Tag: coronavirus

Schools out ’til summer?

Schools and nurseries will close to pupils from the end of this week, the First Minister announced yesterday.

The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities to mitigate the impact on three groups as a priority:

  • Vulnerable pupils and those receiving free school meals
  • Pupils undertaking coursework and preparing for exams
  • Key workers including doctors, nurses and emergency service workers who have children

Later today Education Secretary John Swinney will address Parliament to explain the measures being put in place and to address key questions that parents and pupils have.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This has been one of the hardest decisions we have faced so far as we tackle the coronavirus. SAGE – our expert scientific advisers – are examining new advice that is very likely to tell us to close schools.

“We also know more and more schools are approaching a point where they have lost too many staff to continue as normal. At this stage I cannot promise schools and nurseries will reopen after the Easter break.

“There will require to be a lot of local flexibility and we are working closely with local authorities to put those arrangements in place.

“Teachers, school staff and those in the nursery sector will have a vital role in the weeks ahead and we will work with you to minimise the impact on all our young peoples’ education, and in particular the most vulnerable groups.”

This poses a number of challenges and questions for the government:

Up to 250,000 children in Scotland live in poverty and currently receive free school meals. How will these children receive their meals?

What can parents and carers do to educated their children at home?

More parents will have to take time off work to look after their children, further affecting the economy

Students’ exam results are important in determining their future. If exams are cancelled, how will student grades be asessed and university places allocated?

Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson, said: “We have been working closely with the Scottish Government and our local authority partners to consider the implications of the closure of schools and nurseries.

“It is vital that we support staff, parents and children and young people in these exceptional circumstances.

“We will continue this partnership work to ensure that local authorities get the right support and have the flexibility to make the decisions based on local circumstances. This will include support to the most vulnerable, our young people involved in exams and those who provide critical public services.”

Filmhouse closed

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED

In line with the UK Government and Scottish Government’s public health advice we are sad to announce that we will be closing both Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen from today (Wednesday 18th March) until further notice. 

We are also announcing the postponement of the 74th EIFF in June, and are looking at which elements of the Festival can be delivered later in the year.

Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of our staff, filmmaker guests and audiences, and we wish you all health and strength through this difficult time.

Tickets purchased online for future screenings will be automatically refunded, however at this challenging time for the Filmhouse and Belmont cinemas we would ask you to consider converting your refund into a donation towards sustaining our charity and the work we will do in the future.

For tickets purchased at the Box Office, refunds will be available to customers when we re-open.

Memberships will be frozen until we are able to resume operating, but if you are able to consider continuing your membership payments it would be a significant support.

Other ways you can consider supporting the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse is through the purchase of vouchers to gift or enjoy when we are able to resume our screenings programmes. Please consider making a donation or supporting the Festival by becoming an EIFF Friend.

Opportunities to support can be found on our websites www.filmhousecinema.com, www.belmontfilmhouse.com and www.edfilmfest.org.uk

We look forward to a brighter time when our cinemas can bring us all back together in a shared celebration of film, and its role in giving us a window on the best and most diverse stories and story tellers from across the world.

Meanwhile we’ll be doing our best to keep everyone’s spirits up and conversation going through our social media and digital channels and hope that many of you will engage with us, retaining what we can of our sense of community and sharing our passion for film.

CEO of Filmhouse in Edinburgh, Belmont Filmhouse Aberdeen and Edinburgh International Film Festival, Ken Hay said: “It is with huge regret that we have taken the necessary decision to both close the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen for the foreseeable future, as well as postpone Edinburgh International Film Festival 2020.

“Both Filmhouse and Belmont Filmhouse provide unique windows on the world for their local communities, however the health and wellbeing of our staff, filmmaker guests and audiences has to be the first consideration.

“As the longest running film festival in the world we are keen to continue even through these hard times, and we are looking at which elements of it may be delivered later in the year. We will keep you informed as plans develop.

“For now, we would like to thank our funders, sponsors, partners, staff, donors, patrons, filmmakers, sales agents, distributors, members and audiences for their loyalty, support and understanding in these unprecedented times.’

Coronavirus crisis being used as an excuse to fleece motorists at the pumps?

