Covid cases continue to climb in Scotland – record numbers recorded
People who test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) are being encouraged to securely list details of their close contacts when asked by Test and Protect.
Information collated from the online contact tracing form means Test and Protect staff can quickly identify people who have been in a higher risk setting, such as in a hospital or on a foreign holiday, and focus on contacting them by phone.
They can then be given speedy advice to help break the chain of transmission and slow the spread of the virus. Lower risk cases, and their contacts, are sent public health advice by SMS.
As case numbers increase, changes are also being made to the contact tracing system to ensure it is fully equipped to cope with continuing fluctuations in volume including:
Test and Protect contact tracing staff prioritising phone calls to high risk cases to ensure the system delivers maximum benefit as case numbers increase
ongoing recruitment in local contact tracing teams
additional surge workforce capacity introduced at the National Contact Centre, with 100 extra staff trained and deployed in July.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our Test and Protect workforce continue to play a vital role in the battle against this pandemic and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for all their efforts.
“Case numbers have increased recently and we have taken a number of steps to ensure the Test and Protect system continues to operate well under increasing pressure.
“We have supported recruitment processes in local health boards and bolstered the number of staff in the National Contact Centre. Our Test and Protect teams are also prioritising calls to cases deemed to be high risk and this is where the public can play their part.
“We are also asking anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to provide details of their contacts as soon as they are asked by Test and Protect, using our online tracing form, so that our teams can work quickly to offer advice to those most at risk.
“The majority of people comply when asked to self-isolate and we are thankful for the important role they continue to play in stopping transmission of COVID-19.
“While we are in the process of emerging from the pandemic, case rates at the moment underline the fact that this virus is still with us.”
Still with us – and for the moment at least, it’s looks like it’s winning the battle …4,323 new cases of COVID-19 were reportedyesterday – the highest total yet.
US President Joe Biden says troops are on track to meet 31 August deadline
A joint statement on Afghanistan was released by the G7 Leaders last night:
Today, 24 August 2021, under the Presidency of the United Kingdom, we the Leaders of the Group of Seven met virtually to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. We were joined by the Secretaries General of the United Nations (UN) and NATO. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the people of Afghanistan, and support the UN Security Council statement of 16 August.
We express our grave concern about the situation in Afghanistan and call for calm and restraint to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable Afghan and international citizens, and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis.
We call for adherence to obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of women, girls, and minority groups, and that international humanitarian law is upheld in all circumstances. We honour the significant sacrifices made by the Afghan people, people of our own countries, and countless others, who have worked toward a more peaceful, just and secure future for Afghanistan.
The Afghan people deserve to live in dignity, peace and security, reflecting the last two decades of their political, economic and social achievements, in particular for women and girls. Afghanistan must never again become a safe haven for terrorism, nor a source of terrorist attacks on others.
Working with partners, in particular NATO allies, we will continue to fight terrorism with resolve and solidarity, wherever it is found. Any future Afghan government must adhere to Afghanistan’s international obligations and commitment to protect against terrorism; safeguard the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities; uphold the rule of law; allow unhindered and unconditional humanitarian access; and counter human and drug trafficking effectively.
We call on all parties in Afghanistan to work in good faith to establish an inclusive and representative government, including with the meaningful participation of women and minority groups.
We affirm our enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan, including through a renewed humanitarian effort by the international community. To this end we support the UN in coordinating the immediate international humanitarian response in the region, including unfettered humanitarian access in Afghanistan, and will contribute collectively to that response.
As part of that, we will cooperate together and with neighbouring and other countries in the region on supporting Afghan refugees and host communities as part of a coordinated long-term regional response. We call on all partners of Afghanistan to support this effort and wider regional stability through multilateral channels.
As part of this, our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan. We will continue to coordinate closely on this, and we expect all parties to continue to facilitate this, and to ensure the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel, and other international service providers.
We will cooperate together, and with neighbouring and other countries in the region hosting refugees, on a coordinated approach to safe and legal routes for resettlement.
We will work together, and with our allies and regional countries, through the UN, G20 and more widely, to bring the international community together to address the critical questions facing Afghanistan.
As we do this, we will judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words. In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.
The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.
First Minister calls for more UK action on Afghanistan crisis
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the UK Government to agree to resettle more than the current commitment of 20,000 Afghan refugees in the long term and 5,000 in the first year.
The First Minister says a substantial increase in numbers is required and urgently seeks further information on how many civilians, especially women, girls and others in need of refuge, will be protected – as well as further detail on the new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Programme.
