New national restrictions in Scotland

[DustyBin]

In the UK Tory government the opposition isn't Labour, its other Tories who are sceptical of lockdowns.

I told a local Labour councillor that far from providing opposition, his party are mere cheerleaders for the Tory government. He was dying to swear at me, I could tell!

 

[devon_metro]

They won't close it because it is already semi closed! It has been closed for non essential journeys since the end of last year (pre lockdown with exception of Christmas day). Westminster did not intervene and were never going to. What I am saying is that whenever England unlocks (regardless of when) the SNP will say its too soon and case rates in England are a threat to Scotland so the current non essential cross border journey ban cannot be lifted. Scotland is going to hotel quarantine all international arrivals while England is being selective, with the SNP already saying that is dangerous and will let new variants in. The SNP are effectively banning international holidays this year. Come July do you think they will be happy with the largest number of Scots holidaying in England and Wales for a generation? While they will be furiously demanding a referendum on separation? Between England’s case rate, England not hotel quarantining international arrivals and lack of completion of vaccination program (2 doses for everyone) they have the reasons they need. Scottish schools start their new year in August. That should be approximately when adults have had two doses and when I think the SNP will decide to allow non essential cross border travel.

Once vaccinations reduce death rates to a murmur and people have had theirs, the government is going to be mistaken if it thinks people will be respecting draconian travel rules. There will be a large enough majority to make enforcement untenable.

The SNP can trot out whatever excuse it likes. If people see England having a good spring/summer, the SNP is going to have a very hard time justifying restrictions - particularly when half of the population is already not their biggest fan.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

There will be no change to the lockdown restrictions in Scotland until "at least" March. From the BBC Live Feed

The first minister confirms, that with one limited exception, she will not be announcing any immediate changes to the lockdown restrictions.

"The core stay at home requirement will stay in place until at least the beginning of March and possibly for a further period beyond that.

She has also said the exit from lockdown is likely to be more cautious than the last one too. https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1361687486712451078

BREAKING - Exit from lockdown likely to be "more cautious" than last time.

FM @NicolaSturgeon says there will be difficult trade-offs to make, such as limiting overseas travel.

There are also plans to return to the previous "levelled" system: https://twitter.com/GlennBBC/status/1361689145488375814

Revised strategic framework on how we might “gradually emerge” from #lockdown to be published next week

It will detail:

▪️priority areas for reopening
▪️conditions that will lead to changes
▪️plans for return to local levels system

However, in more positive news, the planned phased return to school is to go ahead, with Primary 1-3 pupils returning full time from 22nd February along with a limited number of senior phase secondary school students with physical distancing. Unlikely to be any further changes to schooling until 15th March.

I'm livid. Absolutely livid. Is there actually any end in sight or are the SNP just going to keep playing with our lives to "protect the NHS"?

Well Ms Sturgeon, if you continue with this charade for much longer, there will be mass unemployment, which means less people paying their taxes to fund the NHS. I'm sure you wouldn't like a pay cut to compensate for that, would you?

Rant over.

 

[Yew]

How can they possibly justify more 'caution' given that this time we have millions of vaccinations?

 

[scotrail158713]

There will be no change to the lockdown restrictions in Scotland until "at least" March. From the BBC Live Feed

She has also said the exit from lockdown is likely to be more cautious than the last one too. https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1361687486712451078



However, the planned phased return to school is to go ahead, with Primary 1-3 pupils returning full time from 22nd February along with a limited number of senior phase secondary school students with physical distancing. Unlikely to be any further changes to schooling until 15th March.

So basically she’ll be following Boris Johnson’s lead then? Who could’ve possibly predicted that?

 

[kez19]

So basically she’ll be following Boris Johnson’s lead then? Who could’ve possibly predicted that?

Shhh! Don't say that, it was Nicolas idea not Boris!!

There will be no change to the lockdown restrictions in Scotland until "at least" March. From the BBC Live Feed

She has also said the exit from lockdown is likely to be more cautious than the last one too. https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1361687486712451078

There are also plans to return to the previous "levelled" system: https://twitter.com/GlennBBC/status/1361689145488375814


However, in more positive news, the planned phased return to school is to go ahead, with Primary 1-3 pupils returning full time from 22nd February along with a limited number of senior phase secondary school students with physical distancing. Unlikely to be any further changes to schooling until 15th March.

I'm livid. Absolutely livid.

