A volunteer support group has been set up to help elderly/vulnerable people during the Covid 19 crisis.
UK Community Network is active in all areas of Edinburgh and have been helping people for the past few weeks. We still believe their are people struggling who maybe don’t qualify for other sorts of help and we also believe that as more people go back to work, there will be less volunteers around to help.
We have volunteers who are ready to help with shopping, prescriptions, etc.
Get in touch!
Westminster’s Science and Technology Committee has today shared a series of findings in a letter written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The 19 page letter, which sets out a number of recommendations to the Government, is based on evidence heard as part of the Committee’s inquiry into UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks.
Backed by a cross-party group of MPs, the publication details ten key lessons the UK Government should learn from its experience of handling the first months of the pandemic.
Drawing on the evidence of scientists and other relevant experts from the UK and around the world who have thus far provided the Committee with a wide range of insights, the recommendations include:
The Committee also makes a recommendation relating to the systematic recording of the ethnicity of those dying of COVID-19, stating that such data may help progress understanding of the disproportionate number of deaths of those from BAME backgrounds.
The letter has reached these conclusions as a result of the inquiry’s first six public evidence sessions. The inquiry, which captures contemporary evidence on decisions and assessments made by Government during the pandemic, continues.
Chair of the Committee, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, said: “The Government has drawn extensively on scientific advice during the pandemic and should continue to do so.
“The Government should follow the best traditions of science in being transparent about the evidence and advice on which it makes decisions, and by being willing to continually learn from evidence and experience and not being afraid to adjust its approach in response.
“Greater transparency around scientific advice; putting capacity in place in advance of need, such as in testing and vaccines; collecting more data earlier and learning from other countries’ approaches are some of the early lessons of this pandemic that are relevant to further decisions that will need to be taken during the weeks and months ahead.
“We hope the Government will act on these recommendations which are offered in a constructive spirit based on the evidence we have taken so far.”
200518-Letter – Chair-to-Prime-Minister-re-COVID-19-pandemic-some-lessons-learned-so-far
City council leader Adam McVey has outlined the measures the Council will take following a report from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission into the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on residents in the city.
The interim Poverty and Coronavirus in Edinburgh report has taken testimonies from people directly affected by the pandemic focussing on areas such as jobs, people’s incomes, housing, homelessness, the cost of living, health and social isolation.
Leader Adam McVey pledged the Council will do everything it can to support those most in need and welcomed the report which will inform the future direction the Council takes in tackling poverty in the city.
He said: “I welcome that this report recognises the work done by the Council, partners, third sector and volunteers across the city to respond positively and quickly to deliver lifeline services including vital food and medical supplies for citizens affected by the coronavirus measure that have been put in place.
“Today’s report contains important findings with vital and timely testimonies on the real impact that lockdown is having on people’s lives. While we have all been affected by the ongoing situation, it is clear from this report that this pandemic has been particularly challenging for those who were already in or at risk of poverty in the city.
“We’re absolutely committed to making sure this evidence shapes our continuing response to this emergency over the coming months, as well as the planning for how we will rebuild the city when this crisis has passed.
“It’s so important that while we look to address the additional hardship and pressures this crisis has brought, we also build on the renewed sense of community and collaboration we have witnessed across the city.
“As we plan for Edinburgh’s recovery, we will continue to be ambitious and make sure our responses are guided by our long-term commitment to boosting sustainability, tackling poverty and improving residents’ wellbeing.
“We will continue working with the Scottish and UK Governments to secure the right level of ongoing financial support to allow us to rebuild and create a fairer city for all going forward.”
In specific response to the actions the Commission has put forward, the Council will:
In the coming weeks the Council will publish its first plans for how the city will adapt and rebuild from this crisis throughout the rest of this year and beyond. A key element of this recovery programme will be ensuring that the twin targets of being fair and green for all lie at its heart.
The council will continue to encourage partners who are invested in the prosperity of the city work with them to achieve a ‘fair and green economic recovery’ which will include the work of both the Edinburgh Poverty Commission and the Edinburgh Climate Commission.
