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Category: Covid-19

Scotland’s Covid-19 Re-opening Restrictions

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

We have been asked for a reminder of when businesses were shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic:

  • National Lockdown: 23rd March – 3rd July

Rule of Six Restrictions: 10th –  23rd September
Rule of One Household Restrictions: from 23rd September

Levels Strategic Framework introduced: 2nd November – see below

  • National Lockdown: 26th December – 26th April

The Council areas allocated to the various levels on 2nd November:

  • Level 1 – Highland; Moray; Orkney; Shetland; Western Isles
  • Level 2 – Aberdeen; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll & Bute; Borders; Dumfries & Galloway; Fife; Perth & Kinross
  • Level 3 – City of Glasgow; City of Edinburgh; Clackmannanshire; Dundee; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; East Ayrshire; Falkirk; Inverclyde; Midlothian; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian
  • Level 4 – no Council area is in level 4 although there was discussion that North and South Lanarkshire could still end up in level 4 depending on figures.

What did the various levels allow?

  • Level 0 – Eight people from up to three households can meet indoors (with limited exceptions); fifteen people from up to five households can meet outdoors. Different rules apply to children and the Scottish Government will confirm this. Licensing curfews will be put in place and eating and drinking may only take place seated at tables – no vertical drinking (or eating). Takeaways are permitted for alcohol and food. Exceptions apply – hospitals, schools, student accommodation, airside premises, and hotel room service and meals for residents are excluded. Self-catering accommodation, hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan and camp sites can open but restrictions above regarding socialising, hospitality rules and travel restrictions apply. Self-catering properties are still regarded as a private home so are still subject to the restrictions re numbers able to meet indoors. Non-essential travel is not allowed from a level 0 area to a level 3 or higher areas nor to equivalent areas in the rest of UK but there are exemptions for essential travel for work, education, shopping, health, outdoor exercise, weddings and funerals, shared parenting and transit through restricted areas. International quarantine regulations apply but otherwise travel is unrestricted.
  • Level 1 – Six people from two households can meet indoors and outdoors but not from 2nd November. That will apply only outdoors and even level 2 areas cannot meet other families indoors except for the limited restrictions. Hospitality would in general be open but there will be a 10.30pm curfew. Weddings and life events are restricted to a maximum of 20 people. Indoor contact sports for adults are not permitted. Only those who cannot work from home can go to their place of work. Informal childcare is allowed
  • Level 2 – No indoor meeting is allowed, with limited exceptions. Six people from two households can meet outdoors and in hospitality settings. Licensed premises can only serve alcohol indoors with a main meal and only until 8pm. Premises can serve food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks outdoors until 10pm. Cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades can open. Gyms can open. Other leisure and entertainment premises are closed. Informal childcare is allowed.
  • Level 3 – Cafes, pubs and restaurants can open until 6pm to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks but no sale of alcohol indoors nor outdoors. Leisure and entertainment venues, including cinemas, will be closed. Non-essential travel is not allowed out with an area in level 3. Indoor exercise is restricted to individuals – no dance or spin classes. Informal childcare is allowed. No indoor meeting is allowed, with limited exceptions. Accommodation, hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan and camp sites can open but socialising, hospitality rules and travel restrictions apply. The Scottish Government guidance advises non-essential, leisure and tourism use is only to be by locals. Essential travel such as work-related travel can continue.
  • Level 4 – similar to lockdown restrictions in place from March to July. Schools remain open but all non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants, gyms, libraries, barbers and hairdressers are closed. Some outdoor meeting will be allowed but that has to be clarified.

Updated Cleaning Protocols and Sectoral Guidance for Self-Catering Properties and Short-Term Lets

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

PHS have had the opportunity to review the Cleaning Protocols and Sectoral Guidance for Self-Catering Properties in light of the stage we are at in the pandemic, alongside colleagues from Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland (ARHAI).

