you can prove that you have all the mitigating factors in place and detailed in your covid-10 risk assessment,(physical distancing measures, screens, hand hygiene procedures and facemasks, where required) then the contact tracers will not deem it necessary to close the premises.

The full guidance is in the link below.

covid-19-guidance-for-food-business-operators-and-their-employees

Essentially the important points are here.

Staff should be fit for work at all times. They must not be suffering from, or carrying, any illness or disease that could cause a problem with food safety. FBOs must ensure that all staff understand the business' Fitness to Work policy. During the current COVID-19 situation this will need to take full account of government advice on the need for individuals to self-isolate and stay at home when they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
It is therefore important to ensure staff can recognise these symptoms, which include a new continuous cough and/or a fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia).

FBOs must ensure that all staff are aware that they must stay at home and self-isolate if they or a household member develop symptoms of COVID-19 or they are identified as a contact of a case of COVID-19 through the test and protect programme, and managers should support them in doing this.

Staff who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, must stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from when their symptoms started and until they have had no fever for 48 hours. Anyone experiencing symptoms of possible COVID-19 should arrange to get tested in line with Scotland's Test and Protect Strategy.
Test and Protect, Scotland's approach to implementing the 'test, trace, isolate, support' strategy is a public health measure designed to break chains of transmission of COVID-19 in the community. The NHS will test people who have symptoms, trace people who may have become infected by spending time in close contact with someone who tests positive, and then support those close contacts to self-isolate. That means if they have the virus they are less likely to pass it on to others.

All FBOs will need to be familiar with Scottish Government's Test and Protect Advice for
Employers, which outlines how to support employees who are required to self-isolate. It is
essential that steps are taken to enable all staff to comply with the requirements of Test and
Protect and that they are encouraged to report to their managers when they are experiencing symptoms. If a member of staff becomes unwell, they should leave work to self-isolate straight away and, if possible, wear a face covering on route and avoid public transport.
FBOs must also ensure that staff follow advice to self-isolate if they are living with a person who has symptoms or has tested positive, or they have been informed by an NHS contact tracer that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Employees can request an isolation note through NHS Inform.
All staff reporting symptoms of COVID-19 should also be encouraged to arrange a test as soon as possible through NHS Inform. FBOs must ensure staff are fully supported when they are required to self-isolate. Until staff have been tested and told if it is safe to leave home,
employers should make sure that staff are not placed under any obligation to return to the
workplace.
Staff who have tested positive for the virus will need to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days.
NHS contact tracers will interview them and get in touch with people they have been in close contact with, and tell them they must self-isolate for 14 days.
Where Infection Prevention Control measures have been utilised such as protective screen or use of PPE the contact tracer will conduct a risk assessment to identify contacts at risk. The priority is to public health in order to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.
If staff are informed by a contact tracer that they should isolate, FBOs should help them to do so straight away. They may feel well, as the virus could still be incubating when they are asked to isolate. Some people who are asked to isolate may not become unwell, but they must stay at home and self-isolate for the full 14 days. FBOs can ask them to work from home if they are able to and they are not unwell, but should not, in any circumstances, ask someone isolating to come into work before their period of isolation is complete.
In order to support Test and Protect, it is important that FBOs have clear and robust records of staff working on each shift, the make-up of teams and details of any visitors to the site, in case of need to contact trace.
FBOs should monitor reports of illness across their workforce in order that they are able to take rapid action when there may be an outbreak of COVID-19 in their workforce.
If an outbreak is confirmed you will be asked to record details of symptomatic staff and assist with identification of contacts. Identification of an outbreak will also require you to review your COVID-19 control plan and identify any breakdown which may need to be addressed to prevent future incidents.

FBOs should suspect an outbreak if there is either:

Two or more linked cases (confirmed or suspected) of COVID-19 reported in the business within 14 days – where cross transmission has been identified; or
An increase in staff absence rates, in a setting, due to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.
If an organisation suspects a COVID-19 outbreak, they should immediately inform their local NHS board Health Protection Team (HPT).
In the event of an outbreak FBOs should continue to follow this guidance to reduce risk. The HPT will undertake a risk assessment and conduct a rapid investigation to advise on the most appropriate action to take.
Staff who have had close contact with case(s) will be asked to self-isolate at home. In some cases, a larger number of other staff may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure.
Where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and control, which will reduce risk of transmission, the HPT will take this into account in determining whether closure of the whole setting will be necessary.
HPTs may themselves identify clusters of cases amongst your employees through 'Test and Protect'.
In this situation, you will again be asked to support the HPT with further investigation,
communication with the workforce, and review of existing control measures. It is advisable for FBOs to identify a single point of contact to act as liaison with Health Protection Teams
for any matters relating to Test and Protect, reporting potential outbreaks and seeking advice on matters relating to COVID-19 illness in your workforce.
You can find contact details for your Local Health Protection Team in the HPS guidance for non-healthcare settings.
Depending on the risk assessment outcome, the HPT may establish an Incident Management Team (IMT) to help manage the situation. The IMT will lead the Public Health response and investigations, and work with the business to put appropriate interventions in place.
These will generally include ensuring that the preventive measures described in this guidance are fully implemented.

Other measures may include:
Cleaning in the setting: for cleaning and waste management, refer to HPS guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings.
Consider wider testing of affected population and staff.
Information: ensure that staff (and other relevant people) are aware of what has happened and the actions being taken.
Closure: may be done following advice from the Health Protection Team and Incident
Management Team or the business may make their own decision on closure ahead of this advice as a precaution or for business continuity reasons.

The Health Protection Team or Incident Management Team will declare when the outbreak is over.

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