North Edinburgh News – Page 1326 – The NEN

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Nine steps to a safer home

A campaign encouraging householders in Scotland to minimise the risk of a fire has been launched by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Latest figures show firefighters attended more than 450 accidental house fires in just one month last winter. Sadly, during the same period, accidental house fires claimed the lives of seven people and resulted in 58 casualties.

The incidents happened between 7 December, 2020 and 11 January, 2021.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Ali Perry is the SFRS’ Head of Prevention and Protection. He said: “Fire is a risk for everyone, but some people are more at risk than others.

“If you know someone who is over 50 and smokes, and who has either mobility issues or uses medical oxygen or lives alone, please arrange a Home Fire Safety Visit on their behalf.

“One death because of a fire in the home is one too many. Reaching out to those who are vulnerable can help save lives in our communities.”

A free online self-assessment on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s website is available to everyone in Scotland to find out how fire safe their property is.

On completion, participants can download a unique report about their home, which gives advice on how to rectify risks and problems. Since its launch last year, more than 2,000 reports have been downloaded.

There are nine steps to a safer home – as participants are asked to consider their use of smoke detectors, cooking in the kitchen, smoking and candles, electrics and heating, emollient creams, medical oxygen, air pressure mattress, night time routine and fire action plan.

DACO Perry said: “By walking through the nine steps you can massively reduce the risk of a fire in your house.

“Taking a few minutes to do the self-assessment and identify the hazards in your own home can help keep you and those around you safe.

“Colder months ahead this winter mean an increased use of heating and electricity combined with festive lights, trees, decorations, and candles – all of these can heighten the risk of fire potentially taking hold within the home.

“If you can’t get online, then get in touch with us through your local station who will be more than happy to offer help and guidance.

“We want everyone to remember this winter, and the festive period, for all the right reasons.”

The Winter Safety section of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website has lots of information on how to heat your home safely during the colder months.

Community Safety Minister Ash Regan said: “Fire prevention is always much better than emergency response when it comes to safety in the home.

“As we reach the coldest and darkest part of the year, I would encourage everyone to follow the easy, but important steps laid out by SFRS that will help prevent fires.

“The free online safety assessment offered by SFRS is an important way to identify the hazards in your own home and please contact them direct if you think you, or any family and friends, might be at higher risk of fire.”

Please ‘Make the Call’ to SFRS to support those who are most at risk of fire. If you know of someone who needs a Home Fire Safety Visit get in touch by calling 0800 0731 999. Or text FIRE to 80800.

During a Home Fire Safety Visit SFRS staff will identify fire hazards and risks in the home, help plan escape routes and provide information about smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms.

Family move into new Barratt home for Christmas

A young family’s Christmas dreams are coming true after managing to take a step up the property ladder with Barratt Homes.

The Casey/Malone family; mum Dawn, dad Jamie and sons Jamie (10) and Thomas (4) along with two-year-old Jack Russell Duggee, were already no strangers to a Barratt home. They’ve been living at the homebuilder’s ‘The Strand’ development in Portobello for the past three years in a three-bed apartment a stone’s throw from Edinburgh’s only beach.

After initially being drawn to The Strand because of the location, the beach, surrounding amenities and great schools, after moving in, it was the sense of community within the development that cemented the family’s desire to really make a home there after forming a close-knit group of friends and socialising at the communal green space.

However, when the pandemic hit, so too did the desire for a garden space for the active family to call their own.

After falling in love with the location and the quality finish of their apartment, they didn’t want to compromise or move away from The Strand, so, having already built a great relationship with the Barratt sales advisors, Dawn looked into what larger properties were becoming available in new phases.

Dawn and Jamie quickly fell in love with the ‘Coull’; a stylish three-bedroom home with the coveted private garden space.

Due to the huge popularity of the development, Dawn had the sales team “on speed dial” and luckily managed to reserve a plot amid high competition – with Barratt even helping them find a rental apartment to move into while their new build completed.

Dawn described the whole experience as “smooth, with great communication with the sales team who are always on hand to answer any questions and accommodating with any last-minute changes we made to our upgrades.”

The great thing about a new home is not only the peace of mind of a 10-year National House Building Council (NHBC) warranty, which provides decade-long protection for the building and foundations, but also that the fixtures and features are completely customisable as well as being covered under a two-year warranty.