The final report by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission and their findings will be published in the autumn.
20200518_EPC_Interim_Coronavirus_Report
Imagine the isolation you’ve been living with became your new normal. You’re unable to meet a friend for coffee, go to your favourite restaurant or travel on holiday. Your job becomes uncertain, and you live your life on permanent lockdown …
This is what life is like for many of the 21,000 adults, children and young people in Scotland living with the serious neurological condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Niamh, 21, from Gullane, says the illness has robbed her of being a normal teenager: “I was academic and very sporty. At the time of my diagnosis I had competed in national and local squads. I got ill at 12, so the biggest change was missing out on teenage and school years. I still miss sports an awful lot.”
M.E. affects people’s bodies and brains ability to recover normally after any activity, physical and mental, and however small. On top of the significant daily challenges this presents fluctuating condition presents, much of the support and services people with M.E. in Scotland have come to rely on – such as supermarket deliveries or carers providing personal care – have disappeared overnight.
“We have been contacted by people with M.E. in truly desperate situations,” explains Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for M.E.
“So we set up our new Crisis, Support and Advocacy Service to meet this urgent need, sourcing practical local assistance such as help with shopping and picking-up medications, connecting people with peer-support, and advising on the ongoing changes to welfare benefits.
“So far, we have seen a three-fold increase in requests for urgent support – all at a time when our income is expected to drop by at least 50%. Like many other organisations and charities, we made the difficult decision to furlough several staff. We are continuing to make critical decisions to ensure we are here for people with M.E., now and in the future.”
For M.E. Awareness Month throughout May, the charity is encouraging people with M.E. to share their insight and experience when it comes to living with uncertainty and isolation, with the aim of shining a spotlight on this hidden condition.
Niamh added: “Chronic illness feels like lockdown – but being able to see your friends run around, go to parties, graduate from high school and grow up.
“For lots of people suffering with chronic illnesses, this lockdown may not end when the pubs start opening back up. For them, lockdown does not have a start date and an end date.”
Rhona Barton from Blackburn, Aberdeenshire is someone else who understands living in lockdown as normal life. Diagnosed with M.E. at 21 years old, she had to find a way to get through each day.
“What helped me when I was unwell included things such as hydrotherapy, very gentle massage, few people in a room with me at one time, no loud sounds/music/voices, hot water bottles to help with joint and muscle pain; a double duvet cover on a single bed to stop it falling off in the night and to keep me extra warm; a wheelchair for trips out to save energy; small meals but often; keeping a sense of humour and learning to balance my energy levels.”
Rhona has been well for 14 years now and puts her experience to good use.
“As I am now classed as well, I have been volunteering as a mentor for Action for M.E.’s Mentor M.E. project, and as a Coach for Age UK. My health has been steady and I’ve been able to build my own business around a work/life balance that’s right for me.”
As a mentor, Rhona shares her insight into living with a chronic illness with her mentee Charlotte, who says: “Talking to someone who has experienced M.E. for themselves and can really understand my condition and concerns has been an enormous help. Regular contact with Rhona, especially at the moment, has given me something to look forward to and enjoy.”
Rhona hopes the experience of lockdown will lead to a greater understanding of people, like Niamh and Charlotte, living with chronic illness.
“For all of those individuals that have never had to restrict their lives to their own homes, I’d like them to know that what they are experiencing during Covid-19 is the normal for those with chronic illnesses.
“The isolation, the low mood, the lack of structure, the inability to see others or just to do as you please, is our normal everyday life. I hope that, when this is past, those who are hidden, will be more visible to the rest of society.”
Anyone living with or caring for someone with M.E., of any age, can contact Action for M.E.’s Crisis, Support and Advocacy Service by email at questions@actionforme.org.uk or call on 0117 927 9551.
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Monday 18th May):
Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for joining us. I want to start – as always – with an update you on the key statistics in relation to Covid-19.
As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,594 positive cases confirmed – which is an increase of 57 since yesterday.
