Last night (23 March 2020), the Government announced further measures to stop the spread of Covid 19.
The announcement means that UK Citizens can only leave home for one of the following four reasons:
- “Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home (Our emphasis)”.
Source: gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others
The guidance is very clear that you can continue to go to work if you cannot do your work from home. Most professional pest management cannot be done from home.
The guidance does NOT state that only key workers can travel to work.
To be clear, at present pest management professionals can go to work during the Government’s partial lockdown.
Update: Key worker status confirmed by UK government (13 April 2020).
Following extensive lobbying by BPCA and CEPA, pest management has been confirmed as an essential sector during the Covid-19 pandemic by George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
According to Defra, pest management is covered in the key worker list under the "food and necessary goods" section, specifically concerning hygiene.
But should you go to work?
This is a business decision that only you and your client can make on a case-by-case basis. BPCA cannot make this decision for you.
We have developed a thought tree, to help you decide if you should go on a job.
See the BPCA guidance Should I keep trading/go out on a job?
Still not sure if you should go to work?
If you’re a BPCA member, contact our Technical team for support.
technical@bpca.org.uk
This article is not a replacement for the guidance given by medical professionals nor official advice provided by the UK Government on Covid-19. You must always follow the latest Government advice on Covid 19.
Source: Online