Tag: Scottish Government

FM reminds Scotland: lockdown restrictions remain in place until Thursday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are two items I want to briefly cover today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Minister sets out first steps on road to recovery

“Moving back to some normality”

In full, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s statement to the Scottish Parliament yesterday:

Presiding Officer,

The Scottish Government has just published a route map to take Scotland through and out of the Covid crisis.

It provides information about how and when we might ease the lockdown restrictions, while continuing to suppress the virus. And it provides us with some indication of what our journey to a new normal might look like.

The route map is, for ease of access, high level. But it will be supplemented in the days ahead with detailed advice and information for the public, as well as guidance covering key sectors of our economy, travel and transport.

In publishing this route map, we confront a fundamental issue. The lockdown restrictions have been absolutely necessary to mitigate the massive harm caused by the Covid-19 virus. However the lockdown is creating harms of its own – loneliness and social isolation, deepening inequalities and serious damage to our economy.

None of us want it to last any longer than it has to.

So today we are setting out the phases in which we will aim to ease lockdown and reduce the impact on all of us – individuals, families, communities and businesses.

The steps we will take are by necessity gradual and incremental – and they must also be matched with rigorous, ongoing monitoring of the virus.

There is no completely risk free way of lifting lockdown. But we must mitigate the risks as much as we can. And we must not at any stage act rashly or recklessly.

For all our progress, this virus has not gone away. It continues to pose a significant threat to health. And if we move too quickly or without proper care, it could run out of control again very quickly.

And the danger of a second wave later in the year is very real indeed.

We mustn’t forget any of that.

At every stage, though, the biggest single factor in controlling the virus, will be how well we all continue to observe public health advice.

Continued high compliance with the restrictions that are in place at any time, together with hand washing, cough hygiene and physical distancing will continue to be essential, as will wearing a face covering where appropriate.

And we must understand and accept what a Test, Trace, Isolate system will require of all of us.

Each of us will have an ongoing responsibility to protect ourselves and to protect each other.

I want to do three things in today’s statement. First, give an update on where we are now in our efforts to control the virus.

Second, set out the initial ways in which lockdown restrictions are likely to be eased, from the end of next week.

And, finally, discuss possible future steps – and the approach we will take in deciding which ones to take, and when.

But let me stress now that the nature of what we are dealing with means these proposals cannot be set in stone.

We will conduct formal reviews at least every three weeks to assess if and to what extent we can move from one phase to the next, but we will be constantly alive to when we can go faster, or indeed whether we have gone too far.

It may be that we can’t do everything in a particular phase at the same time. A single phase may span more than one review period. Some measures may be lifted earlier than planned and some later.

And, of course, our plans will change if the data, evidence or indeed our understanding of the virus changes.  We also welcome views on these plans, including, of course, from other parties.

In addition, I would encourage members of the public to read the route map at www.gov.scot and let us know your views. This crisis affects all of us, and how we emerge from it safely matters deeply to all of us.

In setting out where we are now, I will give an update on the daily statistics, before putting the data we now have into a broader context.

In doing that, I want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers for the extraordinary work they are doing in incredibly testing circumstances.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14, 856 positive cases confirmed – that is an increase of 105 from yesterday.

A total of 1,318 patients are in hospital with Covid-19 – 909 of them who have been confirmed as having the virus, and 409 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents a total decrease of 125 from yesterday, including a decrease of 34 in the number of confirmed cases.

A total of 51 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid 19. That is a decrease of 2 from yesterday.

And unfortunately I also have to report that in the past 24 hours, 37 deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed through a test as having the virus – and that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,221.

These numbers – together with yesterday’s figures from National Records of Scotland – spell out very starkly the human cost of this virus.

These are not simply statistics – they all represent individuals whose loss is a source of grief to many. And I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.

However the numbers also make clear, as I indicated yesterday, that our efforts to curb covid-19 have had an impact. Our mid-range estimate for the number of infectious people in Scotland is now 25,000 – however we expect that number to decrease further.

We are now seeing significant and sustained reductions in the number of confirmed Covid patients in hospital. The number of Covid patients in intensive care is now less than a quarter of what it was at its peak.

And yesterday’s National Records of Scotland data showed that Covid deaths have now fallen for three consecutive weeks – last week’s total was just over half the figure that was reported for the last full week of April.

We are also publishing today a paper which sets out the methods we use for calculating the R number – the rate at which the virus is reproducing. We will now publish our up to date estimate of the R number each Thursday.

Our latest estimate is that the R number remains between 0.7 and 1. In March, it was probably above 4.

And it’s worth saying that although these figures do indicate real progress, we cannot and must not be complacent. Progress remains fragile and it would be too easy for the virus to run out of control again.

The total number of Covid deaths – 351 last week alone – is still far too high. And although we estimate that the R number is below 1, the range has not changed this week, and there is still uncertainty about just how far below 1 it is. It may also still be slightly above other parts of the UK.

However we now have some confidence that the R number has been below 1 for more than 3 weeks, and that there has been a reduction in new cases and in the impact of the virus.

In my judgement, therefore, the time is right to move towards a careful relaxation of lockdown restrictions – but, as I will say in a moment, we must do so on a timescale that aligns with our development of test, trace and isolate.

Today’s route map explains the framework we are using for that relaxation – and sets out future steps people can expect to see, and in what order.

It is based firmly on the criteria set by the World Health Organisation, and it takes account of the experiences of other countries.

A key aspect of our strategy – as recommended by the WHO – is the “test, trace, isolate, support” approach, which will operate in Scotland as “Test and Protect”.