A total of 1,427 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – 1,005 of them have been confirmed as having the virus, and 422 are suspected of having it. That represents a total increase of 119 from yesterday, however the number of confirmed cases has declined by 2.
A total of 63 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is an increase of 4 since yesterday.
I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,354 patients who had tested positive have been able to leave hospital and I wish all of them well.
Unfortunately though I also have to report that in the past 24 hours, 2 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having the virus – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,105.
I should of course inject some caution into that figure – as I often say on a Monday, although deaths can now be registered at weekends, registration numbers are usually relatively low then, and they can be especially low on a Sunday. That should be taken into account when considering today’s figure.
Again, let me stress – these numbers are not just statistics. Each one is an individual whose loss is a source of real sorrow and deep grief. My condolences go to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.
And let me also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers for the extraordinary work they continue to do in such difficult and challenging circumstances.
Now I have three things that I want to update on today.
The first is that we have changed our guidance on the symptoms of Covid-19, this is based on a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officers across the UK.
Until now, we have been asking people to stay at home for 7 days if you have a high temperature, or a persistent cough. That remains the case.
However we have also said that we are learning about this virus as it develops, and we now have sufficient evidence to add an additional symptom which you should look out for.
If you notice a loss of, or change in, your sense of taste or smell – something called anosmia – that is also, or can also be, a symptom of Covid-19.
The Chief Medical Officer will say more about this in a few moments, but to summarise – if you have a high temperature, or a persistent cough, or if you notice a loss of taste or smell – stay at home completely for 7 days, and don’t leave your home at all. Other people in your household should stay at home for 14 days.
The second issue I want to discuss today is that from today, we are widening the number of people who can be tested for Covid-19.
The Health Secretary will say a bit more in a moment about testing in care homes.
The change I will talk about is that anyone over the age of 5, who has any of the three symptoms of Covid-19 – including of course that loss of taste or smell – will now be able to book a test.
The tests will be available through the drive-in centres – at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, and in Perth and Inverness. They will also available through the 12 mobile testing units which are based across the country, and which move around every 5 days or so.
Tests at drive-in centres have already been made available to over 65s, to key workers – for example people in vital infrastructure services – and to anyone who needs to work, who cannot work from home. Tests have also been available to household members of these groups.
The further expansion that we are announcing today will ensure that anyone with symptoms will be able to find out if they have the virus, and will therefore be able to know whether or not they should be isolating.
Tests can be booked online. Priority will continue to be given to those who are key workers, and these can be secured by booking through an employer.
When you book a test, you will be allocated to the centre that is closest to your own postcode. I know that for some people that will involve travelling quite a long distance. We are currently working with the military to try to make mobile testing units as widely available as possible.
It is also worth stressing that for NHS and social care key workers, or symptomatic household members of those workers, testing should still be accessed through the NHS.
This testing ensures priority access, and should be accessible to care and health service staff at NHS facilities within their local area – it should not require people to travel long distances.
Today’s expansion is the result of co-operation between NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government and the UK Government. It will help more people to know if they have the virus and it will be helpful as we build towards our strategy of test, trace, isolate and support – something that will be especially important, as we start to emerge gradually from lockdown.
That is relevant to the final issue I want to talk about today.
I can confirm today that we will publish on Thursday a routemap setting out our phased approach to easing lockdown measures.
This will take account of the up to date estimates of the transmission rate, or R number, and the number of cases. It will also take account of the latest National Records of Scotland report, due on Wednesday, on the number of deaths from COVID.
The routemap we publish on Thursday will give a more detailed indication of the order in which we will carefully and gradually seek to lift current restrictions
Now like other countries we will not yet be able to put frim dates on all of the different phases – because timings must be driven by data and evidence.
It will also be important that we assess the impact of measures in one phase before moving on to another. We will continue, and again I want to stress this, to take a cautious approach that ensures the virus is suppressed, while seeking to restore as much normality as possible when it is safe to do so.
However, Thursday’s routemap will confirm that – assuming we see progress in suppressing the virus – the first phase will start from the next formal review date of 28 May.