“In response to an earlier request to review these protocols (July 2021), we noted the excellent work done by ASSC in producing such thorough guidance for their members to ensure that they could restart business as safely as possible.  At that time, we also advised on a number of relaxations that we felt could be made to the protocols, based on changes to government and PHS guidance, as well as the progression of the pandemic. 

“We now feel that we are at a point where businesses should not simply return to pre-pandemic practices, i.e. business as usual, but should aim to build back better based on our increased awareness of good infection prevention and control practices.  The pandemic has highlighted the importance of many of the mitigations that were put in place for COVID-19.  These mitigations, however, have also shown to be successful in reducing the risk of other health outcomes during the pandemic and we feel that these should continue to be highlighted as best practice as we move forward.”

Advice is, therefore, to “build back better” by embedding some key principles into practices, and by referring to PHS’s COVID-19 information and guidance for workplaces and community settings.  

Emphasised measures should include (but needn’t be limited to):

  • Ensuring that there is a cleaning protocol in place for their properties, detailed with responsibilities assigned
  • Ensuring that frequently touched surfaces and sanitary areas are cleaned regularly (where buckets of water are used for cleaning/mopping, ensuring that these are changed regularly and always after cleaning sanitary areas)
  • Ensuring the use of products in line with manufacturer’s instructions
  • Ensuring maximisation of ventilation of properties – also encouraging the same from guests during their stay and upon departure where safe to do so
  • Encouraging good hand hygiene by staff, as well as continuing with the provision of hand hygiene products for customers

All of these measures are already highlighted within the existing protocols so should already be familiar to hosts and operators.

Cleaning Protocols

Download the Cleaning-Protocols: 2022 Cleaning Protocols V1

Download a word copy of a Risk Assessment form: Risk-Assessment 2022

Download a word copy of a Cleaning Checklist: Self-Catering-Cleaning-Checklist

If someone develops symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, while on site

The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are very similar. It is not possible to tell if an individual has COVID-19, flu or another respiratory infection based on symptoms alone.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:

  • continuous cough
  • high temperature, fever or chills
  • loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
  • shortness of breath
  • unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
  • muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
  • not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
  • headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
  • sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
  • diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick

Further information is available via NHS inform.

Guests should inform you immediately if they develop symptoms of Covid-19 or any other respiratory illness while staying at your property.

While the individual is on the premises, the general measures to prevent spread should be followed. The affected person should return home as soon as they notice symptoms, following the latest NHS inform guidance.

Advice on cleaning of areas after an individual with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, or a positive COVID-19 test result has left a workplace or community setting is set out in Section 3.4.

If required, NHS Board Health Protection Teams can be approached for additional advice. They may also make the decision to engage in the handling of any individual cases, clusters, or outbreaks at their discretion, if they perceive a risk to public health.

In the event of an outbreak, people on the Highest Risk List should follow any individual advice they have been given by their clinician

See PHS guidance -paragraphs – 2.3 – 2.5: COVID-19 information and guidance for workplaces and community settings (publichealthscotland.scot)

Disclaimer: The content of the cleaning protocols is based on guidance from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), WHO (World Health Organisation), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), and Centres for Disease Control (CDC), NIH (National Institutes of Health), NHS (National Health Service). These agencies do not endorse this content. This is guidance only, and we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to this content provided for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

 

Covid-19 Symptoms: New Guidance

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

From 1 May 2022, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or any symptoms of other respiratory infections will be advised just to stay at home if ill, most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test.

Previous guidance on self-isolation has now been withdrawn.  The nhsinform.scot website has been updated as follows:

From 1 May, most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test and should follow guidance on staying at home if unwell.

Stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you:

  • have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as coronavirus
  • have a high temperature
  • do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities

Do this until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you feel better.

Work from home if you can. If you can’t work from home, talk to your employer about your options.

Avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk, especially individuals with a weakened immune system.

If you’ve been asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person, tell them about your symptoms.

You may wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to get food and other essentials for you.

You should tell people you have recently been in contact with that you’re feeling unwell. This means they can be aware of signs or symptoms.

Please see Coronavirus (COVID-19) | NHS inform for full details.