The First Minister also seeks further details on a proposed four nations summit on the Afghanistan crisis, to which the Prime Minister indicated agreement in the House of Commons on 18 August.
Her letter reads:
Thank you for your letter of 20 August seeking Scotland’s continued support in resettling vulnerable Afghans in the UK and your recognition of the role Scotland is already playing under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
I want to take this opportunity to re-iterate that Scotland is committed to playing our part in welcoming and supporting people fleeing Afghanistan, through both the programme supporting locally employed staff and resettlement of refugees.
We will work with the UK Government, COSLA, local authorities and other partners in Scotland to support these programmes and provide people with the safety and security they need to rebuild their lives.
I recognise the incredibly difficult circumstances in which UK officials and service personnel are operating in Afghanistan. Their work is invaluable for those that they are able to assist, and it is crucial that the UK makes every effort to support people to reach a place of safety.
It is imperative that these urgent evacuation operations should support as many people as possible. I ask in particular that you seek to ensure those who have worked to support British interests in Afghanistan are able to benefit from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, whether or not they were directly employed by the UK Government. We must do all we can to support people who are at risk because of the help and assistance they have given to us.
Scotland is proud to play our part in supporting people arriving from Afghanistan who worked in support of the UK. I commend the work of Scottish local authorities who have received families through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and those preparing to do so.
The Scottish Government also welcomes your announcement of a refugee resettlement programme to support Afghan nationals. I am pleased that this will be in addition to Afghans arriving through relocation and the UK’s existing commitments to global refugee resettlement. Refugee resettlement is about meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, and I note your approach to prioritise women and girls, as well as those at risk of human rights abuses.
While recognising the pressures on accommodation capacity, we are concerned that the commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees in ‘the long term’ and just 5,000 in the first year is not sufficient in the context of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding. We believe a commitment to a substantial increase in numbers is required and urgently seek further details of how civilians, especially women, girls and others in need of refuge will be protected.
As you will be aware, all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities participated in the Syrian Resettlement Programme, with over 3,500 refugees welcomed into communities across Scotland under both that programme and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme.
We want our local authorities to be able to continue to provide strong support for refugees. To do that, we need more detail about the new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Programme, including timescales for arrivals and funding to support local authority participation, as well as wider services which are essential to support people to settle and be able to begin to rebuild their lives.
People across our communities, including Afghans with family and friends who are still in Afghanistan, are distressed and concerned about how people will be able to leave and find a place of safety.
I am keen to know more about options for humanitarian routes for people in Afghanistan. In the current situation, many people will find it extremely difficult to directly reach a place of safety. We must work to reduce the risk of people being forced to make perilous journeys or becoming vulnerable to the exploitation of traffickers.
During the Westminster debate on Wednesday 18 August you indicated agreement to a summit with devolved nations. I would be grateful for more detail on plans for this.
I also welcome the commitment you made during the debate that the UK will not return Afghan nationals who have sought asylum in the UK. Given the drastic situation in Afghanistan, I expect the Home Office to consider asylum applications from Afghan nationals quickly and compassionately. Any cases which are in the asylum appeals process, or where people have previously been refused asylum on the basis that Kabul is safe, should also be urgently reviewed.
I look forward to receiving further detail about evacuation, safe routes and resettlement from Afghanistan as soon as possible. Scotland is committed to playing our part, and I am keen that communities across Scotland are able to be involved in the humanitarian response in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
As we approach the last week of summer, many people are still enjoying the warmer weather and spending some much-needed time outdoors with our furry friends.
For those lucky to have one, we might like to think of our gardens as our own little haven – but the same doesn’t always apply for our pets.
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing shares her five top tips for protecting your pets from hidden hazards:
1. Avoid poisonous plants
“Though they might be beautiful to look at, some plants and flowers are best kept well away from our pets. It’s shocking to know that common garden flowers like hydrangea, foxgloves, lily of the valley and geraniums contain toxins that can be very dangerous for our curious companions if they decide to try and eat them. It’s always worthwhile to check that any plants you’re about to pot are pet-safe – so that your borders are both a beautiful sight and a safe environment.
2. Switch to natural pest control
“Although slugs and snails are the bane of a gardener’s life, before reaching for the chemicals, remember that pesticides can be equally harmful to your pets as they can be to the pests. Instead, encourage natural predators like hedgehogs, frogs and toads to keep unwanted diners away. Try planting sacrificial plants to keep insects away from your prized bloomers and vegetables or just simply rely on birds to gobble up pests, by making your garden bird friendly. These are all safer options for you and your pet but it’s a good idea to keep your furry friends away from the helpful wildlife!