Just some of the additions Dawn and her family made were upgrading the kitchen to include a dishwasher and fridge freezer, tiling, mirrors and towel heaters in the bathroom and cloakroom, flooring throughout the home and the addition of an outside light fitting and tap.

And it’s been a Christmas gift come early, as the move-in date was brought forward from February 2022 to the end of November, and the boys can’t wait to enjoy their new home and additional space over the festive season. In the new year, Jamie has already set his sights on adding a bar at the bottom of the garden where he can enjoy summer cocktails with friends and family parties.

A range of two bedroom homes with a bespoke design for Portobello are currently available at The Strand, and the two-bedroom ‘Ness’ Show Apartment is available to view by appointment. Prices start at £281,995.

For more information, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev002242-the-strand-@-portobello/.

Rabbies adds Europe itineraries to portfolio for 2022

On sale now, small coach tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) has unveiled a new series of Europe tours – exploring the most beautiful sites across Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland – which will hit the road from May next year.

To celebrate the launch, guests booking a 2022 Europe tour with Rabbie’s can save five per cent when booking before 31^st January 2022, using the promo code EUROPE5 at rabbies.com.

20 new tours, each six or 13 days in duration, will take guests on a journey uncovering the continent’s incredible cuisine, history, landscapes and culture.

Similar to the company’s popular UK trips, guests on Rabbie’s European tours will travel in luxurious mini-coaches, with a maximum group size of just 16. The small size of Rabbie’s coaches allows the tours to access off-the-beaten-track and less-touristed destinations that larger operators are unable to reach.

Each trip is hosted by one of Rabbie’s expert guides, offering guests insider knowledge on everything there is to know about the places visited – including where to find the best spot for lunch!

The six-day South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía tour travels from Madrid to Lisbon, taking in Spain’s former capital Toledo, Córdoba, Granada including Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada National Park, dramatic Ronda, Seville and the charming Algarve town of Tavira en route.

Visit a Spanish olive oil production site for a lesson in olive oil-making while soaking in the endless olive grove views. Be entranced by the ornamentation of the Alhambra Palace before delving into the rugged landscapes of the Cumbres Verdes mountains on the forefront of the Sierra Nevada.

Stroll the city walls and picturesque plazas of cliff-top Ronda and join a half-day tour to Jerez de la Frontera – the heartland of sherry and Spanish brandy.

Finally, cross the Portuguese border with a stop at Tavira in the Algarve – a town on the River Gilão that exudes an irresistible charm. Prices for the six-day tour start from €1,185 per person based on 4 July 2022 departure.

Alternatively, the 13-day Vistas of Switzerland & Italy tour travels from Milan, visiting places of exquisite beauty like Lake Como, Interlaken, Zermatt, Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Florence, before arriving in Rome.

Explore Italy’s stunning lake region while admiring its mountainous vistas and colourful villas on a boat trip across Lake Como to Lenno. Head deep into the Alps for sky-touching mountain views and take the winding roads to Simplon Pass – a key historical route.

Discover the most admired peak in all of Europe – the Matterhorn – before travelling by train to car-free Zermatt. Back on the coach, travel south, and sample Parma ham and Parmesan cheese in Parma, the place of their origin.

Architectural wonders aren’t so hard to find in Northern Italy, a certain leaning structure begs for your attention in Pisa and Lucca’s completely preserved city walls are the perfect warm up to the breath-taking wonders of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Sample one of Italy’s most famous exports in the famous Chianti wine region, before arriving in Montepulciano, your hilltop home for two nights in rural Tuscany. Expect delights of the culinary and aesthetic variety in this part of Italy, before travelling further south to Rome. Prices for the thirteen-day tour start from €3,465 per person based on 23 May 2022 departure.

Other European tour options available:

In Spain/Portugal

Portugal, Galicia & the Heart of Spain
The Mountains and Mediterranean Marvels of Spain (Departing from Barcelona or Madrid)
Passions of Spain

In Italy/Switzerland

The Italian Affair
The Best of Northern Italy (Departing from Milan or Rome)
Italy’s Iconic Coasts and Cities
Highlights of Italy and Switzerland

Rabbie’s European tour prices include transport in a luxury air conditioned mini-coach with a local driver, the stories and services of an English-speaking guide, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels with continental breakfast and selected excursions.

