New national restrictions in Scotland

[duncanp]

There’s no way it will be just January, even if the vaccination goes well. My fear is this will now turn into lockdown-type restrictions for likely the full duration of what would be the spring school term.

I think the duration of all the lockdowns in the UK will depend entirely on the figures, and no-one can predict what they will be like in one months time, let alone two or three months.

As some people have commented, it is a race between the virus and the vaccine, and whether restrictions are eased or maintained depends on who is in front in the race at any given time.

I see that Devi Sridhar was on the news this evening peddling the same old line that, had it not been for imported COVID cases from England, Scotland would have been able to eliminate the virus by the late summer/early autumn.

She really just says whatever Nicola Sturgeon wants her to say.

 

[Scotrail12]

Just took a look at Twitter - looks like Margaret Ferrier MP has been arrested.

Coincidence with today's news or not?

 

[duncanp]

Just took a look at Twitter - looks like Margaret Ferrier MP has been arrested.

Coincidence with today's news or not?

If that is just a coincidence, then my name is Robert The Bruce, and the Loch Ness Monster is real.

The Metropolitan Police decided back in October not to take action against Mrs Ferrier, so Police Scotland have had plenty of time to consider all the evidence and decide whether to press charges.

 

[kez19]

I think the duration of all the lockdowns in the UK will depend entirely on the figures, and no-one can predict what they will be like in one months time, let alone two or three months.

As some people have commented, it is a race between the virus and the vaccine, and whether restrictions are eased or maintained depends on who is in front in the race at any given time.

I see that Devi Sridhar was on the news this evening peddling the same old line that, had it not been for imported COVID cases from England, Scotland would have been able to eliminate the virus by the late summer/early autumn.

She really just says whatever Nicola Sturgeon wants her to say.

Devi has she forgotten about flights in but let’s continue to bash other areas of the UK

 

[bramling]

I think the duration of all the lockdowns in the UK will depend entirely on the figures, and no-one can predict what they will be like in one months time, let alone two or three months.

As some people have commented, it is a race between the virus and the vaccine, and whether restrictions are eased or maintained depends on who is in front in the race at any given time.

I see that Devi Sridhar was on the news this evening peddling the same old line that, had it not been for imported COVID cases from England, Scotland would have been able to eliminate the virus by the late summer/early autumn.

She really just says whatever Nicola Sturgeon wants her to say.

The politicians do love to play the blame game with all this.

 

[duncanp]

Devi has she forgotten about flights in but let’s continue to bash other areas of the UK

Precisely.

She could have banned international flights to and from Scottish airports.

Which would have had no effect, as Scottish people would then have travelled to English airports in order to travel abroad.

She could have imposed compulsory quarantine on anyone returning to Scotland from abroad, butchose not to do so.

 

[kez19]

Precisely.

She could have banned international flights to and from Scottish airports.

Which would have had no effect, as Scottish people would then have travelled to English airports in order to travel abroad.

She could have imposed compulsory quarantine on anyone returning to Scotland from abroad, butchose not to do so.

I be surprised if this is the year every single one of them is brought down (all nations)

I remember I read one of her pieces and it was just blaming areas of the UK, yet at same time I wondered at the time Glasgow cases were rising but still ignore that though eh Devi?

 

[duncanp]

I be surprised if this is the year every single one of them is brought down (all nations)

I remember I read one of her pieces and it was just blaming areas of the UK, yet at same time I wondered at the time Glasgow cases were rising but still ignore that though eh Devi?

I think the fact that Glasgow voted Yes to independence in 2014 and has a council led by the SNP may have had something to do with the lack of a lockdown when cases were rising there.

She didn't have the same problem with Aberdeen, or did she do it to spite them because Michael Gove was born there?

 

[kez19]

I think the fact that Glasgow voted Yes to independence in 2014 and has a council led by the SNP may have had something to do with the lack of a lockdown when cases were rising there.

She didn't have the same problem with Aberdeen, or did she do it to spite them because Michael Gove was born there?

The Aberdeen one is laughable as in the way it was tackled, Glasgow should have been dealt with within the same timeframe but dragged it out.

She was going to put Dundee into one but at the time I read was a concern but nothing came to it either (at a guess sound bites more than anything else)

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

The Aberdeen one is laughable as in the way it was tackled, Glasgow should have been dealt with within the same timeframe but dragged it out.

