Masks, vaccine passports, check in for hospitality and silly barriers at supermarket checkouts. One can hope...
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Easing of Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland
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Masks, vaccine passports, check in for hospitality and silly barriers at supermarket checkouts. One can hope...
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Razorblades
Member
On my latest foray into the Borders last week, there was no enforced requirement to do anything in the Inn where I stayed, the petrol station bothy/ supermarket, or the tea-rooms and cafes frequented. The exception was the enclosed parts of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, where everyone was covering up. Naturally, I stuck to the outdoors, as that's what nature reserves are all about, isn't it!
Time to tune in Nicola, Queen of Scots, to hear her plans for the future of Covid in Scotland.
UPDATE: Supposedly, vaccine passports are to be axed next week, on the 28th February.
UPDATE: Supposedly, vaccine passports are to be axed next week, on the 28th February.
UPDATE 2: The big one; one more month left of masks. M-day is 21st March for Scotland. Also on that day, the need to collect tracing data from customers in businesses ends. (Not that I've ever seen much of it in a long time!)
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I must admit to being a tad surprised she went ahead with dropping the restrictions but I don’t think she has any justification for keeping them given that the other home nations (and several European nations) are in the process of removing restrictions.
3 weeks and 6 days till a return to normality…
3 weeks and 6 days till a return to normality…
scotrail158713
Established Member
This news today has made me feel the most positive I've felt in a while. Not that I've felt bad recently but confirmation that it's finally on its way out is brilliant.
I trust Trish Greenhalg, Cristina Pagel, the rest of the zero covid lot have blasted Sturgeon for exposing Scotland to the same dangerous and unethical experiment as England, throwing the vulnerable into the fire and so on? Maybe their internet connections have gone down today 
eoff
Member
Don't bet on it, in the annoucement document...
"On 21 March (indicative date, to be confirmed at preceding review), we plan to remove the legal requirement for face-coverings in indoor public places and on public transport. Again, some settings and service providers may wish to maintain face-covering policies to help to protect their customers and staff."
Scotrail12
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Who is really listening? NS is not there to tell me what is and isn't "optional" to wear on my face. There are other pressing issues.
Scotrail314209
Established Member
Not shocked.
scotrail158713
Established Member
Exactly. I know of quite a lot of people to have had it recently and none of them have been badly ill. People are deciding for themselves - one example personally was a Citylink bus I was on on Sunday where considerably less than half of passengers were wearing one. (This was a reasonably well loaded service as well)
bengley
Established Member
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Wonderful, I was rather looking forward to the play I was going to see in Edinburgh being restriction free, but now looks like I'll have to reel out the 'exempt' excuse again.
alexf380
Established Member
I think I'll just pretend I didn't see this "update" and still throw my mask in the bin on Monday morning as I intended to do.
initiation
Member
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Butts
Veteran Member
I've stopped wearing one ages ago and am not alone - when it says early April the 1st would be appropriate
BBC article released today:
The BBC's reporting has generally been getting much better in recent weeks but they still can't help themselves by falling into their bad old pro-restriction ways at times.
Anyway, a good update from John Campbell:
Of course Sturgeon would never listen to such common sense.
While Sturgeon is not going to admit that face coverings make no difference, I think even she is going to be forced to admit the game is up on masks, as fewer and fewer people are complying with the ridiculous mandate.
Back in July 2021 and again in January 2022 I think it benefitted her pro-independence agenda to paint a "England are reckless" picture and try to use face masks as a political weapon, but this position is increasingly untenable, with case rates nosediving in England since the 27th January, only increasing relatively modestly recently due to the BA.2 variant of Omicron, and in that time Scotland case rates have been increasing constantly and is now at record levels.
Furthermore, with the entire British Isles no longer requiring masks, including Ireland which had previously had the strictest Covid rules, and with hardly anyone in Ireland wearing them (I know; I was there recently), masks no longer suit her political agenda. I expect masks to cease to be mandated in Scotland next month, having served their political purpose, and now with mask wearing being exposed for the sham that many of us knew it was all along.
Covid hospital numbers in Scotland reach new peak
A record 2,128 patients in Scotland have Covid-19, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
Questionable that the BBC decided to quote Christine Tait-Burkard; typical of the BBC to quote someone who admits that the impact of mask-wearing "is small, or is smaller than it ever was before" (but that is still a huge exaggeration) and yet still supports the measure.
The BBC's reporting has generally been getting much better in recent weeks but they still can't help themselves by falling into their bad old pro-restriction ways at times.
Anyway, a good update from John Campbell:
Again it's worth listening to the full video, and he is absolutely spot on.
Of course Sturgeon would never listen to such common sense.
While Sturgeon is not going to admit that face coverings make no difference, I think even she is going to be forced to admit the game is up on masks, as fewer and fewer people are complying with the ridiculous mandate.
Back in July 2021 and again in January 2022 I think it benefitted her pro-independence agenda to paint a "England are reckless" picture and try to use face masks as a political weapon, but this position is increasingly untenable, with case rates nosediving in England since the 27th January, only increasing relatively modestly recently due to the BA.2 variant of Omicron, and in that time Scotland case rates have been increasing constantly and is now at record levels.
