Tag: coronavirus

Lockdown at Easter: Police say thanks

With the Easter holiday under way the Capital’s communities are being thanked for their efforts in staying home and helping tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Superintendent Mark Rennie said: “I’d like to acknowledge the excellent response our residents have provided to the restrictions put in place. We have a population of around 500,000 people and the significant majority of residents and workers have complied with these measures.

“Your collective efforts will help to save lives and protect our NHS, so thank you for your commitment and support.

“We know that being apart from family and friends over holidays, such as Easter, is difficult, but it is essential that we all play our part to keep the public safe.

“The Chief Constable stressed the importance of this when he spoke with the First Minister today and asked the public to continue with the changes, even during the holiday and as the weather gets better.

“Police Scotland officers are taking a common sense approach. We will engage with members of the public, explain the importance of social distancing and encourage them to return home but we will, as a last resort, use the enforcement powers if necessary.

“In Edinburgh during a holiday weekend, weather permitting, areas such as Portobello Beach and The Meadows are common gathering places for the public. However, at this time, we would ask you to follow the instructions.

“By all means connect with loved ones and friends on various online platforms, but please stay at home. It is the safest and most responsible way to enjoy the Easter weekend.”

A total of 32 Fixed Penalty Notices were handed out in Edinburgh in relation to the emergency powers between March 27 and April 9.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM yesterday briefed the country on Police Scotland’s role in the national response to coronavirus, during a session with the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.

Below is a transcript of the Chief Constable’s update and information on how Police Scotland is using emergency powers to support the national response:

The Chief Constable said: “Good afternoon. I am pleased to report that the vast majority of people in Scotland are in fact continuing to do the right thing during this acute health emergency and thank them for that. The social distancing legal requirement to stay home is the best way to protect the NHS and the best way to save lives.

“And of course, community policing across Scotland has a vital role to play as we all make the daily changes and personal sacrifices needed to combat the spread of coronavirus. With the continued support and co-operation of our fellow citizens, Police Scotland will explain the legal instructions, encourage compliance, and when needed, enforce the law.

“Since the emergency powers came into effect two weeks ago, we have been required to take enforcement action in limited situations. Thus far, across the whole of the country, we have issued over 500 fixed penalty notices.

“This has typically been during incidents where people do not comply with legal instructions even after being spoken to by officers. For example, house parties or gatherings in public where those involved refuse to disperse.

“However, overall, compliance has been very high in Scotland and I thank the public for their overwhelming co-operation and commitment.

“Our officers and staff are in communities right across Scotland 24 hours a day, at times putting themselves in harm’s way and I pay tribute to them and thank them for that. Social distancing, staying at home, are the key interventions to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

“Policing in Scotland will always seek to be fair, reasonable and proportionate. That is why I have invited a leading human rights lawyer to review our use of the emergency powers. I ask all our fellow citizens to continue their support and co-operation as demonstrated in recent weeks.

“Please – stay home; stay safe; and follow the guidance. Do not make personal exemptions bespoke to your own circumstances.

“If you are out and about, officers may ask you why. I would encourage you to engage with officers, explain your circumstances, then listen to and act upon any advice given.

“I recognise this is an extremely difficult time, particularly during the Easter holiday period when in normal circumstances we would all be expecting to be out and about, enjoying the good weather and seeing family and friends. But I ask that everyone accepts the changes to our daily lives and the personal sacrifices required. Because, ultimately, it will be to the benefit of us all.

“If we all do the right thing to maintain social distancing, stay home and keep safe, we will protect the NHS.

“If you need help or support from the police service contact us.

“Please, please, stick with it; obey the law; continue to play your part; and lives will be saved.”

Use of emergency coronavirus powers by area from 27 March to 9 April.