15 pence per litre of Wholesale falls being held back from drivers despite 50% drop in the Oil Price.

Since Christmas to March 13th:

  • Oil has fallen by 89% in Sterling
  • Fuel supply chain businesses have increased profit from drivers when they fill up, by 242% for petrol and 175% for diesel.
  • Wholesale petrol has fallen 24% yet retail has only fallen 1%
  • Wholesale diesel has fallen 19% yet retail has only fallen 3%
  • Since Christmas, the Average family car is paying £8.25 more to fill up their tank than necessary.

Since March 3rd to March 13th:

  • Oil has fallen by 50% in Sterling
  • Fuel supply chain businesses have increased profit from drivers when they fill up, by 95% for petrol and 69% for diesel.
  • Wholesale petrol has fallen 15% yet retail has not changed
  • Wholesale diesel has fallen 8% yet retail risen by 1%
Petrol and diesel should now be at least 15 pence/litre lower at the pumps.

Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK Campaign said: “The faceless fuel supply chain does it again, this time using a national crisis to line their already fat wallets.

“The Government must act now by putting in place a fuel pricing monitoring watchdog. The perennial cheating of the world’s highest taxed motorists, everytime oil prices change, must be scrutinised by an independent PumpWatch body. It borders on criminal behaviour.”

Data Analysis: https://www.fairfueluk.com/CoronaVirusPumpPrices.png

Data Source: FairFuelUK PumpWatch, Portland Analytics, RAC Foundation

Learn to Play Days Cancelled

Following the government’s announcements and the ongoing daily developments in regard to Coronavirus, the decision has been made to postpone the nationwide Learn to Play Day events that were planned for the weekend of 28th/29th March 2020.

Paul McManus, CEO of Music for All, the organisers of Learn to Play Day, said: “The safety of all event organisers and participants is of the utmost importance to us. This is a very current and fast-changing situation with the risks to people’s health likely to escalate alongside growing public concern.

“We understand that this decision comes as a disappointment, but ultimately, we all want the same thing – the health and safety of our communities. We will of course keep everyone updated as time progresses but, for now, we’d like to thank you and our partners for your understanding and patience during this difficult period.

“Despite the cancellation of Learn to Play, we do still encourage all musicians to keep playing for their own self-enjoyment and the physical and mental benefits of making music.”

Edinburgh Science Festival cancelled

Following close monitoring of the ever-changing situation regarding the global spread of COVID-19 and having held discussions with key partners, Edinburgh Science is sorry to announce the decision to cancel this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival, scheduled for 4-19 April.

With the Festival less than three weeks away from opening and a programme of over 270 events, this has been a complex process for the organisation to manage, but the health and wellbeing of the visitors, participants and staff remains Edinburgh Science’s number one priority.

The Festival’s key venue partners, the National Museum of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and City Are Centre managed by Museums and Galleries Edinburgh on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council have all announced their closures today until further notice.

All customers will be refunded immediately. Should anyone experience a delay they are advised to contact boxoffice@scifest.co.uk.

The board and directors of Edinburgh Science would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Festival’s core team in developing this programme and to the much wider network of dedicated and creative people they rely on for the successful delivery of all projects.

Festival and Creative Director Amanda Tyndall said: “Now more than ever it is imperative that the public have access to robust, evidence-based science, delivered in a manner that is accessible to them.

“The Science Festival remains committed to that goal and to working with our wonderful partners across the science sector to help connect people with the latest science in these unsettling and challenging times.

“We are exploring how we might do more online and whether any elements of the Festival might potentially be run later in the year and will keep you informed as plans develop. For now, we would like to thank our funders, sponsors, partners, participants and audiences for their loyalty, support and understanding in these unprecedented times.’’

Into the Blue, large-scale outdoor photography exhibition showcasing the beauty, biodiversity and fragility of Scottish coasts and seas, will go ahead as planned. It opens today on Portobello Promenade (Wednesday, 18 March).

This exhibition is curated by Emily Raemaekers from the Science Festival with support from Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. It’s a free, family-friendly and drop-in activity, open every day until 27 April.

Through a series of arresting images, Into the Blue invites its audiences to consider the human impact on and responsibility for water, one of the most precious resources on Earth, and ask how we can live in harmony with our watery, blue planet?

