The Carnegie UK Trust has been exploring how the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the relationships between government, public services and citizens.
As attention starts to shift to how we can “Build Back Better”, we have taken the opportunity to update our influential 2014 Routemap to an Enabling State with some guiding principles for recovery.
We began our work to define and describe the Enabling State after the last great economic shock, observing the perfect storm of ageing populations, climate change and austerity policies.
We found that in the face of these challenges, governments across the UK (local, devolved and UK) were engaged in a process of transformation – a slow moving paradigm shift away from a top-down, ‘one size fits all’ approach, to a more agile model that supports people and communities to achieve positive change for themselves, and thereby to improve their own wellbeing.
We have continued to observe this process of transformation over the ensuing years, noting a varied picture in terms of commitment and pace in the different jurisdictions where we work.
However, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift in many places, with the immediate responses from public services and from communities demonstrating that there is a different way of working together.
We articulate here the seven steps that public services should take as they move into recovery mode. We believe that these steps could ‘bank’ positive changes in relationships where these have occurred, and accelerate progress towards an enabling state model.
I do hope that you find this framing helpful. To let us know your thoughts, please email Hannah@CarnegieUK.org or join the debate online by tagging @CarnegieUKTrust #EnablingState – we would be pleased to hear from you.
Statement given by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 10 July):
Good afternoon, thank you for joining us.I’ll start with the usual update on the most recent COVID-19 statistics. An additional 18 positive cases were confirmed yesterday – which takes the total now in Scotland to 18,333.
Now today’s figure for new cases is very low and we’re always going to see day to day variations in the data but I think it is probably worth noting that this is the highest figure we have seen in almost three weeks.
So we will, as you would expect, be looking into this very closely today. And while we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions – there’s no reason for us to do that yet – I think it is a sharp reminder to all of us that this virus as I keep saying hasn’t gone away – it is still present out there.
So I’d ask you to remember that in everything you do.
A total of 668 patients are currently in hospital with the virus – either confirmed or suspected. Which is 22 more than yesterday, but it includes a reduction of five in the number of confirmed cases.
A total of 12 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID. That is three more than yesterday. One of those is confirmed, the other two suspected.
And since 5 March, a total of 4,115 patients who had tested positive and been admitted to hospital have now been discharged from hospital.
And I am very pleased to report that during the past 24 hours, no deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having the virus and the total number of deaths therefore remains at 2,490. Of course that’s the number under that measurement of patients who test positive through a test.
Once again, I want to convey my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.
And I also want to thank our health and care workers for the incredible work they continue to do.
I am joined today by the Economy Secretary – who is going to talk in a few minutes about £38 million of support that the Scottish Government is providing for new companies, in crucial sectors of the economy, which have been affected by the pandemic.
Before that, though, I want to go over some of the key changes that the Scottish Government has announced, which will take effect over this weekend and into next week.
Before I do that though I want to remind you of what I said literally just a few seconds ago. This virus hasn’t gone away so life should still not feel totally normal. The lifting of restrictions, important and welcome though it undoubtedly is, mustn’t mean the dropping of our guard. And that’s really important.
We have been in lockdown for more than three months now. But being in lockdown ourselves has meant that the virus has also been in lockdown.
As we come out of lockdown unfortunately we let it out again too. So we have to work, in a sense, even harder to make sure that it doesn’t get those opportunities to spread.
So as you think about the changes – as you think about doing things that none of us have had the opportunity to do for three months – I appeal to all of you to think even more carefully about the basic things all of us can do and – I would argue – have a duty to do – to try to make sure this virus doesn’t spread again.
But let me start with two of the things which will happen from next Wednesday – 15 July.
As many of you know, and as many of you, myself included, have been eagerly anticipating, hairdressers will reopen on the 15th. And I want to say that detailed guidance for hairdressers has now been published and therefore if you are a hairdresser or if you are planning to visit a hairdresser and want to know what that guidance says, you can find it now on the Scottish Government website.
