MEMBERS UPDATE 22 FEBRUARY 2022

Covid 19 Strategic framework announced today

The Scottish government's new strategy is based on three levels of threat from Covid – low, medium and high.
The the current threat level is medium, but it is expected to be reduced to low in the period ahead.
As a result, the vaccine passport scheme – which covers nightclubs and large events – will end on Monday 28th February.
However, the app will remain operational for any business which wants to keep using it.

From 21st March, it is expected that the legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops, hospitality venues and public transport will be downgraded to guidance.

The government is still strongly recommending that people continue to wear masks in these locations.

At the moment, businesses are legally required to take steps to reduce the spread of Covid, including physical distancing and screens.
That will also end on 21 March, as will the legal requirement to retain customers' contact details.

The existing rules on self-isolation will remain in place for now.
People who test positive for Covid in Scotland will be allowed to exit self-isolation after seven days if they have no fever and record two negative lateral flow tests.
The first of these tests must be taken on the sixth day after testing positive and then at least 24 hours later.

In addition, household contacts of people with the virus can take a lateral flow test every day for seven days rather than going into self-isolation.
This applies to everyone in the household under the age of 18 or anyone over that age who has had the first, second and booster Covid jabs.
If one of these tests is positive, self-isolation will then be required for that person.
Anyone identified as a close contact who is aged over 18 and four months and not fully vaccinated will still be asked to self-isolate for 10 days and take a PCR test.

For those with symptoms of Covid, the advice remains to book a PCR test.
However, people returning a positive lateral flow test who have no symptoms are no longer required to take a PCR test to confirm the result. Instead, they will be asked to isolate immediately and report their result online.

Advice on the use of lateral flow tests will change from Monday 28th February.

People are being advised to take a lateral flow test at least twice a week – especially if they are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable.
LFTs will continue to be free and the Scottish government will keep making self-isolation support payments to those eligible.

Wages Survey Results available

The Scottish Craft Butchers wages survey results are now available on the members only website.

Just login using the e-mail that we have registered with us. You can request a new password automatically which will be sent to the e-mail address.

The results can be found under the Employment Law section, sub heading Wages Survey.

If you would like to contribute to the survey on an ongoing basis, then please contact [email protected] who will send out the form to be completed.

All responses are anonymous, and we will only use the figures provided to update the average figures displayed on the website.

Digital Boost Development Grant

Following the interest in the presentations at our members meeting last Wednesday, please see below the link to the grant mentioned which may help towards the costs of upgrading your digital scales and systems.
Unfortunately, it is closed to new applications just now. However, you can register interest and they will contact you directly when it opens again.

www.digitalboostdevelopmentgrant.co.uk/

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 needing to contact us.

Kind regards

Gordon King
Executive Manager
Scottish Craft Butchers
8-10 Needless Road
Perth PH2 0JW
Tel: 01738 637472
Mobile: 07917524313
twitter.com/scocraftbutcher
facebook.com/scottishcraftbutchers/
www.craftbutchers.co.uk