3. Pet-friendly resting spots
“Four-legged family members can easily overheat on warmer days, so make sure there are plenty of shady spots where they can relax. Trees and large shrubs create great shade, but you can also set up shelters or drape sheets over the end of an exercise run for smaller pets. If your pet enjoys sunbathing on the lawn, don’t forget that they might be at risk of sunburn and you might need to apply pet-safe suncream, especially to areas with thin or light coloured fur. If your garden is more of a wildflower meadow, be careful to direct your dog away from those long grasses. Long grass can attract lots of wildlife which means your pet could come into contact with ticks, and long eared grass seeds which can work their way into places where they shouldn’t be, which might result in vet help to get them removed.
4. A protected pond
“Ponds are great for wildlife and can transform your garden into a haven for frogs, newts and all kinds of insects. Despite this, they can sometimes be a hazard for curious cats, dogs and rabbits. It’s a good idea to fence around the area or fit a guard on top or maybe have multiple shallower, small ponds that are great for wildlife and safer for your pets to be around. These handy protections will prevent any unexpected guests from falling in the water, especially those furry friends who may be too curious for their own good. Don’t forget to give your pet another source of fresh water instead!
5. Secure the perimeter
“A sturdy fence will help prevent pets from being able to squeeze through any gaps or holes and go on an unplanned adventure. Don’t forget that small gaps in damaged fencing could trap your pet’s foot or nose if they start to get curious and small pets can dig and create their own holes if they don’t have a safe outlet for their behaviour, such as a dig box.
As well as keeping your pet safely inside the garden, a secure fence will also assist in keeping out predators like foxes, allowing smaller pets to roam safely. Ensuring that a fence is tall enough is equally important, as it will prevent any curious four-legged friends from attempting a great escape.”
PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity. We’re on a mission to improve pet wellbeing through prevention, education and treatment.
Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information.
Twelve weeks, over 1,100 miles, a quarter of a million golf shots, more than 920 lost golf balls and an estimated 30,000 people trained in life-saving CPR skills.
This is what former Armed Forces trainer, David Sullivan aged 58 from Oxted in Surrey, has accomplished after setting off from John O’Groats in June on a mammoth mission to walk across the UK while hitting a golf ball and teaching people life-saving CPR skills along the way.
David arrived at his destination of Land’s End on 22nd August.
David set himself this extraordinary task, which involved walking between 14 and 30 miles every day and camping overnight, to raise awareness of the importance of knowing CPR, and to raise funds that would enable more towns and villages across the country to install life-saving defibrillators.
At every one of David’s stops on his mammoth journey, he trained people how to perform CPR.
David’s passion for teaching CPR came about in 2016 when, while playing golf, he was faced with a life-or-death situation. When a young man experienced a cardiac arrest in front of him, David luckily knew what to do.
He gave CPR for 17 minutes until the man could be treated with a defibrillator.
“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery,” says David. “When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency.
“It was an experience which profoundly affected me, and now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”
David had hoped to raise £60k, which would mean that 60 locations in Britain could be kitted out with a defibrillator, but at just over £9k, he is hoping that completing his challenge will encourage more people to donate.
“I’m imploring individuals and businesses all over the country to support this endeavour. Until a cardiac arrest happens to you, or someone you know, it’s impossible to truly understand how critical defibrillators are. Being treated with a defibrillator can literally mean the difference between life and death.
“We saw this recently when Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. It can happen to anyone at any age at any time. Being treated with a defibrillator increases someone’s chance of survival by up to 70%.”
American Golf kindly sponsored David on this adventure.
Gary Favell, CEO of American Golf said: “David has been on an incredible journey over the last two months and American Golf is proud to have been behind him, encouraging him every step of the way.
“It’s been fantastic to see the attention that David’s challenge has garnered up and down the country, raising awareness of the importance of knowing CPR, and the enthusiasm that he has shown in training people along his route.
“Huge congratulations to David on all he has achieved – we hope he now enjoys a well-earned rest having reached his final hole.”
People will be able to access information, advice and skills needed to thrive in a net-zero economy the new Green Jobs Workforce Academy.
The Academy, which will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland, will help people take a greener approach to their careers, from accessing training and learning new skills to finding a new green job.