Within a few days of that, we will aim to allow, for example, more outdoor activity – such as being able to sit in the park, meet up outdoors with someone from another household, as long as you stay socially distanced; some limited outdoor sporting activities, like golf and fishing; the opening of garden centres and recycling facilities; and the resumption of some outdoor work.
This first phase will coincide with our ability to start, on a phased basis, a substantial test, trace and isolate operation to help us keep the virus under control as we start to ease up restrictions. That part is absolutely crucial.
Thursday’s routemap will also set out our up to date assessment at that point of a phased of a return to school, as guided by the considerations of the Education Recovery Group.
From Thursday onwards, we will also set out guidance for key industries on the changes they will need to make to ensure their employees and customers are safe in advance of further changes, as well as setting out advice on travel and transport.
So, within two weeks, my hope is that we will be taking some concrete steps on the journey back to a form of normality.
As I have said before, It won’t be normality exactly as we knew it because the virus will not have gone away. But it will be a journey to a better balance, I hope, than the one we have today.
As we take each step, we must make sure the ground beneath us is as solid as possible.
And that’s why, between now and then, sticking with the lockdown restrictions a bit longer, to suppress the virus more, is so important.
Because that will mean we can start to take these steps with confidence that we have alternative means of effectively keeping it under control.
So for that reason, our key advice now remains unchanged, and it remains as important as ever.
Please stay at home right now except for essential purposes – such as essential work that can’t be done at home, exercise, or accessing essential items like food and medicine.
You can of course now exercise more than once a day – but when you do leave the house, stay more than 2 metres away from other people. And don’t meet up with people from households other than yours at this stage.
You should wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And please wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms, then you should stay at home completely, and a reminder – those symptoms are a high temperature, or a persistent cough, or a change or loss of smell or taste.
By sticking with these restrictions now, we make it all the more likely we can start that journey back to normality within the timescale I talked about a moment.
So let me end with my thanks again to all of you, for doing the right thing, and staying at home at this stage, you are helping to slow down the virus spread, you are helping to protect the NHS and undoubtedly you are saving lives.
Thank you very much indeed, I am now going to hand over to the Chief Medical Officer to say a few words, particularly about the change to guidance on symptoms today and then I will hand over to the Health Secretary who is going to say a few words, including some more detail on testing in care homes …
Over one in three 18-24 year olds, and three in ten workers in their early 60s, are receiving less pay than they did at the start of the year, compared to less than a quarter of workers aged 35-49, according to new Resolution Foundation published today.
The report is published on the day it was announced that UK unemployment rose by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March, when the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to affect the economy.
The report, Young workers in the coronavirus crisis, based on a survey of 6,005 UK adults in early May and supported by the Health Foundation, examines how the current crisis has already affected workers of different ages in terms of their jobs, pay, hours and working conditions. It is published ahead of official labour market data today covering the three months to March this year (and only the very start of the crisis).
Previous Resolution Foundation research has shown that excluding students, young people tend to be hit hardest during downturns, and are particularly at risk in the current one as they are more likely to work in the hardest hit sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, leisure and retail.
Looking at workers’ current earnings compared to the start of the year, the research finds that employees across all age groups are more likely to be earning less than they did in January than earning more, though young and older workers are most affected.
Among 18-24 year olds, 35 per cent are earning less than they did before the outbreak, and 13 per cent are earning more. Employees in their early 60s are the next most likely to be receiving less pay (30 per cent), with a further 9 per cent receiving more pay. By contrast, 23 per cent of 35-49 year olds are earning less, while 5 per cent are earning more.
The research shows that young people are also the most likely to have lost work – though other age groups have been affected.
One in three 18-24 year olds employees have lost work, either through being furloughed (23 per cent) or losing their jobs completely (9 per cent).
One in five (20 per cent) employees in their late 20s (aged 25-29) have either been furloughed or lost their jobs, along with around one in six (18 per cent) workers in their early 60s (aged 60-64).
Employees aged 35-44 are the least likely to have been furloughed or lost their jobs, with around 15 per cent experiencing this since the crisis began.
