Scale and urgency of the situation demands joint working to find solutions
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for urgent four nation talks to continue to drive coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission to the lowest possible level.
Acting quickly and decisively is essential, said the First Minister, pointing to scientific opinion that bringing the virus back under control will require measures beyond those which any of the four nations have so far announced.
Last night’s letter also highlights the fact that the ability of the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations to take action is curtailed by a lack of financial levers to deliver economic support, for example to the hospitality sector.
The First Minister said four-nation talks should consider three inter-related questions:
Based on the most recent data, what further actions might be necessary and is it possible to reach early four nations agreement on introducing them?
Given that further restrictions will inevitably have an economic impact, what support is required for affected sectors?
If it is not possible to reach a four nations agreement on further restrictions with associated support, what arrangements can be put in place to ensure that devolved administrations are not constrained in making what they judge to be essential public health decisions because they lack the financial flexibility to provide support to affected sectors or individuals?
Similar to the 2019 Index however, more standardised packaging and recycling instructions (69%), coupled with an easier recycling system (52%), would be a major motivator to encourage more people to recycle their household waste.
Reassuringly, the survey found that the increase in use and disposal of single-use products, for example face masks and plastic bottles, during the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a negative impact on attitudes to recycling, with more than half of those surveyed (55%) saying this makes it more important to find recycling solutions for all materials.
The 2020 Recycling Index also found that Edinburghers are ready to lead the charge with three quarters of those polled believing it is up to individuals to ensure their rubbish and waste is recycled.
However, the majority (85%) believe the council has a responsibility here, with three quarters also saying national government still has a key role to play in driving change. In addition, 87% believe non-recyclable waste should be used to create energy.
With an increasing focus on returning products to a circular economy and an increased use of recycled materials, the poll reveals around nine out of ten people would still buy their regular products if the packaging is updated to be more environmentally friendly, both in terms of material (87%) and coloured plastic (86%).
Sixty three per cent said they were more likely to purchase products made from recyclable packaging, however 44% of Edinburgh residents would not be prepared to pay any more money for these.
Labelling also remains a challenge with 39% of those surveyed admitting they still found current labelling on packaging confusing – representing a 6% increase on 2019’s survey. In spite of this however, 83% of Edinburgh residents say they do take notice of recycling information on product packaging.
The lack of uniformity in terms of recycling across different local councils continues to be recognised by consumers with only 29% of those surveyed believing recycling collections are consistent across the UK.
Viridor CEO Phil Piddington(above)said: “Viridor has been listening to consumer attitudes to recycling for five years and applying the lessons we’ve learnt to the way we run our business.
“Like Edinburgh residents, we think producers should bear the cost of recycling as not only is it important to take responsibility for everything we produce, this acts as a powerful motivating factor influencing product design.
“Viridor has always been very clear that the key to empowering the circular economy is ensuring that everything we produce is designed with recycling in mind. That’s why Viridor was a founding member of WRAP’s Plastic Pact, working with cross-sector partners to achieve the pact’s 2025 recyclability goals.”
Steven Don,Head of Local Authority Contracts Scotland, Viridor, said: “Our Recycling Index shows that the people of Edinburgh care about recycling and feel empowered to play their part.
“There is, however, always room for improvement, particularly in adapting recycling processes and ensuring information is as transparent as possible. We are making real progress in Scotland with Viridor currently working in partnership with more than 90% of Scottish councils to streamline services.
“Viridor has ambitious plans for Scotland’s circular economy which we shared earlier this summer. Our vision for a Scottish Circular Economy and Innovation Park will ensure the country is at the forefront of the green recovery.”
Scottish International Storytelling Festival programme revealed
Set sail this autumn, as the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) takes audiences on a voyage, exploring Scotland’s coasts and water through music and storytelling.
The 2020 SISF programme promises an eclectic mix of online events spanning across the globe and small-scale face-to-face events, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by the sea’.
Events shine a light on lost stories of Scottish and international culture, give a new perspective on historical experiences and captivate, entertain and educate audiences on everything from Scottish colonial history to our connection to the natural world.
Over 100 performers will take part in the festival and countries represented include USA, Colombia, Canada, Italy, Spain, England, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Holland, Iran, Sierra Leone and Iceland. 93 events in total will take place in Edinburgh and across Scotland with 43 of these planned to be in-person experiences subject to Scottish Government Guidelines.