This 100 days commitment of the new Scottish Government has been launched as the First Minister welcomed news that ScottishPower were creating 152 new green jobs, of which 135 will be based in Scotland.
These new roles will be listed on the academy’s website alongside information on the types of jobs emerging in sectors crucial to Scotland’s transition to a net-zero economy, such as renewable energy, construction and transport.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “As we recover from the pandemic we are determined to build a fairer economy that delivers the skills, opportunities and jobs for the future that will help secure our transition to net-zero and end our contribution to climate change.
“The launch of our Green Jobs Workforce Academy is an invaluable step in preparing our current and future workforce to seize the opportunities afforded to us as part of that just transition. The academy will guide people of all ages through a process of identifying the skills they have and the skills they will need to find and secure green jobs.
“To help tackle climate change Scotland is already investing in green skills and attracting new green job opportunities. It is great to see ScottishPower creating 135 new green jobs in Scotland and I would encourage other employers to follow their lead. The Academy’s career advisors stand ready to support individuals interested in these jobs access the right training to help their career progress.
“Looking ahead to COP26 in Glasgow in November, Scotland can be proud that our climate change ambitions, backed by investment in creating a highly skilled green workforce, will be showcased on an international stage.”
CEO of ScottishPower Keith Anderson said: “As we electrify the economy to meet our Net Zero decarbonisation goals our electricity grid will have to be ready for a doubling in demand for power.
“The green jobs we’re announcing today will be critical in delivering the upgrade to the grid and critical investment in the country’s electricity infrastructure. The jobs are also part of our work to drive the green recovery forward through job creation and investment and sector that help tackle the climate emergency.”
Chair of Skills Development Scotland Frank Mitchell said: “There are already opportunities across a number of Scotland’s key economic sectors offering great career prospects for people with the right skills.
“The Green Jobs Workforce Academy will make it easier for people from a broad range of backgrounds to consider how their skills and experience can be built upon to launch a green career. It’s part of a range of measures SDS and its partners is engaged in through the Climate Emergency Skills Action to help us meet the challenges we now face.”
BUYERS looking for an ‘uncompromising’ three bedroom home in the city are being urged to visit the dream duplexes available at The Crescent – CALA Homes’ most award winning development.
Spanning more than 2000sq ft, more than twice the size of an average home in the UK, the popular style of split-level home is nestled in the Richard Murphy OBE-designed development, within the vast Donaldson’s Estate, a stone’s throw from Haymarket and Edinburgh’s city centre.
Spanning two floors, the home’s centrepiece is a one-and-a-half height fully glazed flexible living space, allowing for impressive immediate panoramas of the iconic Playfair building and beyond, with full height sliding doors which effortlessly fold back to allow the outside in.
A studio-designed high specification kitchen and dining space overlook a more private family or relaxing area, with a separate utility providing added practicality.
Its rare split-level dynamic design also allows for a craftily tucked away “crows’ nest” study, distinct but not detached from the expansive living space, with an abundance of storage beneath and breathtaking views.
Three en-suite double bedrooms feature on the private lower floor, while the cosy rear of the home features a separate large terrace, overlooking the treeline of the Water of Leith walkway, offering a private and peaceful space to relax.
Buyers also benefit from all the perks of living at The Crescent; a central location, secure parking with EV charging provision, an 18-acre maintained garden and additional security systems.
Phillip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “Those on the hunt for their next move have been looking for the following key priorities: plenty of modern living space, a private outdoor space, and a home office, all of which are included in this home.
“Another thing which creates a true feature here is the vast greenery of the estate and the spectacular views. The Crescent is blessed by its location, embracing the original Playfair building and offering views across the 18 acre estate, the Pentlands and beyond.
“A duplex showhome and virtual guided tours service are available for buyers to see this multi-level design for themselves and secure this one of a kind home within the capital.
“The final phase, The East Wing, is home to the final Duplexes at The Crescent, including plot 54, which is available for £1,480,000 and can be viewed daily by appointment alongside the showhomes.”
For more information or to arrange an appointment, please visit:
Drylaw Telford Community Council meets tomorrow evening following the summer recess.
As well as the usual agenda items, topical issues include the state of Drylaw Shopping Centre, an update on Drylaw House and Easter Drylaw Park issues.
The meeting will be held on Zoom and starts at 7pm.
For details on how you can participate please email DTCC secretary Pam Higgins, pamhigginsdtcc@gmail.com
ReDrawing Edinburgh is a community-led outreach project designed to mark the centennial commemoration of the 1920 Edinburgh Boundaries Extension and Tramways Act.
