Corona-virus Update

Published

27th July 2020

Dundee City Council is working closely with partners across the city to deal with the ongoing impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Officers are monitoring the local situation and following the advice given by government and NHS public health experts. The council continues to consider appropriate actions based on national guidance.

As of today (Friday July 24):

  • An ambitious plan to boost Dundee’s growing tourism sector has been unveiled;
  • everything is being done to ensure that city schools will be ready to open in August if it is safe to do so; and
  • advice is being offered to people who have been shielding in Dundee as a national food provision scheme comes to an end.

 

Delivery of the Dundee Tourism Recovery Plan - Covid 19 will be overseen by leading tourism experts to ensure the city is ready to progress and strengthen its tourism offer as quickly as possible as Coronavirus restrictions ease.

It sets out key objectives to ensure the city maximises its reputation as a must-see destination despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 and will see the creation of a city narrative to tell the authentic story of Dundee, as well as considering the changing markets for tourism and new priorities for prospective visitors.

In addition the plan seeks to anticipate and respond to seasonal demand, grow visitor numbers and ensure environmental sustainability remains a key focus of the city’s tourism activity.

 

It has been designed to work in partnership with Dundee’s Cultural Recovery and Resilience Plan and with the city’s economic recovery plan.

 

2.

Stewart Hunter children and families service convener welcomed the latest update from Deputy First Minister John Swinney on how guidance is developing from scientific advice about coronavirus.

Cllr Hunter said: “This is extremely helpful for our efforts across Dundee to plan how pupils will return to the classroom, if it is safe to do so.

“There will be a consistent approach to safety across Dundee working with our trade union colleagues and there will be measures taken in each school to achieve this for both pupils and staff.

“The city council will be providing ongoing information to families through its website and social media channels to give as much clarity as possible over a range of issues including transport and school meals.

“Individual schools themselves will be in touch with families about the exact details of how the return will go ahead.”

A final decision is expected from the Scottish Government next week on whether schools can open full time but in the meantime the council is continuing to work hard to make sure that if confirmation is received, children and young people will be back into the classroom from August 12.

Around 1400 people shielding at home across Dundee received Scottish Government-supplied grocery boxes because they were unable to access alternative local support.

With people who have been shielding allowed to visit shops from today (FRIDAY) the national food box scheme will make its last deliveries next Friday (July 31).

Council staff are contacting everyone who has been in receipt of the grocery boxes to make them aware of the changes and give them advice on how to make alternative arrangements.

A full list of council services affected by Coronavirus can be found on the Dundee City Council website.

Dundee City Council

Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.

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