This year’s festival theme ‘In the Flow’ presents Voyage, a series of new work developed by storytellers and musicians for VisitScotland’s ‘Year of Coasts and Waters’, supported by the Scottish Government Festival Expo Fund.
Premiered as a pre-recorded studio broadcasts to be streamed online, Voyage is a collection of fourteen performances sharing tales of real and imaginary voyages that have connected Scotland to other coastal countries, near and far.
Highlights in the Voyage programme supported by the Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund and CalMac Ferries include:
Award winning performers Apphia Campbell and Mara Menzies collaborate for the first time on Nanny of the Maroons sharing the story of the Jamacian hero ‘Queen Nanny’ leader of the known as the Windward Maroons who helped those fleeing enslavement on Scottish owned plantations
Donald Smith’s reimaging of the iconic travelogue Johnson and Boswell’s Tour to the Hebrides featuring leading actors Andy Cannon and Christopher Craig.
Storyteller Nicola Wright revives the almost forgotten Scottish National Antarctic Expedition by explorer William Speirs Bruce whose success was ignored by the Royal Geographic Society.
One of Scotland’s best loved storytellers Andy Cannon steps over 700 years back in time as he sets out on a journey to bring the first ruling Queen of the Scots from Norway to Edinburgh Castle in Tales of a Grandson: The Maid of Norway
Award winning storyteller Fiona Herbert is joined by musician Emma Durkan as she draws the story of the mythical Cailleach from the depths of the world’s third largest whirlpool Corryvreckan in Argyll and Bute.
Music collaborations see David Francis & Hamish Napier celebrate the River Spey in Speyside to Fireside, and in Deiseal | Sunwise Mike Vass joins Ian Stephen for a journey to St Kilda, and ancient instrument musician John Kenny collaborates with sister Marion on The Voyage of St Brendan.
Speaking at the Festival launch last week, Scottish International Storytelling Festival Director Donald Smith said: “Stories and songs are vital for human survival. They carry our emotions, memories and values.
“They bind us together as families, communities and a nation, especially through tough times. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival will continue to channel that flow with an increased focus on wellbeing in the year of Covid-19.”
Socially distanced small-scale in-person events planned for the festival include:
Leaving Iona, a new show by Donald Smith and Heather Yule at St Columba’s by the Castle giving voice to the women, poets and monks of Columba’s / Colmcille’s story 1500 years after his birth.
Scuttlebut Stories! at Padlox Escape Rooms in Leith sees local storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks invite audiences to join them for some tall tales and spirited shanties, a heady blend of stories and songs of the sea that link Scotland and Scandinavia.
Small-scale indoor events will also take place at Universal Hall Findhorn, the Scottish Crannog Centre near Aberfeldy, Abbotsford House and other locations in the Borders. At the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, open mic Storytelling Cafés will also take place every day of the festival from 4pm.
Outdoor promenade performances will take place as Storytelling Walks departing from the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Enchanted Garden: Paths of Stories taking audiences on a journey around the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Sangs an’ Clatter: Campfire Tales at Damshot Woods in Pollock will return storytelling to one of its most traditional settings.
All plans are subject to Scottish Government guidance during the festival period.
The workshop programme strand Global Lab returns, hosting a series of digital workshops with live participation bringing together storytellers, artists, activists and educators from across the globe to explore sustainability, ecology and healing.
Taking place online daily throughout the festival the workshop programme offers inspiring examples of creative practice in the arts, education and frontline activism, with the opportunity to share, question and discuss.
Contributors include NYC-based Laura Simms who will speak on Deep Healing and Ecology, social and environmental activist Grian Cutanda who will share his work on the Earth Stories Collection and Julie Cajune and Douglas Mackay whose work explores connections between Native America and Scotland.
Edinburgh’s long running story night Guid Crack returns online throughout the festival and the Storytelling Festival’s famous Open Hearth sessions also move online, with live digital participation in a ceilidh of cultures, hosted by some of the finest traditional storytellers from Scotland and around the world.
Running alongside SISF, the Community and Families Programme bookends the festival running between 12th October and 30th November. The programme will pair local storytellers with partner organisations in online and small-scale live settings, unlocking the ethos of ‘going local’.
Community groups and schools can take part in The Big Scottish Story Ripple (#StoryRipple) by holding a storytelling event led by a professional storyteller.
Groups can apply for a subsidy that will cover the cost of their storyteller’s fees. In return, successful applicants must offer a good deed back to their local community on or before St Andrew’s Day – continuing the ripple of kindness.