Comes across as we are going back to what happened before, so in other words too the possibility of lifting restrictions may well be like Lockdown 1, where England was ahead at times and we got dragged out (hopefully not).

I'm taking a guess regarding the whole cautious approach - is that because when numbers were spiking in Glasgow she just sat and waited? (so is this why she is saying being cautious?).

 

[scotrail158713]

How can they possibly justify more 'caution' given that this time we have millions of vaccinations?

Precisely! And now she seems rather proud of our vaccine program - “the fastest in Europe” apparently.
Why should we be so cautious then?

 

[6862]

How can they possibly justify more 'caution' given that this time we have millions of vaccinations?

Because they've moved on from suppressing the virus, to suppressing the population.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

People will end up voting with their feet where they can, particularly those who have been vaccinated, come next month when the weather gets better. Then she won't have a leg to stand on.

 

[Scotrail12]

Drinking game every time she says cautious.

 

[kez19]

Precisely! And now she seems rather proud of our vaccine program - “the fastest in Europe” apparently.
Why should we be so cautious then?

The fastest in Europe... giggles, I thought it was dragging at first until she got help from Westminster (scratch that) I stand corrected its in her own words (no say of reality).

Drinking game every time she says cautious.

Let me (be) clear my throat.

Because they've moved on from suppressing the virus, to suppressing the population.

Pity we can't surpress the scientists/politicians/media all in one go!

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Drinking game every time she says cautious.

Let me be frank, that's a very silly and unreasonable thing to do because, and I will say this bluntly, you could be putting strain on the NHS and stopping others from accessing vital care that they need.

</sarcasm>

 

[takno]

So basically she’ll be following Boris Johnson’s lead then? Who could’ve possibly predicted that?

Her choice. Boris doesn't have any important elections due in May.

 

[duncanp]

Drinking game every time she says cautious.

Drinking game every time she blames the English for the number of cases in Scotland.

Her choice. Boris doesn't have any important elections due in May.

The local elections, and those for mayors and police & crime commissioners, may not seem important in themsevles.

But they are very much an opportunity for the public to give the government their opinion on the government's handling of the COVID pandemic.

As such, Boris Johnson and the government will be very interested in the results.

Campaigning is likely to start after Easter, and if pre election opinion polls go against the government, expect Boris Johnson to pull a few surprises and bring forward some relaxation of the restrictions, just to increase the feelgood factor.

 

[devon_metro]

Has she berated the Irish government yet for allowing people to travel to Scotland and avoid the hotel quarantine requirement? No? Thought not, must be England's fault.

If England is "open" for Easter and Scotland isn't, I know where i'll be going...

 

[bramling]

Let me be frank, that's a very silly and unreasonable thing to do because, and I will say this bluntly, you could be putting strain on the NHS and stopping others from accessing vital care that they need.

</sarcasm>

It's interesting how Sturgeon has her own repertoire of words and phrases. "I'm going to be frank with you", and "Let me be really candid" being two of her favourites.

 

[najaB]

Has she berated the Irish government yet for allowing people to travel to Scotland and avoid the hotel quarantine requirement?

I'm not sure she has anything to berate them about:

The first passengers to arrive at Edinburgh Airport before entering a coronavirus quarantine hotel said they will do "whatever it takes".

Eleven flights are scheduled to arrive at Edinburgh Airport today with a flight from Instanbul already arriving, and another flight from Dublin confirmed to have been carrying American passengers, who have now become among the first to be escorted to their hotel which has been confirmed to be the Hilton in Edinburgh.

An American man named Sean and his daughter were the first people to arrive in Scotland after they flew into Edinburgh on a connecting flight to Dublin.

Edinburgh passengers will do 'whatever it takes' as they enter hotel quarantine

The passengers arrived on a flight from America via Dublin before going into mandatory hotel quarantine at the Hilton

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

 

[devon_metro]

I'm not sure she has anything to berate them about:

Edinburgh passengers will do 'whatever it takes' as they enter hotel quarantine

The passengers arrived on a flight from America via Dublin before going into mandatory hotel quarantine at the Hilton

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

Yes, both have now been released from the hotel quarantine as they are not required to do so if arriving from Dublin. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56078511

She was quick to demand Westminster does what she says, but I haven't heard her demand the Irish government does the same. Dublin is arguably more of a "loophole" as it does not have a hotel quarantine system (yet).

 

[najaB]

Yes, both have now been released from the hotel quarantine as they are not required to do so if arriving from Dublin.