In addition, I announced yesterday that more people would be allowed to attend services for weddings, civil partnerships and funerals, but these would be subject to a cap on numbers.
I can therefore confirm that from Wednesday onwards, a maximum – at this stage – of 20 people will be able to attend a funeral, marriage or civil partnership ceremonies or service, wherever it is taking place.
We are also removing the restrictions on the categories of people who can attend funerals – in many cases previously attendance was limited to immediate family only.
And I want to stress two points about these changes.
Firstly, and I think this is an important one for me to stress and for everybody watching to understand, that these changes apply only to services and ceremonies – other gatherings associated with them, such as wedding receptions and funeral wakes, are still subject to the rules that apply for all other indoor and outdoor gatherings.
And secondly, the limit of 20 people is still subject to strict rules on physical distancing – so if the venue that you are having a ceremony or service in can’t accommodate 20 people when physical distancing rules are in place, the number of guests will have to be smaller.
So I hope this provides some clarity for anyone who has a wedding or civil partnership in the second half of July – or for anyone who, unfortunately, is having to arrange a funeral.
We know that the restrictions on funeral services in particular have been incredibly tough – in many cases utterly heart-breaking. I therefore hope that this change is a helpful one although of course it still doesn’t permit full scale gatherings for weddings, civil partnerships, or funerals.
It is, with a limit of 20, still quite restrictive. But at present, we consider that to be a necessary precaution – but that limit will be reviewed again at the end of July.
Let me now briefly summarise the key changes which take effect from today.
First of all, it is now compulsory to wear a face covering in shops, as well as on public transport, and Jason Leitch is going to talk a bit more about that later.
There are exemptions to this – for children under 5, people with certain health conditions and in some circumstances for staff – but we encourage staff in those circumstances offer to wear face coverings.
For the vast majority of us, as customers, it is now the law that we wear face coverings in shops.
Now some people ask – and I’ve been asked this question in recent days – why we are doing this now – when the virus has been suppressed to low levels.
And the reason is quite simple – we are now starting to go out and about a lot more, and that, as I have said a moment ago, brings much greater risks of the virus spreading. So we have to put in place mitigations now that weren’t as necessary when we were all staying at home all of the time to reduce the risk of that happening.
The law coming into force today should not need to be enforced – but the police can issue fines if necessary.
But I am asking everybody to stick to the law – not from fear of enforcement, but because it is the right thing to do – it helps keep us and other people safe. I encourage people to see wearing a face covering when you go to the shops, to become as automatic as putting a seatbelt on is in a car already.
If you wear a face covering in a shop, or on a bus or a train, it reduces your chances of passing the virus on to other people. And other people – when they wear a face covering – reduce their chances of passing the virus on to you.
It is one of the ways in which we can show care for and solidarity with each other – and allow each other to live less restricted lives, without seeing a resurgence in the virus. So please, everybody, comply with this, because it is for the good of all of us – it will help keep us safe and protect everybody.
And the last point I want to address about this – and it’s again a point that’s been put to me – that it’s not very comfortable to wear a face covering. And the first thing I would say is yeah, I recognise that, but also you do get used to it, and I say that from personal experience.
You get used to it, and it becomes less uncomfortable the more you do it.
But the second, and perhaps most important thing to reflect on is this – our health and care workers in the course of their jobs to keep us safe wear masks for 12 hour shifts. Surgeons will wear them for lengthy, hours-long operations.
This is a small thing that we can do for them and for each other. So, please, comply with this. Not because the law tells you to, even although it does. Comply with it because it is about that solidarity and looking out for each other, and through this whole experience looking out for the protection of our health.
Now there are other rules which come into force from today, which affect how we can meet up with each other.
If you are in a shielding category, from today, we are not asking you any longer to physically distance from the people you live with.
You will also be able to form an extended household if you live on your own or with children under the age of 18. And I know how tough the last few months have been for all of you who have been shielding – and I hope that these latest changes are helpful and welcome for many of you.