The Foundation says the big pay reductions and job losses for young and older employees are a huge concern, for very different reasons.
Younger workers deeply affected by the crisis today risk have their pay scarred for years to come – causing a long-term reduction in their living standards. Older workers risk being involuntary retired well before reaching their State Pension Age, or not having time to make-up their current earnings shortfall. Both risks could cause a permanent hit to their incomes through retirement.
The Foundation says that the scale of pay reductions since the crisis began would be even greater where it not for the Job Retention Scheme. The research finds around one in five furloughed employees are still receiving full pay (despite state support being capped at 80 per cent), including over a quarter of workers aged 35-44.
Finally, the Foundation says that the Government needs to start preparing its response to the next phase of the crisis, which should include policies such as Job Guarantees for young people, and broader fiscal stimulus to boost demand in the economy and raise household incomes.
Maja Gustafsson, Researcher at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Our research confirms fears that young people are being hardest in the current crisis. One in three young people have been furloughed or lost their jobs completely, and over one in three had had their pay reduced since the crisis started.
“But while young people are in the eye of the storm, they are not the only group who are experiencing big income shocks. Britain is experiencing a U-shaped living standards crisis, with workers in their early 60s also badly affected.
“That is why the Government’s strategy to support the recovery should combine targeted support to help young people into work, with more general stimulus to boost demand across the economy and help households of all ages.”
Report: Young-workers-in-the-coronavirus-crisis
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million in April, the first full month of the coronavirus lockdown.
The April total rose by 856,500, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Before the lockdown began, employment had already hit a record high before the lockdown began.
The situation is actually even worse than these desperate figures show – benefit claimant count does not include everyone who is out of work, since not all can claim assistance.
British Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the UK, has announced a fundraising initiative to support the National Health Service (NHS).
To recognise and support the incredible sacrifices that the NHS and frontline staff continue to make every day, British Gymnastics, in partnership with Scottish Gymnastics, are calling on the sporting community and beyond to #PresentForPounds.
A ‘present’ is the move performed at the beginning and end of a gymnastics routine to show that you’re ready for action or to celebrate nailing your routine.
The campaign challenges people to post a video or photo of themselves ‘presenting’ online as a salute to the NHS, using the #PresentForPounds tag.
This could be something new and creative at home or something from a past competition, training session or class.
Those involved are then encouraged to donate to NHS Charities Together via British Gymnastics designated JustGiving page before nominating five friends to do the same.
Speaking about the fundraising challenge, former Olympian and Scottish gymnast Dan Purvis said: “#PresentForPounds is a great initiative and I hope that it goes much further than just our sport.
“Every gymnast, whatever age, discipline or level, knows how to present – it shows that they’re ready for action. Whether it’s presenting to friends and family, a coach, the judges or a roaring crowd, to present is part of what makes being a gymnast so special.
“It’s been brilliant to see how our gymnastics community has pulled together at this challenging time and I can’t wait to see people in Scotland getting involved and showing off their best salutes to the NHS.”
Jane Allen MBE, British Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer, added: “I am delighted to announce our #PresentForPounds fundraising initiative. The efforts of our NHS have really brought the country and the gymnastics community together during this challenging period.
“All of us at British Gymnastics have been inspired and humbled by their bravery, as well as the huge fundraising efforts of so many up and down the country, and we want to do our bit to support such a great cause.”
To show their support British Gymnastics will match donations, up to a maximum of £50,000.
Scottish Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer Doc McKelvey said: “Everyone at Scottish Gymnastics is right behind #PresentForPounds as it’s another fun way of bringing the gymnastics family together while we are out of the gym. It is perfect for gymnasts past, present and future to get involved and challenge their friends and family.
“That’s why we’re saying to everyone in Scotland, why not #PresentForPounds to share your love of gymnastics and pride for NHS heroes and raise money for NHS Charities Together.”