For more information and to book, please visit www.rabbies.com.

Keeping children safe online

The 12 Online Safety Tips Of Christmas for Children with New Devices.

Edinburgh Police & The City of Edinburgh Council’s Christmas wish is to #KeepXmasSafe for young people whilst online & keep parents & carers more informed.

National Online Safety

The City of Edinburgh Council

Jackie Bird makes a Hogmanay comeback, but it’s not for Auld Lang Syne …

You might know her best from lighting up your TV screen as you count down to the bells, but this year, Scotland’s Queen of Hogmanay is bringing you a celebration of top quality Scottish food.

That’s right – the inimitable Jackie Bird is making a return to Hogmanay, alongside Edinburgh chef Scott Smith, to join the team behind Make It Scotch to help you enjoy a Hogmanay with Cred.

Scott, chef owner of Fhior restaurant in Edinburgh, has put aside the traditional beef steak pie or stovies and instead created an inspiring dish of slow cooked Scotch Beef PGI cheeks with skirlie, champagne glazed carrots and Bovril potatoes.

In a video filmed in the Make It Scotch Cred Test Kitchen, Scott takes viewers through his recipe while he and Jackie reminisce about some of their own Hogmanay traditions and what inspired the recipe he created.

But there was one test it had to pass… Jackie’s approval! Having been the host of Scotland’s New Year’s Eve entertainment for so many years, it was only right that she should be the first to try this dish from Scott.

https://youtu.be/BFEqRzzkdtA

Jackie said: “I’m used to spending Hogmanay in front of the cameras, but it was a delight to come back and do it for something different this year by joining Scott in the Cred Test Kitchen to try out his new Hogmanay dish.

“I wouldn’t claim myself to be a Michelin star critic but I am certain that giving this dish a go will help make this year’s New Year celebration one to remember – just the tonic we need after the tough time we’ve all had!”

You can find out her verdict by watching the video on Make It Scotch’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channel, where there is a series of festive hacks, tips and red meat recipe inspiration created for the brand’s ‘Make It a Christmas with Cred’ campaign.

Scott said: “I want my recipe to encourage people to try something different from the norm for their new year celebrations while still keeping that nostalgic feeling that Hogmanay – plus the champagne in the carrots could help use up some excess booze from the festive season!

“It would also work well with alternative beef cuts such as featherblade and parts like the skirlie can be tweaked to suit ingredients people prefer. It would suit any of the typical meals enjoyed over Hogmanay too, whether it’s the big night, New Year’s Day or a first footing dish you’re taking to visit a friend or family member.”

Lesley Cameron, Director of Marketing and Communications at Quality Meat Scotland, the organisation that promotes Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork, added: “This festive season, we want people to make it extra special by choosing an alternative type of meat, such as Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb or Specially Selected Pork from quality-assured farms that adopt best practice in animal welfare and production methods.

“Scott’s recipe is a perfect chance to celebrate the world class Scotch Beef we have in Scotland as you celebrate the start of 2022 but do it in a way that puts a twist on your usual favourites. And we are absolutely delighted to have Jackie Bird’s seal of approval too!”

Watch the full video here – and feel free to share! https://youtu.be/BFEqRzzkdtA

For more Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork recipe videos and inspiration visit www.makeitscotch.com or follow Make It Scotch on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.

——

Slow cooked Scotch Beef PGI cheeks with skirlie, glazed carrots and Bovril potatoes

Serves 4-6

Scotch Beef PGI cheeks

Ingredients

4 Scotch Beef cheeks, approx. 400g per cheek

24g sea salt

2 ltr beef stock

2 carrots, roughly chopped

2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 bay leaves

3 sprigs of thyme

250ml red wine

150g butter, diced

Oil, for cooking

Method

The day before cooking:

Prepare a brine by heating 3 litres of water and the 24g of sea salt until the salt has dissolved. Once this has fully cooled, trim the cheeks and add them to the brine. Let them sit in the brine for at least 4 hours or overnight. This step is optional but adds even more flavour to the delicious cheeks!

On the day of cooking:

Before starting to cook, remove the cheeks an hour before starting to allow them to come to room temp.

