Key national information sources
From Friday 20 November, 11 local authority areas in Scotland will enter the highest level, or ‘Level 4’, restrictions. You can check your Local Authority level here.
Support
The national Covid-19 helpline puts people in contact with their local authority. You can call 0800 111 4000 for free. It is open Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00. The helpline will remain open even now shielding has paused.
Details of how to access support can be found here.
Shielding and Vulnerable People
Shielding is a measure to protect people who are clinically at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Those in the shielding category will have received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland or been contacted by their GP.
The Chief Medical Officer will be writing to those who are in the shielding group in Level 4 areas.
The Scottish Government website provides advice to those shielding in Level 4 areas – which can be viewed here.
A summary of the advice is as follows:
- Contact with others – Minimise contact with people outside your own household if you can.
- You should not take public transport.
- Shopping – Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping and limit the number of times you go to a shop. Shop at quieter times.
- School/ formal childcare – Children on the shielding list should not attend in person.
- If you cannot work from home – The majority of workplaces can be made safe. If you have any concerns you should discuss these with your employer. However, at this level the Chief Medical Officer will issue a letter which is similar to a fit note and which will last for as long as your area is under Level 4 restrictions. This letter can be used in the few cases where it is not possible to make your workplace safe. Please note that this does not automatically mean you should not attend work. You should discuss this further with your employer, and if this results in adequate protection, you can continue to work.
The Scottish Government have produced advice on keeping safe which can be viewed here.
Shielding Text Messaging Service
The Scottish Government have introduced a text messaging service for those who have been shielding. By signing up to the service, you will receive updates of new local or national restrictions and information to help keep you safe.
You can sign up by texting your 10 digit CHI number to 07860 064525. You can find your CHI number on the shielding letter you have received. Please do not include any other information. The service will confirm that you are on the shielding list.
Returning to work
Information and guides for returning to work, for both employees and employers, can be found at Healthy Working Lives, a website from Public Health Scotland.
The Scottish Government has developed risk assessment guidance and tools to support employees and employers to have constructive conversations to identify individual risks and take appropriate action to make the workplace safer. Guidance on the assessment tools can be found here.
Carers and Parents
Mencap have pulled together resources and advice for carers who may be affected by Covid-19.
PPE
Scottish Government have produced guidance for accessing PPE.
If you are an unpaid/family carer and think you require PPE due to your caring role, and the routes you normally use to access it are unavailable, you should contact your local carers centre and they will advise you on how to access supplies locally.
You can find a list of local carers centres and young carer services on the Care Information Scotland website. If your local carers’ centre is unavailable, you can call the Social Care PPE Support Centre on 0300 303 3020 and they can provide you with information.
Information for Charities in Scotland
The SCVO provides a hub of information for charities concerned by the Covid-19 pandemic, including information on emergency funding and human resources considerations.