coronavirus – Page 111 – The NEN

Cummings row: Johnson tries to move on

The UK Government is desperately trying to draw a line under the Dominic Cummings furore this morning with a united message of ‘time to move on’, perhaps a message devised by the PM’s key special adviser himself.

Public anger is unlikely to dissipate following Mr Cummings unprecedented ‘je ne regrette rien’ press conference from the gardens of 10 Downing Street yesterday, however, and Cummings fate will now depend on Tory backbenchers, whose email inboxes will be overflowing with messages from constituents this morning.

While the cabinet has clearly adopted a united front to support Dominic Cummings, pressure from back bench MPs may yet see him removed from his post – particularly if new revelations are unearthed.

In ‘time to move on’ mode, Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday outlined plans to reopen shops in England.

Thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres across England are set to reopen next month once they are COVID-19 secure and can show customers will be kept safe, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed.

The Prime Minister set out:

Outdoor markets and car showrooms in England will be able to reopen from 1 June, as soon as they are able to meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers. As with garden centres, the risk of transmission of the virus is lower in these outdoor and more open spaces. Car showrooms often have significant outdoor space and it is generally easier to apply social distancing.
All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets, will be expected to be able to reopen from 15 June if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines, giving them three weeks to prepare.

Shops like supermarkets and pharmacies have been trading responsibly throughout the pandemic. Building on this and in line with the Government’s roadmap, reopening non-essential retail is the next step towards restoring people’s livelihoods, restarting the UK’s economy, and ensuring vital public services like the NHS continue to be funded.

Businesses will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment, in consultation with trade union representatives or workers, and are confident they are managing the risks. They must have taken the necessary steps to become COVID-19 secure in line with the current Health and Safety legislation.

The UK government is taking action to help English businesses re-open and protect their staff and customers, including:

Publishing updated COVID-secure guidelines for people who work in or run shops, branches, and stores, after consultation with businesses, union leaders, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive.

Working with local authorities to continue to carry out spot checks and follow up on concerns by members of the public.

The updated guidance takes into account the best practice demonstrated by the many retailers which have been allowed to remain open and have applied social distancing measures in store.

Measures that shops should consider include placing a poster in their windows to demonstrate awareness of the guidance and commitment to safety measures, storing returned items for 72 hours before putting them back out on the shop floor, placing protective coverings on large items touched by the public such as beds or sofas, and frequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, including self-checkouts, trolleys, coffee machines and betting terminals, for example.

The vast majority of businesses will want to do everything possible to protect their staff and customers, but tough powers are in place to enforce action if they don’t, including fines and jail sentences of up to two years.

As per the roadmap, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons, and the hospitality sector, remain closed, because the risk of transmission in these environments is higher where long periods of person to person contact is required.

SCOTLAND, Wales and Northern Ireland will all announce their own plans. First Minister will outline more details of Scotland’s routemap to looen lockdown on Thursday.

Yesterday’s usual coronavirus daily press briefing was delayed while Dominic Cummings made his statement and was grilled by the nation’s press, but Prime Minister later led the press conference himself:

Good evening and welcome to the Number Ten Coronavirus Press Conference

Before I turn to this evening’s announcements, I want to update you on the latest data

3,532,634 tests for coronavirus have now been carried out in the UK, including 73,726 tests carried out yesterday;
261,184 people have tested positive, that’s an increase of 1,625 cases since yesterday;
8,834 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in the UK, down (12%) from 10,092 this time last week;

And sadly, of those who tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 36,914 have now died. That’s an increase of 121 fatalities since yesterday. This new figure includes deaths in all settings not just in hospitals.

And once again my deepest condolences go out to all those who have lost their loved ones before their time. We must not, and will not, forget them.

Two weeks ago, I set out our road map for the next phase of our fight against Covid 19

It is a cautious plan, informed by the evidence about what is safe, and conditional upon our continued progress against the virus.

And we are making progress. Thanks to this country’s collective efforts, the key indicators are heading in the right direction. The daily number of deaths is down, the number of new cases is down, our survey evidence suggests the infection rate is falling, and the R has not risen above one.

So just over 2 weeks ago, we moved to step 1 of our plan, encouraging those who are unable to work from home to go back to work, with new guidelines setting out how workplaces can be made COVID-secure.

At the same time, we allowed people to spend more time outdoors and to meet one member of another household outside, provided they remain 2 metres apart.

I also said we would be able to move to step 2 of our plan no earlier than Monday 1 June – a week today.

We will set out our formal assessment of the 5 tests that we set for adjusting the lockdown later this week, as part of the 3 weekly-review we are legally required to undertake by Thursday.