She was going to put Dundee into one but at the time I read was a concern but nothing came to it either (at a guess sound bites more than anything else)

Dundee was put into tougher measures when the level system came into force - the start of November I think? And has been in level 3 until 26 December when it was put into level 4, so it definitely worked.

 

[kez19]

Dundee was put into tougher measures when the level system came into force - the start of November I think? And has been in level 3 until 26 December when it was put into level 4, so it definitely worked.

That’s what I thought put into 4 on Boxing Day

 

[takno]

I see that Devi Sridhar was on the news this evening peddling the same old line that, had it not been for imported COVID cases from England, Scotland would have been able to eliminate the virus by the late summer/early autumn.

Devi Sridhar is a dangerous lunatic. Her mad elimination advice in the late spring and summer has eliminated nothing other than a chunk of the Scottish economy, and frankly there are thousands catching Covid now who could have had it in relative safely over the summer. I can understand her own personal doubling down and desperation not to admit she was wrong, although it's not exactly what leading scientists are supposed to do. What I really don't get is why the media keep giving her a mouthpiece for her rambling.

 

[kez19]

Devi Sridhar is a dangerous lunatic. Her mad elimination advice in the late spring and summer has eliminated nothing other than a chunk of the Scottish economy, and frankly there are thousands catching Covid now who could have had it in relative safely over the summer. I can understand her own personal doubling down and desperation not to admit she was wrong, although it's not exactly what leading scientists are supposed to do. What I really don't get is why the media keep giving her a mouthpiece for her rambling.

For the media side of having her on.... is it not surprising? The likes of BBC/Channel 4 would rather wield these ones that say they are right but when things are wrong still bring them on to emphasise that we need to crackdown and stop COVID.

Yet the other way there is no counterbalance for debate - or if there it is pretty much drowned out.

 

[Butts]

I've seen Police officers checking cross border services.

That's interesting - when was that , which side of the Border , and what was the process ?

Has anyone seen any checks at Airports ?

 

[221129]

Does anyone have a link to the actual legislation at all please?

 

[Ian Cunningham]

Does anyone have a link to the actual legislation at all please?

This is the latest amendment: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2021/1/introduction/made

The original SSI this amends has been updated and can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/344/introduction

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

The Daily Show is back today, and I'm just reading through the highlights on the BBC live page:

Working from home where possible 'now a legal requirement'

The first minister stresses that working from home if possible is a legal requirement in almost all parts of Scotland.

She says businesses should be reviewing their operations to allow as many people to work from home as possible and people should only travel into work if it "cannot possibly" be done from home and is "essential" work.

This applies to takeaway businesses and non-essential shops providing click and collect services, she adds.

We must "radically reduce the number of interactions" people have, the FM says, adding that "if we need to require more non essential activities to close, we will have to do that. It is a matter of ongoing review."

FM expects demand for school places to be higher now compared with March lockdown

Katrine Bussey from PA asks how many children will be learning in school from this week compared to last lockdown - particularly since the first minister had previously shared concerns there would be a "massive influx" in applications for school placements.

Ms Sturgeon says she does not have the figures right now, but expects to have them on a daily basis from Monday - when the extended school holiday period comes to an end.

She says for context, the last lockdown figures for children attending schools did not rise above 2% of all children.

However she says she expects "demand will be higher" as less businesses are legally required to close this time around.

Ms Sturgeon says if the figure is "indicative that too many people are still being required to go to work" then that will factor into the decision-making between "asking businesses to be responsible" and introducing more regulations.

(my bold)

I'm literally speechless. I'm convinced Sturgeon is actually loving introducing these regulations. I'm not sure how you can work from home if you're operating a takeaway business or providing a click and collect service.

Surely NS should be happy that parents aren't keeping their kids off school and rather making use of the support that is available to them (i.e. physical attendence for key workers/vulnerable children)?

 

[Scotrail12]

She seriously can’t be considering shutting takeaways or any food venue except supermarkets?

 

[Bantamzen]

She seriously can’t be considering shutting takeaways or any food venue except supermarkets?

Seems sensible, stop people using food venues & takeaways, and ram them into the remaining supermarkets. I'm sure that'll work, especially in the height of winter.