Pre heat the oven to 180C

Heat a heavy-based casserole dish on the hob at a medium high heat and add a couple table spoons of oil.
Once the oil is very hot, add the cheeks and colour heavily on all sides. This is essential to developing good flavour.
Once coloured, remove the cheeks from the pan and set aside. Turn the heat down a little. Now add the butter, followed by the carrot, celery and garlic, and allow this to cook for about 5 minutes until lightly coloured.
Add the red wine, and once reduced by half, add the stock and bring to a boil and then back down to a gentle simmer.
Add the bay, thyme and add the cheeks back in.
Place a tightly fitting lid on and put the casserole dish in the oven for 2 and a half hours.
Remove the dish from the oven and check that the meat is tender. If ready, then carefully remove the cheeks from the pan and strain the stock through a sieve.
Add the stock back to the pan and reduce this on a high heat until it becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Take 50ml of this sauce out and keep aside for the skirlie.
Add the cheeks back in to the pan and keep warm.

Glazed carrots

Ingredients

6 carrots, medium sized

3 star anise

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 tbsp caster sugar

175g butter, diced

150ml champagne (or your bubbly of choice such as prosecco or cava)

1 ltr beef stock

Oil, for cooking

Salt, for seasoning

Method

Peel the carrots and cut into pieces about 7cm long.
Heat a heavy based saucepan with a little oil on a medium high heat and add the carrots with a little salt for seasoning.
Colour the carrots until golden and then add the champagne. Reduce this by a third and then add all the remaining ingredients. Top up with water to ensure the carrots are submerged by about an inch.
Turn up the heat to a gentle boil and continue to cook for about 15 minutes until almost all the liquid has gone. Shaking the pan every now and then to move the carrots around.
Once the carrots are tender, turn the heat up high to finish reducing the liquid and creating a shiny glaze on the carrots.
Remove from the heat and keep warm.

Bovril potatoes

Ingredients

2kg Maris piper potatoes

2 onions

500ml vegetable stock

3 tbsp Bovril (optional)

100g butter

Salt, for seasoning

Method

Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Ideally do this on a mandoline, the thinner the better.
Peel and very thinly slice the onions.
In an ovenproof dish, arrange a layer with a third of the potatoes, followed by a third of the onions. Add a little salt for seasoning and a drizzle a teaspoon of Bovril across the layer.
Repeat this process two more times to fill the dish and then pour over the stock.
Distribute the diced butter on top and place the dish in the oven (already pre heated to 180C) for 1 hour.
Turn the oven up to 210C and finish in the oven for 15 minutes to crisp up the top before serving.

Skirlie

Ingredients

150g pinhead oats

2 shallots, finely diced

50g beef dripping

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

50ml sauce from the cheeks

Method

Melt the dripping in a frying pan and add in the shallots with a little salt.
Cook the shallots for 5 minutes until they are lightly caramelised.
Add the oats and stir well to ensure the fat is being absorbed evenly and cook them on a low heat for about 8 minutes until toasted, lightly cooked, but still retaining bite.
Now add the sauce from the beef cheeks and cook for a further 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add the chopped parsley.
Adjust the seasoning if needed and keep warm.

To serve

Bring the casserole pan with the cheeks up to a gentle boil and carefully baste the Scotch Beef Cheeks with the sauce and turn them over a few times to glaze the cheeks.
Spoon the skirlie between your serving plates and place a cheek on top, followed by lots of the sauce form the pan.
Add the carrots to the plate.
Put the potato dish on the table as a side for everyone to help themselves.
Pour yourself a whisky!

TIPS:

The potatoes can be prepared and cooked in the oven at the same time as the cheeks. These can then be put back into the oven at 210C before serving to reheat and crisp up the top.
If you are unable to get beef cheeks, then the recipe can be replaced with beef featherblade. Increase the cooking time by 1 hour for this.
The beef can be cooked the day before to save time. If you do this, then don’t reduce your final sauce when removing from the oven. Chill the whole casserole down and store the beef in the cooking liquid to finish on the day.

2022 will be biggest year yet for benefits in Scotland

The introduction of Adult Disability Payment and extension of Scottish Child Payment to children under 16 will see a major increase in the number of people eligible to receive Sottish benefits in 2022.