But because of the progress we are making, I can, with confidence, put the British people on notice of the changes we intend to introduce as we move into step 2.

And I think it is important to give that notice, so that people have sufficient time to adjust and get ready before those changes come into effect.

Yesterday I set out our intention to begin reopening nurseries and particular years in primary schools, reception, year 1, year 6, from 1 June, followed by some contact for those secondary school pupils with exams next year from 15 June. Some contact for years 10 and 12 from 15 June with their teachers.

This announcement has given schools, teachers and parents clarity about our intentions, enabling them to prepare in earnest. The Department for Education is now engaging with teaching unions, councils and school leaders to help schools get ready.

Today, I want to give the retail sector notice of our intentions to reopen shops, so they too can get ready.

So I can announce that it is our intention to allow outdoor markets to reopen from June 1, subject to all premises being made COVID-secure, as well as car showrooms, which often have significant outdoor space and where it is generally easier to apply social distancing.

We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid Secure guidelines in open spaces. That means we can also allow outdoor markets to reopen in a safe way that does not risk causing a second wave of the virus.

Then, from 15 June, we intend to allow all other non-essential retail, ranging from department stores to small, independent shops, to reopen. Again, this change will be contingent upon progress against the 5 tests and will only be permitted for those retail premises which are COVID-secure.

Today we are publishing new guidance for the retail sector detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards. Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen. This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take.

While the vast majority of businesses will want to do everything possible to protect their staff and customers, I should add that we will, of course, have the powers we need to enforce compliance where that is required.

I want people to be confident they can shop safely, provided they follow the social distancing rules for all premises.

The food retail sector has already responded fantastically well, enabling supermarkets to be kept open in a safe way – and we will learn lessons from that experience as we allow other retail to open.

These are careful but deliberate steps on the road to rebuilding our country.

And we can only take these steps thanks to what we have so far achieved together.

We will only be successful if we all remember the basics – so wash your hands, keep social distance, and isolate if you have symptoms – and get a test.

I will now hand over to Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director of Public Health England, to take us through today’s slides.

BREAKING NEWS: Scottish Office minister Douglas Ross MP has resigned this morning over the Cummings affair.

Johnson backs Cummings but questions remain

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the following statement at the daily coronavirus press conference yesterday (Sunday 24 May):

Good afternoon.

I want to begin by answering the big question that people have been asking in the last 48 hours. And that is – is this Government asking you – the people, the public, to do one thing while senior people here in government do something else?

Have we been asking you to make sacrifices, to obey social distancing, to stay at home while some people have been basically flouting those rules and endangering lives?

And it is because I take this matter so seriously and frankly it is so serious that I can tell you today I have had extensive face to face conversations with Dominic Cummings and I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus.

And when he had no alternative, I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. And I do not mark him down for that. And though there have been many other allegations about what happened when he was in self-isolation and thereafter, some of them palpably false.

I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly, and legally, and with integrity, and with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives.

And I stress this fundamental aim, because it is thanks to this country’s collective resolve in achieving that aim that we continue to make progress.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson went on to talk about HM Government’s attempts to tackle the coronavirus – much of the following is relevant to ENGLAND ONLY:

So let me give you today’s figures:

3,458,905 tests for coronavirus have now been carried out in the UK, including 110,401 tests carried out yesterday
259,559 people have tested positive, that’s an increase of 2,409 cases since yesterday – a smaller increase than we were seeing over the last few weeks
8,951 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in the UK, down 11% from 10,085 this time last week

And sadly, of those tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 36,793 have now died. That’s an increase of 118 fatalities since yesterday.

And each of those fatalities represents a family in mourning, the grief of friends and relatives. And as we mourn them we resolve again to beat this virus and get our country back on its feet. We can and we will.

Two weeks ago I set out the Government’s roadmap to begin easing the measures we put in place to control the spread of coronavirus.

I said that we would do so in a safe and controlled way, based on our assessment of progress against the five tests we set for adjusting the lockdown.

We’re going to set out that assessment in detail in the coming days, but today I can confirm that I do believe we will be in a position to move to step 2 of our plan.

As part of Step 2, we set out plans for a phased reopening of schools.

Because the education of our children is crucial for their welfare, their health, for their long term future and for social justice

And so in line with the approach being taken by other countries, we want to start getting our children back in the classroom in a way that is manageable and as safe as possible.

So we said this would begin with early years settings and reception, Year 1 and Year 6 in primary schools. Today I can announce that it is our intention to go ahead with that as planned on June 1st, a week on Monday. (NOTE: this refers to England only – Ed.)

