Coronavirus Update – Planned Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions in Scotland
No. 131/2022
21 March 2022
Our Ref: E1/22
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Coronavirus Update – Planned Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions in Scotland:
Further to earlier LTBs, this is a summary update following last week’s announcement by the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and a subsequent communication to all managers in Scotland by Royal Mail Group on Friday evening 18 March.
The Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland including ‘mandatory face masks/coverings had been set to be scrapped today, Monday 21 March.
The Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the requirement to wear masks in certain indoor settings and public transport will be extended for another two weeks to 4 April to help get over an ‘infection spike more quickly.’
From last Friday, and in line with other UK nations, all remaining Covid-related travel restrictions and remaining domestic legal measures were lifted and replaced with appropriate guidance which includes requirements on businesses, service providers and places of worship to retain customer contact details.
The face masks/covering rule will be reviewed again in two weeks – before Easter recess – with the expectation that this regulation will be removed and converted to guidance in early April.
As for testing, for the next month until Easter, there will be no change to official advice. That is, if you don’t have symptoms, you should continue for now to use a lateral flow test twice weekly, daily for seven days if you are a close contact of a positive case, and before visiting someone who is vulnerable.
If you have symptoms, you should continue to get a PCR test, either at a testing site or by post. However, from 18 April the Scottish government will no longer advise people without symptoms to test twice weekly.
Physical test sites will begin to close in Scotland at the end of April – although mobile testing units and lab capacity will be retained for longer term testing purposes.
Royal Mail Group have informed CWU/HQ that with no material changes to Covid-19 restrictions arrangements in Scotland from Monday 21 March a communication has been shared via the RMG North SHE Advisors through the RMG North SHE Business Partner which in summary states:
The requirement to wear a face mask/covering in Royal Mail Group indoor settings in Scotland will remain mandatory for the time being.
PCR tests remain available for those with symptoms.
LFD tests are available for those without symptoms who have been a close contact with a positive case and before visiting a vulnerable person.
People who test positive are still required to self-isolate. Further guidance is here: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
Further updates will be circulated in due course.
Any management enquiries should be directed to Dan Clarke Royal Mail Group National Health & Wellbeing Manager.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
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