The emergence and greater transmissibility of the Omicron variant has caused consternation around the world, leading to new restrictions and travel bans being put in place. In the UK, the government has introduced its Plan B restrictions – which includes mandatory mask-wearing in certain situations, working from home if you can, and Covid passports – to help stem the spread of Omicron.
While it’s not yet clear if Omicron is more dangerous than previous variants, and the vaccine is still offering very good protection against the disease, there has been talk of further new restrictions, or even another lockdown to slow the spread of the new variant.
Daniel Evans, chair of the AIIC and managing director of Home Inventories, commented:
“Throughout the whole pandemic, we have taken a cautious, sensible, pragmatic approach. Even during the worst days of Covid, inventory clerks have continued to work and visit people’s houses as essential workers. So we became used to still working when Covid was at its most dangerous, and when the vaccine programme hadn’t started yet.”
“Without inventories, the majority of landlords won’t let, so we were performing a crucial service and we made sure that our clerks were fully protected, with the right precautions and measures in place. This included full PPE and keeping social distancing at all times, something that we continued to insist on even once society reopened.”
All AIIC clerks have continued to wear face masks and gloves, and adhere to social distancing rules, even when restrictions eased, to be on the safe side.
“As a result, we’re in an excellent position to set an example to the industry in terms of keeping the new variant at bay and preventing its spread, by taking small, simple and sensible precautions to ensure everyone is kept fully protected,” Evans said.
“There’s still a lot we don’t know about Omicron, but until we know more it’s wise to err very much on the side of the caution – as the government is doing with the restrictions its reimplemented. We can all play our part, particularly in the lettings sector, by being Covid-safe and sensible in all our dealings, especially when it comes to face-to-face interactions with clients.”
Evans says this is especially important during the winter period, when people tend to be more vulnerable to illness and disease anyway.
Evans concluded:
“We know by now that small measures – such as mask wearing, ventilation and social distancing – can make a major difference when it comes to combating the threat of Covid. As a people-facing, consumer-facing sector, who are required to visit houses in person to perform their work, it would be incredibly remiss and irresponsible of us not to take the necessary precautions."
“We can set a standard for the rest of the industry to follow and live up to.”