We then intend, from June 15th, for secondary schools to provide some contact for Year 10 and Year 12 students to help them prepare for exams next year, with up to a quarter of these students in at any point.

By opening schools to more pupils in this limited way, we are taking a deliberately cautious approach.

And this comes after a constructive period of consultation with schools, teachers and unions, led by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

I want to thank all the Education and childcare staff who have stepped up to the challenge and kept schools open throughout this crisis.

The Department for Education will engage with teaching unions, local authorities and school leaders in the coming days, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and probe the evidence behind our plans.

And the final decision will be taken as part of the formal review into lockdown measures which the law requires us to undertake by Thursday. We will of course continue to consider all the evidence (as we said we would do), and will continue to work hard with those bodies over the course of the coming week.

However, I think it is important for us to be clear about the Government’s intentions now, so that teachers and parents can plan in earnest for schools to reopen a week on Monday.

Now I acknowledge that a 1 June opening may not be possible for all schools, but the Government will continue to support and work with the sector to ensure that any schools experiencing difficulties are able to open more widely as soon as possible (ENGLAND ONLY – Scotland’s schools return in August – Ed.).

Detailed guidance has been published by the Department for Education on how schools can open in a way which is safe for children, teachers and parents.

While of course we recognise that full social distancing may not be possible, especially when teaching young children, our guidance sets out a range of protective measures to keep children and staff safe.

This includes:

reducing the size of classes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with others
staggered break and lunch times, as well as drop offs and pick ups
increasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the used of shared items and utilising outdoor space

All children and staff, and their families, will have access to testing if they display symptoms. This will enable children and staff to get back to school if they test negative, and if they test positive we will take the appropriate reactive measures.

We will continue to work with the sector to support them to prepare for wider opening and ensure all children and young people can continue to receive the best care, education and training possible.

We will set out what moving to step 2 means for other areas, such as non-essential retail and more social contacts, over the course of the next week.

And let me stress once again: we are making good progress.

But that progress is conditional, provisional.

We must keep reducing the incidence of this disease.

We must keep that R down below 1.

And that means we must remember the basics.

Wash our hands, keep social distance, isolate if you have symptoms – and get a test.

We are beating this thing, but we will beat it all the faster if we stay alert, control the virus and save lives.

Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, responding to the Prime Minister’s press conference, said: “This was a test of the Prime Minister and he has failed it.

“It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings. The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the Prime Minister’s closest adviser and another for the British people.

“The Prime Minister’s actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time.

“Millions were watching for answers and they got nothing. That’s why the Cabinet Secretary must now launch an urgent inquiry.”

Should our politicians return to Westminster? Speaker responds to MPs

Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle has responded to the Centenary Action Group, a cross-party group of MPs who had written to express concerns about plans to return to the traditional ways of working at Westminster.

Dear colleague,

Many thanks for your letter dated 20 May. I am well-aware of the strength of feeling from Members concerned about plans to return to physical proceedings in the House of Commons, but it is always useful to have the issues set out on paper.

Like many, I have been impressed with the way in which the House Authorities were able to facilitate hybrid proceedings in the Chamber, and then remote voting, within such a short space of time. While these proceedings have had their limitations, they have undoubtedly allowed more scrutiny and participation to take place than would have occurred without them.

Since the House has delivered these innovations to ensure that individuals could adhere to Government guidelines in order to keep safe, the Government has now taken the view that the House should return to the Chamber in a fully physical form.

It is a long-established constitutional principle – and one embodied in Standing Orders – that the Government controls the distribution of time available to the House, and that Government business has precedence. It is for the House itself to determine its procedures, as it did when it facilitated the move to allow virtual participation in select committees (which remains in force), and the move towards hybrid proceedings in the Chamber and remote voting (no longer in force).

As Speaker I cannot and should not stand in the way of the will of the House.

However, I would like to say that, in my view, all Members entitled to sit in the House of Commons should be able to have their voices heard in representing their constituents to as great an extent as is possible.

I am personally sympathetic to those who need to stay at home because they are vulnerable, shielding or have caring responsibilities. I have continued to express my view to the Leader of the House that the possibility to participate in the business of the House via hybrid proceedings should remain for these colleagues. I very much hope that the Government and Opposition, through the usual channels, can work together to ensure that this happens.

I believe, that just as I have a duty of care to staff of the House in my role as Chair of the House of Commons Commission, the individual political parties have a duty of care to their MPs to ensure that they are not put at risk and protection is available for those who need it.

As an extension of that, they also have a responsibility to ensure that their constituents are not disenfranchised, especially if there is an alternative method available enabling their MP to participate in business and vote on it.