As this year’s festival closes with a celebration of the Feast of Samhuinn, the 2020 Scottish International Storytelling Festival is on the hunt for Scotland’s Greatest Ghost Stories. The call is going out to find local ghost stories and to encourage people in Scotland to discover those in their own area. As part of the festival a ghoulish storytelling workshop will be held to encourage storytelling enthusiasts of all ages to become frighteningly good!
More than 900 charities get a much-needed cash boost after toughest year yet
Scotland’s Kiltwalkers and The Hunter Foundation have raised a massive £5 million for over 900 Scottish charities in 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic saw all four of Kiltwalk’s planned events, in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh cancelled, but Kiltwalkers all over the country took part in virtual events to support their chosen charities.
The fundraising deadline for last week’s Edinburgh Big Virtual Weekend closed at midnight last night [Monday], which alone raised £1.3 million. Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation today announced this figure would not be topped-up by 50%, but will be doubled to 100%. This brings the fundraising from that weekend to £2.6 million.
Earlier this summer, Kiltwalk’s emergency pay-outs in Glasgow and Aberdeen plus the Dundee Virtual Kiltwalk raised £1.2 million and The Hunter Foundation doubled that to £2.4 million.
In total in 2020, Kiltwalkers raised £2.5 million and The Hunter Foundation doubled that to £5 million.
Sir Tom Hunter praised the Kiltwalk Kindness of the 16,000 Scots who dug deep as they walked, cycled, ran and swam separately all over Scotland observing the social distancing measures.
Sir Tom said in a video: “At a time when there’s not much good news about, we want to bring you some great news this morning from the Kiltwalk. The Edinburgh Virtual Kiltwalk took place and you hopped, skipped, jumped and even swam to raise money for what you care about. This morning, you have raised an amazing £1.3 million and more than 535 different Scottish charities will benefit, so thank you.
“As the numbers were coming in last night, we said if you can do £1.3 million, then we’ll do £1.3 million, so it’s a 100% top up from The Hunter Foundation this morning, because we just think you’re amazing.
“So in a year, a very strange year where we’ve not been able to walk together, for obvious reasons, but between Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and now Edinburgh, you Kiltwalkers have raised an amazing £2.5 million for the charities you care about and The Hunter Foundation has topped it up with another £2.5million.
“So this year, £5 million is going to the charities you care about, the folks who really need it are getting a hand up, not a hand out. So thank you. We’ll be back next year, no doubt about it. You can’t keep a good Kiltwalker down!”
Donna Paterson-Harvie, Founder of Neil’s Hugs charity, based in Linlithgow, said: “A huge thanks to everyone that supported us! We’re a tiny charity in West Lothian and having over 100 people raising funds means the world.
“The £15,000 raised – now £30,000 – will allow us to continue to offer one-to-one and group support for people affected by suicide and support those struggling with poor mental health by helping to reduce isolation and offering virtual safe spaces. Given the current climate, demand for this support is higher than ever so we are so grateful to the walkers, those who donated and Sir Tom Hunter”.
Co-founder, Chair and Director of Fundraising at It’s Good 2 Give, Lynne McNicoll OBE said: “Our heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every Kiltwalker and those who donated.
“Every penny of the £30,000 raised, plus Sir Tom’s incredible kindness takes it to £60,000 and this will allow us to continue supporting young cancer patients and their families by providing practical support such as supermarket vouchers, family activity packs and even equipment such as Vein Finder machines that help reduce the trauma of treatment for young cancer patients.
“It’s so difficult for everyone just now so we are super grateful to our supporters for the vital funds now more than ever”.
Bridie Ashrowan, CEO of Space and Broomhill Hub said: “All funds raised will go to Space & The Broomhouse Hub. We support hundreds of vulnerable families, young people and older folk in South West Edinburgh, particularly with well-being which is badly needed amid the Covid crisis.
“Our café courtyard area has never been more important, so funds raised will also go towards completing that, with the help of local people in the community, to make it a lovely space. Our profound thanks to all, we raised £950 and to The Hunter Foundation for the 100% top up to £1,900. It makes those 24 miles and Lyn’s bungee jump for the Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend all the more meaningful!”
The UK’s biggest cat charity is asking animal lovers to get in touch with their local MP to urge them to support compulsory microchipping of pet cats.