Division Dispersal on request Dispersal on warning Fixed Penalty Notice issued Reasonable force used to return people home Arrest
A – North East 72 22 38 14 0
C – Forth Valley 80 16 44 2 1
D – Tayside 69 8 15 5 0
E – Edinburgh 106 22 32 3 5
G – Greater Glasgow 404 155 113 10 8
J – The Lothians & Scottish Borders 59 21 18 3 1
K – Renfrewshire & Inverclyde 48 101 67 1 1
L – Argyll & West Dunbartonshire

 

 233 13 42 5 7
N – Highland & Islands

 

 83 14 19 2 2
P – Fife 57 14 29 0 0
Q – Lanarkshire 68 20 57 3 5
U – Ayrshire 129 56 47 7 2
V – Dumfries & Galloway 19 2 16 3 3
All of Scotland 1427 464 537 58 35

Please note this is preliminary management information and may be subject to adjustment.

Group leaders unite in fight against coronavirus

The leaders of the Council’s SNP, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green groups have come together to issue a joint letter thanking the people of Edinburgh for their part in the city’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The letter recognises the crucial work of NHS staff and essential workers, as well as the efforts of individuals, businesses and other organisations.

It also looks forward to a ‘brighter future’ and shares information on support on offer for all those struggling to deal with the effects of the crisis.

Joint letter to the people of Edinburgh

We face the biggest challenge in living memory, and it’s only by working together as a council and as a city that we’ll be able to overcome it – today we stand together as we thank the city for playing its part in tackling these dark days and look toward to a brighter future together.

Over recent weeks, Edinburgh’s community spirit has proved itself, as people have come together to support one another, to applaud the hard work of the thousands of key workers going the extra mile to serve the Capital and to play their part in limiting the spread of the virus.

We are indebted to the doctors, nurses and NHS staff and frontline carers, as well as the cleaners, teaching staff, refuse collectors and supermarket staff who are working to keep all of us safe and our city functioning. They are all doing vital work to keep our city running during this time of national crisis.

Thousands of residents have signed up through readyscotland.org and volunteeredinburgh.org.uk to help make and deliver food or pick up prescriptions for those who can’t access them themselves. Thank you to all those who are putting their community first – you make Edinburgh the place it is.

We’re equally grateful to all those who have followed national guidance and stayed at home over recent weeks to help limit the spread of coronavirus. Our parks, green spaces and iconic streets were sparsely covered over the weekend, demonstrating that people are following expert advice – please keep going with this.

Thanks goes to the businesses who have closed to help this effort, those who have facilitated homeworking for employees and those carrying out essential work. This is not easy, and small businesses will no doubt bear the brunt of these changes.

We would encourage them to take advantage of support on offer from the Scottish Government while the UK Government’s guarantee to pay 80% of staff salaries while they are not needed to work will help more businesses stay afloat – find out more about support on the Council website and more about safety guidelines on the Scottish Government website.

We’ve been working collaboratively with the Scottish and UK Governments, third sector and the NHS to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are cared for during this challenging time. There is a range of support on offer for families who are struggling, including that from the All of Us partnership, while the Council is working with partners to protect people facing homelessness.

We must look after ourselves too, and it is crucial that anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus visits the NHS Inform website and follows the guidance there.

From north to south, green to maroon, Edinburgh has always been greater than the sum of its parts. We have seen the best of Edinburgh through this crisis and if we continue to follow guidelines and look out for one another, then we have no doubt that not only will we get through this together, we will emerge stronger as a city and a nation.

Further information on the Council’s response to the coronavirus, and changes to services, are available online.

Ramblers Scotland launch #RoamSweetHome campaign

Ramblers Scotland has launched a new campaign called #RoamSweetHome to inspire everyone to keep active safely during the coronavirus pandemic.  

The multi-faceted campaign is also urging people to keep connected during lockdown – both with landscapes and each other ­– for their physical and mental wellbeing.

The charity is urging everyone who can safely do so to stay active in their homes, balconies and gardens and during daily short walks from their front doors.