It is coordinated by a community steering group comprising representatives from each of the boundary extension areas, with support from Council Archive, Library, and Museum services.
The city boundaries were extended in November 1920 to incorporate the Burgh of Leith in the north and the Midlothian parishes of Cramond, Corstorphine, Colinton, and Liberton to the west and south of the city. The expansion meant the city grew from 17 square miles to 53 square miles and increased its population from 320,000 to 425,000.
The ‘amalgamation’, as it was referred to at the time, was welcomed by some but opposed by others – in particular Leith Town Council who fought to retain its independence. The centenary commemoration provides an opportunity for everyone to understand how the city has grown and for the communities to reaffirm their own identities and heritage.
A series of short films created as part of Redrawing Edinburgh, were produced in a partnership between local heritage and community groups and Council Archive, Library, and Museums services. These presentations explore what happened in 1920 and celebrate the identities and histories of these communities.
It is the city centre of Edinburgh that often receives the most attention, however this project focuses on the communities that joined in 1920.
Join us on the 3-18 September for Cinescapes: ReDrawing Edinburgh, a series of five pop-up outdoor screenings of a new 15-minute film.
This film has been created from archive footage showing the 5 areas which were amalgamated with Edinburgh in 1920 through the Edinburgh Boundaries Extension and Tramways Act. ReDrawing Edinburgh celebrates the strong independent identities of the areas of Cramond, Colinton, Corstorphine, Liberton, and Leith and how they have retained them throughout the past century.
This isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about identity. We’re celebrating the individual spirits that make up Edinburgh by screening the projections in the places that they are from.
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday, 24 August:
Good afternoon. The CMO and I will take questions shortly.
However, I’ll give an overview first of where we are with Covid, starting with today’s statistics.
4,323 positive cases were reported yesterday – that’s 14.5% of all tests carried out.
364 people are in hospital – 8 more than yesterday.
And 43 people are in intensive care, which is a rise of 2 from yesterday.
Sadly, a further 10 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, which means that the total number of deaths registered, under our daily definition, is now 8,080.
As always, my condolences go to everyone who has lost someone as a result of the virus.
As of this morning, 4,085,552 people have received a first dose of the vaccine.
And 3,587,145 people have received a second dose.
Around 80% of over 18 year olds have now had both doses of the vaccine. That includes 95% of over 40s – which is a genuinely remarkable uptake.
82% of 30 to 39 year olds have had a first dose, and 68% have had both doses. For 18 to 29 years, 74% have had first doses and 41% have had second doses.
16 & 17 year olds started being offered vaccine a couple of weeks ago and 40% have now had their first jag.
So uptake figures are good. But there are still eligible people out there who are not yet vaccinated and that poses a risk – to you if you are one of them and to all of us, because it means our overall level of population immunity is not as high as it could be.
So if you are 16 or over and haven’t yet done so, please get vaccinated now. You just need to turn up at a drop-in centre – you can find out where your nearest centre is by visiting the NHS Inform site, or by checking the social media pages of your local health board.
I have two further issues I want to cover today.
In a moment, I will discuss the overall course of the pandemic – including the rise in cases that we have seen during the last week.
But before that, I want to confirm an announcement made in the last half hour or so.
The Scottish Government has always been committed to the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic.
I can confirm that, today, we have started the process of getting the inquiry up and running. It will be established by the end of this year as promised and will take a persons-centered, human rights based approach.
We have just published draft aims and principles for the inquiry which, following consultation between now and the end of September, with interested parties, including bereaved families, are intended to become the formal Terms of Reference.
A copy of the draft and details of how to contribute views can be found on the Scottish Government website.
The Lord Advocate has also begun discussions with the Lord President about appointing a judge to lead the inquiry. It is fully our intention that this will be a judge-led inquiry.
The inquiry will look at all matters related to the handling of the pandemic that were within our devolved competence. This will include, of course, the situation in care homes.
However, we will also liaise closely with the UK Government – and with other devolved governments – on the likely terms of a UK wide inquiry. Where possible it will be important to avoid duplication and overlap to reduce the burden on those giving evidence.
However, the need for co-operation with other governments is not a reason to delay the establishment of our own inquiry.
I believe that a full public inquiry has a very important role to play, both in scrutinising the decisions we took – and indeed continue to take – in the course of the pandemic, and also in identifying and learning lessons for the future.
I therefore believe that it is appropriate to establish that inquiry as soon as possible. The process that we have begun today is an important step towards that.