Coronavirus: Morrisons introduces new measures

Morrisons has set out a number of measures to support colleagues and customers during the Coronavirus outbreak.

As a British family business, Morrisons will do its bit during the emergency and today sets out a plan to protect and help colleagues and expand home delivery to many more households at a time of national need. In doing so, Morrisons will create an extra 3,500 jobs.

These measures follow on from Morrisons announcement last week that it would be implementing immediate payments for its smaller suppliers, supporting their cashflow during this very difficult time for the British economy.

The key elements of the plan announced yesterday are:

  • Colleague hardship fund – to support colleagues who are in financial difficulty as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak we will create a colleague hardship fund. Colleagues will be able to apply for funds if they experience a financial setback and are struggling to make ends meet.
  • Helping colleagues – Morrisons colleagues are very highly valued and the company is introducing the following measures if they are affected:
    * Those who are sick with the Coronavirus will receive sick pay whether or not they would normally be eligible.
    * Colleagues who are affected either because of self isolation, or by playing their part in looking after close family members or the vulnerable in their local community, will also be eligible for sick pay, alternative shifts or holiday.
  • Protecting colleagues – Morrisons will protect highly valued colleagues by:
    * Asking customers at the checkout to pay, if possible, by card or smartphone to reduce cash handling.
    * Issuing hand sanitiser to checkouts at all stores and significantly increasing cleaning on places that colleagues and customers touch.
    * Redeploying colleagues who are vulnerable to the virus, where possible.
  • Expanding home delivery – Morrisons is to introduce new ways of delivering groceries and more slots for customers, which will also help vulnerable people and those affected by the virus. New measures include:
    * Launching a new range of simple-to-order food parcels, including options for vegetarians, from March 23rd.
    * Making more delivery slots available to customers both through Morrisons.com and the Morrisons Store on Amazon Prime Now. Morrisons will use 100 further stores to pick customers’ shopping over the coming weeks.
    * Launching a customer call centre for orders to be taken over the phone so that people who do not shop online can still order food.
    * To support the roll-out of these expanded home delivery methods, Morrisons will be recruiting around 2,500 pickers and drivers.
  • New Jobs – The outbreak of coronavirus will affect businesses across the UK and Morrisons will be offering jobs to people that are impacted. In addition to around 2,500 pickers and drivers to expand home delivery, Morrisons will be recruiting around 1,000 people to work in the company’s distribution centres. The vacancies will be advertised through a campaign on radio and social media and the Morrisons jobs website morrisons.jobs

David Potts, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said: “We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit.

“These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus.”

Chancellor: “Whatever it takes”

Chancellor announces additional £300 BILLION to keep UK afloat

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect against the economic emergency caused by the coronavirus.

This includes unlimited loans and guarantees to support firms and help them manage cashflows through this period. The Chancellor will make available an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP – and there could be more to come.

At last week’s Budget, the Chancellor provided £30 billion of support to the economy to deal with the crisis by investing in public services, increasing support for vulnerable people and providing business with tax reliefs and loans.

He said he would take further action as the situation evolved and today outlines further measures, including:

To ensure that businesses have access to the funds they need, \the UK Government will provide:

  • support for liquidity amongst large firms, with a major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England to help them bridge Coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
  • increasing the amount businesses can borrow through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from £1.2 million to £5 million, and ensuring businesses can access the first 6 months of that finance interest free, as Government will cover the first 6 months of interest payments
  • including new legal powers in the Covid Bill enabling us to offer whatever further financial support we think necessary to businesses

Providing £20 billion of business rates support and grant funding to help the most-affected firms manage their cashflow through this period by:

  • giving all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England a 100% business rates holiday for the next 12 months
  • increasing grants to small businesses eligible for Small Business Rate Relief from £3,000 to £10,000
  • providing further £25,000 grants to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value over £15,000 and below £51,000

Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of Covid-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.

Confirmation that government advice to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres etc. is sufficient for businesses to claim on their insurance where they have appropriate business interruption cover for pandemics in place.

