Frequently Asked Questions

Transmission of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres or less) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk of infection transmission increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person. Respiratory secretions, from the coughs and sneezes of an infected person, are most likely to be the main means of infection transmission.

There are two main ways COVID-19 can be spread:

• Directly; from close contact with an infected person (within 2 metres) where respiratory secretions can enter the eyes, mouth, nose or airways. This risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person who has symptoms.
• Indirectly; by touching a surface, object or the hand of an infected person that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Bield is working within the advice and guidelines issued by Health Protection Scotland and the NHS. 

In particular the team at Bield has been:

• Undertaking additional and frequent cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces (e.g. hand rails, door handles, light switches, table surfaces).
• Putting up signage in each development to promote hand hygiene, ensuring that everyone has access to hand washing facilities and encouraging use of this.
• As far as possible, limiting the number of visitors to the complexes
• Mobilising our volunteers to assist us to provide additional services to our tenants.
• Implementing our THINK campaign

The common symptoms of COVID-19 are: new, dry cough, high-temperature and loss of sense of taste and smell. If you have any of these symptoms, stay at home and arrange for a COVID-19 test . Visit the NHS Inform website for more information.

Test and Protect is Scotland’s way of putting into practice the test, trace, isolate, support strategy.

It will prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community by:

• identifying cases of coronavirus through testing
• tracing the people who may have become infected by spending time in close contact with them
• supporting those close contacts to self-isolate, so that if they have the disease they are less likely transmit it to others

This will allow us to gradually change the restrictions that help to suppress the virus, and instead to contain it so that society and the economy can avoid a return to lockdown.

Further to publication of the Scottish Government Protection Levels, communal lounges will re-open in areas where the local authority has been designated at Protection Level 0. This will be subject to a local risk assessment.

Thank you for your patience during what we know is a very frustrating time. 

We will try to keep the dining rooms open up to and including Protection Level 3. To ensure safety and wellbeing of customers and colleagues, dining rooms will be closed in areas designated as Protection Level 4. 

Opening of dining rooms is subject to on-going risk-assessment and further risk-mitigation measures, and local closures may needed from time to time.

Thank you for your patience during what we know is a very frustrating time. 

Further to publication of the Scottish Government Protection Levels, social events will  only be able to take place, subject to relevant restrictions, where the local authority has been designated at Protection Level 0.

Thank you for your patience during what we know is a very frustrating time. 

Further to publication of the Scottish Government Protection Levels, guest rooms will be available to book where the local authority has been designated at Protection Level 0. This will be subject to a local risk assessment. If there are exceptional circumstances, please talk to your local manager.

Thank you for your patience during what we know is a very frustrating time. 

This would be very difficult to do as the times which staff are on-site vary and so there will be significant periods of time when there is no onsite staff presence. Using other methods, such as requesting visitors to sign in and out would also increase the chance of contamination and infection. Therefore we will not try to keep a record of visitors to developments.

As the pandemic continues, many of our front-line colleagues are being asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect when they have come into contact with COVID-19 positive cases. 

BR24 will still be available to contact and will provide any assistance they are able to.

As a result, BR24 may also be dealing with a higher number of calls than usual.

To help reduce the number of non-urgent calls, we have changed the door opening and closing times to enable health and social care professionals to enter the building to carry out their work.

As a security precaution, please ensure your front door is locked.

As the pandemic continues, many of our front-line colleagues are being asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect when they have come into contact with COVID-19 positive cases. 

BR24 will still be available to contact and will provide any assistance they are able to.

We have contingency plans in place to help us ensure we can provide services should colleagues at your development are ill or need to self isolate.

We thank you for your patience at this difficult time. 

Lifts can be used, but to help maintain physical distancing, they should only be accessed by one household at a time.

Please do not enter the lift if there is another individual inside, wait until this is free before entering.

Colleagues will wear a face-covering in shared spaces such as corridors and office, in line with Scottish Government guidance.

Where colleagues need to be closer than 2m from a customer in order to provide care or support, they will need to wear PPE, which may include a face-mask, gloves, aprons and visors.

This will help to keep you safe, and will also help keep Bield colleagues safe as well. 

Wearing PPE can be uncomfortable and can make some tasks more difficult, so we ask everyone to be a little more patient and kind.

You are welcome to use the communal gardens to meet friends and family.

Please remember that there may be restrictions on how many people you can meet with, depending on which Protection Level your local authority has been designated.

Please maintain physical distancing and be throughtful to your neighbours so that everyone can get an opportunity to use the shared space.

You should continue with the current procedures that are already in place and report all emergency repairs to your local manager during office hours and to BR24 out of office hours. If you live in an amenity or general needs house phone Bield direct as usual, using your usual contact number.

Urgent repairs are going ahead, although our contractors are adhering to a number of control measures.

Please report repairs to your local manager during office hours and to BR24 out of office hours. If you live in an amenity or general needs house phone Bield direct as usual, using your usual contact number.