People are being urged to share their mini-adventures using the #RoamSweetHome hashtag, to inspire others and to keep connected with the outdoor community. Details at ramblers.org.uk/roamsweethome.

Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Sadly, last month we had to suspend all our group walks, social activities and volunteering programmes – as everyone’s safety must come first.

“But we hope the #RoamSweetHome campaign will keep walkers’ spirits up with lots of great advice, activities and entertainment, all in line with official guidance on social distancing and safe exercising.

“Our members have already been doing great work to look after each other and stay connected in innovative ways. For example, Linlithgow Ramblers will climb the height of Beinn na Lap on their stairs this weekend, as one of their members’ virtual ‘final Munro’. Loads of other Ramblers groups are running fun online events to help the outdoors community through this challenging time.” 

The #RoamSweetHome campaign includes:  

  • A series of ‘Lockdown Diaries’ blogs by Ramblers Scotland’s president Lucy Wallace – an outdoor instructor and wildlife guide based on Arran – on topics such as litter-picking, garden nature and equipment DIY
  • Free maps to more than 700 short, circular ‘Medal Routes’ walks in every Scottish local authority area: ramblers.org.uk/medalroutes
  • Local Ramblers groups’ online events; such Linlithgow Ramblers’ virtual Munro, Eildon Ramblers posting photos of their individual lockdown walks and Balerno Ramblers sharing YouTube videos of their past walks each week. 
  • Resources and information to help the Ramblers’ 54 Scottish groups stay connected with their members, via message boards, email groups, online conference calls, virtual coffee mornings and more. 
  • A #RoamSweetHome step challenge, with supporters across GB joining in, getting their ‘step counts’ up in the weeks and months ahead.
  • Online advice on maintaining health and wellbeing under lockdown, including live chats and online blogs from health and nutrition experts.
  • A Ramblers Great Walking Quiz, to be live streamed in the coming weeks using Facebook Live, with themed questions on the Ramblers’ 85-year history.

If you choose to walk for exercise you are advised to only walk locally to where you live. You should walk alone or with people from your household. You should not walk with friends or in groups. Keep 2m (6ft) distance from anyone you pass on your walk.  

The Scottish Government has published advice, which Ramblers Scotland strongly supports, on access rights during coronavirus at bit.ly/accessrightsCOVID19. Read more here.

 The Ramblers’ latest COVID-19 advice for supporters, members and volunteers is at: ramblers.org.uk/coronavirus 

 The Ramblers’ work to help everyone enjoy the benefits of walking is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

£500,000 Morrisons Foundation Fund offers Lifeline to Homeless

Morrisons Foundation has set aside a £500,000 fund over the next three months to help charities offer additional protection, services and support to the homeless as a result of Covid-19.

There are currently 320,00 homeless people in Briton and experts are warning more must be done to support the homeless and to avoid a spike in homelessness resulting from the pandemic’s economic impact.

The emergency funds are being provided as homeless people and charities face a crunch because:

  • There has been a 48% decline in voluntary income to charities since the onset of Covid-19
  • Many hotels have been forced to close, leaving some without accomodation
  • Some charities have seen a 20% reduction in staff due to self isolation and sickness
  • Charities have had to urgently source PPE equipment, food and everyday essentials.

Charities will be able to apply for emergency funding to pay for these costs.

David Potts, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said: “Morrisons is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society.

“We know that the coronavirus outbreak presents a particular risk to the homeless and we want to do our bit to help. This new fund will help charities doing vital work to care for the homeless at this critical time.”

Nick Connolly, Managing Director of End Youth Homelessness, said: “Our member charities need cash to pay for staff, personal protective equipment, food and other essentials to a level they could not have possibly have envisaged a few months ago. We are so pleased this is being recognised.” 

Charities will be able to apply for financial help with:

  • Outreach and support for rough sleepers – including the supply of food and healthcare essentials
  • Delivery of services in hostels and shelters – including the payment of additional staff, purchase of PPE equipment and provision of emergency accommodation
  • Information and advice – including the provision of health and wellbeing services and helplines.

Rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 as they are more likely to have underlying health conditions and are less able to access basic sanitation.

Charities can apply online for grants of up to £10,000 at www.morrisonsfoundation.com and successful applications will be fast tracked for payment.

Spire Healthcare signs agreement with NHS Scotland

Spire Healthcare, a leading UK independent hospital group, has signed an agreement with NHS Scotland to make the staff, facilities, equipment and services at its Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh available to the NHS to help in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Spire Healthcare will support NHS Scotland with immediate effect, for an initial period of three months.

 Under the agreement, which is similar to those signed in England and Wales, Spire Healthcare will provide additional capacity, relieving pressure on NHS hospitals and enabling the NHS to focus on treating COVID-19 patients. 

Ken Hay, Hospital Director at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, said: “We are proud that we will be supporting the NHS in every way we can over the next few months, to tackle this unprecedented global health crisis.” 

We are committed to supporting the NHS in combatting the COVID-19 outbreak and will update when further information is available.

Dominic Raab: Thursday’s Coronavirus update

Good afternoon, welcome to today’s Downing Street press conference. I’m joined by Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser.

Can I start with an update on the Prime Minister. He is still in intensive care but he continues to make positive steps forward and he’s in good spirits.

I can also report from the Government’s ongoing monitoring and testing programme that, as of today:

243,421 people have now been tested for the virus.

65,077 have tested positive and the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms now stands at 16,784.

Of those who have contracted the virus, 7,978 have sadly died and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.

The whole country has been practicing a stringent form of social distancing for 3 weeks now. Precisely because we’re doing everything we can to minimise the bleak numbers that I just read out and, for that, I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has gone the extra mile during this very challenging period.

Thank you to all of those who are looking after us in our time of need.

The NHS workers on the front line who have treated the sick, saved lives and tended for those who, sadly, could not be saved.

For the doctors and nurses who have died of Coronavirus whilst caring for others, we will never forget their sacrifice, we will never forget their devotion to helping others.

And I also want to say a big thank you to the carers, the charity workers, all those who are looking after, or even just keeping an eye on, those in their local neighbourhood. You are the lifeline to so many people in our communities.

Thank you to the workers who keep the country running, the supermarket workers, the delivery drivers, the technicians, the cleaners, the public servants who just kept going, determined to keep providing the daily services we all rely on.

I think you’ve certainly made us all think long and hard about who the “key workers” are in our lives.

Thank you to the volunteers who have stepped up across the country, whose big-hearted sense of responsibility defines British community spirit at its very best.

And a massive thank you to every single person who has stayed home to stop this terrible virus from spreading, you have helped protect the NHS, and you have helped to save lives.

Now, as we look forward to the long bank-holiday Easter weekend, I know some people are going to start wondering is it time to ease up on the rules.

So I’ve got to say thank you for your sacrifice.

But, also, we’re not done yet.

We must keep going.

Let me just explain a little bit about why that is so important.

Today, I chaired a COBR meeting with senior Ministers, officials and representatives from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the Mayor of London, so that we could take stock and assess where we are right across the United Kingdom. And at this stage, the Government is continuing to gather all of the relevant data to obtain the fullest picture possible of the effect of the social distancing measures we have put in place.

Now, while the early signs suggest that they are having the impact we need to see, it’s too early to say that conclusively.

SAGE will meet next week to discuss the latest evidence, and we will keep the measures we have put in place under review. And as we’ve said on many occasions now, we will be guided by the science at all times. So we don’t expect to be able to say more on this until the end of next week.

Let me just be, again, very clear about this.

The measures will have to stay in place, until we’ve got the evidence that clearly shows we have moved beyond the peak.

I know these restrictions take their toll, day in day out. On people’s livelihoods, on people’s quality of life, on people’s mental health. And I appreciate that it’s often the little things that hurt the most.