The other changes that come into effect today don’t apply to people who are shielding, unfortunately. But they do apply to everyone else.
From today, if you are part of a non-cohabiting couple, regardless of your living arrangements, you don’t need to stay physically distant from each other, indoors or outdoors.
For everyone else there are some important changes to the rules for meeting up.
For outdoor meetings, a maximum of 15 people from up to five different households can now meet together, and limited indoor gatherings – subject to the strict guidance – are also now permitted.
These should involve a maximum of eight adults, from up to three households in total.
So if you are thinking of having people attend, you can invite people from two other households, because your household as the house holder is part of the three that is permitted.
As long as physical distancing between different households is maintained, this can include overnight stays.
But we’d recommend that in total, you should not meet with people from more than four different households in any single day – that applies to adults.
So if, for example, you have an outdoor meeting with four other households in the afternoon, don’t then invite a couple of friends over in the evening.
The ability to meet indoors – even in small numbers – is a simple pleasure that has been hard-earned by all of us. So enjoy it, but please, please be very careful. Remember why we have only now started to allow any indoor meetings – it’s because the risk of transmitting this virus indoors, is higher – and it is significantly higher than it is outdoors.
So if you are able to meet outdoors – if the weather allows – don’t rule that out. That is still the safest way of meeting up with friends and family.
But if you do meet indoors – take care, and follow all of the public health advice.
Keep 2 metres distant from people in other households; clean surfaces after people are touching them; wash your hands regularly – and especially wash your hands the first time you go into somebody’s house.
If we do all of that, then this is not risk free, but we will minimise the number of opportunities the virus has to spread.
And that is the point I want to end on.
Covid cases right now in Scotland are very low. But – as today’s figures remind us – we are still seeing new cases every day. The virus hasn’t gone away. It’s just as infectious as it ever was, and it’s just as dangerous as it ever was.
And if we let it run out of control again, not only will that be very damaging to life and to health, but it will also set back the economic recovery that is so important now to our wider lives.
So that’s why I keep stressing and will end with a reminder of the Facts that we’re asking people to remember and comply with:
Face coverings in shops and public transport – that’s the law, but in any enclosed space where physical distancing is difficult
Avoid crowded places – indoors but also outdoors
Clean your hands and hard surfaces regularly
Two metre distancing remains the rule
and self isolate, and book a test, if you have symptoms.
If all of us remember and abide by these five measures, then we have the best possible chance as we interact with each other much more of nevertheless keeping this virus under control.
Finance Secretary announces measures to boost the economy.
New initiatives to support homebuyers and help people into work or to re-train have been announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.
The measures are part of the Scottish Government’s wider efforts to help the economy recover from the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and are expected to involve an investment of around £200m.
The threshold at which Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is paid will be raised from £145,000 to £250,000, meaning 80% of house buyers will be exempt from the charge – excluding the Additional Dwelling Supplement. Home movers purchasing a property costing more than £250,000 will save £2,100.
In addition, an extra £50m is being added to the First Home Fund, a shared equity scheme providing first time buyers with up to £25,000 to buy a property. This will support an estimated 2,000 first time purchases and increase the total funding to £200m.
A further £100m is being invested in targeted employment support and training. Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop will set out further details on this employment funding in due course.
Ms Forbes announced the initiatives as part of a statement following spending announcements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Finance Secretary said: “Regrettably the Chancellor’s statement is a missed opportunity for Scotland. While I support certain measures, such as the reduced VAT for tourism and hospitality, which I had already called for, much of the rest falls well short of delivering what is needed to boost the economy and protect jobs.
“The Chancellor’s economic measures outlined in the statement only generate an additional £21m for the Scottish Government’s budget, limiting our ability to tailor a Scottish approach to regenerating our economy.
“Nevertheless, I can confirm several important new steps we will take.