For those who do come onto the parliamentary estate, I am confident that the appropriate social distancing measures will be in place. The House authorities are working together with Public Health England to ensure the parliamentary estate is a COVID-19 secure workplace by the time we return from the Whitsun recess on 2 June.

As you are probably aware, I have been insistent that we do not allow more than 50 MPs in the Chamber, while PHE guidelines on social distancing remain at two metres. Indeed, I will suspend the sitting if we exceed that number, or it is clear that social distancing is not being maintained.

I have also been very clear that Members’ staff, and House staff, who can work remotely should continue to do so – they should not be returning to the estate, or their constituency offices.

My priority, throughout this pandemic, is that all in the Parliamentary community can work safely if they are on the Estate, and I am grateful to all those working hard on our risk assessments and taking steps to make our workplace as safe as possible.

My pledge to you is that I will continue to be guided by PHE advice and will take whatever action is advised and I will continue to represent the range of views on this matter in my interactions with the Government.

Warm wishes

Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker of the House of Commons

A better Edinburgh? Council committee to agree programme for capital’s recovery

Council sets out initial draft framework for Capital’s crisis recovery strategy

First plans for an Adaptation and Renewal Programme to be considered by Councillors on Thursday (28 May)
Programme would include the creation of five interlinked programmes to support the city as it emerges from the COVID-19 crisis
Capital could be rebuilt around the four key principles of the 2050 City Vision, with tackling poverty and promoting sustainability to remain central to the Council’s approach
A draft strategy to steer Edinburgh through and out of the current pandemic will go before Councillors next week, as part of the Council’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee will consider a report on Thursday 28 May which sets out the Council’s planned approach to the city’s recovery.

As we continue to respond to the ongoing crisis, the proposal for an Adaptation and Renewal Programme looks at how we can build on the driving forces behind our response to date – protecting our most vulnerable residents, keeping staff as safe as possible and maintaining as many services as possible.

The report outlines five new, interlinked programmes of work to help Council services and the city adapt to, and harness opportunities presented by, the longer-term impacts of the pandemic:

Public Health Advisory Board – ensuring the effective communication and implementation of national public health advice
Service Operations – looking at how to re-introduce essential services that need to be adapted for social distancing and/or digital delivery
Change People and Finance – understanding the financial consequences on the Council, our Budget forecasts and assessing the current strategies and deliverables in place
Sustainable Economic Recovery – engaging with businesses, stakeholders and sectors to inform the economic recovery plan
Life Changes – developing the Council’s short- and long-term responses in tackling poverty across Edinburgh
Early engagement is already under way, including a series of round table discussions looking at how COVID-19 has affected Edinburgh’s sectors and how they can begin to rebuild in a more sustainable manner. A joint effort for the Capital’s recovery is recommended, so that the Council alongside its partners and residents can focus on working together towards rebuilding the kind of city the people of Edinburgh want to see.

To this end, it’s proposed that the recovery strategy and approach are guided and shaped by the outcomes of the 2050 City Vision.

The 2050 public consultation – the largest such exercise ever undertaken by the Council – identified four key values that people want Edinburgh to stand for: welcoming, thriving, fair and pioneering.

It’s proposed that these values underpin a long-term vision for how the Capital should mould itself.

Council Leader, Adam McVey, said: “Like all cities, Edinburgh will feel the impact of this crisis for some time to come. With the Scottish Government having set out a route to recovery, Edinburgh is doing the same.

“Our Capital is a key driver of the national economy and source of innovation that we’ll all rely on as we change and adapt how we work. In starting to plan for our future we need to acknowledge that business as usual isn’t an option. The Adaptation and Renewal Programme Report is the first step in building a future that keeps poverty reduction and sustainability in sharp focus.

“We will continue to do absolutely everything we can to provide help and support to those who need it now. Looking to the future will influence how we begin to build a better Edinburgh, together as one City.

“Last year, residents told us what they wanted their city to be – fair, welcoming, thriving and pioneering – and while the pandemic has presented us with significant challenges that will remain our focus alongside the financial challenges, this is still the city that we are committing to build for Edinburgh’s future.”

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “This has undoubtedly been the worst crisis that Edinburgh and its residents have seen for many years and sadly many people have suffered severe losses over the past few months.

“However, the strength and sense of togetherness we have seen throughout this incredibly trying time has been truly inspiring and we hope this will continue as we move into recovery and beyond.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has been part of the response to date – our Council colleagues, NHS staff, care givers and all of Edinburgh’s people – our steadfast response as a City has only been made possible because of you.