We will test anyone who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and ask them to isolate.

We will use contact tracing to identify the close contacts of positive cases.

We will ask those close contacts to self-isolate, so that if they do develop the disease, there is less risk that they will pass it on to others.

And we will make sure that support is available to those who need it.

We will also carry out ongoing surveillance and furnish the public with up to date information about transmission rates and significant clusters.

That system of test and protect run by NHS Scotland is already being used on a case by case basis. From the end of this month it will be available, on an expanded basis, in every health board across the country.

That timescale gives us added confidence that we can take the first, careful steps on our journey out of lockdown from next week.

Test and Protect will be a crucial tool in controlling this virus. However, it will be most effective if we continue to suppress the virus, so that the number of infections reduces further.

And that is why our emergence from lockdown must be gradual and phased.

Today’s route map outlines four phases in emerging from the Covid crisis beyond the current lockdown phase, and it covers nine key aspects of our lives – seeing friends and family; travel and getting around; education and childcare; work, business and the economy; shopping and leisure; sport and culture; public gatherings and special occasions; communities and public services; and health and social care.

We are legally required to review the lockdown restrictions every three weeks. The next review date is next Thursday, 28th May.

Providing that we continue to make progress in tackling Covid over the next week and, in particular, see no regression in our progress so far, I can confirm that the government intends to move from lockdown to phase 1 – and thereby lift some restrictions – from 28th May.

As we enter later phases – as and when the evidence allows – more restrictions will be removed. Details of the relevant criteria to be met and restrictions to be eased in each phase are set out in the document.

I’m sure that everyone watching will want to know what changes will be made as we move to phase 1.

But first, a word of caution – not every phase 1 measure will necessarily be introduced immediately on 28th May.

Some may be introduced a few days after that and, depending on the evidence, it is possible that some may have to be postponed – though I very much hope that won’t be the case.

But next week, when we have completed our formal review, we will make clear  exactly what changes we are making and when, and ensure that detailed information is available for the public.

However let me set out some of the likely changes in phase 1.

More outdoor activity will be permitted.

You will be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas, and you will be able to meet people from one other household, although initially in small numbers, while you are outside. This is a change which we hope will benefit everyone, but particularly those without gardens, and people who live on their own.

It is important to stress that different households should remain two metres apart from each other – that is critical in ensuring that this change doesn’t provide the virus with easy routes of transmission.

And because of the much higher risk of indoor transmission, visiting inside each others’ houses will not be permitted in phase 1.

Some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart – such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing – subject of course to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing.

In addition, people will be able to travel – preferably by walking or cycling – to a location near their local community for recreation. Although, we are asking people where possible to stay within or close to their own local area.

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

The construction industry will be able to carefully implement steps 1 and 2 of its 6 step restart plan which it has developed with us. However, let me be clear that there must be genuine partnership with trade unions – this can only be done if it is done safely.

Other industries that are expected to resume in phase 2, will be permitted in the first phase to prepare workplaces for the safe return of workers and customers.

We will no longer discourage take-away and drive-through food outlets from reopening, as long as they apply safe physical distancing. Outdoor retail outlets such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen.

However, non-essential indoor shops, and indoor cafes, restaurants and pubs must remain closed in this first phase.

Some key community support services will resume – for example face to face Children’s Hearings will restart, using physical distancing, and people at risk will have more contact with social work and support services.

We are also planning a phased resumption of aspects of the criminal justice system.

And we will carefully and gradually resume NHS services which were paused as a result of this crisis.  I also want to remind people that as of now, you should contact your GP, NHS 24 or 999 if you need to. That message is really important.

These phase 1 measures – most of which have an outdoor focus – are not in place yet, let me stress that and they are dependent on all of us continuing to suppress the virus. They will also be monitored carefully as they do take effect.

However we view them as a proportionate and suitably cautious set of first steps. And I hope they will bring some improvement to people’s wellbeing and quality of life, start to get our economy moving again, and start to steer us safely towards a new normality.

It’s important to stress, though, that while the permitted reasons to be out of your house will increase, the default message during phase one will remain Stay at Home as much as possible.

As we move into subsequent phases, more restrictions will be removed. Details of these later phases – and the criteria we will need to meet – are set out in the document. We will make decisions on when and to what extent we can move to these phases carefully and on the basis of evidence. And we will carry out formal reviews at least every 3 weeks, though I hope we can move more quickly than that if the evidence allows.

Presiding Officer, I want to take a moment now to talk directly to people who are currently shielding – those we have asked to isolate completely for 12 weeks, because we know they are at the greatest risk from this virus.

We know that the isolation imposed by shielding over a long period of time is in itself very difficult and indeed harmful. And so, although we are not changing our advice on shielding yet, I can confirm that we will issue new guidance before the initial period of shielding ends on 18 June.

This will aim to increase your quality of life and your ability to make informed choices, while continuing to protect you as much as possible from the risks the virus poses. I really understand how hard this is for this for you who are shielding, and I want you to know that you are central to our thinking as we move forward, through and out of this crisis.

Presiding Officer, more generally, the route map sets out what phases 2, 3 and 4 will mean for different areas of activity.

It tries to give as definite sense as possible of when, and on what basis, we might be able to see friends and family, on something like a normal basis.

We also set out what the different phases will mean for transport – and I can confirm that we will publish a much more detailed transport transition plan on Tuesday next week.

We also outline the further stages in which businesses might reopen.  Let me stress that we want to move through these stages as quickly as the evidence allows.

