Question reference: S5W-35862
- Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 9 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that supermarkets might be higher-risk workplaces, what consideration it has given to allowing supermarkets to sign up for routine testing of staff for COVID-19, including the provision of free lateral flow antigen test kits for staff.
Answer
Under Regulations, supermarkets must take all reasonable measures to ensure that a distance of two metres is maintained between any persons on the premises, with the exception of those within the same household or a carer assisting another person. They must also take all reasonable measures to ensure that it only admits people to its premises in sufficiently small numbers to make it possible to maintain that distance. This includes those queueing awaiting entry to the premises. We also know from our discussion with supermarkets that frequency of visits has reduced and shopping baskets are larger. We will continue to work with sector leads to protect workers and customers in retail settings as we monitor the transmission risks associated with COVID.
At the moment our focus on testing in the food sector is focused on higher risks premises (eg meat and fish processing) and retail distribution to ensure continuity of food supply but we will keep this under review.