Thanks for the info, I hadn't seen that yet.

It seems to me that the first decision was the correct one, since Ireland has mandatory 14-day quarantine for people who arrive in Ireland, with one of the exceptions being "transit passengers who arrive for the purposes of travelling to another state, and who do not leave the port or airport". That means that they never entered the CTA and so should be treated as having arrived directly in Scotland from the USA.

That, of course, would change if they actually cleared customs and immigration in Ireland.

Source: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

 

[ld0595]

That means that they never entered the CTA and so should be treated as having arrived directly in Scotland from the USA.

Apologies if I'm a bit slow, but can you explain how this works? When would they go through passport control/customs?

I thought all arrivals into the UK from Ireland arrive effectively as a domestic flight due to the CTA. (At least every flight I've taken I think!)

 

[devon_metro]

Thanks for the info, I hadn't seen that yet.

It seems to me that the first decision was the correct one, since Ireland has mandatory 14-day quarantine for people who arrive in Ireland, with one of the exceptions being "transit passengers who arrive for the purposes of travelling to another state, and who do not leave the port or airport". That means that they never entered the CTA and so should be treated as having arrived directly in Scotland from the USA.

That, of course, would change if they actually cleared customs and immigration in Ireland.

Source: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

I assume they would need to clear immigration/customs in Ireland. Flights from Dublin are treated as domestic flights at Edinburgh, so you are deposited in the departure lounge to make your own way out. The customs point in the baggage hall is seldom attended. At Heathrow for example, there is a dedicated passport control to enter the UK if connecting, which then takes you up to the main security area (in terminal 5 at least).

I assume it comes down to a lack of legislative competence regarding the CTA as it is possible to transit via England and only quarantine at home on arrival in Scotland (so the same would apply to Ireland arrivals). I'm not sure how anybody connecting via England with the destination of Scotland would be treated if they arrived from an English "red list" country.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Of note also from Sturgeon today....

[Ref her roapmap next week]...
Ms Sturgeon said it would likely advise Scots not to book holidays at home or abroad over Easter, but added that "staycations" in the summer may be permitted

COVID-19: Phased return of schools in Scotland to begin on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon announces

Nicola Sturgeon reveals the news as she announces that Scotland's lockdown will continue until at least the beginning of March.

news.sky.com

Only a "may be permitted" for staycations in the Summer? What does she think she is going to do, close Scottish tourism all year? Why on earth would staycations not be allowed by the summer?

 

[najaB]

Apologies if I'm a bit slow, but can you explain how this works? When would they go through passport control/customs?

I thought all arrivals into the UK from Ireland arrive effectively as a domestic flight due to the CTA. (At least every flight I've taken I think!)

I've only ever flown from Belfast to Scotland so wasn't aware that there was a 'Dublin door' in the same way that there's a 'Belfast door'.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Of note also from Sturgeon today....

COVID-19: Phased return of schools in Scotland to begin on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon announces

Nicola Sturgeon reveals the news as she announces that Scotland's lockdown will continue until at least the beginning of March.

news.sky.com

Only a "may be permitted" for staycations in the Summer? What does she think she is going to do, close Scottish tourism all year? Why on earth would staycations not be allowed by the summer?

She may have praised the vaccination rollout considerably in the first half of her statement to parliament this afternoon, but it seemed like by the second half there was no vaccine in sight, never mind delivered to over 20% of the adult population, when she started waffling on about a cautious exit from lockdown!

It became blaringly obvious, however, that she is simply going to follow England with a few tweaks to the dates, when she said the roadmap would likely be announced "this time next week" and they will be using data not dates.

What worries me is once we pass these milestones of "data" in a downward direction, what happens if the virus passes these "milestones" again, albeit in the opposite direction?

It also worries me that she alluded to there being no normality for the "foreseeable future".

 

[kez19]

Of note also from Sturgeon today....

COVID-19: Phased return of schools in Scotland to begin on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon announces

Nicola Sturgeon reveals the news as she announces that Scotland's lockdown will continue until at least the beginning of March.

news.sky.com

Only a "may be permitted" for staycations in the Summer? What does she think she is going to do, close Scottish tourism all year? Why on earth would staycations not be allowed by the summer?

Staycations for politicians not for public (being sarcastic here but I wouldn’t hazard a guess they get a freebie)

It's interesting how Sturgeon has her own repertoire of words and phrases. "I'm going to be frank with you", and "Let me be really candid" being two of her favourites.