Getting the economy moving again really matters to all of us, and therefore we have sought to focus first on industries where people simply cannot work from home.

However, safety and the confidence of employers, employees and customers is essential. And that is why detailed guidance for key sectors of the economy will follow in the days ahead.

Let me stress that we will continue to require for the foreseeable future home working where that is possible – and we will also encourage flexible working, including consideration of four day weeks for example.

We indicate the phases in which service industries might reopen – that is businesses such as restaurants, bars and hairdressers, the latter being a priority, I know, for almost every woman in the country and some men. For restaurants and bars, I think I’ll not go any further there Presiding Officer, for restaurants and bars, opening of outdoor spaces will come earlier than opening of indoor spaces.

The route map also indicates when places of worship might reopen.

And it makes it clear that while our current guidance on funerals – one of the most distressing and heartbreaking rules of the current lockdown – remains unfortunately unchanged for now, we do hope to relax it as we move from phase 1 to phase 2.

Finally Presiding Officer, I know that a key priority for parents, children and young people is education and early years services.

I can confirm that we are planning to allow Universities and colleges to have a phased return next term, with a combination of remote learning, and some limited on-campus learning.

On schools and early learning and childcare, we have published today the report of the Education Recovery Group, which is chaired by the Deputy First Minister and  includes representatives of councils, parent and teacher organisations and trade unions.

Through this approach, we have reached an agreed position that will help us build confidence amongst pupils, parents and teachers about a safe return to formal schooling.

The report can be read in full on the Scottish Government website. I stress that all of its conclusions are subject to health advice, and to appropriate measures on physical distancing, testing and provision of protective equipment, where required, being in place.

But let me summarise now the key points.

Teachers and other school staff will return during June to prepare classrooms for the new term and a different model of learning.

During June and over the summer, an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare – such as has been provided for the children of key workers during lockdown.

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

From 11 August, all schools will re-open. However, to allow appropriate physical distancing, children will return to a blended model of part time in-school and part time at-home learning.

Childminders can re-open during phase 1 and over the summer all early years childcare providers will re-open, subject to necessary health measures. Capacity will be prioritized for children of key workers, early learning and childcare entitlement and children in need. And the Care Inspectorate will provide further guidance in due course.

Now these arrangements will not represent a complete return to normality by August. But we judge them to be the most sensible and safe approach we can plan for at this stage.

To reflect the fact that children will still be doing part of their learning at home, we are also going to invest a further £30 million to provide laptops for disadvantaged children and young people to enable them to study online.

Presiding Officer, I want at this stage to take a moment to say a huge thank you to parents, carers and teachers who are doing so much to ensure that children continue to learn during this lockdown period.

And I want to send a special message to children and young people themselves – on the off chance that any of you are watching a parliamentary statement – I know how difficult it has been for you not to be at school and with your friends, but you have been magnificent during this lockdown period – and from the bottom of my heart thank you to every single one of you.

Presiding Officer, to conclude as I have briefly summarized and I know all members will take time to study this document in full, this route map tries to sketch out as much detail as we can provide at this stage, how and in what stages, we might move back to some normality as we continue to live with this virus, as we are going to have to do for quite some time to come.

It does not yet set definite dates for all phases, because it cannot do so, we know that this virus is and will remain unpredictable.

And of course to a great extent, the timing of these changes, the timing of moving from one phase to another will depends on all of us – it will depend on our continued ability to suppress the virus even as we move out of lockdown.

Our emergence from lockdown will be faster or slower, depending on the continued success that we have in suppressing the virus.

It’s also worth saying I think that in the weeks ahead, our messages will inevitably have to become more  nuanced and more complex, as we try to strike a very difficult balance protecting public health and also allowing more personal choice.

Straightforward, strict rules will gradually be replaced by the need for all of us to exercise judgment and responsibility.

However some key advice – for example on isolating if you have symptoms of Covid,  strict physical distancing, washing your hands and face coverings – will remain the same throughout.

We must continue, all of us, to recognise that every decision we take as individuals, has an impact on others and on our collective wellbeing.

That sense of collective responsibility has been so appreciated by me and I know by all of us throughout this lockdown period – indeed, it is only because people across the country have so overwhelmingly observed the lockdown restrictions, that we are now in a position of being able to plan ahead.

It will be absolutely vital for all of us to continue to abide by whatever rules are in place at any particular stage.

And for the moment – until 28 May – I must therefore stress that our key public health guidance, as of now, remains unchanged.

Please stay at home except for essential purposes – which right now include exercise, going to essential work that cannot be done at home, or shopping for essential items like food and medicine.

You can now exercise more than once a day – but when you do leave the house, please stay more than 2 metres from other people. And for now don’t meet up with households other than your own.

Please wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And remember to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, please stay at home completely. Those symptoms as a reminder are a high temperature, a persistent cough, or a change or loss of smell or taste.

I’m very aware that talk of emerging from lockdown, as well as the nice weather we’ve enjoyed in recent days makes these restrictions even harder. But I want to stress by abiding by them is what makes it possible for us to think about relaxing them.

By doing the right thing, and continuing to do the right thing, all of us have helped to slow the spread of this virus, we’ve helped to protect our NHS from being overwhelmed, and despite the grim numbers of people dying, we have helped to save lives.

And as a result of all of that personal sacrifice, on the part of everybody sacrifice for the common good we are now able – gradually, cautiously, and in phases – to plan our move back to some normality.

So I want to end Presiding Officer, by thanking everyone for making this prospect possible.