The Scottish Child Payment will increase to £20 from April, giving increased support to 111,000 children under the age of six. Its extension to children under 16 by the end of 2022, subject to the DWP making data available, will see the number of eligible children more than double to 400,000.

Adult Disability Payment, the twelfth benefit and most complex to be introduced so far, will replace the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment. It will be phased in from March, with nationwide rollout at the end of August.

To support this, Social Security Scotland is in the process of recruiting up to 2,000 people by autumn 2022 with the first new recruits set to start early in the New Year – the biggest expansion since its formation in 2018, creating jobs and a boost to local economies.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “2022 will be our biggest year yet in building a new social security system for Scotland with the powers we have. The major milestones of introducing Adult Disability Payment and extending Scottish Child Payment will be transformative for many people with a disability or health condition and for families on low incomes.

“By the end of 2022 we aim to have extended the Scottish Child Payment to all those under the age of 16 – subject to the DWP making data available – increasing eligibility to around 400,000 children.

“From April the doubling of our Scottish Child Payment will significantly help us to reduce child poverty and build a fairer society.

“The £20 payment per child per week will be four times what was originally asked for by anti-poverty campaigners and we hope to lift 40,000 Scottish children out of poverty in 2023/24.

“Applying for Adult Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland will be different to applying to the DWP, as we will deliver a much improved experience.

“There will be no private sector involvement, we have removed DWP-style assessments and any consultations that are necessary will be person centred and won’t include functional examinations.

“We’ll start from a position of trust. Also, we are offering a range of ways to make an application, including online, by post, over the phone or face-to-face; and, in contrast to the current DWP system, we’re removing the burden from individuals to provide supporting information – instead the onus will be on Social Security Scotland to collect the information we require.

“We’ll also fast-track clients who are facing a terminal illness and we will follow the judgement of clinicians instead of being tied to fixed periods of life expectancy.

“As well as the positive impact of paying benefits, Social Security Scotland is also growing as an employer. This rapid development is not only making a difference in our communities but is also creating long-term secure employment across the country, and a £280 million contribution to our wider economy – something we can all welcome.

“Scotland’s social security system is built on the values of dignity, fairness and respect, and these are the principles which will always guide us as we develop this important public service.”

Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said: “Citizens Advice Scotland supported the introduction and then doubling of the Scottish Child Payment because we know the difference it can make to families across the country.

“We’d encourage everyone eligible for the payment to apply and claim, that’s how our welfare state works – we all pay in and get the support we are entitled to when we need it.

“With the cost of living starting to really bite people can get help and advice from the Citizens Advice network to see what support they are entitled to. We’ve been helping people for over 80 years and unlocked £147 million for people last year.”

Covid: Ventilation at work

Workplace advice from the TUC

We know that Covid is an airborne virus, meaning it is primarily spread through the air in tiny particles, known as aerosols. Aerosols are different to droplets, which are larger and can be spread from touching surfaces; they are breathed out by a person. That means anyone can spread them, unknowingly: you don’t need to be coughing or sneezing.

Aerosols are small, they can remain suspended in the air for hours. So if you’ve entered a room where someone who is infectious but not showing symptoms has been, even if they have already left, you might still breathe in a Covid-19 aerosol.

A combination of concentration, airflow, humidity and temperature, all contribute to whether the aerosol load will be infectious.

This means ventilation, where we make sure the air is renewed and refreshed regularly, is an incredibly important method for reducing Covid transmission.

Every workplace risk assessment should include aerosol transmission, and outline what steps are being taken to improve ventilation where necessary.

Despite ventilation being one of the most effective ways to mitigate risk, union safety reps have told the TUC that it’s the one employers are least likely to be paying attention to. In some cases, we need to force ventilation onto the agenda through union education and action.

CO2 monitors

More employers are purchasing CO2 monitors, and some unions are making use of them to carry out safety inspections. These devices monitor how much CO2, which is breathed out by people, is in the air in a given space. The higher the level of CO2 is, the more poorly a space is ventilated. A CO2 monitor can’t tell you if you’re breathing in Covid, but it will tell you if you’re breathing in other peoples’ breath. The higher the reading, the more likely exposure will be.

A key threshold to be aware of is 800 parts per million (ppm): if a CO2 monitor is consistently showing a room as reading above 800ppm, action must be taken to improve ventilation, or the area should be taken out of use. 

