Covid update

THE SCOTTISH BAKER COVID UPDATE

LIFTING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS BRING BACK SOME SENSE OF NORMALITY

After close to 18 months of living and working under strict Covid regulations we finally moved to “beyond Level 0” on Monday 9 August.

The changes saw the removal of the legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings and all venues all across Scotland re-opening.

Some protective measures remain in place such as the use of face coverings indoors and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. Capacity limits remain in place of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors and are being reviewed on a three weekly basis to ensure they remain proportionate.

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

VACCINATIONS FOR 16-17 YEAR OLDS

On the 6 August the Scottish Government opened up the offer of a Covid vaccination to 16 and 17 year olds to come in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

People who are 16 or 17 in mainland Scotland have been invited to register their interest through the online portal at NHS Inform to receive an appointment. Eligible young people in Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles were to be contacted by their health board and invited to attend clinics. Drop-in clinics were also made available for 16 to 17-years-olds from the 10 August.

Anyone who doesn’t register an interest or attend a drop-in clinic will be sent an appointment invitation through the post. It is expected that everyone in this age group will have been offered a vaccination appointment by the end of September.

If you have employees in this age group, then we recommend that you encourage them to have their first dose of the vaccination if they haven’t already done so.