Scottish schools to return on 11th August

Safe return planned through mix of school and home learning

Pupils will return to schools in August subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has confirmed.

Schools will return on 11 August, one week earlier than planned for most pupils, while Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings will open over the summer.

An agreement reached between councils, professional associations and parent representatives means:

  • schools will implement physical distancing measures, such as providing seating that is two metres apart and staggering arrival, departure and break times
  • increased hand-washing or use of hand sanitisers, enhanced cleaning, robust protocols for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and ongoing risk assessments will be implemented
  • class sizes will be significantly reduced as a result of the new way of working, with most pupils spending around half their time in class and half learning at home. Time in school will increase further as soon as it is safe to do so
  • teachers and other education staff will return in June – subject to appropriate safety assessments being completed – to prepare and plan for the new way of working and welcoming pupils back
  • existing ‘hubs’ will continue to run to provide vulnerable children and those of key workers with childcare over the summer
  • the school estate will be expanded where necessary and possible by using libraries, community halls, leisure centres, conference venues or taking short-term leases of vacant business accommodation to increase the time children can spend with their teachers
  • innovative use will be made of existing teachers and staff and, where necessary, consider the role former teachers can play either by returning to the classroom or teaching virtually to support in-home learning

To maximise the time pupils can have in the classroom and support children in the new model of schooling, including digital home learning, the Scottish Government is investing £9 million for 25,000 laptops or tablets – with internet access provided – for disadvantaged children as part of the first phase of provision to support their learning outside school.

Working with local authorities, a second phase of investment will see further funding to support digital inclusion.

Education Scotland will also deliver new national digital learning resources to support schools’ own arrangements for children and young people.

Mr Swinney said: “In reopening Scotland’s schools, our overriding priority is ensuring the health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff and giving parents the confidence schools are safe.

“Subject to public health guidance, teachers and other school staff will be able to return in June to prepare for a new model of learning from August. Comprehensive health and safety guidance will be in place prior to staff returning to school.

“This is not, however, a return to schooling as we knew it – schools are not returning to normal at this stage.

“To keep our pupils and staff safe we will implement physical distancing, staggered arrival and departure times, staggered break times, increased hand hygiene, enhanced cleaning regimes and a range of other measures

“That means a new model of teaching, learning and support will have to be delivered. Precise details will vary from school to school but for the vast majority, classes are going to be much smaller to allow physical distancing and, as a result, children are likely to spend about half their time learning at home.

“To maximise time in the classroom, we will work with local authorities to expand the size of their school estate where that is possible by using outside space, libraries, leisure centres, community halls and anywhere else that can safely be made to work.

“And, with classes being split in two or even in three, we will examine whether we can expand the number of teachers by asking those recently retired to return.

“In all of this, we recognise that some pupils will need extra help, particularly those who don’t have the technology at home to learn effectively.

“That’s why we will provide an initial tranche of 25,000 free laptops – bundled with a free internet connection – to pupils who need it. Education Scotland will support digital learning through new national digital learning resources that will bolster schools’ own arrangements for children and young people.

“We don’t know how long schools will have to work this way, just as we don’t know how long Coronavirus will be a threat. As long as that is the case, school life will feel quite different to before COVID-19.

“We have a mission to make this work, to educate Scotland’s pupils and, above all, to keep them safe. Working with our teachers, school staff, and councils this plan gives us a way to do that.

“We can safeguard our children’s future and get them learning alongside their classmates again. This plan will do that and get our young people safely back to school.”

COSLA Children and Young People spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “In planning for a return to face to face schooling the safety of our children, young people and staff is paramount.

“In preparing for this we have been acutely aware of the impact that not being in school has on our children and young people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The wellbeing of all of our children and young people is at the heart of everything we do.

“A key part of this agreement is that local authorities will have the flexibility to plan and deliver a return to education which suits local circumstances and takes the needs of all of the children, young people and parents in their area into account.

“Where it safe to do so and the scientific advice allows, local authorities will also have the flexibility to bring some children back to school in June with a particular focus on those at the key transition points of P1 and S1.

“This has been developed with key partners in education. To make sure we get it right for all of our children at this challenging time we will continue to work closely together.”

Scotland’s route map published

A route map setting out a phased approach to easing lockdown restrictions while still suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19) has been published.

The Scottish Government route map gives details of a gradual four phase move out of the current state of lockdown.

‘COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis’ gives practical examples of what people, organisations and businesses can expect to see change over time.

It also highlights some of the things that won’t change for a while, including the continuing need for enhanced public health measures such as physical distancing.

If the evidence shows transmission of COVID-19 is under control and the number of infectious cases is starting to decline, the Scottish Government will consider moving to Phase 1 of the route map following the next end-of-cycle review date on 28 May.

The NHS Scotland test, trace, isolate and support strategy – known as Test and Protect – will be ready for expansion in all 14 health boards from 28 May.

A plan agreed between councils, professional associations and parent representatives to reopen schools on 11 August, subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so, has also been published today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Today I have set out details of Scotland’s route map through and out of the COVID-19 crisis.

“The current key public health guidance remains to stay at home except for essential purposes, but the route map provides information about how and when we might ease our lockdown restrictions while continuing to suppress the virus.

“The lockdown restrictions have been necessary to reduce and mitigate the massive harm caused by the COVID-19 virus, but the lockdown itself causes harm including loneliness and social isolation, deepening inequalities and damage to the economy. That is why I have set out the gradual and incremental phases by which we will aim to ease lockdown matched with careful monitoring of the virus.