“The Adaptation and Renewal Programme is a crucial first step in moving us through the current crisis and on towards a ‘new normal’. In the meantime, we’ll continue to do absolutely everything we can to tackle the crisis and the challenges it presents while supporting our great city and its residents and helping us build an even better Capital for the future.”

The Council’s priority in response to the crisis has been to ensure that residents are receiving the help and support that they need.

To date, almost half a million pounds has been paid out through Crisis and Community Care grants, with a further £500,000 distributed to families in school meal payments.

The amount of temporary accommodation available has been vastly increased to help those facing homelessness during this time and the Council has distributed nearly £600,000 in welfare payments since the lockdown started.

Full details of the Council’s response to date are available here.

NHS Lothian to play key role in COVID-19 vaccine trial

NHS Lothian is set to become involved in a major clinical vaccine trial testing the new Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and 17 other sites across the UK.

The vaccine study will run at both the Western General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The aim is to enrol approximately 600 Lothian frontline health and social care workers which will include doctors, nurses, emergency department staff, paramedics, care home nurses, porters and domestics to test a new vaccine.

Screening volunteer health and social care workers is planned to begin from next week.

Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said: “We are pleased to be participating in this unprecedented clinical vaccine trial and I would like to thank everyone for their participation in this vital research.

“Their involvement will be essential in the development of a vaccine and this pioneering and important research allows us the opportunity to contribute to the development of a globally approved vaccine against Covid-19.”

The main focus of the study will be to develop a safe vaccine for use across the population.

As part of that, it will investigate the effectiveness of the vaccine, to pinpoint any side effects and to establish if it induces good immune responses against the virus.

To recruit the large number of participants needed for this trial, multiple clinical research sites across the UK are involved in delivering the study. The collaborative effort, led by the University of Oxford, will see vaccinations taking place throughout May and June.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I am delighted that the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow along with NHS colleagues are taking part in the human safety trials for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine by Oxford University.

“Scotland has a long established reputation for medical research, and I would like to thank the research community across the country. The pace of work and the commitment of teams across Scotland has been outstanding and is testament to the world-class research infrastructure and expertise we have here.

“Of course, while the prospect of an effective vaccine developed here in the UK is exciting, there is no guarantee of success and we must continue to follow the guidelines set out by the Scottish Government to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our NHS.”

FM reminds Scotland: lockdown restrictions remain in place until Thursday

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 22 May):

Good afternoon. I’m joined today by Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland and Professor Jason Leitch, our National Clinical Director. I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to COVID-19 in Scotland.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,969 positive cases confirmed – which is an increase of 113 from yesterday.

A total of 1,257 patients are in hospital with COVID-19 – 874 of them have been confirmed as having Covid, and 383 who are suspected of having it. That represents a total decrease of 61 from yesterday and that includes a decrease of 35 in the number of confirmed cases.

A total of 50 people last night were in intensive care with either confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is a decrease of one since yesterday.

I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,508 patients who had tested positive and been hospitalised with the virus have been able to leave hospital. Which is, of course, very good news.

And unfortunately though I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 24 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having COVID-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,245.

Let me emphasise once again that these numbers are not simply statistics. They represent individuals who are being mourned by friends, family and loved ones. I want to send my deepest and heartfelt condolences to everyone who has suffered a loss to this virus.

I also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers for the extraordinary, incredible work that you continue to do each and every day.

There are two items I want to briefly cover today.

The first is about the routemap we published yesterday, on how and when we might ease the current lockdown restrictions, while continuing to suppress the virus which is so, so vital.

As of 10 o’clock this morning, I can tell you, more than 100,000 of you have viewed that document on our website. My apologies to those who tried to do so yesterday and found that the demand had made the website struggle. I’m glad that so many people have managed to do so and my thanks to you for doing that.

And I would encourage those of you who haven’t yet had the opportunity, to go online and read it – and if you have any views about it you want us to know please feel free to send them to us.

The document set out the different phases in which we will aim to ease lockdown.

The steps it sets out are by necessity gradual and incremental. And we will monitor them carefully as they do take effect.

And our plans will change if the data, evidence or our knowledge of the virus changes.

Let me stress though that that could include lifting restrictions more quickly than we otherwise think we can do.

I want to stress – and this is a really important point – that none of the changes are yet in place. During this Bank Holiday weekend – and into next week – the current lockdown restrictions are still in place.

That’s important for me to stress. The one thing that will slow down the lifting of lockdown is us taking our foot off the brake too quickly and allowing the virus to spread rapidly again.

However, on a more optimistic note, as things stand, we intend to enter the first phase of easing restrictions, from next Thursday 28 May – now less than one week away.