Cats Protection is campaigning for microchipping to become a legal requirement for pet cats, as it already is for dogs, to help improve feline welfare.
The charity will be hosting an online event for politicians on 20 October 2020, and is asking supporters to get in touch with their local MP to ask them to attend and pledge their support to the charity’s campaign.
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “We need to get as many MPs as possible to support a change in the law to make it compulsory to microchip pet cats.
“After years of campaigning by Cats Protection, major political parties put compulsory microchipping of cats in their 2019 election manifestos. But no progress has been made and the issue risks falling off the political agenda.
“As a nation of animal lovers, we know that many people will want to see their local MP taking a keen interest in animal welfare issues. By getting in touch with your MP and asking them to join in our online event you’ll be helping us move a step closer to a law change which will benefit countless cats and kittens in the future.
“Our campaign for compulsory microchipping of pet cats is one of a number of issues we’re working on to improve feline welfare across the UK. We’re grateful for support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which helps make this work possible and ensures a better future for one of the nation’s favourite pets.”
Microchipping is the safe and permanent way to identify a cat and reunite a lost cat with their owner. Owners of unchipped cats can suffer unnecessary heartbreak not knowing the fate of their cat if they go missing.
Yet despite this, statistics show that over three million owned cats (29%) are still not microchipped (PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2019). Making microchipping compulsory will significantly drive up numbers of microchipped owned cats. Microchipping was made compulsory for dogs in 2016 and as a result 92% are chipped.
UNISON calls for government help as city council faces hundreds of job losses due to Covid and funding crisis
Edinburgh UNISON, the union representing most Edinburgh council workers, fears that hundreds of jobs could go over the coming months due to the Covid Crisis and poor funding settlements from the Scottish Government.
Tomorrow (Thursday 24 September), Edinburgh councillors will discuss the updated budget shortfall of £12.2 million due to the council’s Covid response.
Gerry Stovin, Edinburgh UNISON assistant branch secretary said: “With this figure, plus the proposed £25 million in cuts already approved for next year and this year’s cuts and savings not achieved, we could be facing a further £50 million of cuts over the next 12 months.
“This would have a disastrous effect on essential services the public rely on, especially at this critical time.
“UNISON is calling on the Scottish Government and COSLA to agree short term additional funding to cover the cost of Covid, financial flexibility and fundraising powers along with a fairer budget settlement for April 2021 for all Scottish councils.”
Over 100,000 local people benefit from more than £610,000 awarded to the region to date
Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has noted a significant increase in the number of funding applications submitted in the last six-months compared to the same period last year.
Since the start of the crisis the Scottish funder has received almost the same number of applications in the last 6 months as it received in the whole of last financial year. The number of Scottish charities and community groups receiving funding across all the charity’s funding programmes has grown by a staggering 92%.
The community foundation was quick to respond to the impending crisis. Their Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund launched at the end of March and was the first source of community funding to open as the coronavirus pandemic hit the country.
Working in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust (NET), a new and additional £3.6 Million has been awarded to the sector in Scotland so far. This sizable new source of funding has to date enabled over 900 organisations to deliver key services to over one million people through the crisis the length and breadth of the country.
Locally, this support has reached over 100,000 locals across Edinburgh and the Lothians. 152 projects have shared a total of £616,246 in the region to date. Local organisations such as Open Door Accommodation Project, Brock Garden Centre SCIO, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Bikes for Refugees have all received essential support.
Edinburgh-based Street Fit Scotland received £5,000 to provide digital devices, online fitness classes and peer support sessions to 30 local people to help reduce isolation, self-harmful behaviours and suicide risk whilst supporting their mental and physical well-being.
Michelle Reilly, Founder, Street Fit Scotland, (above) said: “This life-changing award could not have come at a better time for Street Fit Scotland. Thanks to Foundation Scotland we are now able to deliver free outdoor fitness sessions in the Meadows to support the homeless community and others to re-engage back into society supporting them to get fit active and healthy.
“This is a great opportunity giving people the chance to recover from periods of isolation. All or sessions are socially distanced, and we have created the safest environment we can following all government guidance.”
Foundation Scotland distributes charitable funds on behalf of over 400 individuals, families, companies, public bodies and charitable trusts including this key partnership with NET. The foundation manages over 120 funding programmes and has distributed £100m to the third sector since its launch in 1996.
Helen Wray, Programme Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We could see the impact that COVID was going to have and we knew we needed to move extremely quickly so that we could continue to deliver reliable financial support to groups delivering essential services across the country.
