COVID-19

Latest information and key updates: 

21 May

Scottish Government announces route map for moving out of lockdown.

Weekly update from Social Housing Resilience Group published.

SFHA responds to Scottish Government's DHP announcement.

20 May

Scottish Government announces an additional £5 million announced for Discretionary Housing Payments.

Scottish Parliament passes Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill.

19 May

SFHA updates care and support briefing. 

SFHA updates service delivery briefing.

18 May

Scottish Government announces expansion of Covid-19 testing.

UK Chief Medical Officers announce update on Covid-19 symptoms. 

17 May

New arrangements to significantly strengthen oversight of Scotland’s care homes have published by Scottish Government.

15 May

SFHA updates service delivery briefing.

14 May

Latest update from Social Housing Resilience Group published. 

13 May

Scottish Government announces £50 million to help the social care sector deal with the financial implications of coronavirus (COVID-19).

11 May

Scottish Government publishes second Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus advice for employers in Scotland.

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying at home and away from others (physical distancing).

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested in Scotland.

9 May

Scottish Government announces more vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be manufactured in Scotland following the establishment of a new NHS Scotland supply chain.

7 May

Scottish Government announces Connecting People Fund to help vulnerable people to get online. 

Latest update from Social Housing Resilience Group published. 

Message to members from SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas. 

5 May

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): Framework for Decision Making – Further Information.

SFHA updates health and safety briefing. 

30 April

Latest update from Social Housing Resilience Group published.

26 April

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance on Allocations for the Housing Sector.

SFHA releases Covid-19 briefing note on finance.

25 April

Scottish Government announces extended PPE access to all social care providers.

24 April

Latest update from Social Housing Resilience Group published. 

SFHA forms COVID-19 Member Response Group.

23 April

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): Framework for Decision Making.

Scottish Houisng Regulator publishes advice to support RSL governing bodies during coronavirus pandemic.

DWP suspends third party deductions for arrears.

21 April

Scottish Government strengthens social distancing regulations.

Scottish Government publishes Coronavirus (COVID-19): business and physical distancing guidance.

SFHA updates health and safety briefing. 

SFHA updates care and support briefing.

20 April

SFHA updates service delivery briefing.

17 April

Regulator highlights gas safety advice for landlords.

16 April

SFHA releases Covid-19 briefing note on humanitarian aid.

15 April

Scottish Housing Regulator introduces short information return to help understand coronavirus impact.

CIH Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid, with input from Social Housing Resilience Group, publish new guidance for social landlords to assist them in responding robustly to domestic abuse as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Latest update from Social Housing Resilience Group published.

SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas writes to members to update them on latest work to help housing associations and co-operatives through the coronavirus outbreak.

14 April

Scottish Government updates its guidance for social landlords during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

13 April

Scottish Government's Wellbeing Fund opens for bids.

Scottish Government establishes national helpline for those who do not have family or community support.

9 April

SFHA releases briefing note on Coronavirus (Scotland) Act: Extension of Notice Periods.

PPE guidance for health and social care workers.

7 April

HSE publishes further guidance on gas safety checks for landlords during the coronavirus outbreak, including scenarios for working with particular groups such as people who are self-isolating.

6 April

Scottish Government publishes guidance for construction industry and says all non-essential work should stop.

Scottish Government publishes details of Food Fund to be administered by local authorities. 

Scottish Government publishes details of £350 million Communities Funding.

SFHA updates health and safety briefing.

4 April

Scottish Government publishes updated guidance on social distancing for businesses.

3 April

Housing Minister says Scottish Government unlikely to meet 50,000 affordable homes target due to coronavirus outbreak.

SFHA response to minister's comments. 

SFHA releases briefing note on combating isolation.

2 April

SFHA updates service delivery briefing.

1 April

MSPs support Emergency Coronavirus Bill.

31 March 2020

Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

SFHA response to the bill.

Scottish Housing Regulator gives landlords more information on changes in response to coronavirus.

SFHA updates health and safety briefing.

30 March 2020

SFHA releases briefing note on social security and Universal Credit.

SFHA updates health and safety briefing.