By then, I hope we will still be seeing progress against the virus, but also by then we will also be ready to start with our Test, Trace and Isolate programme – Test and Protect we’re calling it – as you’ve heard me say before, that is a key tool for us in continuing to keep the virus suppressed as we start gradually easing these restrictions.

As I said yesterday, not all of the Phase 1 measures will necessarily be introduced immediately next Thursday – though I hope most will be. But we’ll have to make a judgement at the time.

But I want to reiterate some of the changes that I hope we will see from next week so that you know what you’re able to look forward to.

As the document sets out, more outdoor activity will be permitted. There is a strong emphasis in the first phase on outdoor activity because one of the things we are learning about this virus is that the risks of transmission outdoors, although not zero, absolutely not zero, are nevertheless lower than the risks of transmission indoors.

So You will be able in this first phase to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas. And as long as you stay two metres apart, you will be able to meet outside, with people from another household, including in private gardens.

Let me be clear because I know it is a question that has been asked, that doesn’t limit you to seeing just one specific household during this phase – you can see different households, but we are asking you only to meet one at a time.

We’re also not intending to put a five mile limit on the distance you can travel to, for example, sit with your parents in their garden.

But we are asking you to use judgement. And increasingly as we come out of lockdown, I’m going to be relying more and more on you to exercise the good judgement that I know you will.

If, for example you travel a long distance to see a relative outside, you’ll be more likely to go inside the house to use the bathroom, for example.

And we don’t want you to go inside others’ houses in this phase because if you are infectious, maybe without knowing it, you risk leaving the virus on surfaces inside the house and that would pose a risk to other people, particularly if you’re visiting elderly relatives – that is a risk we don’t want you to take.

So please use your judgement and have uppermost in your mind the need to protect those you care about – even if that might mean staying apart from them for just a little a bit longer.

As well as those changes, some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart from the end of next week – such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing – croquet as well, as I was asked about in Parliament – subject to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing.

People will be able to travel – preferably by walking or cycling – to a location near their local community for recreation. But here we are asking you to stay fairly local. Five miles will not be a strict limit but it is a guide. We don’t want, in this phase, people congregating at tourist hot spots – because crowds of people – even if they’re trying to socially distance – brings more risk than we judge is safe to take at this time.

Waste and recycling services will resume, as will many outdoor businesses.

The construction industry will be able to carefully implement the first steps in its restart plan.

Other industries, that might not resume straight away but in the next phase, will be permitted in phase 1 to start to prepare workplaces.

Outdoor retail outlets such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen.

And, very importantly, we will also start, albeit gradually and carefully, to resume NHS services which were paused as a result of the pandemic.

Schools will not reopen until 11 August. But, during June, teachers will return to prepare for the new term and for a different model of learning.

Over the summer, an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare.

And we intend to provide, where possible, transition support for children going into primary 1 or moving from primary 7 to secondary school.

Childminders can re-open during phase 1. And over the summer all early years childcare providers will open again subject to necessary health measures.

The routemap provides more detail on these steps – and on each subsequent phase. It also outlines how they will work alongside our ‘Test and Protect’ approach – which as I said a moment ago, will be vital, in helping to control the virus.

In the days ahead we will publish more detailed advice and information for you the public, as well as guidance covering key sectors of our economy, travel and transport. That’s a really important part of preparing for the move to phase 1. So that there is as much clarity as possible about what we are saying and what we are asking you not to do at this stage.

However, I want to emphasise a key point. None of the changes I’ve talked about today, are yet in place. We can only begin to implement them if we continue to suppress this virus. And that’s why – for the moment – the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.

That brings me to the final item I want to cover. It’s about our support for people, in dealing with the lockdown. And it has particular relevance, as we mark the end of mental health awareness week.

We know this crisis is causing increased anxiety and stress for probably everybody in the population. We also know that – because of the lockdown – many people are cut off from their usual support networks – be that family, friends, or the wider community. That problem is – of course – particularly acute for those of you who are isolating or shielding.

The Scottish Government has been trying to take action throughout this, to address this issue. Today, I can tell you that – since the lockdown began – we have provided more than £8 million to projects aimed at tackling social isolation.

That money comes from our Wellbeing Fund. And it is now supporting around 350 projects, in every part of the country.

The services they are providing include phone calls for older people who are self-isolating; food parcels and special packs for families; help with digital technology for those who need it; and respite care for parents of children with additional support needs.

So I want to take the opportunity today to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone working across the third sector organisations and volunteers who are involved in providing these services. Your willingness to help others – at what will also be a difficult time for you, as well as for others – is hugely appreciated.

And I want to stress one of the key messages of mental health awareness week is that it’s okay not to feel okay – and that help is available if you need it.