 

[takno]

She seriously can’t be considering shutting takeaways or any food venue except supermarkets?

Might have to panic buy a Chinese tonight, just to be on the safe side

 

[Scotrail12]

Surely shutting food venues may well lead to eating disorders in some? I’m not joking, plus many can’t cook so what are they supposed to do???

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Surely shutting food venues may well lead to eating disorders in some? I’m not joking, plus many can’t cook so what are they supposed to do???

Don't forget people who sort of rely on food venues.

Truck drivers and other workers working away from home for days on end often rely on such venues for sustenance, especially at the moment with most hotels that remain open for such workers only doing room only rates and having no food available.

 

[Scotrail12]

Don't forget people who sort of rely on food venues.

Truck drivers and other workers working away from home for days on end often rely on such venues for sustenance, especially at the moment with most hotels that remain open for such workers only doing room only rates and having no food available.

Yes - very true, if people are having to travel, they should be able to get food.

I wonder if she’s maybe targeting click and collect services...

 

[PG]

I wonder if she’s maybe targeting click and collect services...

We'll yes I'd say e.g. someone working at Argos click and collect doesn't really need to be there, or rather that Argos isn't (to my mind) an essential service. It'd really be taking the pi$$ if they then sent there kids into school...

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

We'll yes I'd say e.g. someone working at Argos click and collect doesn't really need to be there, or rather that Argos isn't (to my mind) an essential service. It'd really be taking the pi$$ if they then sent there kids into school...

That's very well, but would stopping click & collect services actually have any impact on transmission of the virus? The same question goes to the people (not on here!) who are calling for drive-thrus to shut.

 

[PG]

That's very well, but would stopping click & collect services actually have any impact on transmission of the virus? The same question goes to the people (not on here!) who are calling for drive-thrus to shut.

Can't read the FMs mind but I guess she'd say that the c&c workers have to interact with each other and travel to/from work so increasing the number of interactions verses them staying at home and thus providing a route for transmission. Who knows?...

 

[bramling]

That's very well, but would stopping click & collect services actually have any impact on transmission of the virus? The same question goes to the people (not on here!) who are calling for drive-thrus to shut.

I suspect at least some of any clamour to close drive-thrus is more because of the chronic congestion some of them have been causing. At one point last year I had to re-plan my route to work as a result of congestion one was causing.

I’m not sure if the issue is high demand or slow service due to Covid-secure work practices, or a combination of both, however one way or other there have certainly been issues.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

https://twitter.com/bbcscotlandnews/status/1347528155653931008?s=21

"My message to everybody is please respect this lockdown"

FM @NicolaSturgeon says movement of people and traffic is being examined and further lockdown restrictions are being considered

I think it is fairly evident that we should expect further restrictions next week.

I can't help but notice the smug look on her face when saying this sort of stuff. For someone who supposedly doesn't like imposing restrictions, she certainly has enthusiasm for it.

 

[farleigh]

https://twitter.com/bbcscotlandnews/status/1347528155653931008?s=21

I think it is fairly evident that we should expect further restrictions next week.

I can't help but notice the smug look on her face when saying this sort of stuff. For someone who supposedly doesn't like imposing restrictions, she certainly has enthusiasm for it.

Salmond coming for her soon

 

[kez19]

https://twitter.com/bbcscotlandnews/status/1347528155653931008?s=21

I think it is fairly evident that we should expect further restrictions next week.

I can't help but notice the smug look on her face when saying this sort of stuff. For someone who supposedly doesn't like imposing restrictions, she certainly has enthusiasm for it.

How can she ask people to respect the lockdown? People do work too, it can't be helped if they travel as its essential, but bit of a hypocrite really of all people (saying this more of a general contrast for all politicians), why should the public respect the rules when you lot don't? I think the game will be up soon on them all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jan 2021 ==

Surely shutting food venues may well lead to eating disorders in some? I’m not joking, plus many can’t cook so what are they supposed to do???

I am sure I read that during the week, sure it was of course.... BBC, but I think that is pushing it too far, at a guess she hasn't had a takeout from any of these places?

A pattern is showing, lockdown move the goalposts, targets - once a section is taken out, look for another (pass the blame), so its seems now to move it up a gear.