“At every one of these stages, the biggest single factor in controlling the virus will be how well we continue to observe public health advice. Continued hand washing, cough hygiene and physical distancing will continue to be essential as will wearing a face covering where appropriate.

“By doing the right thing, all of us have helped to slow the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS, and to save lives and as a result we are able – gradually, cautiously, and in phases – to plan our move towards a new normality.”

covid-19-framework-decision-making-scotlands-route-map-through-out-crisis

 

Extra funding to support tenants as Holyrood backs emergency measures

The Scottish Parliament has unanimously supported new emergency measures to help people in Scotland get through the crisis caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill, now passed by Parliament, gives powers to Scottish Ministers to temporarily intervene and manage care home services where there is a serious risk to the life, health or wellbeing of any person in that home for any reason connected with COVID-19.

The Bill also includes an additional £19.2 million investment in the Carer’s Allowance Supplement, the introduction of notice to leave periods for students in purpose-built student accommodation, and additional protections for those facing bankruptcy.

During the debate, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has also confirmed an additional £5 million will be made available to local authorities through Discretionary Housing Payments, to support tenants who are now under severe financial pressures (see below).

There are also legislative changes in areas including non-domestic rates relief, proceeds of crime and the wider operation of Scotland’s criminal justice system. The Bill also ensures that COVID-19 grant funding goes to those companies that pay their fair share of tax by excluding those who seek to minimise their tax arrangements to the detriment of the wider economy.

Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said: “Scotland remains in an unprecedented situation. This legislation provides time-limited measures that will further strengthen our ability to prioritise work tackling the coronavirus pandemic, and support those in Scotland facing real hardship as a result.

“Whether it is taking action to safeguard the population’s health such as the measures relating to care homes, helping people in debt or students with accommodation costs,  we will continue to do all we can to help Scotland get through this most testing of times.

“In a spirit of cooperation and consensus we have worked across parliament and with all parties as much as possible as we take these important steps to tackle the impact of this ongoing crisis.”

£5 million for Discretionary Housing Payments

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has announced £5 million additional investment to support tenants under financial pressure during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The extra funding, announced during the Stage 3 debate of the emergency Coronavirus (2nd) (Scotland) Bill, will go to local authorities to provide support to tenants through the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme. This takes the total funding from the Scottish Government for DHPs to almost £16 million – as well as £60 million funding budgeted to mitigate the impact of the bedroom tax.

Mr Stewart said: “We all know that the wider impacts of Covid-19 are increasing pressures on households and leading to greater financial hardship, including paying rent.

“Many more people will now be on benefits for the first time and be subject to the UK Government’s benefit cap while others will have seen their household income decrease substantially and  may be struggling to pay their rent.

“We have been looking closely at how to support people during the crisis and I am pleased to announce that we are increasing the amount we have made available for other DHPs – those that are available outside of our full mitigation of the bedroom tax – by a further £5 million to almost £16 million. This will support tenants who are now under severe financial pressures and where the UK welfare state is not providing the safety net it should.”

The funding announced today takes to £77.1 million the amount of Scottish Government Discretionary Housing Payment fund to support tenants struggling with their housing costs or affected by the bedroom tax, where Universal Credit or Housing Benefit does not cover the cost of their rent.

That includes: Bedroom tax mitigation, £60 million; other DHPs paid already, £10.9 million; Administrative funding of £1.2 million; and today’s announcement of a further £5 million for DHPs.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will unveil details of a ‘route-map’ towards easing the country’s lockdown restrictions later today.

At Last: UK-wide expansion of testing

Everyone over the age of five with symptoms eligible to be tested

Testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) is to be opened out to everyone who is symptomatic over the age of five. This means anyone who is displaying any of the three symptoms of COVID-19 – continuous cough, high temperature, or loss of sense of taste or smell – will be able to book a test at the drive-through or mobile test centres.

A limited number of home test kits are also available through this programme.

Tests were previously available to over-65s, key workers and to anyone who needs to work and cannot do so from home. They were also available to household members of those groups.

The extension in testing eligibility comes ahead of the rollout of the new Test, Trace, Isolate and Support (TTIS) approach which will be used to keep transmission in communities low as the country moves out of lockdown.

The extension is a four nation, UK-wide expansion of testing.

The tests in Scotland are available through drive-through centres at Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow airports, and in Perth and Inverness.

They are also available through the 12 mobile testing units across the country, which move every five days or so. If you book a test you will be offered a test at the centre closest to your own postcode.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This further expansion of testing will ensure that anyone with symptoms will be able to find out if they have COVID-19, and will therefore be able to know whether or not they should be isolating.

“As well as allowing more people to have a case of COVID-19 confirmed, today’s expansion will also be helpful as we build towards our strategy of test, trace, isolate and support – something that will be especially important as we start to emerge gradually from lockdown.

“This is vital in order to keep transmission in communities low.”

Tests can be booked online: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

For those unable to access the portal, call 0300 303 2713.

Home test kits are also an option for people who can’t get to a test sites.

Clinical advice is that under-5s are less likely to be affected by COVID-19 and the tests can be distressing for young children. However if you are concerned about a child who is showing symptoms, telephone 111 to speak to NHS 24.

More information on symptoms:  

https://www.gov.scot/news/update-to-coronavirus-symptoms

More information on symptoms at NHS Inform: 

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

Priority will continue to be given to those who are key workers, and can be secured by booking through an employer.

Test, Trace, Isolate, Support is a public health intervention to identify cases of COVID-19, find the people they have been in close contact with, and then ask those close-contacts to self-isolate for 14 days to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.