29 March

Scottish Government issues update on Protection for health and social care staff.

27 March 2020

SFHA releases briefing for social landlords on care and support.

Social distancing enforcement measures in place. Businesses and the public in Scotland are now required by law to follow necessary social distancing measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.

26 March 2020

SFHA releases briefing for social landlords on practical governance advice.

SFHA updates service delivery briefing.

25 March 2020

SFHA releases briefing for social landlords on health and safety

24 March 2020

SFHA convenes Social Housing Resilience Group in response to COVID-19.

UK Coronavirus Bill supported by MSPs.

23 March 2020

SFHA releases briefing for social landlords on service delivery. 

20 March 2020

Legislation to bolster COVID-19 response.

Effective ‘lockdown’ introduced

19 March 2020

SFHA releases update message from CEO Sally Thomas.

18 March 2020

• Regulator makes immediate changes to its regulatory approach in response to coronavirus.
• Scottish Government produces guidance for social landlords. 

17 March 2020

The PM has said everyone in the UK should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb coronavirus.

The key new government measures are:

• Everyone should avoid gatherings and crowded places, such as pubs, clubs and theatres
• Everyone should work from home if they can
• All "unnecessary" visits to friends and relatives in care homes should cease
• People should only use the NHS "where we really need to" - and can reduce the burden on workers by getting advice on the NHS website where possible
• By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"
• The UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe
• If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days
• Those people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials" - but they may leave the house "for exercise and, in that case, at a safe distance from others"
• Schools will not be closed for the moment

12 March 2020

Latest advice from Scottish Government says people with symptoms should stay at home. 

10 March 2020

New guidance has been issued aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus in Scotland's workplaces.

The Scottish government's check list for the workplace includes:

• routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones, keyboards, door handles, desks and tables
• basic hand washing highlighted as the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection. Hand hygiene promoted by ensuring staff, contractors, service users and visitors have access to hand washing facilities and alcohol-based hand rub, where available
• crockery and cutlery in shared kitchen areas should be cleaned with warm water and detergent and dried thoroughly
• ensuring food such as crisps and sandwiches should not be left open for communal sharing unless individually wrapped. 

Key resources

The Scottish Government’s advice can be found here: www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

Public health advice can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform.

GWSF information: Editions of our Coronavirus Information Exchange for members can be seen at http://gwsf.org.uk/coronavirus-information-exchange/

Scottish Housing Regulator: https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/about-us/coronavirus-latest-news

For the latest advice and information from the UK Government go to gov.uk/coronavirus. 

Health Protection Scotland provides general advice on protecting people from the virus at: www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/wuhan-novel-coronavirus/

The latest travel advice is available here: gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus.

What information should I be providing to staff at this stage?

1. Immediate action should include circulating Government Guidance to staff. NHS Scotland have developed a communication toolkit containing a poster, video and social media posts for organisations to print and share: Download the coronavirus (COVID-19) communication toolkit (ZIP, 18 MB)
2. Consider how you might be able to support staff with their health and well-being, particularly in a period where a prolonged shutdown of the office may be necessary. This might include testing options for virtual 1:1s and team meetings.

What practical steps can I take now to support our business continuity efforts?

1. Ensure your Business Continuity/resilience plan is up to date and accessible to all who may need it.
2. Audit the ability of your staff to be able to adopt agile or remote working. For SFHA this has involved a survey across our staffing team to understand access they have at home to the internet, adequate IT equipment and business critical systems.
3. Consider simulating your continuity plan in advance of having to action it to ensure all staff fully understand what is required of them

What will happen if my organisation cannot carry out a service as a direct result of COVID-19?

• The regulator has advised that you prepare and maintain a record of any instances where service cannot be delivered.
• This includes if you cannot access a property because a tenant is self-isolating.
• You should notify the SHR of any significant service disruption or financial impact on your organisation as a consequence of COVID-19

Will my organisation be negatively impacted by a deterioration in service levels if we cannot operate a business as usual service?

• The Scottish Housing Regulator is monitoring the impact of COVD-19 on social landlords and will take account of the impact it might have when assessing the landlords’ performance in the annual risk assessment