“I have listened to calls to raise the starting threshold for LBTT to help stimulate housing market activity and the economy. Today’s changes will benefit house buyers and are focused directly on the particular needs of the Scottish economy.
“To ensure first time buyers can also benefit, I will provide an additional £50m this financial year to directly support them to get on the property ladder.
“On employment, the Chancellor’s announcement included UK-wide schemes that will apply in Scotland, but I believe more is required to support the labour market.
“We will therefore make an additional £100m available this year for targeted employment support and training. I recognise that we still need to do more to support employment and skills, but this is a step in the right direction.”
The change to LBTT will come into force as soon as possible, allowing time for legislation to be prepared and for Revenue Scotland to be ready to collect and manage the tax.
The rates for the Additional Dwelling Supplement and non-residential LBTT remain unchanged.
These latest initiatives will be part funded by money expected to be received by the Scottish Government following the UK Government’s decision to raise the threshold at which Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid on house purchases and from the Scottish Government’s financial transactions budget.
A blind veteran from Mid Glamorgan is asking the public to help him find a comrade and good friend who he served with in the Royal Air Force with during the Second World War.
Bill Davies, 97, from Porthcawl, is hoping to find Robert McCutcheon or any of his family members after visiting Creully in Normandy last year for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Bill says: “Robert and I landed in a field in Creully a few days after D-Day and when I went back last year I saw that they had a beautiful marble monument put up with our names on. I was shocked because I never knew it was there! Because I didn’t know, I’d like to reach out to Robert to let him know it’s there in case he doesn’t either”.
Bill joined the RAF in 1942, serving in Normandy, Belgium and Hamburg with Robert from 1944 until 1946.
He says: “I was demobbed in 1947 but I know Robert left before me in 1946. As Robert was Scottish, we used to call him Jock and I was Taff! I know he was with a girl called Rita at the time. I’m not sure if they married but that detail might help me find the Robert I’m looking for”.
Bill will be turning 98 in August and to get in touch with Robert and his family would be the perfect birthday present.
He says: “I would love to be able to see Robert again but I understand that he may have passed. If that’s the case, it would be great to be able to get in touch with his family! I’d happily go up to see them in Scotland – I’m fit enough to go!”
He has been supported by Blind Veterans UK since 2012 after losing his sight due to Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).
He says: “The charity have helped me a lot over the years and I am very grateful. I’m hoping that they can help me find Robert so Jock and Taf can be reunited after all these years!”
Collective statement from Scotland’s museums and galleries:
We warmly welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement that museums and galleries can reopen our doors as part of the third phase of lockdown easing and we are looking forward to greeting our visitors once again.
While we are collaborating as a sector to support and share knowledge of how to best welcome back visitors, we will be reopening at varying times starting this summer and will make our individual announcements as soon as we are each able to do so.
Reopening involves individual logistical challenges which we are approaching with a focus on protecting the health and safety of our visitors and employees whilst ensuring a quality visitor experience.
We are all becoming more familiar with physical distancing and additional hygiene measures in our public spaces, and museums and galleries are similarly preparing in line with Government guidelines.
Training will enable our dedicated teams to continue to provide excellent customer support before and during visits. We support the introduction of the UK-wide ‘We’re Good to Go’ certification in reassuring all our visitors, staff and volunteers that they can be confident of their safety.
We know that our visitors are eager to visit as soon as possible so we will be encouraging them to check our opening details online before they visit.
In many cases, temporary ticketing systems will allow the booking of timed slots to enjoy our sites and our collections.
Some museums and galleries may operate on different days or times and some may open partially so checking in advance will help visitors to prepare for any temporary experiential changes.
Some museums and galleries, including those operating seasonally or reliant on the support of volunteers, may delay reopening until they are financially and operationally able to do so. We will continue to connect digitally with our communities.
Scotland’s museums and galleries and the collections they care for and display play a vital economic, educational and placemaking role in our rural and urban communities.
The pandemic has been challenging for all, and collectively, we would like to express our gratitude to the public for their ongoing engagement and support.