With the Easter Bank Holiday coming up, I would normally spend it with my two boys, 7 and 5 year old boys, with their grandparents doing an Easter egg hunt. And I know there is going to be lots of people who would normally be planning a family get together or just getting out in the sunshine with friends and loved ones.

Unfortunately, right now, we just can’t do those sorts of things. And I am really sorry about that.

But take a moment to think of the progress we’ve already made, Following the guidance, staying home, denying this virus what it needs, to spread more easily and to kill more people.

It’s been almost three weeks, and we’re starting to see the impact of the sacrifices we’ve all made. But the deaths are still rising, and we haven’t yet reached the peak of the virus. So it’s still too early to lift the measures that we’ve put in place. We must stick to the plan. And we must continue to be guided by the science.

Our top priority, our immediate priority, remains to slow the spread of the virus and to save as many lives as possible. That’s why we have to ask you to continue to ask you all to keep complying with the guidance. As we’ve said consistently from the outset, it is vital we take the right decisions at the right time.

And the most important thing right now is that people continue to follow the government’s guidance until we’ve got the evidence that the virus is firmly under control. So that means please do stay at home, to protect our NHS and to save lives. After all the efforts that everyone’s made, after all the sacrifices so many people have made, let’s not ruin it now.

Let’s not undo the gains we’ve made. Let’s not waste the sacrifices so many people have made. We mustn’t give the coronavirus a second chance to kill more people and hurt our country. I know it’s tough going. But this is a team effort, and we’ll only defeat this virus for good if we all stay the course.

So please stay home this bank holiday weekend. For everyone’s sake.

GP practices and pharmacies open for Easter

Extended opening hours to ensure services available

General practices and community pharmacies will remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday to help relieve pressure on out-of-hours services this weekend.

GPs will be open to offer treatment for non-coronavirus (COVID-19) related health issues, where it is safe to do so. Community pharmacies have also been requested to remain open where possible to support the wider efforts of the NHS.

Patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms are asked to check nhsinform.scot/coronavirus first for advice or dial NHS 24 on 111, day or night, if their symptoms worsen or do not improve after seven days.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I want to thank all health and social care staff for their continuing extraordinary efforts as we face this pandemic.

“Given ongoing demand on our NHS, I have taken the unusual step of asking GP practices and community pharmacies to remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday – but only if it is safe to do so.

“Working with the Scottish GP Committee of BMA Scotland, the Scottish Government has agreed an additional £15 million to help GP practices meet the costs of responding to COVID-19.

“Part of this will help to cover the cost of remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Monday and the remainder will help to meet other costs being faced by practices during this difficult time. I have also been clear that the Scottish Government will meet any additional costs incurred by community pharmacies to remain open on these bank holidays.

“As always – if you have a critical medical emergency, whether related to coronavirus or not, phone 999.”

NHS Inform’s coronavirus webpage is still the fastest way for people to get the latest health advice and information.

Stay at home this Easter

People across Scotland have helped greatly in tackling coronavirus (COVID-19) by observing restrictions, most importantly to stay at home.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, the Scottish Government’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch has asked people to continue to help, while looking after their physical and mental health.

People should only travel for essential reasons such as buying groceries, healthcare, caring responsibilities or essential work.

And he said people should find ways to stay mentally and physically active by walking, running or cycling outdoors once a day for up to an hour close to home or by exercising indoors.

Professor Leitch said: “The best ways of slowing down the spread of coronavirus is staying at home, social distancing and hand washing so I must thank everyone for all they have been doing so far to keep safe and comply with these stringent measures.

“The social distancing guidance has been tough and has seen us all having to adapt to new ways of keeping in touch with friends and family, which is why now more than every it is important for people to exercise and keep mentally and physically active.