“Fortunately, our partnership with NET meant we were able to respond immediately and could open and offer new funding opportunities. At the same time, we have kept all of our other important funding streams open as normal.
“We are working relentlessly to get support to where it is needed most through this challenging time. Since April this year, we have assessed the same volume of applications as we did through the entirety of 2019.
We appreciate that funding is becoming harder to secure and demand for essential services is often higher than ever before. So we are delighted that due to an increase in funding from NET, we are able to continue to offer these essential awards to allow groups to apply for support where they need it most. We are however encouraging groups to apply as soon as they can.”
The Foundation Scotland Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund continues to offer grants of between £1,000-£5,000 to constituted community groups and registered charities.
The fund is currently in its ‘recovery’ phase supporting organisations to plan ahead, to continue their operations in the ‘new normal’, re-establish or re-design their activities to comply with new regulations.
Examples of projects include those needing support to restart face to face services, counselling groups helping those experiencing mental health issues, bereavement and domestic abuse support services and organisations needing to increase hygiene policies to safely reopen.
Foundation Scotland is eager to distribute funds quickly to communities in need and is appealing to eligible groups to apply quickly as they respond and recover from the crisis.
Fourteen grassroots music venues in Edinburgh, including Sneaky Pete’s, Summerhall and The Jazz Bar, have received emergency funds through the Scottish Government’sGrassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund.
Aimed at providing grassroots music venues with emergency support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and prevent closure, the £2.2million fund, which launched on Thursday 3 September, received 98 applications from across Scotland, totalling £3.2million.
All 72 eligible applications have received funding.
Alan Morrison, head of Music at Creative Scotlandsaid: ““Live music has been hit particularly hard by Covid-19, and Creative Scotland is only too aware of the severity of that impact.
“These awards, to 72 venues across Scotland, will help bring short-term stability to the grassroots music sector and alleviate some of the challenges that the ongoing pandemic has presented.
“Music is such a significant part of Scotland’s cultural life and it is here, at grassroots level, that talented musicians create new material connecting with audiences young and old. We look forward to the day when we’ll all be back together, cheering on artists face to face – but, until then, this fund will provide a lifeline to one of the most vibrant scenes that Scotland has to offer.”
Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director, Music Venue Trustsaid: “Music Venue Trust is grateful to Scottish Government for creating a ring-fenced fund which recognises the vital role that Grassroots Music Venues play in Scottish culture.
“There is still a lot of work to do to support these venues through the crisis but to see so many venues awarded short-term financial support is an incredible step forward. We thank Creative Scotland for working so hard to make this possible and involving us in shaping the fund so it could be targeted effectively. We look forward to working further with them.”
Recipients of the Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund across Edinburgh are:
Bannermans £38,000.00 Henry’s Cellar Bar £40,000.00 La Belle Angele £40,000.00 Leith Depot £32,882.00 Opium £35,000.00 Sneaky Pete’s £40,000.00 Stramash £35,000.00 Summerhall £40,000.00 The Caves £38,000.00 The Jazz Bar £40,000.00 Liquid Room £40,000.00 The Jam House £39,500.00 The Voodoo Rooms £40,000.00 WhistleBinkies £35,000.00
The Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund is one of a series of measures being put in place to help mitigate the immediate impacts of COVID-19 on the creative and cultural sector, including five new emergency funds which were announced by the First Minister on Friday 28 August.
They are being delivered through Creative Scotland as follows:
The £5million Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund for which we issued an open call for partner organisations to help us distribute this fund on Friday 11 September with a deadline of Friday 25 September. We aim to be able to distribute funds from October. The Screen element of these Hardship Funds will open for applications on Tuesday 22 September.
The £5million Sustaining Creative Practice Fund includes £1.5million for the Culture Collective programme, mentioned in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, supporting organisations employing freelance artists to work in and with communities across Scotland.
The remaining £3.5million has been added to Creative Scotland’s existing open fund which is open for applications from individuals now.
The previously announced £5million open call element of the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund which closed for applications on Thursday 27 August has received 42 applications and awards will be announced by Thursday 24 September.
Updates on all emergency funds are being published regularly on the Creative Scotland website and publicised through media and social media communications.
Officers from Edinburgh Road Policing Unit are appealing for information after a road crash on Friday (18 September, 2020).
Around 9.45pm on Friday evening, a 26-year-old man was riding his electric scooter to cross the road on Great King Street at its junction with Dundas Street, when he was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop.