We look forward to doing all we can to support Scotland’s recovery as soon as is safely possible, through spaces and collections that bring us together, comfort, educate, spark conversations and inspire creativity.
More than 480 referrals made by the NSPCC helpline to Scottish agencies in three months following lockdown
Parental behaviour, neglect and physical and emotional abuse were the top concerns of adults contacting the helpline
Charity calls on Scottish Government to explain in detail how it will aid children’s physical and mental recovery from abuse and trauma suffered during the lockdown
A 40% increase in referrals made to police and local authorities in Scotland by the NSPCC helpline during lockdown highlights how children have been the hidden victims of the coronavirus crisis.
NSPCC Scotland reveals that in April, May and June the helpline made a monthly average of 161 referrals compared to an average of 114 in the three months prior to lockdown.
Last month, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced plans for young people to return to school fulltime in August, and the NSPCC is today urging the Scottish Government to ensure the recovery plan addresses the full range of children’s needs. This includes ensuring schools are ready to help all children who need it – particularly those who may have suffered abuse, neglect or other traumatic experiences during the lockdown – and investing in children’s social care.
During the past three months, the helpline has heard from more than 22,000 adults across the UK concerned about the wellbeing of a child.
This is an increase of almost a third (32%) on the monthly average for the three months prior to lockdown, with May seeing 8,287 contacts – the highest number ever made to the adult helpline in a single month on record.
During lockdown, the main issues confronting NSPCC child safety experts were parental behaviour, physical and emotional abuse and neglect.
Around 40% of the total contacts received were referred on to local authorities or the police for further action.
One adult who spoke to the NSPCC helpline during the lockdown said: “I’ve become increasingly disturbed by the noises coming from one of one my neighbours – it’s been getting worse since the lockdown. I can hear the mother shouting and swearing at her two little ones, it sounds vengeful and aggressive.
“Sometimes the mother locks her kids out in the front garden as punishment – last time this happened the youngest was crying hysterically for half an hour, it was awful. Is there anything you can do?”
These figures released by the charity today back up the findings of a research report it recently published – ‘Social Isolation and the risk of child maltreatment in the lockdown and beyond’ – which underlines how increasing parental and family stress, reductions in protective services and the intensification of pressures on children’s emotional wellbeing caused by lockdown can increase the risk of abuse and neglect.
These traumatic experiences can have a devastating impact on children’s health and wellbeing and can stop children from learning, with the long-term effects following them into adulthood.
However, with the right support young people can recover and be helped to move on with their lives.
Now the charity is calling on the Scottish Government to urgently commit to a children’s recovery plan which sets out how it will:
Deliver the long-term investment in children’s services that is needed to provide high quality preventative and therapeutic services for children in every part of the country;
Invest in rebuilding support for families with babies and young children who have missed out on the normal support from health visitors during the lockdown;
Support multi-agency partnerships of the local authority, NHS and police to work with schools to review support for children known to the designated child protection lead, and identify those who continue to miss class with a plan to understand and address any barriers to a child’s school attendance;
Ensure schools are ready to help all children who need it – particularly those who may have suffered abuse, neglect or other traumatic experiences during the lockdown. Schools must be equipped to recognise and respond sensitively to children who have experienced physical or mental harm, trauma or adverse experiences when they return to the classroom. This includes putting in place support for teachers to enable them to support children confidently, including training on child development science and how trauma can manifest in behavioural problems or poor emotional regulation.
Matt Forde, NSPCC Scotland head of service, said: “The increase in referrals from our helpline during the lockdown highlights how some families have been driven to crisis point and the home has become an increasingly unsafe place for some children.
“It is vital that children are now supported to help them recover from any mental and physical harm that many will have suffered these past few months.
“Government’s role is crucial, and it must put in place a detailed recovery plan that makes sure children and young people can receive the expert help they need if they have had difficult or damaging experiences.
