Question reference: S5W-28610
- Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 21 April 2020
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 8 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what proportion of care workers have chosen to (a) wear and (b) not wear a protective mask in response to the COVID-19 outbreak on the basis of their own risk assessment since the four nations personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance was issued on 2 April 2020.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. However, all employers should be supporting their staff to follow the updated PPE guidance that was published on 2 April 2020, which includes the ability for individuals to risk assess whether they require PPE when providing direct care to someone who isn’t a possible or confirmed COVID-19 case.
I reiterated this expectation in the joint statement on 9 April with COSLA and the Trades Unions which emphasised that social care workers can wear a Fluid-Resistant Surgical Mask along with other appropriate PPE, if they consider doing so is necessary to their own and the individual's safety.