Key principles  for delivering local aid  support 

This page has been archived as of 13th September 2021

Last updated: 10th March 2021

Restrictions will be adjusted up or down depending on rates of transmission and what tiers parts of Scotland are placed.  Even with the delivery of vaccines, the virus will continue to affect our lives for some time to come and that more  contact between people can  increase transmission. There is a danger that people may think we are over the worst. That is why it's more important than ever that we reinforce the basic FACTS advice to stop the virus spreading. 

Four principles

Use these  principles to think about whether your service is as safe as it could be If you are delivering COVID aid activities: 

  • Make sure  your people are fit for action

  • Minimise direct contact between  people.

  • Gathering, storing and transporting things carefully.

  • To the door and no further.

Putting these principles into action will stop the virus being spread by mistake while you are trying to help people.

This means you should make sure that you are: 

  • promoting your service safely - the virus is thought to survive on paper and cardboard for at least 24 hours. If you can, it's best to use a combination of electronic means like e-mail , websites, Facebook, WhatsApp and texts to let people know about your service. Word of mouth is also really useful in smaller communities. If you are preparing leaflets we recommend that, if possible and practical, you let these sit for 72 hours after printing to reduce the risk that they could transmit the infection, and that volunteers have very strict hand hygiene when they are delivering them

  • making sure you’re fit for action - encourage your staff to download the Protect Scotland app to help ensure that they are quickly alerted if they are exposed to anyone who may be carrying the virus and could  therefore be a threat to your service and its users. Any staff and volunteers with COVID 19 symptoms must stop working immediately. If they have been exposed to someone else with symptoms they should also stop.  It's essential that they avoid infecting anyone else by touching things you are in your building or that they are delivering to people homes. If this happens clean the affected work area and either clean supplies they have touched or delay giving them to anyone else for 72 hours, if possible and practical. Food Standards Scotland has good advice on page 10 of their ‘Guidance for Food Business Operators and Their Employees’ document about what to do if someone becomes unwell. You should try to follow these steps if it is possible and practical, and check regularly for any updates on the person’s condition. The test and protect web pages at NHS inform also sets out the steps you need them to follow if they become uwell.

  • to the doorstep and no further - to avoid spreading the virus it can be helpful to behave as if we might have it already, but don’t realise it. This is why your support should be to the doorstep and no further. Don't enter people's homes, even if they ask you to. Use the phone or the internet to let them know you’re coming, or offer more support if needed.

  • from the store to the door - think about how you can break chains of  transmission of the virus at every stage, from collecting the food or other things, to getting it into people's homes. A video from NHS Lothian can help you think through issues around Covid-19 and food.

  • Physical distancing - throughout this resource we use the phrase physical distancing’,  It’s also okay to use the term ‘social distancing’.
    We also use the term ‘current recommended distance’ because the actual distance is subject to change as things improve.  We will keep this section up to date with the current recommended distance so try and remember to check it regularly. 
    It is important to know that the underlying message about how far we should stay apart from each other is still the same: the current recommendation is to stay a minimum of 2 metres apart from anyone who is not part of your immediate household.
    This also includes  community led activities and  we will be adding information about this to this resource over the coming weeks and months . Guidance for the community sector can now be found here for groups delivering aspects of community learning and development services. More Scottish Government  specific guidance for those operating community centres and general community facilities. 

  • You can access all of this information and lots of other  useful information at the SCVO coronavirus hub. Some  information may be designed for other sectors and settings but have advice and guidance that is relevant for your group, organisation or service. For the latest information on this check the latest Scottish Government advice here.  

knowing when you need help - you're not an emergency service. If people are very ill or very distressed, it's time to get help. Either call 999 or contact other services who can help using this contact number but dont go into their homes. See the section emergencies and more complex care for more on this.


Scottish Government advice on face coverings

The following information about when and how to use a facial covering is accurate as of Monday 9th November 2020.  Please make sure that you, your staff, volunteers, users and visitors fully understand what is required when delivering your services or undertaking other activities.

What is a facial covering?

A facial covering is described as: a covering of the mouth and nose that is made of cloth or other textiles and through which you can breathe, for example a purpose made mask, scarf or buff/gaiter. Medical or surgical grade masks are not recommended or required. Facial coverings should not be used on children under two years old.

Can I use a face visor?

The Scottish Government announced on 8th August 2020 that face visors including those made from plastic, perspex and other materials MUST NOT be used as a substitute for a facial covering (as described above).  This is because there is growing evidence that ‘aerosol transmission’ of the virus is possible, meaning that droplets of infected particles could be suspended in the air and enter the eyes, mouth and nose via the opening at the bottom of the face visor.  You may choose to wear a face visor IN ADDITION TO a facial covering, but you must not use it as a substitute for a facial covering.