“Putting children at the heart of recovery planning and taking this action quickly will mean the crisis of the last three months does not scar the childhoods of a whole generation.”
More than 150,000 motor vehicles were stolen in Great Britain in the year 2018-19, 10,000 more than the year before and a 56% (54,932) increase compared to four years earlier, according to data analysed by RAC Insurance.
All but three of the police forces that responded to a Freedom of Information request recorded an increase in the numbers of vehicles stolen in their force areas from 2014-15 and 2018-19, with some stark differences across the country.
The largest increases in terms of vehicle numbers were in the Kent Police (up 12,550 to 40,726 thefts in 2018-19, a 45% increase), Metropolitan Police (up 9,635 to 30,773 thefts, a 46% increase) and West Midlands (up 5,677 to 10,372 thefts, a 121% increase) force areas.
Six forces recorded a more than doubling in the number of vehicles stolen between 2014-15 and 2018-19, with the biggest jumps in Suffolk (up 172% from 347 to 945 thefts), Surrey (up 133% from 661 to 1,543 thefts) and the West Midlands.
Only Lincolnshire, the City of London and Police Scotland recorded a reduction in thefts over this period however, with reductions of 28, 29 and 473 thefts respectively.
Year-on-year comparisons (2017-18 to 2018-19)
Most police forces (32) also recorded a rise in vehicle thefts year-on-year, between 2017-18 and 2018-19. Kent again saw the largest rise as well as the largest number of overall vehicles stolen in 2018-19 (up 2,575 to 40,726 thefts, 7% more than in 2017-18), followed by Essex (up 1,056 to 5,409 thefts, 24% more than in 2017-18) and the West Midlands (up 836 to 10,372 thefts, 9% more than 2017-18).
When looking at the biggest percentage increases over this 12 month period, Suffolk witnessed the highest jump with 44% more thefts (945 in 2018-19 compared to 655 a year earlier), followed by Bedfordshire (37% increase, from 1,056 to 1,445 thefts) and North Wales (32% increase, from 464 to 612 thefts).
RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said:“These figures paint a rather disturbing picture – vehicle thefts are on the rise almost everywhere, and in some parts of the country numbers are rocketing.
“It’s also not the case that the rises in crime are confined to a few larger urban areas, with many police forces covering more rural areas also seeing big increases.
“While vehicle crime is at far lower levels today than it was in the early 1990s, thanks to improvements in vehicle security, and the number of vehicles licensed to be driven on the UK’s roads is higher than at any point in the past, it’s still concerning that so many more vehicles are being stolen than just a few years ago.
“One crumb of comfort from the data however is that the increases might be starting to plateau, and it will be interesting to discover just what effect the coronavirus lockdown has on vehicle thefts when the data becomes available.
“Some of the increases in recent years can be put down to a rise in thefts of vehicles that are easier to steal, such as motorbikes and mopeds that are less likely to have immobilisers.
“Government data also shows that thieves generally use keys to access vehicles in around half of crimes, which suggests perhaps some drivers could do more to keep their keys safe. And in an estimated fifth of cases (18% in 2018), thieves were able to access cars because one or more cars weren’t locked in the first place.
“Based on these figures, it’s vital drivers take steps to protect themselves and avoid being an easy target. Three of the biggest factors that determine whether a car is stolen or not come down to how it’s secured, where it’s kept and the time of day.
Criminals appear to prefer stealing vehicles at night, with those parked at owners’ homes, presumably where there is easier access to a key, also being favoured.
“While organised criminal gangs are responsible for a large proportion of crime, thieves will also be opportunistic in nature so the more a driver can do to make their car a less likely target the better.
“It’s also critical motorists buy quality motor insurance policies that will cover them in case the worst happens. A strong, comprehensive policy can go a long way towards giving peace of mind in the event a vehicle is stolen.”
