CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 5TH JANUARY 2021

New lockdown from midnight tonight

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said new curbs would be introduced at midnight in a bid to contain the new, faster-spreading strain of the virus.
New laws will require people to stay at home and work from home where possible.
Retail food businesses will continue to open and trade under the existing operational conditions that have been in place over the last 10 months.

Exemptions from 'stay at home' order include:
caring responsibilities
essential shopping
exercise (unlimited, but no more than 2 people from 2 households can meet)
essential work
meeting an extended household

Also announced:-
❌No travel in or out of Scotland
❌Schools shut until 1 Feb

Outdoor gatherings are also to be cut back, with people only allowed to meet one person from one other household.
Places of worship are to be closed, group exercise banned, and schools will largely operate via online and remote learning.
These rules will apply across the Scottish mainland until at least the end of January and will be kept under review.
Island areas will remain in level three – but Ms Sturgeon said they would be monitored carefully.
The new rules – which will be put down in law – mean Scots will only be allowed to leave home for essential purposes, such as shopping for food and medicine, exercise, and caring responsibilities.
No limit is to be put on how many times people can go out to exercise, but outdoor meetings are to be limited to a maximum of two people from two households.
Everyone who can work from home will be required to, and people in the “shielding” category are advised not to go in to work at all.
The construction and manufacturing industries will remain open, but Ms Sturgeon said this would be kept under review.
Places of worship are to close, the number of people who can attend weddings is to be cut to five, and funeral wakes will no longer be allowed.
A Full explanation of level 4 restrictions is included here: –

Explanation Link

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)

Having Positive Conversations about Red Meat

QMS have collated a pack of materials to help positively manage the reputation of red meat during January 2021 and beyond. It includes several assets and materials that can be used throughout January, forming a common narrative for the Scottish red meat industry.
View the pack here
This year the strategy is not to defend our industry, it is to promote the benefits of our industry, be bold and be proud of what we do. Our campaign will focus on three key areas, Local, The Scotch difference and Health and wellbeing with a particular focus on Vit B12 and its benefits

In addition to the toolkit, QMS will be posting a steady stream of content via the QMS and Scotch Kitchen social channels

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