I would encourage any of you to look for help if you do feel you need it

The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – brings together all of the different information about support that is available.

I want to close today by just emphasising the point I’ve made a couple of times already, that for the time being, the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.

The Chief Constable will say a few words in a moment, for now I just want to reiterate – once again – what those restrictions are.

Except for essential purposes – exercise, going to essential work that can’t be done at home, or getting food or medicine you should stay at home.

You can now exercise more than once a day – but please stay more than 2 metres from other people. And don’t yet meet up with people from other households.

Please wear a face covering if you are in an enclosed space like a shop or on public transport. And you should wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you have symptoms, or someone else in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, isolate completely.

I know how hard these restrictions are. And I know that hearing me talk about easing them as we head into a bank holiday weekend, will make all of this seem even tougher.

But we need to stick with it for a few more days. And if we do, I really hope that this time next week when I’m standing here telling you all to have I nice weekend, I’ll also be telling you to enjoy, for the first time in a long while, seeing some family or friends over the weekend – as long as you do it outdoors and remember to stay physically distanced.

Everybody’s been magnificent so far, please stick with it for a few more days and we can take that first step on the road back to some kind of normality.

Thank you all very much for your co-operation and I’ll now hand over to the chief constable to say a few words before handing over to Professor Leitch.

The routemap has been welcomed by SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald. He said: “We all know that we can’t live this way forever and we all want to get back some sense of normality.

“While we need to move carefully and gradually, the route map laid out today by the First Minister clearly sets out the steps that will take us there.

“Too many people in Edinburgh and across Scotland have lost their lives to this disease and we can’t risk another peak – so we must move in line with our own circumstances.

“We will get through this by working together by sticking to the advice to suppress the virus further and get back a way of life that is as close to normal as possible.”

Emergency funds reaching Scotland’s culture sector

Emergency funds designed to support people working in Scotland’s who are experiencing immediate financial difficulty as a result of COVID-19 are now reaching those most in need.

Information published today by Creative Scotland, reveals that 865 people have now received one off grants of between £500-£2,500, in the first phase of the Creative Scotland Arts and Creative Bridging Bursary programme.

A combination of existing funding from The National Lottery and Scottish Government, over £1.5million has been distributed to date to freelance artists and creative practitioners based in each of Scotland’s local authority areas.

Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is a deeply worrying time for Scotland’s world-renowned culture sector, which has been particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Many artists, performers and freelancers have seen an immediate shutdown of work, resulting in a dramatic loss of income, with many facing real hardship.

“We want to do all we can to help and, working quickly with Creative Scotland, we have repurposed grant money and built packages of focused support for those who need it most. More than 850 individual freelancers and artists who have lost income due to COVID-19 will now receive a vital lifeline from the Bridging Bursary Fund to help them through this extremely difficult time.

“Culture is central to who we are. It is one of Scotland’s major strengths and it will continue to play a crucial part in getting us through this crisis as we rebuild our country and look toward the future.”

Iain Munro, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland commented: “In the midst of the very serious personal and professional impacts being experienced by so many people working across the creative sector, it is encouraging to be able to report today, that these vital funds are reaching so many people so quickly.

“Nevertheless, while the measures we’ve already undertaken are responding to the initial impact of this crisis, we recognise that they are limited when compared to the significant future challenges faced by our arts screen and creative industries sectors. Our absolute priority is now about concentrating our efforts to safeguard and protect their longer-term future.”

More detailed information about today’s update on the first phase of the Creative Scotland Arts and Creative Bridging Bursary can be found here.

The Bridging Bursaries Programme is an important part of Creative Scotland’s initial response to the country’s creative community during the COVID-19 outbreak.

To help alleviate pressure on organisations as much as possible, all existing funding awards, regardless of whether activity is cancelled, reduced or rescheduled, are being honoured. In addition, existing resources have been repurposed to provide £8.5m for individuals and organisations to sustain their creative practice and to develop new work in the coming months.

The Scottish and UK governments are also offering support to those most in need and information about these alternative sources of funding alongside resources and sector specific support groups and organisations, can be accessed through Creative Scotland’s website.

Scotland’s Hockey Clubs make the pledge

Despite their inability to play matches, Scotland’s 100 hockey clubs have been invited to sign a Club Pledge to keep the sport connected and vibrant throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

And so far, in just over one week, over 60 of them have done so, with yet more looking to sign-up in course of the month of May.

The Club Pledge can be found at https://www.scottish-hockey.org.uk/clubs/club-pledge/.

The Club Pledge is intended to bring the hockey community together and connected, while showcasing the good work being done by clubs and to enable other clubs to do the same.