Scottish Government strengthens oversight of care homes

New arrangements to significantly strengthen oversight of Scotland’s care homes have been published by the Scottish Government.

From today, clinical and care professionals at NHS boards and local authorities will have a lead role in the oversight for care homes in their area.

Every Health Board and local authority must put in place a multi-disciplinary team comprised of key clinical leads and the area’s Chief Social Work Officer.

The team’s remit will include daily discussions about the quality of care in each care home in their area, with particular focus on implementation of infection prevention and control, and the provision of expert clinical support to residents who have Coronavirus.

The short paper ‘Coronavirus (Covid 19) – enhanced professional clinical and care oversight of care homes’ also highlights issues around testing and contact tracing with escalation measures in place if issues cannot be resolved.

The paper builds on recent actions to ensure care home residents can be kept safe, including new guidance for the sector and amendments to the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill which would ensure the swiftest possible intervention if care home residents are being put at serious risk due to services failing.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on Scotland’s social care services. It is of paramount importance that those using services, including residents of care homes and those supporting them, are provided with the best possible care and the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to ensure that is the case.

“All organisations including care providers are responsible for effective and safe care in their services and are expected to work closely together and at pace to give effect to these arrangements. While these are unprecedented times, everything possible must be done to protect care home residents and staff from the effects of Covid-19.

“These new arrangements will ensure clarity and consistency across the country about the role of Health Boards and local authorities in helping to keep their residents safe from coronavirus and should be seen alongside other recent action the Scottish Government has taken, including publishing revised guidance for the sector, and amendments to the Coronavirus Bill being discussed at parliament next week.

“I want to assure staff, residents and their families that a safe residential environment in care homes remains our top priority.”

Coronavirus (Covid 19) – enhanced professional clinical and care oversight of care homes.

Jeane Freeman: ‘We are getting a bit closer to the day when we can relax some more of these restrictions’

Statement given by the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Sunday 17 May).

Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us for today’s briefing. I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to COVID-19 in Scotland.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,537 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 90 from yesterday.

A total of 1,308 patients are in hospital with the virus – 1,007 who have been confirmed as having Covid, and 301 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents a total decline of 108 from yesterday, including a decrease of 4 in the number of confirmed cases.

A total of 59 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is the same number as reported yesterday.

I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,354 patients who had tested positive for the virus have been able to leave hospital. I wish all of them well.

Regrettably, I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 9 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having COVID-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,103.

It is worth bearing in mind that fewer deaths tend to be registered at the weekend than on other days of the week – that is almost certainly part of the reason why today’s figure is significantly lower than yesterday’s.

As always, I want to stress that these numbers are much more than statistics. They represent individuals whose loss is a source of grief to many. I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.

As Health Secretary, I also want to once again thank those working in our health and care sector.  That thanks is due to every single person – doctors and nurses; paramedics; care home staff; healthcare assistants; porters, cooks, and cleaners and many, many more.

Everything you do is essential to the health and well being of our country. And all of us owe you a great debt of gratitude.

I have three areas which I want to update you on today.

The first relates to care homes. All care workers demonstrate everyday commitment and compassion in their work and in incredibly difficult circumstances. We will continue to do everything we can to support you, while you provide care and support for those who most need it.

On Friday we published detailed clinical and practice guidance for care homes. Today we have published details of arrangements that take effect from tomorrow to ensure enhanced professional clinical and care oversight.

The publication today sets out a very clear role for the NHS, in partnership with the relevant Local Authority and Local Health & Social Care Partnership to actively and proactively ensure that every care home has the additional support and if necessary intervention, to make sure that clinical care, infection prevention and control, PPE and testing arrangements are what we need them to be.

Accountability for this sits at the most senior levels of our Health Boards and of course through them, to me as Health Secretary.

These additional arrangements build on current support and ensure that care homes benefit from the vital contribution of Nurse Directors, Chief Social Work Officers and Chief Officers of Health and Social Care Partnerships.

The Scottish Government has also added new measures to the Coronavirus Bill, which will receive Stage 2 consideration in Parliament next week.

These make it clear that – if a provider is unable to continue to deliver care, or if there is a significant risk to residents – Scottish Ministers can ensure continuity of care and support.

These powers would only be exercised as a last resort. There is a range of guidance available for care providers on how to manage the current situation, which we expect to be followed.

Of course there are many positive examples across Scotland of highly effective management of care homes.

But there have also been instances where care standards during this pandemic have fallen short. We are already taking action to address these, with the support of the Care Inspectorate.

If passed, the new measures we are proposing will provide additional assurance – to staff; to people who live in care homes, to their residents and to their families – that further action will be taken to address any failings that arise and will be taken quickly.

The Coronavirus Bill provisions – together with the guidance we have published – reinforce our determination to ensure that care in every residential setting is as safe as possible.

The second issue I want to talk about is a further development of our growing capacity to test, trace, isolate and support.

That process – which involves identifying cases of COVID-19, finding the people they have been in close contact with, and then asking those close-contacts to self-isolate for 14 days is crucial as we start to emerge from the lock down. It will help us to quickly break the chains of transmission, and therefore stop any new outbreaks of Covid from growing.

Currently Health Boards across Scotland do some contact tracing, based on risk assessments. And as part of our build-up of contact-tracing staff, an open recruitment process is underway to supplement the increase in contract tracing teams Boards are currently working on. We now have 600 additional staff across our NHS boards who are ready to start and more are being trained as contact tracers.