To get involved visit www.justgiving.com/
Youth-led campaign aims to raise awareness of young carers to supermarkets during lockdown
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament have started a campaign on the issue of supermarket access for young carers and young adult carers during this Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
This campaign has been set up by Ilse Cuthbertson MSYP, Carers Trust Scotland and Aaran McDonald MSYP, Cunninghame South.
During lockdown, a significant and recurring issue raised by young carers is that some are still not getting access to supermarkets during protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.
Young carers are facing age discrimination and refusal to access if they are accompanied by family members.
One young person got in touch with their MSYP, and said: “After waiting in the long queue, a member of staff said they were only allowing 2 people into the store per family. After explaining I am a young carer, the staff member still couldn’t understand why there needed to be two carers.
“I had to further explain my caring responsibilities for my brother and mum before the member of staff finally allowed us in. This was an emotional and frustrating situation and no young carer should need to go through this.”
There is also inconsistency of messaging by supermarkets across the UK, and even from store to store. Furthermore, a number of carers are struggling to get access to online shopping or difficulty meeting the minimum expenditure for online shopping. This issue also intertwines with carer identification.
#Supermarkets4Change aims to raise awareness of unpaid carers with local supermarkets and to include these young people in the protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.
MSYPs have written to local supermarket stores on behalf of their constituents, raising awareness of who young carers are, and why it is important to include these young people in dedicated shopping times.
Ilse Cuthbertson, MSYP and Aaran McDonald, MSYP said: “We wanted to start #Supermarkets4Change as young carers and young adult carers have been approaching us due to the lack of understanding within supermarkets.
“We have learnt that this is not just an issue locally but nationally. This is an extremely important issue right now. We hope that supermarkets will start to understand the role that a young carer or young adult carer has.”
This campaign also aims to empower young people to take action. MSYPs have created a template letter and are sharing this with as many young people as possible.
If a young person is aware of this issue in their local community, they can use this template to write to the local store manager. Young people are encouraged to share this on social media using the hashtag #Supermarkets4Change so we can raise greater awareness!
Young people can also get in touch with Ilse and Aaran for support on this:
Keep up to date with the campaign on social media: @ReleaseCap/ @CarersTrustScot/ @ilsecmsyp / @MSYPAaran/ #Supermarkets4Change
Statement from the four UK Chief Medical Officers
A statement from the four UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to Coronavirus symptoms:
“From today, all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia.
“Anosmia is the loss or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.
“We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19 and after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.
“The individual’s household should also self-isolate for 14 days as per the current guidelines and the individual should stay at home for 7 days, or longer if they still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell or taste.”
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton
Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr Gregor Smith
Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty
A loss or change in your sense of smell has been added to the list of #coronavirus symptoms.
It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.
Find the latest health guidance ➡ https://t.co/l7rqArB6Qu pic.twitter.com/TIy7g9ZGMm
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) May 19, 2020
Note:
Changes for the symptomatic individual and their household:
NHS Scotland Contact tracing technology will be tested in NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Highland from tomorrow (Monday 18 May).
The pilot, which is expected to last two weeks, will allow the health boards to test out the software which contact tracers will use to collect the information that they need digitally. This builds on existing contact tracing technology in place across the NHS and will allow health boards to trace more contacts faster.
This is the first step in moving towards an extended test, trace, isolate and support (TTIS) approach which will be used to keep transmission in communities low as the country moves out of lockdown.
Over 600 additional staff from the NHS are ready to begin this work, as part of the process of recruiting up to 2000 staff.
The software will be rolled out to all health boards by the end of May and then further enhanced during June.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Technology will be an important tool to help us move towards the test, trace, isolate and support approach and safely exit lockdown.
“The software we are developing in Scotland is built on a tried and trusted platform and will allow us to carry out contact tracing on a much larger scale than has been necessary until now. It will also focus on supporting public health teams identify outbreaks and reduce transmission in high risk groups and settings by making it easier for staff to collect and record information.
“The test, trace, isolate and support approach is about breaking the chain of transmission of the virus but it remains vital that alongside this people continue to follow physical distancing advice and practise good hand and cough hygiene.”
