Category: News Item

Organisations with ten or more employees can now sign up for asymptomatic workplace testing as part of an enhanced drive to identify emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and break chains of transmission. 

Free lateral flow device (LFD) tests have been made more widely available as the country emerges from lockdown restrictions and moves beyond level 0.

The testing regime is voluntary and organisations can adopt an LFD Collect model to distribute among workers or implement their own asymptomatic test site (ATS) model in workplaces.

Workplace testing in Scotland had previously been targeted at prioritised areas of the public sector, critical national infrastructure and private businesses with higher transmission rates.

The workplace testing offer will initially be until the end of September 2021, in line with the universal testing offer. It will include formal volunteers from third sector organisations.

Eligible Scottish organisations can find information on how to apply by visiting here. 

Organisations with less than 10 employees can direct their workforce to collect LFD test kits from a local pharmacy or COVID-19 test site, or order online for home delivery.

Food Standard’s Scotland have published Official Controls Verification (OCV) Guidance which has been developed in partnership with Environmental Health Officers. The guidance provides a methodology to be applied when undertaking official control activities within establishments subject to approval under Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 in Scotland. 

Its objective is to provide a framework which, when uniformly applied across all Competent Authorities in Scotland, will ensure a methodical and consistent approach that meets the requirements of the legislation, secures a high level of public health protection and protects the reputation of Scottish food businesses.

The guidance was been developed by Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC) Approved Establishment Working Group which was made up of representatives from FSS and Environmental Health Officers from Local Authorities.

SFELC, the FSS and the SOCOEHS extend their gratitude to the Working Group for the commitment, time, expertise and support its members have demonstrated in the development of this document. The three organised also recognise the specialist expertise provided by Andy MacLeod of Argyll and Bute Council, who provided the genesis of the principles and approach enshrined in the guidance and Lorna McCoull of Glasgow City Council, who was instrumental in the documents progress. 

Please see below resources for the COVID-19 pandemic:

Legislation

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 – identify categories of business which still require to remain closed and outline physical distancing requirements for those permitted to trade. Officers of Environmental Health are authorised officers under the regulation.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 – Legislation that implements a new levels-based approach to tackling coronavirus. The Regulations come into force on Monday, 2 November.

Scottish Government approach and strategy

Coronavirus in Scotland- what you need to know – Scottish Government's Coronavirus dedicated webpage

Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying safe and protecting others – How to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Getting tested for COVID-19 and self-isolating

You should self-isolate and book a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste).

• guide to getting tested for coronavirus
• download the Protect Scotland contact tracing app
• Test and Protect advice​​​​ on NHS Inform

NHS Inform Website – health advice, including a symptom checker, information on COVID-19 vaccine and guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

Travel and Quarantine

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on travel and transport

Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and quarantine

Businesses and employers guidance

Scottish Government Guidance– guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19), including business, health, education and housing.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer businesses and workplaces – guidance for businesses and workplaces on reducing the risk of COVID-19 and supporting staff and customers.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): returning to offices – To help employers plan for a gradual return to offices when the country moves beyond Level 0 of the coronavirus pandemic.

Retail sector guidance– guidance for the retail sector, including procedures for staff and customer safety

Close contact services guidance – information for people who provide close contact services such as hairdressers, barbers and beauticians on working safely during coronavirus.

Tourism and hospitality sector guidance – guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector, including procedures for staff and customer safety

Hospitality Frequently Asked Questions – these questions and answers are aimed at providing further clarity to hospitality businesses following publication of Scottish Government sectoral guidance

Guidance on sport and leisure facilities – Guidance for the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) stadia and live events guidance – guidance for local authorities and event planners.

Opening public and customer toilets – on opening of public and customer toilets during the coronavirus pandemic.

Other Relevant Guidance

Health Protection Scotland- COVID-19 – guidance for non-healthcare settings is to support those working in non-healthcare settings give advice to their staff and users of their services about COVID-19. This guidance covers:

•  what COVID-19 is and how it is spread
• advice on how to prevent spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19
• advice on what to do if someone is ill in a work​​place or other non-healthcare setting
• advice on what will happen if an individual is being investigated as a possible case or is confirmed as a case of COVID-19

Food Standards Scotland- COVID-19 Guidance for Food Business Operators and Their Employees to assist food businesses in translating the measures in the Scottish Government safer workplaces guidance, FSS has updated its risk assessment tool which will support FBOs in identifying and documenting the actions they need to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, whilst maintaining an effective Food Safety Management System (FSMS). FSS has also updated its guidance for FBOs on the investigation of COVID-19 outbreaks. This has been developed in collaboration with Public Health Scotland (PHS) which aims to help food businesses understand how decisions will be taken when an outbreak of COVID-19 is identified in their workforce.

