‘The government’s current public infection control strategy is not working, it is leading to rocketing case numbers,’ says BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul
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The Scottish Hospitality Group, which represents firms in the Scottish hospitality sector, is proposing an alternative approach to dealing with the problem caused by staff being told they have to isolate because they have been in contact with someone testing positive. It is a hybrid between the current system for most people, who are expected to isolate, and the system allowing some workers to use daily testing as an alternative. The SHG is suggesting that employers take decisions about what staff should do by following this flowchart, which makes allowance for whether staff think they really might pose a risk, and whether their absence would lead to the business having to close.
This is something that Holyrood and Westminster must take seriously ahead of restrictions easing further. Our proposed process may not be perfect but it’s better than the vacuum we have just now and it would allow everyone to make sensible decisions that balance jobs and health.
The British Frozen Food Federation has described the measures announced by the government last night to allow around 10,000 food depot staff to use testing as an alternative to isolation (see 9.28am) as “worse than useless”. Richard Harrow, the BFFF’s chief executive, explained:
The government announcement last night that parts of the supply chain will be allowed to test and release workers that are pinged by track and trace only goes part of the way. It shows that yet again government does not understand how connected the food supply chain is, only opening part is unlikely to solve the overall issue.
Plus, who is in and who is out, who decides and how do they decide? Confusion continues to pervade and I have been advised no list until Monday. This is worse than useless.
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