Lessen the chances of your car being stolen
RAC Insurance offers drivers this advice:
Don’t make your car an easy target. Always lock your car securely when you leave it, even for a short time. Ensure all doors, windows and any roof opening (sunroof or hood) are locked, and keep your keys with you. Consider buying a steering wheel lock for extra (visible) security. This can make it easier for a would-be thief to pass over your vehicle. It’s also a good idea to keep the car’s logbook secure at home, rather than in the car
Find the right place to park. Most vehicle-related theft takes place at night. When away from home, park in locations that are well-lit and open to public view – car parks that have security patrols and are covered by CCTV can be safer, and it’s also a good idea to look for the ParkMark logo at car parks that have met that certain security standards
Double-check your car is locked when you leave it. Make sure you see and hear your car locking before you leave it – look for the tell-tale flashing indicators and click of the locks engaging
Does your car use a keyless entry/start fob? Avoid being a ‘relay attack’ victim. Thieves can use a technique to copy the key signal to another device that’s placed close to a vehicle. This can fool the car into thinking the genuine key is present and can mean a thief can drive away in the car. If you have a keyless car fob, always keep it well away from doors and windows in your house. Keeping it in a metal (Faraday) box or signal blocking wallet can stop thieves copying the signal
Consider security when you next change your vehicle. If you are buying a car on the second-hand market make sure it has an immobiliser and, ideally, a Thatcham-certified alarm. You can also use Thatcham Research’s Consumer Security Ratings to help work out how secure certain models are
In winter: Icy morning? Don’t leave your car while it’s defrosting. The majority of vehicle thefts take place at vehicle owner’s home. Always stay in your vehicle while the car is warming up and demisting the windscreen – if you leave it, there’s a risk someone could get behind the wheel before you do!
A letter signed by over 200 scientists from around the world has urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise Covid-19 can be spread by ‘aerosol’ or ‘airborne’ transmission and called on the UN body to revise its guidance.
On 7 July, WHO acknowledged there could be a problem and said it plans to review its advice.
From early in the coronavirus crisis, global unions have urged WHO to act on worrying evidence of airborne/aerosol transmission, and argued a precautionary approach was necessary (Risks 951).
Now the letter backed by 239 scientists, published on 6 July in the in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, reinforces the union concerns and says the evidence is “beyond any reasonable doubt”.
It notes: “There is significant potential for inhalation exposure to viruses in microscopic respiratory droplets (microdroplets) at short to medium distances (up to several meters, or room scale), and we are advocating for the use of preventive measures to mitigate this route of airborne transmission.”
The paper adds: “Studies by the signatories and other scientists have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 metres (yards) from an infected individual.”
UK prime minister Boris Johnson relaxed physical distancing rules in England from 4 July, noting people should remain 2 metres apart where possible but “one metre plus” was the new minimum.
Police are appealing for information after thieves broke into Edinburgh College Forthside building on West Shore Road, sometime between Wednesday 1 July and Wednesday 8 July.
Hand and desktop power tools valued between £30,000 and £40,000 were stolen from the College’s Construction Centre for Excellence.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said : ‘The building is a training facility for students to train in the professions of bricklaying roofing and joinery.
“Enquiries are currently ongoing into the break-in and we would ask anyone with anyone information to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting 962 of Wednesday 8 July’.
The team at Coulters Property have looked into the housing landscape for first-time buyers to discover how much you would need to be able to afford a 10% deposit around the country, how much this is as a percentage of average annual income, and how this has changed over the last 20 years.
You can clearly see that in Scotland, house prices have risen by 205.40% but earnings have only risen by 77.37%. The deposit as % of earnings has increased by 21.20%.
How Has Housing Affordability Changed in the UK?
In 1999, the average house price in the UK was just £77,961. Fast forward twenty years and that figure has almost trebled, to £230,735.
At the same time, the average income has also increased, but only from £17,803 a year to £30,353, an increase of 70%.
In 1999, a 10% deposit would have worked out at about 43.8% of your annual salary, these days, that figure has risen by about three quarters to 76%.