From tomorrow, NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Highland will test the contact tracing technology that health boards will use. This builds on existing tried and tested technology, and is designed to support staff to collect and record information, and to trace more contacts more quickly.

Together with the growing number of contact tracers the technology allows us to carry out contact tracing on the much larger scale that will be needed.

The software which is being tested next week, will be used in all health boards by the end of May and will continue to be refined and improved during June. It will play a valuable role in improving the speed and effectiveness of our work to test, trace, isolate and support.

The final issue I want to talk to you about is the appointment of an additional deputy Chief Medical Officer.  The First Minister has appointed Professor Marion Bain to that role on an interim basis.

Professor Bain is the Scottish Government’s former Senior Medical Advisor for Public Health Reform. Most recently, she has been working as the Director of Infection Prevention and Control in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.  She is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh, and has a particular research expertise in the use of routine health information for public health and clinical research.

Professor Bain will work alongside our other interim Deputy CMO, Dr Nicola Steedman.  And she will support our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith,

Her appointment will provide additional capacity in that key role and further ensure that we benefit from the very best public health expertise available.

I’m now going to pass you on to Fiona McQueen, our Chief Nursing Officer but before I do, however, I’d like to emphasise once again our key public health guidance.

Please stay at home except for essential purposes- such as daily exercise, or to buy essential items.

You can now exercise more than once a day – but when you do leave the house, stay local, stay more than 2 metres apart from other people. And do not meet up with people from households other than your own.

You should wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport and physical distancing is difficult to achieve. And wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, then you should stay at home completely.

I do know how difficult these restrictions are. And I also know they get harder as time passes. But they are necessary – and they are making a difference.

By staying at home, we, you, are slowing the spread of the virus, protecting the NHS and saving lives.

And we are getting a bit closer to the day, when we can relax some more of these restrictions.

So thank you once again to all of you, for doing the right thing, and sticking to the guidance.

Care sector ‘safety net’ proposed

New measures have been proposed to ensure swift intervention if care home residents are being put at serious risk due to services failing.

The move comes after the Care Inspectorate began legal action which could prevent operator HC-One running the Home Farm Care Home in Portree, where nine residents have now died.

The planned emergency powers are being put forward as a Scottish Government amendment to the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill ahead of Stage 2 next week.

The amendments make clear that, if there was a significant risk to the life, health or wellbeing of individuals, or that a provider was unable to deliver care due to failure, that strengthened emergency powers will be available to ensure continuity of care.

If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the emergency powers will provide assurance to those who depend on care services, their families, and the staff that deliver care, that additional oversight and support is available in the rare circumstances that it may be required.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted social care services around the world. In the face of this challenge, staff in care homes across Scotland have been working incredibly hard to care for their residents.

“It is of paramount importance that anyone living in a care home or using other care services, as well as those supporting them, are provided with the best possible care. We will do everything we can to ensure that remains the case. We are fortunate that this high standard of care is the norm for the vast majority of care home residents in Scotland.

“However, for the duration of this pandemic I believe that it is critical that a clear safety net is in place to ensure that if a care provider was unable to continue to deliver services, that the people who depend on those services should not be impacted. Our proposals build on established powers and would put beyond doubt that immediate action can be taken if continuity of care was jeopardised for any reason.

“The Care Inspectorate has a robust inspection regime for the care sector and the further steps we are hoping to take, if the parliament agrees, help bolster that work and would only be exercised as a last resort. There is guidance available for care providers on how to manage the current situation, which the Scottish Government expects to be followed.

“Every resident in our care homes, their family and the staff who work there should be kept safe from harm and we are prepared to take action where this is not the case.”

First Minister: polling support for Scotland’s lockdown

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House on Friday 15th May:

Good afternoon. Thanks for joining us for today’s briefing.

I want to start – as I always do – with a statistical update on COVID-19 in Scotland.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, I can report that there have been 14,260 positive cases confirmed – an increase of 143 since yesterday.

A total of 1,449 patients are in hospital with the virus – 1,066 of them have been confirmed through a test as having COVID-19, and 383 are suspected of having the virus. That overall number represents a decrease of 31 since yesterday.

A total of 71 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 – which is no change since the figure I reported to you here yesterday.

I am also able to confirm that since 5 March, a total of 3,290 patients who had tested positive and required hospitalisation for the virus have now been able to leave hospital, which is good news for them and their families.

Unfortunately I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 46 deaths have been registered of patients who had been confirmed through a test as having the virus – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,053.

As always, because it is so important every single day that we never see these numbers as statistics, as always I want to stress that point. Behind every single one of these statistics I read out to you here today, is an individual whose loss is being mourned by friends, family and all of their loved ones.

I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus. The thoughts of me, the government and I’m sure everybody across Scotland are very much with you at this time.

I also want to thank – as I always do – again, our health and care workers.  Once again last night, I joined with people across the country, in the applause at 8pm.  That is a small – but I hope powerful – way of demonstrating our deep appreciation, our ongoing appreciation for your incredible efforts at this very, very challenging time.

There are of course many, many other people who, in various different ways, are keeping the country going during this crisis. I can’t list all of them every day, but if you are in any of these categories know my deep appreciation and gratitude is with all of you. From time to time, I want to single out particular groups of workers so that they know that their efforts are not forgotten at this time.

Today I’m going to highlight the role of our telecoms workers and especially telecoms engineers.

The fact that we are being forced to stay physically distant from each other, has made many of us rely more than ever on technology. We’re reliant much more now on technology for access to public services.  Our children are relying on technology for access to education.  Many are working from home and need technology for that. We’re all using technology for staying in touch with family and friends at a time when we cannot physically see them.