When using CO2 monitors, remember to:

Take the reading in the most poorly ventilated area of the room, for example do not take the reading next to an open window.
Make a plan to consistently monitor, to improve accuracy and give a better picture for how the air quality is changing: taking readings throughout the day, or week, or adjusting frequency depending on how the space is being used.

You can find more information on using CO2 monitors from the Health and Safety Executive.

Improving ventilation

Your CO2 monitor doesn’t improve ventilation, it only gives you an accurate picture of whether you need to make improvements, and by how much. Further action that may need to be taken can include: reducing the occupancy in a given indoor space, opening windows and doors, and using equipment which can be purchased, such as local air filtration units. 

Ventilation and air conditioning systems can help, but only those which do not recirculate air: any systems which recirculate air around a room or building must be switched off, as these risk spreading aerosols further, rather than filtering them with fresh air supply. Similarly, it’s worth noting that a desk fan which you might have on during hot weather is going to blow air from one part of a room to another: while it might keep you cool, it risks aiding aerosol spread.

Windows

The easiest way to boost the fresh air supply in an indoor space is to keep windows or doors open.

In some workplaces, opening a window will not be an option. With outside air comes other risks: cold temperatures, pollution, or contamination. In some cases, opening windows is simply not an option, for example in a maternity ward, a food factory, or where there are none. This is not a get-out for employers: they must be taking every effort to provide effective ventilation by other means.

Air filtering units

Where existing methods to improve ventilation are not to a safe standard, employers should be purchasing and providing air cleaning and filtering units. These are relatively cheap and highly effective in removing airborne virus from indoor room air.

There are minimum specifications, including the requirement for HEPA (high efficiency particulate absorbing) filters, which remove up to 99% of aerosols. The number of filters required will depend on the size of a workspace. Six ACH (air changes per hour) is considered a safe level of ventilation, and can be achieved by a combination of methods. It is important to bear in mind, CO2 monitoring where air filters are being used will not give an accurate reading of air quality: this is because filtering units will remove virus aerosols, but not CO2 from the air.

Face coverings and face masks

Wearing a face covering will reduce, but cannot eliminate, your risk of infection.

This means mitigations such as mask-wearing (in particular, respirator masks at a FFP2 or FFP3 standard, which are effective for aerosol as well as droplet spread) are all the more important; along with effective ventilation. Keeping a good supply of fresh in indoor spaces can make a big difference in diffusing any potential Covid aerosols. Face masks are not a replacement for good ventilation: where possible, both are preferable.

Actions unions are taking include:

Adopting a union position and demands to the employer, based on the situation in your workplace and the steps required to bring ventilation to a safe level.
Safety reps carrying out inspections of indoor workspaces using CO2 monitors.
Issuing a union improvement notice, or emergency advice including removing oneself from the hazardous environment if serious risk presents.
Utilising union representation on any safety committees to raise the issue, and consultation in risk assessment process.
Holding union member-wide meetings on the subject of ventilation, explaining the problem to members, and deciding on next steps including collective action to force changes to keep workers safe, and escalating matters through formal dispute procedures.

See further resources: 

With thanks to Doctor Jonathan Fluxman for information for this blog. See https://www.docjon.org/

Plea to get booster in last week of the year as COVID cases soar

Figures for festive period are the highest daily totals recorded in Scotland since the start of the pandemic

With just four days left to get ‘boosted by the bells’ all remaining over-18s are being urged to come along for their COVID-19 booster.

Latest published figures show 73.5% of eligible adults aged 18 and above in Scotland have now received their booster or third dose, giving them the best possible protection against coronavirus.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf visited the vaccination centre at the Dewars Centre in Perth yesterday to thank staff for their ongoing efforts over the Christmas period, and encourage people to keep coming forward.

Mr Yousaf said: “Since the emergence of the Omicron variant there has been a monumental effort by everyone on Scotland’s vaccination programme to make sure we can deliver booster vaccines as quickly as possible. That’s because it is the single best way to protect people’s health, and the NHS.

“This week we are calling on everyone in the country to rally round and do their bit by coming forward for their booster dose.

“I know that many people will have some well-deserved time off at this time of year. And if you haven’t yet had your covid booster, there is bound to be a vaccination clinic or drop-in centre near to you. Please have a look on the online portal to book an appointment, or check your local NHS board’s social media channels to find out where the vaccine is being offered, so you can join the thousands of others who have been boosted by the bells.

