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).
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, has confirmed that pest management is an essential sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Industry trade bodies have been lobbying the Government and DEFRA has now confirmed that pest management is covered in the key worker list under the ‘food and necessary goods’ section, specifically in relation to hygiene.
The Government in Northern Ireland had previously confirmed pest management is an essential service and trade bodies were expecting the rest of the UK to follow.
Key worker status confirmed by UK government
This means that if the UK enters further lock down measures pest management companies will have the ability to continue to protect the public.
What does this mean for customers of PGM & SON Pest Control?
There is still a responsibility on us all to take steps to protect ourselves, our loved ones, the NHS and the rest of the general public and so this news won’t change the way we currently work.
We will only carry out visits where there is a clear and immediate threat to public health. This may include where an individual is at risk or where the wider general public may be at risk (for example where a supplier in the essential food chain needs pest management and prevention services to ensure the ongoing provision of essential services).
We continue to observe social distancing measures and we will not undertake any activity unless it presents a risk to public health. Every call to us is assessed to determine what risk it presents both from a pest perspective and from a Covid-19 perspective.
That said, we’re happy to give advice over the telephone or via email – please get in touch.
Our final message in these testing times is not to make assumptions about what other people are doing. Some people may be managing relatively easily during this time and some individuals with pest issues may well be able to cope and manage until the lock down is eased. However, there are many people out there who cannot cope or manage as easily as others; they may not have the space, the support, the money or the know how to deal with a pest problem and they may well have a significant pest issue outside of their control.
So, we need to ensure that services continue to be available for those people. Please THINK BEFORE YOU POST your comments - it’s easy to make an assumption and judge others but not so easy to put yourself at risk to help others…
If you need advice on a pest issue email contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk
or call us on 01981 241334. We’re here to help, not judge.
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