CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 31st DECEMBER 2021

Covid Update- Essential worker PCR prioritisation

Essential workers who cannot work from home, people on the highest risk list, and those who are eligible for new COVID treatments, will be prioritised for PCR testing in periods of high demand.

If you are on the highest risk list or are eligible for new COVID treatments, you should say you are an essential worker to get a priority PCR test.

If you're an essential worker from the list below and have symptoms of coronavirus, you are prioritised to get a test for coronavirus

Critical personnel in the production and distribution of food, drink and essential goods
This includes:
• those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery
• those critical to the provision of other essential goods, such as medical supply chain and distribution workers, and testing (such as labs), and veterinary medicine
• workers critical to the continuity of essential movement of good

Covid Update- Critical Worker Exemption Status

Businesses involved in food supply no longer need to apply for exemption, so long as you follow this guidance.

Updated guidance on exemptions is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): Test and Protect – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Food
In relation to food, i.e. businesses involved in the food supply chain, production and distribution of food, an exemption is granted automatically subject to complying with the guidance and procedures set out in sections 2 and 3 above. This exemption should only be used in relation to employees whose roles are critical to operations
.
In relation to food led retail business (including butchers, bakeries and convenience stores), an exemption is granted automatically subject to compliance with the guidance and procedures set out in sections 2 and 3 above. This exemption, however, is capped at the following levels: a maximum of 5 staff per retail outlet, and 10% of total staff numbers for sites where more than 50 staff are employed.
For further information, or in case of any queries please e mail [email protected]

Festive trading conditions feedback

As always at this time of year, we invite members to send us some feedback on trading trends and issues.
We will use this information to feedback to members in the next newsletter and use this as a basis for around the table discussion at our next online members meeting at the end of January (details to be confirmed).
If you could spare some time to gather your thoughts and send us your experiences, then please e-mail [email protected] or give us a call on the contact details below.

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 any of the above.

Everyone at Scottish Craft Butchers wishes our members, corporate members, and industry colleagues a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

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.