Furthermore, with the entire British Isles no longer requiring masks, including Ireland which had previously had the strictest Covid rules, and with hardly anyone in Ireland wearing them (I know; I was there recently), masks no longer suit her political agenda. I expect masks to cease to be mandated in Scotland next month, having served their political purpose, and now with mask wearing being exposed for the sham that many of us knew it was all along.
Citybreak1
Member
When does she announce if masks will go? I believe Wales went ahead leaving just Scotland now.
In theory it should be Tuesday I think. Although with as many cases as we have, it wouldn't surprise me if she doubled down and kept them even longer.
It’s just three weeks to flatten the curve.
It’s just four more weeks.
It’s just a little while longer to protect the NHS.
It’s just a request to meet people outside.
It’s just two weeks at home when you come back from abroad.
It’s just to protect us all.
It’s just a mask.
It’s just a little delay.
It’s just a few more places to wear your mask.
It’s just changing the rules on two days’ notice.
It’s just a small limit on how many people can meet.
It’s just a few precautions as we go into winter.
It’s just 4 weeks to save Christmas.
It’s just a little while longer.
It’s just sacrificing Christmas to save Easter.
It’s just a little gesture during the coldest months.
It’s just safety to avoid importing Covid from abroad.
It’s just 12 days locked in a hotel room.
It’s just a few more weeks.
It’s just a chance to get more people vaccinated.
It’s just a precaution while cases rise.
It’s just temporary while we get boosters in arms.
It’s just a little delay while case rates are still high.
It’s just four more weeks.
It’s just a little while longer to protect the NHS.
It’s just a request to meet people outside.
It’s just two weeks at home when you come back from abroad.
It’s just to protect us all.
It’s just a mask.
It’s just a little delay.
It’s just a few more places to wear your mask.
It’s just changing the rules on two days’ notice.
It’s just a small limit on how many people can meet.
It’s just a few precautions as we go into winter.
It’s just 4 weeks to save Christmas.
It’s just a little while longer.
It’s just sacrificing Christmas to save Easter.
It’s just a little gesture during the coldest months.
It’s just safety to avoid importing Covid from abroad.
It’s just 12 days locked in a hotel room.
It’s just a few more weeks.
It’s just a chance to get more people vaccinated.
It’s just a precaution while cases rise.
It’s just temporary while we get boosters in arms.
It’s just a little delay while case rates are still high.
It's just taking the mickey.
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Not sure how I missed this one, but I see that Scotland is retaining the requirement to wear masks in schools even after the Easter holidays (which takes us into late April/early May).
They’re saying this will come as statutory guidance (which schools have no choice but to follow), but I fear this could also be a sign of what is to come in tomorrow’s announcement:
(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60843171.amp)
So disappointing.
Not sure how I missed this one, but I see that Scotland is retaining the requirement to wear masks in schools even after the Easter holidays (which takes us into late April/early May).
They’re saying this will come as statutory guidance (which schools have no choice but to follow), but I fear this could also be a sign of what is to come in tomorrow’s announcement:
(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60843171.amp)
So disappointing.
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initiation
Member
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Sturgeon was in London yesterday for the service in Westminster Abbey.
Guess who wasn't wearing a mask, but still maintains mask laws and guidance in Scotland?
(Link shows picture of Sturgeon bare faced).
The funniest thing is all the cyber-nats commenting that of course she wasn't wearing one, Westminster Abbey isn't in Scotland. We all know that once you cross Hadrian's Wall covid becomes much more serious.
Guess who wasn't wearing a mask, but still maintains mask laws and guidance in Scotland?
(Link shows picture of Sturgeon bare faced).
The funniest thing is all the cyber-nats commenting that of course she wasn't wearing one, Westminster Abbey isn't in Scotland. We all know that once you cross Hadrian's Wall covid becomes much more serious.
This is absolute hypocrisy of course, especially when the report in the times today is:
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bengley
Established Member
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- 18 May 2008
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- 1,844
I'm off to Edinburgh today and I won't be wearing a mask, just like I don't in England 
D6130
Established Member
When I travelled to Glasgow last Saturday, more people were not wearing masks than were wearing them....in all settings, including on the trains. Avanti West Coast now seem to have dropped their announcement on Down trains North of Carlisle warning of the mandatory wearing of masks on all public transport in Scotland.
Scotrail314209
Established Member
Basically, decision made.
Now that somebody in Miss Sturgeon's close circle is isolating, she'll keep the masks.
Oh the irony from the guy that said “I test everyday” few months back…
I’m confused by people saying “avoiding” it - you will get it one way or another you ain’t no superhuman here (or maybe they are?)
Masks will be converted to guidance in places of worship on Monday 4th April.
Wider mandate on transport and on indoor public spaces will remain until 18th April.
Wider mandate on transport and on indoor public spaces will remain until 18th April.
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