So the contribution of those who keep all of these systems working, our phones and our broadband networks going at this time are so important to our everyday lives. That is true at all times but it is particularly true right now so I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to all of you.

I’m going to keep my general update today relatively brief.

As you know, the lock down restrictions here in Scotland remain very much in place. The message to you today, over the weekend and into next week, is still stay at home. The only change we’ve made to the guidance in place, which of course we announced last weekend, is the change on exercise.

That position we have in Scotland, now I want to be very clear, continues to be based on our assessment of the evidence – and on what we judge is right for the protection of people across the country.

However, as I also said on Sunday, we will continue to monitor the evidence very closely on an ongoing basis. And as we hopefully see more evidence of a downward trend in the virus – we will then consider further changes, but we will do so on a very careful and gradual basis.

When we know that lives are at stake and we have learned that everyday over these past seven or eight weeks as I’ve stood up here day in day out and read out numbers of people who have died. We do know that lives are at stake with this virus.

Then for as long as that continues to be the case, I’m going to continue to err on the side of caution, err on the side of saving lives and reducing the number of people who might die unnecessarily.

And I hope I have your continued understanding in doing so.

However, I also want to give you as much visibility and advance notice of future changes as possible.

We can’t live like this forever so we need to get some normality back as we continue to suppress the virus. We’ve tried to set out, as we have done in recent weeks on an ongoing basis, as much of our thinking and consideration as we can. As we can’t yet confirm dates of when things will open up again, at least we will seek to share with you share the order of priority and potential phasing.

So I will give you an indication now that next week, I will share with you more information on the assessments we are making and the range of options that we are looking at and any further minor changes that we might make in the short term.

And, as I have said before, as we make these decisions fairness and quality of life will be really important factors.

We are, of course, keen to get the economy moving again – I am very keen to get the economy moving again – that matters to all of us, not just to businesses.

But we also have to consider very carefully our social interactions.

A life where we go to work but stay locked down with no family interaction for the rest of the time is not one that many of us, if any of us, would enjoy.

So given that we are likely to have for quite a while to come very limited room for manoeuvre – and I want to stress that is the case –  we will need to get these balances as right as possible. That’s why we are paying close attention to the ideas that many of you are taking the time to share us.

Our considerations will be informed, as we have always said, by the scientific evidence and advice and the clear principles we have set out.

In all of this continuing to set out clearly to you why we are asking you to live your lives in such a restrictive way is vital – so that you understand we are not asking you to do this for no reason and will not ask you to do this for any longer than we judge to be necessary.

It is not enough, and never be enough in my view, for me simply to tell you what I want you to do. I have to explain, I’ve got a duty to explain to you, on an ongoing basis my reasons for it.

Compliance with any measures we may need to keep in place will, I think, always be higher if I am clear, rational and straight with you about the difficult judgements they are based on.

So on that theme, I thought I’d just very briefly share with you today the results of some polling on attitudes that we have undertaken.

And you’ll understand that we do this just to check that the messages that we are trying to convey are being understood and getting across.

Though I’m not complacent about this at all, this polling that I’m going to share with you suggests that the really important bond of understanding between government and you, the public in Scotland, right now is currently very strong. And I want to do everything I can to keep it that way.

The polling reveals that there is widespread endorsement for the approach that we are taking in Scotland.

So, for example:

  • 84% of you agree with a slow and gradual lifting of restrictions
  • 82% of you agree that before further significant changes to lockdown restrictions are brought in, the impact of those already introduced should be assessed
  • 86% continue to agree that decisions on when and how to lift restrictions must be based on saving lives and protecting the NHS

So, I want to take the opportunity again today to thank you for your support. These last few weeks have truly been a collective endeavour – we’ve all been making sacrifices not just for our own sake, but for the sake of each other as well.

We’ve been putting those values I keep talking about – of love, kindness and solidarity – into practice.

My ask of you is that we keep doing so for a bit longer. Let me, therefore, end with this fundamental point.

The way in which we save lives, but also the way we emerge from this lockdown that bit more quickly, is by sticking now with the current guidance.

So before I hand over firstly to the Chief Nursing Officer, and then to our National Clinical Director, I want to reiterate – once again – what that guidance says.

Please stay at home.   Except for essential work that you can’t do at home, for buying food or accessing medicines, or for exercising, you should not be going out.

Of course, you can now exercise more than once a day, if you want to. But when you are out, please stay more than two metres from other people and don’t meet up with people from other households.

Please wear a face covering if you are in a shop or on public transport. And remember to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you or someone else in your household has symptoms of the virus, then please stay at home completely.

I know that these restrictions are tough, I say this every day but I’m always conscious on a Friday of just how much tougher these restrictions feel for all of us over the weekend, particularly when the sun is out, which as we know, is sometimes a rare occasion in our country.

But these restrictions are essential for now and crucially, and this is the point I really want to leave you with – they are making a difference and I hope you can see that in the statistics, albeit the difficult statistics that I’m sharing with you everyday.

By staying at home we are slowing down the spread of this virus, we are protecting the NHS, we are undoubtedly saving lives and we’re also bringing much closer that day when we can start that return to normality.

So thank you very much for doing the right thing. Thank you for the sacrifices you are making. Please keep doing it. For your own sake and your families sake and for the sake of everybody across the country. Thank you very much indeed for listening and I’m going to handover now to Fiona McQueen, our Chief Nursing Officer, and then to Professor Leitch, our National Clinical Director.