“If you’ve yet to have your first or second dose, it still isn’t too late for that either. Our vaccination teams are waiting for you, so please come along. The sooner you have your first dose, the sooner you can then get your second, and then your booster, for the extra protection that gives.”

Provisional data released yesterday indicates an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Figures for 25, 26 and 27 December are the highest daily totals recorded in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.

While the figures for each day covers tests reported in the preceding 24 hour period, the lag in reporting means that the majority of these cases will relate to tests done before the Christmas break. With the longer turnaround time for test results at the moment, the actual number of positive COVID-19 cases may be higher.

The figures are:

25 December 2021: 8,252 cases

26 December 2021: 11,030 cases

27 December 2021: 10,562 cases

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “While these figures are provisional, the steep increase in cases we have been expecting is now materialising, and this reflects the significantly increased transmissibility of Omicron.

“We would expect to see case numbers rise further in the days ahead – though it is worth bearing in mind that they are likely to have been even higher but for the compliance of the public with the guidance issued in the run up to Christmas.

“These figures underline how important it is that we don’t underestimate the impact of Omicron – even if the rate of hospitalisation associated with it is much lower than past strains of the virus, case numbers this high will still put an inevitable further strain on NHS.

“This level of infection will also cause a significant and severely disruptive level of sickness absence across the economy and critical services.

“So even though we are all thoroughly fed up with the impact of Covid on our lives, it is really important that over the new year period we follow guidance to help slow the spread of the virus while we complete the accelerated booster programmes.

“In addition to observing good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings, I am asking everyone to limit contacts as much as possible, to keep any essential indoor gatherings to a maximum of three households, and to get boosted by the bells.

“I know sticking to all of these measures is really hard – especially at this time of year – but there’s no doubt whatsoever it will help keep us safer.”

Avoid deer in the headlights on winter nights

Forestry and Land Scotland joins with Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to give tips on night time driving

At this time of year and as more people will be driving in the dark, Forestry and Land Scotland is urging drivers to be extra alert to wild deer on the roads.

Wild deer numbers in Scotland have reached record levels at 1 million – double the amount recorded in 1990 – and the consequent danger of deer-related road traffic accidents is predicted to rise. Forestry and Land Scotland previously released the figure of almost 2,000 reported deer-related accidents a year, though figures are believed to be nearer 8,000-14,000.

Collisions with large animals such as deer can be catastrophic, but there are some simple guidelines that can increase chances of avoiding a shocking accident. FLS has joined with RoSPA to offer guidance for night time driving when there could be deer on the road:

Dr Karen McDonnell, Head of RoSPA Scotland said: “When driving on country roads you have to try to anticipate the unexpected.

“Single track lanes, blind corners, and even the possibility of animals crossing can make driving challenging even for the most experienced drivers. To minimise your chances of a collision with a large animal, such as a deer, follow some straightforward steps.”

RoSPA’s tips:

Watch your speed on rural roads
Be aware of warning road signs
Be vigilant in areas where you have seen deer during daylight
If you see a deer, slow down to pass it and keep an eye out for more
Be ready to brake if a deer appears on the road
Use indicators to warn other drivers if you are passing deer or slowing down

Ian Fergusson, Head of Wildlife Management for FLS said: ”As Scotland’s deer numbers rise and expand their range, it’s really important that those driving on rural roads at night are extra vigilant.

“We are aware that deer accidents are more likely to happen on rural roads adjacent to forests and other wild habitats but they are becoming more common on major roads around towns and cities.

“As we enter the Christmas season, we’ve pulled together advice for motorists. Hitting a large animal is distressing at best and apart from damage to vehicles and potential injury to drivers and passengers, no-one wants to leave a wild animal hurt and in enduring pain.”

To help protect Scotland’s national forests and land from the negative impacts of deer, Forestry and Land Scotland employs a number of techniques, including deer culling and fencing, where appropriate, to keep numbers down to a sustainable level.

This helps to keep herds healthy, mitigates against habitat loss and helps reduce deer/vehicle collisions.