To support the food industry and help provide meals for people who need to self-isolate, the UK government will relax planning regulations to allow pubs and restaurants to start providing takeaways without a planning application.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “We will do whatever it takes to protect our people and businesses from the effects of this global economic emergency brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The interventions I am setting out today will help support businesses of all sizes – so they can continue operating during these unprecedented times.”

The action announced yesterday means that over £3.5 billion in additional funding will be provided to the devolved administrations for support to businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Chancellor will expand on his plans to keep the economy afloat later today and an announcement of support for people who live in rented accommodation is expected this week.

Labour’s John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor, responding to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s coronavirus update, said: “People are being laid off today and losing their incomes. We are disappointed that this package does not address their concerns.

“The further announcements laid out by the Chancellor lack the certainty required amidst growing public anxiety and still do not go far enough in protecting workers, renters and those who are losing their jobs, or in fully supporting businesses at the scale necessary.

“In particular, the Chancellor’s claim that new forms of employment support will be developed does not appreciate the urgency and gravity of the situation. Workers and businesses need to know now that they will be supported, not in a few days’ time.

“Labour will continue to engage with the Government to ensure we have the proper scale of interventions required to secure proper funding of public services at the time of crisis, public control and oversight of those key services, a strong safety net, and the wellbeing of all.”

Gareth Shaw, Head of Money at Which?, said: “The measures announced by the chancellor, such as a three-month mortgage holiday scheme, are an important first step to helping millions of consumers who may face financial hardship during the coronavirus crisis.

“The government must move swiftly to ensure those in need of assistance get clear information about how these schemes will work in practice – and that the process for doing so is straightforward, ensuring consumers can easily access the support they need in the challenging months ahead.”

Responding to chancellor Rishi Sunak’s package of support for businesses and the prime minister’s pledge to do `whatever it takes’ to support people and jobs through the corona virus crisis, the head of the UK’s leading union, Unite, has said that his union stands ready to play their part throughout this time of crisis.

Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary said: “It is abundantly clear that we need a package of measures equal to the public health and economic emergencies now upon us.

“Urgent and considerable action is needed by government to avert personal and industrial catastrophe.

“Unite is pleased to have heard the prime minister and chancellor say very clearly that they `will do whatever it takes’ to protect public health and the economy’s health.  We will hold them to that.

“However, we remain extremely concerned that workers’ and individuals’ own capacity to act on the public health advice will remain seriously compromised because the direct economic support has not yet been provided by government. This must change and urgently.  Providing wage support and covering rents must be a priority.

“It is welcome that those hit by the virus will have a three month mortgage holiday should they need it, but what about the vast majority of people who rent? They need to know that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their families’ heads. Only then will they feel able to play their part in tackling this public health emergency.

“We urgently need for the government to introduce now the sort of measures that we have seen implemented in our competitor nations, including paying workers 75 per cent plus of their salary while they are forced to be at home as has been introduced in Denmark and Holland.  UK workers deserve the same efforts and assistance.”

 

NHS Scotland placed on emergency footing

Non-urgent elective care will be postponed in Scotland as part of NHS Scotland’s ongoing preparations for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Health Secretary Freeman said that NHS Scotland would be moving to an emergency footing for at least the next three months, in order to be ready to face a substantial and sustained increase in coronavirus cases.

Ms Freeman said the decision to postpone all non-urgent elective care had been made to free up capacity in hospitals, while work to double Scotland’s intensive care capacity continues as NHS Boards retrain staff and repurpose existing facilities.

Ms Freeman said: “We have been clear from the outset about the challenges our health service will face in the weeks and months to come from coronavirus.

“While our NHS is prepared and has a proven track record of dealing with these types of outbreak, we want to free up capacity in our hospital settings, and ensure access to beds for those who need them.

“That’s why we have asked boards to start scaling down non-urgent elective operations from now until further notice.

“Vital cancer treatments, emergency, maternity, and urgent care will continue, and patients have our assurance that all appointments will be rescheduled as quickly as possible as we get through the challenge to our NHS that COVID-19 presents.

“While these are undoubtedly difficult times, we fully expect our NHS to ensure patients are treated in line with their clinical priority, and the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients has been a priority in all of our planning.”

The Health Secretary’s statement followed news that a second person who tested positive for coronavirus, an elderly patient with underlying health conditions, has died.