“But we need to use common sense. Please exercise at home and, if you are going out for a daily walk, run or cycle, stay at least two metres away from people you don’t live with.

“Do not be tempted to go for a drive for leisure. This is about going for a short walk locally, a run or a short bike ride, not spending time on your favourite sport or hobby.

“If you travel further afield, there is a risk you might come into contact with other people, whether you plan to or not, so please keep this to an absolute minimum. Only use your car to get somewhere if it is unavoidable and please remember that even in these circumstances journeys must be kept short.”

Douglas Cairns, Transport Scotland Operator Manager, said: “We know this is not how people would want to be spending their Easter break, but it’s vital that we all play our part in these difficult times by following the guidance and keeping any travel to essential journeys only.

“Transport operators have cut back their services to focus on providing support to key workers. The only other reasons you should be travelling are to pick up essential supplies, for healthcare or to carry out caring responsibilities.

“You should only be using your car if really need to. The advice is clear so please don’t go for leisure drives even if the weather is good. We must stay at home to help protect the NHS, our families and save lives.”

Stay at home this Easter to protect the NHS and save lives is also the latest message to the public from the UK government in a new campaign to fight coronavirus.

The campaign has been developed to meet the additional pressures of the long Easter weekend where many people typically spend time with family or friends. New organic and paid-for content will be rolled out across social media, print and outside the home.

The new campaign reinforces the importance of staying at home over Easter, and only leaving your house to buy essentials, to do one form of exercise a day, to travel into work, but only where you cannot work from home, and for any medical or social care need. If you need to leave your home for these reasons, you should be minimising time spent outside of the house and ensuring you are two metres away from anyone outside of your household. You should not be visiting friends or family during the long weekend.

A Government spokesperson said: “We understand that people will want to spend time with their friends and families this Easter, and we recognise that we are asking the public to make sacrifices in the fight against this disease.

“Everyone has a role to play in this, and the best way we can protect our loved ones is by staying away this Easter.

“We are at a crucial moment in preventing further transmission of coronavirus, and so it is vital that we continue following the government’s guidance to stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.”

An update from Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Mike Coupe

I wrote to you last week to update you on how we are supporting elderly and vulnerable customers with access to groceries online. I wanted to share some progress we have made on this over the past few days.

When I wrote last, we had offered 450,000 elderly and vulnerable customers priority booking to online delivery. At the end of last week we received the government database, which includes details of all the people in England who have registered with the government to say that they are vulnerable and need help getting a food shop.

Since then we have been able to match almost 150,000 additional customers against our database. We have already contacted almost 30,000 of those and so we are now contacting almost 120,000 additional customers to offer them a priority delivery slot.

We are waiting for the databases for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and will contact vulnerable customers in those areas as soon as we are able.

We know many elderly and vulnerable people who need to self-isolate are relying on the kindness of family, friends and local communities to shop on their behalf and we encourage this.

You wrote to tell me that product limits were a barrier to being able to shop for other people. We understand that it can be difficult to buy what you need and shop for someone else with the 3 item product limit.

We have now lifted buying restrictions on thousands of products and hope that this will help more of you to shop for others. I also want to reassure you that stock levels are now much better right across the store.

We are keeping limits on the most popular items for now, including pasta, UHT milk, antibacterial products and some tinned and frozen foods. But you can now feel confident in shopping in our stores at any time of day and being able to find most of what you need.

To help people shop for others easily, we will be introducing a new volunteer gift card and online voucher in the next week or two. I will share more information on this soon.

Many of you have also written to me to tell me about food banks and community groups near you that are struggling in this crisis. We know from our ongoing support of food banks that this is a particularly tough time for them right across the country.

To help with this, we have donated £3 million to Fareshare, who will use that money to distribute donated food to the people who need it the most.

We are also partnering with Comic Relief and the BBC on The Big Night In which aims to raise money for people impacted by COVID 19. We’ll be sharing more information on this in stores and online.

Best wishes

Mike