Include veterinary surgeons and their staff in the critical workers definition. · petition

What the petition asks

Require the Department of Education to extend their definition of critical workers to include veterinary surgeons and staff so their children can receive schooling and they can still attend their essential animal welfare work.

To prevent unnecessary suffering and ensure all animals can receive treatment during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Companion animals, animals in shelters and livestock need not suffer from a lack of veterinary treatment as a result of social distancing and the essential measures required to slow down the spread of the pandemic.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

The Government has published guidance for schools on maintaining educational provision for the children of key workers. You can read this here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Following this, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) issued a joint statement to provide clarification for veterinary surgeons, stating that those involved in urgent care or care related to farm animals can be considered key workers : https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/coronavirus-rcvs-and-bva-issue-joint-guidance-on-key-worker/

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

Timeline

21 Mar 2020	Petition opened for signatures
21 Apr 2020	Rejected by the Petitions Committee