Most recorded road accidents involving deer occur in the Highland, Aberdeenshire, Central Belt, and Fife regions, but areas in west central Scotland, including North and South Lanarkshire have also seen significant increasesForestry and Land Scotland Deer Accidents.jpg in the last decade.

UK celebrates successful launch of James Webb Space Telescope

The once-in-a-generation James Webb Space Telescope launched on Christmas Day, with scientists and engineers across the UK playing a vital role in the mission.

The telescope, known as ‘Webb’, blasted off from the Arianespace spaceport in French Guiana on 25 December 2021 at 12:20 pm – the culmination of decades of scientific collaboration.

The mission is led by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency, with the UK playing a major role by leading the European consortium, which designed, built and tested one of the four main science instruments, working closely with partners in the US.

Science Minister George Freeman said: “Today is a monumental milestone for international and UK space science: the Webb Space Telescope will allow us to go further and deeper to explore and discover our planetary universe.

“The project draws heavily on the world-class expertise of top UK scientists and engineers who were able to deliver vital pieces of this complex and powerful telescope.

“Being at the heart of this international project showcases the innovative talent of the UK’s world-leading scientists and engineers, and emphasises our position as a global science powerhouse.”

Seeing the Universe

The telescope is set to redefine our understanding of the cosmos and unveil some of the secrets of the distant Universe.

Webb will peer through dusty clouds in space to allow scientists to determine how the first galaxies were formed and will see our own solar system in whole new ways and in never-before-seen detail.

Scientists and engineers in the UK were crucial to the development and launch of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which will be able to see the faint light from the most distant stars, effectively looking further back in time than ever before, and to peer through dust and gas to spot stars being born.

*JWST’s Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI), for which the UK leads the European Consortium. Credit: STFC RAL Space*

The MIRI development has been funded by the UK Space Agency and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, and ESA.

Caroline Harper, Head of Space Science at the UK Space Agency, said: “Webb is set to re-write the text books on astronomy, showing us things about the universe we have never been able to see before.  I am excited to see the fascinating discoveries the spacecraft makes as it reveals the evolution of the universe.

“The UK has played a crucial role in this once-in-a-generation mission, developing the Mid-Infrared Instrument, which will examine the physical and chemical properties of objects in the early universe in greater detail than ever.

“This has been a fantastic example of academic-industry partnership, showcasing the skills and expertise of our scientists and engineers.”

Webb in the UK

MIRI will deliver a host of capabilities, boasting a spectrograph to break up light into its constituent wavelengths, a coronagraph to block starlight and look at fainter objects next to stars, and a camera to take pictures.

MIRI was designed, built, and tested by a European Consortium of 10 member countries led by the UK, in partnership with the US. The European contribution is led by Professor Gillian Wright MBE of STFC’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC), and includes STFC RAL Space, University of Leicester, and Airbus UK.

The UK’s lead role in the instrument involves taking responsibility for the overall design, science performance, and the mechanical, thermal and optical design, along with the assembly, integration, testing and calibration software.

The UK (UK Space Agency since 2011 and STFC) has invested almost £20 million in the development phase of MIRI and has continued to support essential post-delivery testing, integration, calibration and characterisation activities by the UK MIRI team.

*Intégration EPC au BIL, le 06/11/2021. | EPC integration at BIL. 11/06/2021.*

Professor Gillian Wright, European Principal Investigator for MIRI and Director of UKATC, said: “To see Webb launch, with MIRI on board, after more than two decades is a seminal moment.

“MIRI is a special instrument, for the breadth of its science, the team that built it, and being the coolest instrument on Webb. The MIRI team rose to the challenges and brought some exquisite engineering solutions to make it a reality.

“The Webb mission as a whole is an amazing technological breakthrough in scale and complexity, and this extends to the instruments, including MIRI.   With the launch, all of us are excitedly anticipating the first MIRI data and the new view of the universe we will have.”

What’s next for Webb

Although Webb has successfully launched, its journey is only just beginning.

The giant mirror for the telescope had to be launched as 18 segments folded inside the launch vehicle and it must be unfolded, and all the segments perfectly aligned, in space. A huge sunshield the size of a tennis court is needed to keep the instruments cold enough to work and this must also be unfurled in space.

Webb will then go on a month-long journey to its destination, a million miles from Earth.

In the six months after launch, the observatory commissioning will take place – with first results expected in the summer of 2022.