Let me be clear... you forgot to mention the wobbles/nods, then if a journalist asks an awkward question she throws a tantrum! Also goes the long way to explain a simple task, looks for the mute button

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Some more despairing news this morning, this time from the Deputy FM John Swinney:

Covid in Scotland: Blended learning to continue for 'some time'

The education secretary warns there is "every possibility" the model will continue to be used to allow social distancing in schools.

www.bbc.co.uk

Covid in Scotland: Blended learning to continue for 'some time'
Some Scottish school pupils could be partly taught from home indefinitely, the education secretary has acknowledged.

John Swinney said that physical distancing would continue to be needed in secondary schools, meaning fewer pupils in classrooms at one time.

Children in pre-school and P1-P3 are to return for face-to-face teaching from Monday, as well as some senior pupils.

Other age groups will continue to learn from home.

Following the announcement about early years pupils on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was unlikely that any other pupils would return to school before 15 March at the earliest.

It comes as the Welsh government said children aged three to seven would also return to school on Monday.

However, the prime minister has yet to announce plans for the reopening of schools in England, but said they would not return before 8 March.

The Northern Ireland Executive is also yet to decide if some or all pupils can return on 8 March.

Teaching unions in Scotland have said that some schools will need to follow a blended learning model for a "considerable" period of time to maintain social distancing.

Youngest pupils to return to classrooms
When asked on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme if this was a picture he recognised, Mr Swinney responded: "Yes. The scientific advice that I have available to me just now recognises that physical distancing will be required for at least senior phase pupils within our secondary schools.

"That obviously means that we can only have fewer pupils in schools at the same time. So, there is every possibility that unless that advice changes, that we will have to operate on such a model."

Mr Swinney said he could not be "definitive about timescales", but said the government would return pupils to classrooms full-time "as soon as it was safe".

(the article continues to waffle on about teaching unions, etc.)

I now don't envisage a full return to the classroom as it was between August and December 2020, until August 2021.

 

[devon_metro]

It's almost as if I dreamt the fact there was a vaccine which will protect the vulnerable. School children will not become ill and even if they spread it amongst adults, they will soon be protected. The evidence suggests the vaccines protect against severe illness, even if not 100% effective in preventing infection. Covid has a 99% survival rate... Politicians have lost all sense of reality!

 

[najaB]

Some more despairing news this morning, this time from the Deputy FM John Swinney

It isn't necessarily reason to despair. I doubt that work is going to move back to exclusively 9-5, in the office, Monday to Friday. Some amount of remote working is likely to remain for a significant proportion of service jobs - it was a shift that was already starting, and the last year has just hastened the move.

Looking past the pandemic, it is probably a good idea to have the latter part of secondary education delivered using a blended approach as the education system should reflect the world of work. The priority needs to be getting early-years education back to full-time face to face.

School children will not become ill and even if they spread it amongst adults, they will soon be protected.

Most children will be fine. Most is not all.

Covid-Linked Syndrome in Children Is Growing, and Cases Are More Severe (Published 2021)

The condition, which usually emerges several weeks after infection, is still rare, but can be dangerous. “A higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” one doctor said.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Scotrail12]

Most children won’t be injured on the walk to school. Most is not all yet we let them walk to school...

And in what way do you propose blended learning in secondary schools?

Looking past the pandemic, it is probably a good idea to have the latter part of secondary education delivered using a blended approach as the education system should reflect the world of work. The priority needs to be getting early-years education back to full-time face to face.

Most children will be fine. Most is not all.

 

[devon_metro]

It isn't necessarily reason to despair. I doubt that work is going to move back to exclusively 9-5, in the office, Monday to Friday. Some amount of remote working is likely to remain for a significant proportion of service jobs - it was a shift that was already starting, and the last year has just hastened the move.

Looking past the pandemic, it is probably a good idea to have the latter part of secondary education delivered using a blended approach as the education system should reflect the world of work. The priority needs to be getting early-years education back to full-time face to face.

Most children will be fine. Most is not all.

Covid-Linked Syndrome in Children Is Growing, and Cases Are More Severe (Published 2021)

The condition, which usually emerges several weeks after infection, is still rare, but can be dangerous. “A higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” one doctor said.

www.nytimes.com

Most children will not get hit by a car on their journey to school, but some will. There are risks with everything we do. There is a line and it is close to being crossed.