Scotland’s hockey club members are being urged to maintain club togetherness and community to help the sport to thrive.

By making the Club Pledge the clubs will:

Hold weekly club/team online (Zoom/Teams/GoTo) meetings at the time their training session would be.
Host virtual club social events – online quiz; karaoke; party nights
Set club challenges to raise money for charity and good causes – for example run 5k and donate £5.
Profile club members who are on the front line – working in the NHS; carers; supermarket workers; refuse workers etc.

Paul Elliott, Communications Manager at Scottish Hockey, said: “Scotland’s hockey club members are missing the bonds and companionship they get from playing and training with their team mates for the game they love.

“This initiative helps clubs and teams maintain those bonds and keep spirits high in preparation for that time when we can all meet up again on the hockey pitch.

“In the meantime we are hoping that all of our affiliated hockey clubs will make the Club Pledge to maintain the great sense of community and togetherness people enjoy through hockey.

“There’s also an amazing amount of fundraising taking place through Club Pledge, so collectively we will hope to establish the amount of funds that have been raised for good causes right across the country.”

Three in four people blind and partially sighted people concerned about getting access to food

Difficulties in social distancing are adding to the stress many blind and partially sighted people are experiencing in getting access to basic shopping, a survey by the charity RNIB has found.

“This first nationwide survey of how people with sight loss are coping during the current lockdown situation suggests it might be impacting particularly severely on them,” James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, has warned.

“Three in four respondents to our survey reported being very or quite concerned about getting access to food. Uncertainty and confusion over access to shopping and information – compounded by isolation and the barriers to being guided because of social distancing – all add to the stress many people are feeling.

“We are working with supermarkets to ensure those who can’t leave the house, or who can’t see to easily social distance themselves from other shoppers, do have access to basic food supplies.”

People with sight loss can struggle to maintain social distance as they can’t always see other shoppers approaching them, pointed out Mr Adams.

Social distancing can be challenging for blind and partially sighted people.

If you see someone with a cane or a guide dog please give them more space at the moment, and be understanding of people who are trying their best to keep a safe distance. pic.twitter.com/JZi9POqD2o

— RNIB (@RNIB) May 14, 2020

Eighty per cent of people replying to the RNIB survey said that the way they do shopping has changed since lockdown.

Before, 28 per cent said they had done their own shopping. Now, half that proportion do. And while only 18 per cent had previously relied on someone to shop for them, now 49 per cent do. 25 per cent said there was no one in their household who could guide them around a shop.

Shopping online has also proved a problem. 67 per cent of respondents had experienced difficulty finding a supermarket delivery slot, while 26 per cent said they couldn’t access the supermarket booking web-page. RNIB has pressed government and supermarkets to add blind and partially sighted people to the priority delivery list.

The survey has also revealed that the isolation imposed by lockdown has hit blind and partially sighted people particularly hard.

78 per cent said they had less contact with ‘the people who matter to me’; one in five people reported that they now rarely speak to people either over the phone, on video calls or in person since lockdown; while five per cent did not know how to contact many of the people they would normally be in touch with at least once a week.

Accessible information was another worry. One in four respondents had struggled to get written information in a format that they could understand.

“We have urged government and public bodies to ensure that often vital information is available in formats such as audio and braille,” said Mr Adams.

“While social distancing is an important health measure, the consequences for those who are less able to comply can be difficult, especially if other people wrongly assume they are just being lackadaisical. We need to give more thought to how we ensure people with sight loss don’t end up becoming prisoners of lockdown.

“Our RNIB Helpline is available to help and support all blind and partially sighted people and their families and carers on 0303 123 9999. We want people with sight loss to know they are not alone and that help is available”

Case study – Kirin Saeed from Edinburgh:

One in five respondents to the RNIB survey said they have had to ration food during the current lockdown period:

Kirin Saeed from Edinburgh is registered blind. “I’ve found myself limiting the food I eat as I’m never that sure when my next food delivery will be,” she says. “I have a paid carer who lives some distance away and I’m conscious I don’t want to burden her with too much shopping. Also, as I’m in the black and minority ethnic group and possibly more vulnerable to the coronavirus virus, I need to limit contact with others.

“If I went to a shop myself social distancing would be a massive problem. Touching things to ascertain what they are would, too. Blind people live in a world where touching things is important – but how long does the virus stay on things we touch?

“I don’t think this situation is going to change anytime soon. Everyone’s scrambling through the here and now – but what about the here and after? There will still be social distancing.

“The hope I have is that shops and supermarkets agree a standardised policy for customers with sight loss, so that we know how to safely get around shops and so do staff. That would be the best way forward for everybody.”