Health and Safety Executive – Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice

·       Working safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak– follow this guide for an overview of practical measures you can take. It includes help with how to maintain social distancing in your workplace, staggering shifts, cleaning and how to talk with workers.

·       Air conditioning and ventilation during the coronavirus outbreak

Scottish Advice Note: Determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings has been published.

The Scottish Advice Note (SAN) provides advice for those responsible for fire safety in residential buildings including building owners/managers/residents groups responsible for determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems on existing multi-storey residential buildings. 

On the 9 August, the legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings was removed and all venues across Scotland were able to re-open including nightclubs.

Some baseline measures will remain in place and include:
• it will continue to be the law, subject to exceptions, that face coverings must be worn in indoor public places and on public transport
• Test & Protect will continue to contact-trace positive cases. To assist with this there will be a continued requirement for indoor hospitality and similar venues to collect the contact details of customers. Anyone who is required to self-isolate will, if eligible, continue to have access to support
• we will work closely with local incident management teams on appropriate outbreak control measures
• we will continue to use travel restrictions, as and when necessary, to restrict the spread of outbreaks and protect against the risk of importation of new variants
• for now, we will continue to advise home working where possible, recognising that some staff will start to return to offices in line with staff wellbeing discussions and business need. we will encourage employers to consider for the longer term, as the Scottish Government is doing, a hybrid model of home and office working – which may, of course, have benefits beyond the need to control a virus
• we will, for a limited period, keep in place a gateway process through which organisers of outdoors events of more than 5000 and indoor events of more than 2000 will have to apply for permission. This will allow us and local authorities to be assured of the arrangements in place to reduce risk
• we will continue to issue appropriate guidance to assist individuals and businesses to reduce the risk of transmission as much as possible, such as rigorous hygiene, including regular hand washing

Adults identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will also no longer be automatically required to self-isolate for 10 days from 9 August. Anyone who is double-vaccinated with at least two weeks passed since their second dose and who has no symptoms will be able to end self-isolation if they return a negative PCR test. The same conditions will also apply to anyone aged between five and 17 years old, even if they have not been vaccinated. The requirement to take a PCR test will not apply to children under the age of five.

Test and Protect will also implement revised guidance for under 18s. This means that the blanket isolation of whole classes in schools will no longer happen and a targeted approach, that only identifies children and young people who are higher risk close contacts, will be adopted. Fewer young people will have to self-isolate, and most will be asked to self-isolate for a much shorter period of time. To allow time to monitor the impacts of these changes, the majority of the mitigations that were in place in schools in the previous term will be retained for up to six weeks. This will help support a safe and sustainable return to education after the summer break.

While the gateway condition on vaccination has been met, with 92% of those over the age of 40 protected by two doses of the vaccine, there are still many more people who have not had the vaccine, cannot have it, or are not yet eligible for it. Invitations for vaccines are now going out to 12 to 17 year olds with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid. This follows the recent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. We expect to have offered first doses to this group by the end of August.

The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) COVID-19 webpage has now been updated following the move into beyond COVID-19 Level 0 allowing all venues and businesses to open with most legal restrictions removed. However, a baseline set of mitigation measures is to be retained across all sectors, and these are detailed in Scottish Government’s general safer workplaces guidance which aims to support businesses in controlling the risks of COVID-19 beyond Level 0. 

To assist food businesses in translating the measures in the Scottish Government safer workplaces guidance, FSS has updated its risk assessment tool which will support FBOs in identifying and documenting the actions they need to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, whilst maintaining an effective Food Safety Management System (FSMS). The tool provides a way of allowing all FBOs to document the measures they have taken, and demonstrate that these are being maintained on an on-going basis to ensure their staff and customers are protected from the risks of COVID-19. 

FSS has also updated its guidance for FBOs on the investigation of COVID-19 outbreaks. This has been developed in collaboration with Public Health Scotland (PHS) which aims to help food businesses understand how decisions will be taken when an outbreak of COVID-19 is identified in their workforce. This guidance is split into two main sections which describes what FBOs are expected to know in relation to controlling COVID-19 in the workplace, and how to prepare for an IMT.

This guidance package is essential for all food businesses operating throughout the current stage of the pandemic. Using the resources supplied by FSS and Scottish Government will also support FBOs in engaging with their employees on the management of COVID-19 risks to ensure a safe working environment, in accordance with the joint statement on ‘fair work expectations during the transition out of lockdown’ signed by The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work & Culture, CoSLA, the Institute of Directors and Scottish Council for Development & Industry, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the STUC.