Facial coverings on public transport

Since Monday 22nd June it has been mandatory to wear a face covering on all public transport and public transport premises.  This includes:

  • Buses, trains, trams, subway, planes, ferries with indoor seating and all taxis and private hire vehicles

  • Bus stations, train stations and airports

Facial coverings in shops

Since 10th July 2020 it has been mandatory to wear a facial covering in all shops. In the most recent lockdown many supermarkets and other retailers are being tougher on the requirement to wear a facial covering in their stores.

Other indoor settings

Since Saturday 8th August it has been mandatory to wear a facial covering in almost every indoor setting.  The legislation now makes it very clear that you must wear a facial covering in all of the following settings:

  • Community centres

  • Places of worship (including church halls)

  • Libraries and reading rooms

  • Museums and galleries

  • Post offices

  • Almost all tourist information facilities and attractions such as zoo’s, aquariums, community farms, heritage or cultural sites

  • Cinemas

  • Offices and workplaces - all circulation/communal spaces such as kitchens, toilets, lifts, corridors, training rooms, entrances and exits

  • Hospitality settings including restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels - unless seated at a table.  This includes community cafes.

Update to the rules on exemptions from wearing a facial covering

Exemptions still apply to children aged under five years, emergency responders, staff such as drivers when already physically separated by a screen, people engaged in lip reading, anyone in the process of taking medication, eating or drinking or anyone asked to remove the facial covering by a police officer.

However from Saturday 8th August 2020 in order to claim exemption from wearing a facial covering a ‘reasonable excuse’ must be given.  In addition to the exemptions listed above a ‘reasonable excuse’ is stated in the legislation as:

  • being in the process of seeking medical assistance

  • providing care* or assistance to a vulnerable person** 

  • to avoid injury, illness or to escape the risk from harm

  • where a person cannot wear a facial covering due to the risk of severe distress or has a disability or impairment*** -  as defined in law by the Equality Act

*A carer as defined by the Carers(Scotland) Act on either a paid or voluntary basis

** A vulnerable person is anyone aged 70 years and over, anyone under 70 years with a significant underlying health condition and anyone who is pregnant

***A health issue, impairment or long term condition that is defined as a disability under the Equality Act 

If you or anyone visiting or using your service does not fall within any of these four categories there is no defence of having a ‘reasonable excuse’ and a facial covering must be worn. 

People using your service do not need to provide written proof that they are exempt, but to support public confidence when accessing and using public spaces and services we encourage everyone who is exempt to request a free face covering exemption card by completing the online form here.

How To use a Facial Covering

  • wash hands thoroughly, or use sanitizer before putting it on, avoiding touching the face, mouth and nose.

  • after removing wash hands thoroughly, or use sanitizer. 

  • wash facial coverings at 60 degrees, or dispose of safely by double bagging and leaving in a secure place for 72 hours, if possible and practical, before disposing of along with normal waste.

At the moment it is not mandatory to wear a facial covering outside. For more information on the latest regulations on the use of facial coverings pleasekeep checking the NHS Inform website.


A word about personal protective equipment (PPE)

Health Protection Scotland advises that the use of additional PPE is only needed ‘wherever there is a higher level of contamination risk through respiratory secretions from potentially infected individuals’. Respiratory secretions in this situation means anything that could spread the virus in droplets from the nose or mouth such as; heavy breathing, coughing, sneezing or from bodily fluids such as saliva. 

This is very unlikely to happen for a number of important reasons:

  • anyone with symptoms, or part of a household where someone else has symptoms, should be self-isolating in line with the latest Government guidance.

  • strict social/physical distancing should be observed at all times

  • facial coverings should be worn in the vast majority of indoor settings

  • hand hygiene measures should be in place at all times, including the use of hand sanitizer where hand washing with soap and water isn’t possible.

Some people are choosing, or have been asked to wear latex or other types of disposable gloves for activities such as grocery shopping and deliveries. Disposable gloves are single-use items and intended to be used for a single specific purpose, such as an episode of cleaning or carrying out a care activity. If the gloves become contaminated they will then contaminate anything else that they come into contact with. They are unlikely to be cleaned (and as a single-use item they are not designed to be cleaned and re-used) and may well give the wearer a false sense of security. If the wearer touches their face, there is the same risk of any contamination getting into their nose, mouth or eyes as there would be from unwashed hands. Robust and effective hand hygiene is still the recommended way to prevent the spread of the virus, so we suggest that you carefully consider whether the use of gloves is appropriate for the activity that you are involved in.  

Summary: the current advice is that additional PPE should not be required, over and above what you would normally use e.g. if you are in a food handling or preparation environment where you might be required to use gloves/aprons/hair nets etc.

Links to important information in this section

 
 

Key messages

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