This follows the first death of a patient in Scotland with coronavirus, which was announced on Friday 13 March 2020.

Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood said: “I am very saddened to report that an elderly patient with underlying health conditions, who has tested positive for coronavirus, has died. The patient was being treated by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board.

“I offer my deepest condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time. No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality.”

Parliamentary Statement: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update to Scottish Parliament

  • Non-urgent elective activity includes procedures that are non-life threatening and can be postponed without a negative clinical impact, such as elective gallbladder and hernia surgery, non-trauma orthopaedic surgery such as hip and knee operations, and elective gynaecological operations.
  • Contingency planning for the supply of oxygen both in hospital and in the community is in place, and a further 450 new standard concentrators for use in the community have been ordered.
  • The Scottish Government is working closely with COSLA, Health and Social Care Partnerships and Chief Officers to see a reduction of delayed discharges of 400 by the end of March.
  • A national cancer treatment response group has been established to provide ongoing advice and support around cancer treatments, and ensure all appropriate measures are undertaken in the present situation to protect those living with cancer.
  • The NHS will directly contact people who are immunosuppressed next week and work closely with other social services to ensure they are supported.
  • Surveillance testing is being scaled up to monitor the spread of the virus in the community.
  • Monitoring will also continue through our laboratories and will be targeted on the following further groups:
    1. admissions to hospital;
    2. admissions to intensive care;
    3. community testing dependent on circumstances, for example specific situations such as a nursing home outbreak.
  • Key workers such as frontline NHS staff will be tested to ensure they do not self-isolate unnecessarily.
  • In order to cope with rapid increase in numbers of people presenting with respiratory symptoms, patients will now be asked to contact via NHS 24 on the 111 number, rather than through their GPs.

Scottish Parliament suspends public engagement

The Scottish Parliament has suspended public engagement activities as it prioritises supporting parliamentary business and responding to the Coronavirus.

These changes are being made to ensure that the Parliament continues to fulfil its vital functions of passing legislation, enabling Members to represent the views of the people of Scotland and to scrutinise the actions of the Scottish Government, particularly in the context of the national and international response to Covid-19.

It has also made the changes to reduce risk to visitors and staff.

From today (Tuesday 17 March), the following services have been suspended:

• Events, including Member Sponsored Events & Exhibitions;

• Tours, including Members’ Tours;

• CPG meetings at Holyrood;

• The public café and shop;

• Access to the building for the general public on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays;

• Inward and outward education and community outreach;

• Inward and outward International Relations Office visits;

• Foreign travel for Committee business.

The Holyrood building will for now remain accessible to visitors for meetings connected with parliamentary or constituency business.

The public galleries in the Chamber and Committees will also remain open when Parliament is sitting, though the public is encouraged to watch online at www.scottishparliament.tv.

Speaking as the announcement was made, Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Ken Macintosh MSP, said: “With each day that passes, it has become clearer that we are facing extremely challenging circumstances now and in the weeks ahead.

“All parties in the Parliament have agreed that we must take further steps in order to prioritise Chamber and Committee Business.

“While openness and accessibility are cornerstones of the Scottish Parliament, the coming weeks are likely to see major changes to how we operate from normal.

“We will continue to monitor developments closely, and remain in regular contact with other UK legislatures, the Scottish Government and the Chief Medical Officer.

“We recognise that this health emergency is creating great anxiety amongst staff, Members and visitors alike, and our response will continue to evolve taking account of the latest information available and closely following the public health advice.”

Meeting to discuss community response to Coronavirus pandemic

North Edinburgh activists are to meet tomorrow to formulate a community response to tackling problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting will take place in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre at 2.30pm.

Meeting organiser Willie Black said: “We have already seen communities coming together to do what they can to help their neighbours and our more vulnerable residents, and  the purpose of tomorrow’s meeting is to co-ordinate this community response to make sure no person is being missed or left out.

“By working together and pooling our resources we can better respond to the challenges posed to our community by this pandemic.”

Local voluntary sector organisations, food banks, community centre representatives, council officers, community councils and local elected politicians have all been invited to attended.

What can you do to help? Why not attend the meeting and find out!