Please remember to maintain physical distancing from contractors who attend your home, which will keep you and them safe. 

Non-urgent Routine Repairs have resumed both externally, and internally with relevant control measures. Please report repairs to your local manager during office hours and to BR24 out of office hours. If you live in an amenity or general needs house phone Bield direct as usual, using your usual contact number. 

Please remember to keep 2m away from the contractor, and if you can stay in another room while the repair is carried out. 

Removal companies are now able to operate, and removals can take place with relevant controls, including regular hand-washing, physical distancing where possible. However, please do not come into a development if you have any symptoms of Covid-19.

You can talk to your Property Officer over the phone, which can be arranged via your local manager or your Repair Line contact.

If possible, we would welcome photographs of the issue to help us diagnose the problem. We can also now arrange a visit with relevant controls, such as physical distancing.

When taking a repair request, we will check whether anyone in your household is self-isolating or demonstrating COVID 19 symptoms such as coughing or high temperature. Contractors will continue to ensure their operatives use appropriate precautionary personal protective equipment and follow all government safety guidelines.

We are pleased to confirm that visits to customer homes for safety checks are going ahead with relevant control measures, such as physical distancing, wearing a face-covering, and enhanced hand hygiene. 

Window cleaning and grounds maintenance works have resumed.

We are working with contractors to proceed with as many capital projects as possible, with relevant mitigation measures in place. 

Scheduled works that have not been completed will be carried forward to the 2021/22 programme. 

We are working with contractors to proceed with as many capital projects as possible, with relevant mitigation measures in place. 

Scheduled works that have not been completed will be carried forward to the 2021/22 programme. 

We thank you all for your patience during these unprecedented times.

After the initial lockdown, we commissioned considerable 'catch-up' work, as well as developing new Safe Systems of Work with our contractors.

As the situation continues, we will assess the financial impact of our new way of working.this will be.

We will look at these costs towards the end of the financial year and make a fair and honest assessment of the costs.        

Telephone: 0131 273 4000

E-mail: hello@bield.co.uk

Bield Response 24 (24/7 help line): 0141 950 1025

Usual number for Repair Line

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bieldhousingandcare/

Twitter: @BieldScotland

The number of visitors you can have in your home depends on which Protection Level your local authority has been designated. 

To find out what your Protection Level your local authority area is designated, visit the Scottish Government website postcode checker.

Remember, the designation can change depending on the progress of the virus.

You can read a full list of restrictions and guidance at the Scottish Government website.

General Rules

• Indoor socialising permitted 8:3
• No non-essential travel 3 areas or above
• Shops, hairdressers, pubs and restaurants open
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• Physical distancing

Bield Services

• Face-covering in shared spaces
• Letting permitted with safety measures
• Routine and emergency repairs permitted– contractors wearing face-coverings
• Dining rooms open
• Lounges open – subject to local risk assessment
• Laundry open

You can read a full list of restrictions and guidance at the Scottish Government website.

General rules

• Indoor socialising permitted 6:2
• No non-essential travel 3 areas or above
• Shops, hairdressers, pubs and restaurants open
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• Physical distancing

Bield Services

• Face-covering in shared spaces
• Letting permitted with safety measures
• Routine and emergency repairs – with safety measures, including contractors wearing face-coverings
• Dining rooms open – with safety measures
• Lounges closed
• Laundry open – subject to restrictions

You can read a full list of restrictions and guidance at the Scottish Government website.

General rules

• No in-home socialising permitted
• Outdoor socialising – 6:2
• Avoid non-essential travel to places designated as Protection Level 3 or 4
• Shops, hairdressers, pubs and restaurants open
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• Physical distancing

Bield Services

• Face-covering in shared spaces
• Letting permitted with safety measures
• Routine and emergency repairs – contractors wearing face-coverings
• Dining rooms open – with safety measures
• Lounges closed
• Laundry open – subject to restrictions

You can read a full list of restrictions and guidance at the Scottish Government website.

General rules

• No in-home socialising permitted
• Outdoor socialising  – 6 people 2 families
• No non-essential travel in or out of the area
• Shops, hairdressers, pubs and restaurants open (food only, no alcohol)
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• Physical distancing

Bield Services

• Face-covering in shared spaces
• Letting permitted with safety measures
• Routine and emergency repairs can go ahead – contractors wearing face-coverings
• Dining rooms open – with safety measures
• Lounges closed
• Laundry open – subject to restrictions

You can read a full list of restrictions and guidance at the Scottish Government website.

General rules

• No in-home socialising permitted
• Outdoor socialising – 6 people :2 families
• Avoid any unnecessary travel out of the area
• Non essential shops, pubs and restaurants closed with the exception of take-aways
• Wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• Physical distancing

Bield Services

• Face-covering in shared spaces
• Lets to homeless only
• Emergency and urgent repairs only – contractors wearing face-coverings and other safety measures
• Dining rooms closed
• Lounges closed
• Laundry open – subject to restrictions