The man returned home then later made his way to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
Police were then made aware of the incident.
Inspector Roger Park said: “Since this crash was reported to us, we have been carrying out enquiries to establish more details on this incident, and we are working to identify the vehicle involved and trace its occupants.
“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident, or who was driving on this road around the time of the crash on Friday evening who has dash-cam footage to get in touch, as they may have information that will help our investigation.”
Anyone with details should contact Edinburgh Road Policing Unit on 101 quoting reference number 4418 of 18 September.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on coronavirus
Good evening, the struggle against covid is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime.
In less than a year this disease has killed almost a million people, and caused havoc to economies everywhere.
Here in the UK we mourn every person we have lost, and we grieve with their families.
And yet I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win – and to achieve what we must I want to talk to you directly tonight about the choices that we face – none of them easy – and why we must take action now.
I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before.
When the sickness took hold in this country in March, we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community. We followed the guidance to the letter. We stayed at home, protected the NHS, and saved thousands of lives.
And for months with those disciplines of social distancing we have kept that virus at bay.
But we have to acknowledge this this is a great and freedom-loving country; and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches – too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.
The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing.
We can see what is happening in France and Spain, and we know, alas, that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring, and that the vast majority of our people are no less susceptible, and the iron laws of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths, many more families losing loved ones before their time; and I know that faced with that risk the British people will want their government to continue to fight to protect them, you, and that is what we are doing, night and day.
And yet the single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves – the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress covid now.
So today I set out a package of tougher measures in England – early closing for pubs, bars; table service only; closing businesses that are not covid secure; expanding the use of face coverings, and new fines for those that fail to comply; and once again asking office workers to work from home if they can while enforcing the rule of six indoors and outdoors – a tougher package of national measures combined with the potential for tougher local restrictions for areas already in lockdown.
I know that this approach – robust but proportionate – already carries the support of all the main parties in parliament.
After discussion with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations, I believe this broad approach is shared across the whole UK. And to those who say we don’t need this stuff, and we should leave people to take their own risks, I say these risks are not our own.
The tragic reality of having covid is that your mild cough can be someone else’s death knell.
And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable – with all the suffering that would entail – I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers.
That’s why we need to suppress the virus now, and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules, we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to £10,000. We will put more police out on the streets and use the army to backfill if necessary.
And of course I am deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyone’s freedom, but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring.
If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space – once again – to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-covid medical needs.
And if we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend.
It would mean renewed loneliness and confinement for the elderly and vulnerable, and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children. We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again.
But if people don’t follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further. We must take action now because a stitch in time saves nine; and this way we can keep people in work, we can keep our shops and our schools open, and we can keep our country moving forward while we work together to suppress the virus.
That is our strategy, and if we can follow this package together, then I know we can succeed because in so many ways we are better prepared than before. We have the PPE, we have the beds, we have the Nightingales, we have new medicines – pioneered in this country – that can help save lives.
And though our doctors and our medical advisers are rightly worried about the data now, and the risks over winter, they are unanimous that things will be far better by the spring, when we have not only the hope of a vaccine, but one day soon – and I must stress that we are not there yet – of mass testing so efficient that people will be able to be tested in minutes so they can do more of the things they love.
That’s the hope; that’s the dream. It’s hard, but it’s attainable, and we are working as hard as we can to get there.
But until we do, we must rely on our willingness to look out for each other, to protect each other. Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour.
If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come.
And the fight against covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.
But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): What has changed?
The UK Government has today announced further national measures to address rising cases of coronavirus in England.
It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:
HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
FACE – Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.
Face Coverings
Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings (from 24 September).
People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law. (from 24 September)
Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.
Working from home
To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so. Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.
Businesses
Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, and adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include take-aways but delivery services can continue after 10pm. (from 24 September)
In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume indoors, on site. (from 24 September)
Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally. (from 24 September)
Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September).
A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.
Meeting people safely
Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September)
Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people. (From 24 September)
There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14. (from 24 September)
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).
Government has announced an initial £60 million to support additional enforcement activity by local authorities and the police, in addition to funding that has already been awarded.
The spread of the virus is also affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibition halls and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1 October.
The government’s expectation is the measures described above will need to remain in place until March.
These measures apply to England – but there may be different rules if you live in an area under local lockdown: and you should check local lockdown rules. If you are in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, different rules may apply.
