CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 5th JANUARY 2022

Covid Update- Cut to self-isolation confirmed

Coronavirus isolation in Scotland will be cut from 10 to seven days from midnight if people are negative on lateral flow tests for the last two days and have no fever.

Changes announced to PCR testing
Asymptomatic Scots who return a positive lateral flow test will not have to confirm their result with a PCR.
From Thursday, those who test positive will be asked to isolate immediately and register their result online so contact tracing can take place.
The First Minister said: “The safest thing to do at this stage is treat a positive lateral flow test as confirmation of Covid.
“This allows us to maximise testing capacity and ensure a speedier start to the process of contact tracing and advice.”
A new road map for dealing with Covid-19 will be published by the Scottish Government in the next few weeks, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said the country will have to “adapt our thinking about how to manage the virus and become more resilient to it in future”.
“However, the changes I am about to confirm to the requirements on self-isolation and testing are an early indication of an already adapting response.”
The First Minister revealed that anyone over the age of 18 and four months and is not fully vaccinated will be ordered to self-isolate for ten days if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive.

More support for businesses
Nicola Sturgeon has allocated £55 million of Scottish Government support to businesses impacted by Covid-19.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced £28 million for the taxi industry, £19 million for close contact services such as beauticians and hairdressers, £5 million for sport and £3 million for tourism.
The funding is part of a £375 million made up of savings from the Scottish Government and Barnett consequential from south of the border.

New road map to be published in next few weeks
A new road map for dealing with Covid-19 will be published by the Scottish Government in the next few weeks, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said the country will have to “adapt our thinking about how to manage the virus and become more resilient to it in future”.
She added: “There are no easy answers here but adapting to the ongoing challenge of Covid is inescapable.
“The Scottish Government is currently working on and will publish within the next few weeks a revised strategic framework, which will set out more fully how that process of adaptation can be managed.
“We will seek views from across Parliament as we develop this new framework in more detail.
“However, the changes I am about to confirm to the requirements on self-isolation and testing are an early indication of an already adapting response.”

Covid Update- Critical Worker Exemption

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.

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.