Category: Covid 19

The Scottish Government has published the responses to the National Care Service consultation.  You can read them here: https://www.gov.scot/news/national-care-service-consultation-responses-published/

Distance Aware

The Distance Aware initiative was formally launched in Scotland on Wednesday 26 January. Additional information on the launch is provided below, along with a stakeholder pack. The Scottish Government requests support in promoting and raising awareness of the scheme.

The Scottish Government has worked with the Bevan Commission to adopt the Distance Aware scheme and adapt it for Scotland.  The initiative is designed to support people in adapting to live with the Covid virus in ways that are less restrictive and can help overcome anxiety and help to build confidence about returning to public settings as and when they re-open.

The initiative enables individuals (and organisations if they wish) to politely prompt ongoing distancing and respect of individual social space. The scheme is symbolised by a shield with arrows indicating the desired space. The shield icon is worn as a badge or lanyard to allow individuals to indicate that they would like to have space around them.

User research carried out by the Scottish Government last summer showed that nearly a quarter (24%) of the people on the Highest Risk List surveyed said they had not met people outdoors who were not part of their household; 50% said they had not met others indoors; and that 73% of those who were expecting to return to work felt uncomfortable about the prospect.

The scheme is completely voluntary and is available to anyone who needs it for any reason, to make sure everyone benefits as restrictions are eased and we return to a more normal way of life.  This will be a big step or change for some for many reasons, and it is hoped that this will make more people confident and comfortable in public places and work.  It also provides an opportunity to discuss with staff, customers or members what living with the virus and returning to a more normal way of life means for everyone, and how we can do this in consideration of those who find it harder to adapt.

To ensure success of the scheme the Scottish Government is asking businesses and representative organisations to help raise awareness of the Distance Aware symbol with staff, customers and members.  

The attached stakeholder pack provides information on Distance Aware, and includes suggestions on ways in which business and organisations can participate in the scheme, and offers resources to support them with this.  

CMO Letter

Please note that the Chief Medical Officer has written to everyone on the highest risk list to provide an update following the recent easing of protective measures, and to highlight the Distance Aware scheme.  

The CMO letter also provides information on priority access to PCR tests, updated information around lateral flow tests, sources of mental health support, and advice for those who may be considering a change in employment. 

Covid Office Guidance inc Hybrid Working

The Covid guidance on office working has been revised and updated with guidance on hybrid working.  You can read the revised guidance here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-offices/

Covid – Advice for people at highest risk

The Covid guidance for those at highest risk has been updated – the updated document can be accessed here: 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-highest-risk/

State of the epidemic

The current ‘state of the epidemic’ document outlining the progress of the virus can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-state-epidemic-14-january-2022/

Life after lockdown: how do we best recover from the pandemic? 

An interesting article on the impact of and how we best recover from the pandemic:https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jan/16/life-after-lockdown-how-do-we-best-recover-from-the-pandemic?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The Scottish Government has updated the self-isolation exemption guidance for health and social care staff. The revised guidance can be found here: https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/details.asp?PublicationID=7514  We understand that an accompanying flowchart and FAQ document are to following the coming days.

The guidance removes the need for fully vaccinated staff, identified as contacts to PCR test prior to returning to work. They should take an LFD test instead. If the LFD test is negative and provided they don’t have a fever or other symptoms staff can continue to work following a risk assessment by their line manager. They should also continue to take an LFD test every day for a 10 day period.

The guidance also clarifies that staff that test positive should pause their workplace LFD testing for 28 days (from day 1 of symptom onset or asymptomatic test date). If they are also required to PCR test weekly, they should also pause this for a period of 90 days.  Please also note that the guidance highlights that the likelihood of a positive LFD test in the absence of a high temperature after 10 days is low, so further testing is not advised, unless they have renewed symptoms.

Jason Leitch​ joined the COSLA briefing last week. He emphasised the fact that double vaccination + booster remain the best protection against the spread of Covid-19, particularly given the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant. 

He made clear that they are still learning about the level of severity of Omicron.  Whatever the level of severity is though it’s certainly not so different that we’d see a sufficient enough reduction to hospital admissions to allow any relaxation of mitigations so all precautions should be followed.  

He said that the increased transmissibility and consequential isolations will have a significant impact on the number of people attending work. They are currently looking at absence (through people having Covid or isolating in line with government guidance) modelling in local government which is indicating that up to 25% of the LG workforce could be off work in the coming weeks.  They stated that they would be surprised if in a fortnights time local government will be able to provide anything but critical services. 

Exemptions​

In light of this local authorities have been asked to draw up a list of critically important roles for consideration for isolation exemptions. These lists must be discussed with trade unions and local public health teams – they should not be blanket exemptions but focussed on roles specifically delivering critical services.  We will keep you updated regarding this.

Booster uptake​ 

amongst social care workers remains lower than other frontline workers so please ensure any local issues presenting difficulties in staff being able to get their booster are raised with management. 

Vaccine uptake​

there continues to be concern about the low number of pregnant women taking their vaccine, such that they have been added to the list of clinically vulnerable.  Guidance has been updated for pregnant women and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pregnant-women-urged-to-come-forward-for-covid-19-vaccination

Risk assessments

​ should be actively reviewed by every employer – please check if this has been done and if not please ask that they are.  It is not enough for an employer simply to say that they drafted a generic risk assessment several months ago and that it remains relevant.  They need to go back over them all in light of changed and strengthened mitigations.  

We raised concerns about the impact of tightened mitigations, isolation, the continued uncertainty and concern on the mental health​ of workers.  It was agreed that there will be a refresh of the ‘Don’t stay on mute’ campaign that we worked on jointly with the employer earlier in the year.  We will share this when complete.

Ventilation Guidance​ 

CoSLA has put together some good practice on ventilation which you can find here:

Click to access COVID-Good-Practice-Guide.pdf

Safer Workplaces Guidance 

The safer workplace guidance has been updated in line with the increased levels of protection required for Omicron.  All employers should be following this.  You can find the up to date guidance here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-general-guidance-for-safer-workplaces/pages/travel-and-transport/

Long Covid – SJC Collective Agreement

Please see attached SJC-68 – the collective agreement reached on Long Covid.  It is important to stress that this outlines the bare minimum we would expect local authorities to be implementing in relation to this – they can and should be encouraged to do more. 

Review of Regional Improvement Collaboratives

The Scottish Government has published an evaluation of the operation of Regional Improvement Collaboratives which you can find here:  https://www.gov.scot/publications/review-regional-improvement-collaboratives/

Thank you

This, you will be pleased to read, will be the last LG update from us this year. It has been another challenging year in local government but, whilst we might not have been able to deliver everything we would have wished, we have made real progress in many areas and have protected members in ways they will never know.  Lives have been saved and members are better off because of the hard work all of you have done this year.  I know it has not been easy but it is appreciated. Thank you.  I hope you manage to get a bit of a rest over the festive season.

We hope this is helpful.

Best wishes for 2022