The second point I want to address is the sharp rise in cases that we have seen in the last few days.
New cases in Scotland have more than doubled during the last week. This is one of the sharpest rises we have seen during the pandemic.
As a result, new cases are now slightly higher than the exceptional levels we saw in early July. In fact today’s daily figure is the largest we have ever recorded. Though it is worth remembering that we do more testing now than in the early stages of the pandemic.
Now, we always knew that cases were likely to rise as restrictions eased – so to some extent what we are seeing now is not entirely unexpected.
However, the scale of the increase is still a cause of real concern – although context is still important.
We know that vaccination is making a big difference.
Indeed that explains why so many of the new cases we are seeing just now are in younger people less likely to have had both doses of vaccine. Around half of new cases are in people under the age of 25.
We shouldn’t be complacent about that of course. Young people can fall seriously ill from Covid, including through long Covid.
And of course vaccination does not provide anyone – of any age – with 100% protection. In fact around 1/3 of new cases recently, have been in people who had been fully vaccinated.
However, vaccination does make us somewhat less likely to get Covid and significantly less likely to fall seriously ill from Covid.
That means vaccination is still significantly weakening the link between high numbers of new cases and serious harm to people’s health.
That’s why we are able to take a different – much less restrictive – approach to dealing with the virus now than was possible at earlier stages of the pandemic.
And it is worth remembering why this is important for us to do.
Children need to go to school, businesses need to trade more normally, jobs rely on businesses and all of us need to be able to live more freely and to interact with friends, family and wider networks.
Vaccination is helping us do all of that.
But – and this is the difficult part for all of us – even with vaccination, we cannot be totally relaxed about this surge either.
The link between new cases and serious health harms has been weakened, but it has not been completely broken. That means the rise in cases in the last week may well result in more people going to hospital in the coming days, perhaps requiring intensive care treatment and more people dying.
It also means that if the surge continues or accelerates – and if we start to see evidence of a substantial increase in serious illness as a result – we cannot completely rule out having to reimpose some restrictions.
Of course, we hope not to have to do that – and if we did, we would be as limited and proportionate as possible.
However – as has been the case throughout – what happens in the next few weeks will depend to some extent on all of us.
This is yet another fragile – and potentially very pivotal – moment in our journey through the pandemic.
It is a moment to remember that – even though most restrictions have been lifted – the virus is still circulating. And the Delta variant is very transmissible.
So we need to continue to take care and think about how, in our own behaviours, we can limit the ability of the virus to spread.
Indeed, in some ways, the basic precautions we can all take have become more important – not less – as life has returned so much more to normal.
So I am asking everyone today to do the following – for the sake of ourselves and each other:
First, if you are eligible and haven’t yet done so, please get vaccinated. This remains the single most important thing we can all do to keep each other safe.
The reverse of that is equally true – not getting vaccinated is putting yourself and others at greater risk.
Second, please test yourself regularly – that way, if you have the virus but don’t have symptoms, you have a chance of picking that up before going to work or out socialising and inadvertently passing it to others.
Free lateral flow tests are available by post through the NHS inform website, or for collection from test sites and local pharmacies.
If you test positive through one of these lateral flow devices – or if you have symptoms of the virus – make sure that you self-isolate, and book a PCR test.
Third, stick to the rules still in place.
For example wear face coverings in shops and public transport – this is a reasonably simple and straightforward way in which we can protect each other in indoor settings.
And lastly, be mindful of the basic steps we can take to reduce risk. Indeed, make this a moment when we all remind ourselves to keep doing these things.
Wash your hands and surfaces as regularly as possible.
Even though it’s not the law any more, keep a safe distance from people in other households if you can.
Continue to minimise physical contact where possible – like handshaking, for example.
Avoid crowded indoor places.
And meet outdoors as much as possible, especially for as long as we have reasonable weather. If you are indoors, open windows – the better ventilated a room is, the safer it is.
It is vital at this juncture that we remember to do all of these things. As we head into autumn and winter, these basic steps might also help us limit spread of flu and other viruses too.
In the coming days, we will also be liaising with businesses to encourage compliance with basic mitigations too. In particular, I am today reminding businesses to continue to support home working for now where possible.
We have come a long way and we shouldn’t lose sight of that. In so many ways, things are better.
But like other countries in this global pandemic, we face a challenging period ahead again.
Let’s come together again to get through it.
Let’s keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
And let’s maintain the progress that we’ve all worked so hard for.
