Scotland - Framework out of the pandemic - 23rd February 2021

[takno]

I like the fact Linda says allow businesses have their say but is not down to people like her and Government that say they’ll listen but steamroll over it regardless of views?

Bauld is far from perfect, but in general I think she's taken a much more realistic view of things than Sridhar or Sturgeon. There was a definite feeling in this one that she was being forced to at-least-partially defend a policy she thought was crazy and quite possibly hadn't yet read.

 

[kez19]

Bauld is far from perfect, but in general I think she's taken a much more realistic view of things than Sridhar or Sturgeon. There was a definite feeling in this one that she was being forced to at-least-partially defend a policy she thought was crazy and quite possibly hadn't yet read.

Shouldn’t this be the approach regardless or has Sturgeon bypassed this?

The thing that gets me I get none of them are perfect but it’s to the extent their views can go extreme but when they get a blowback it’s sort of well what you expect?

 

[devon_metro]

Apparently those from different househoulds will have to social distance while sat at tables. Guess they'll just have a nice time indoors then once people realise how quicky they'll be turned away once they tell restaurants, e.t.c. they're from different households.

I distinctly remember moving house lots of times last year when falling foul of the "household" limit I suspect I was not the only one

 

[liam456]

Is this supposed to be a tacit admission that Scotland is unhealthier than E&W, or that they have less confidence in their Test and Protect system? Is the Scottish population more at risk as a whole from COVID than the rest of the UK? Or just somewhere where devolution has gone wrong....?

 

[185143]

Is this supposed to be a tacit admission that Scotland is unhealthier than E&W, or that they have less confidence in their Test and Protect system? Is the Scottish population more at risk as a whole from COVID than the rest of the UK? Or just somewhere where devolution has gone wrong....?

It's just Sturgeon playing political games with Westminster. Don't forget Scotland nearly eliminated covid last summer but us germ ridden English tourists coming in were solely to blame for the spikes afterwards.

 

[devon_metro]

Is this supposed to be a tacit admission that Scotland is unhealthier than E&W, or that they have less confidence in their Test and Protect system? Is the Scottish population more at risk as a whole from COVID than the rest of the UK? Or just somewhere where devolution has gone wrong....?

It's easy to be cautious when you have the UK treasury to fall back on. I expect an independent Scotland would have made very different decisions.

 

[liam456]

It's just Sturgeon playing political games with Westminster. Don't forget Scotland nearly eliminated covid last summer but us germ ridden English tourists coming in were solely to blame for the spikes afterwards.

To be fair, the first half of that last sentence is likely true, the second half of course not so much. Genetic sequencing (albeit limited) back then seems to have showed that the “original” variants pretty much died out and new ones were reimported from foreign summer travel.

NB: The source for the above was a podcast with Devi Sridhar discussing Scotland’s COVID response, available here: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/947382

 

[bramling]

I distinctly remember moving house lots of times last year when falling foul of the "household" limit I suspect I was not the only one

We went for a quick drink last week in a pub garden, with someone from another household, nothing said. However it was noticeable that there were some groups talking to each other from one table to another. No idea, or care, what the official position is!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Pubs and restaurants reopening from Monday, Cross-border travel no longer limited.

 

[Scotrail12]

Can’t wait! Planning out next week as we speak.

 

[Bikeman78]

All governments should stop peddling about with all these distances, it’s clear no one has a clue and again clear it’s a make it up as we go along approach

Now that trains are getting busier, I've noted that, when queueing to get off, most people will squeeze up almost touching each other, just as used to happen before Covid.

 

[kez19]

Now that trains are getting busier, I've noted that, when queueing to get off, most people will squeeze up almost touching each other, just as used to happen before Covid.

Exactly.

Pubs and restaurants reopening from Monday, Cross-border travel no longer limited.

yay!

 

[Butts]

Pubs and restaurants reopening from Monday, Cross-border travel no longer limited.

What about foreign travel - any mention ?

 

[Journeyman]

What about foreign travel - any mention ?

Doesn't look like it. May 17th would be the earliest possible date, I guess.

 

[Butts]

Doesn't look like it. May 17th would be the earliest possible date, I guess.

What's this nonsense about Lateral Flow tests before going to the Islands ? - at least it's not mandatory so can be ignored.

Did no one ask her about it at the Conference (Foreign Travel)

 

[Scotrail314209]

One thing I do understand is the possibility of getting tested before heading to the islands. Given that their resources can easily be stretched, it's something I partially agree on.

 

[route101]

Trains were busiest I've seen in a long while today at Glasgow Central.

 

[Journeyman]

Trains were busiest I've seen in a long while today at Glasgow Central.

I travelled from Linlithgow to Stirling today, and yeah, the trains I was on were all pretty busy too. It'll be interesting to see if reopening stuff on Monday makes a difference too.

 

[Scotrail12]

Can confirm as well that trains are busy. Saw a giant queue on platforms 5/6 at Central as the EK & Neilston trains arrived at the same time.

Quite a nice feeling, first time I've seen that in ages. A sign that we are back to some sort of normal.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Today is the day!

Anyone got plans?

 

[liam456]

Planning to hit the gym as well as a local pub if possible after my first exam today!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Planning to hit the gym as well as a local pub if possible after my first exam today!

Lucky for some, I've got classes.

 

[Journeyman]

Today is the day!

Anyone got plans?

Going to Edinburgh to donate plasma. Will make use of a cafe for lunch, one of the things I've missed the most.

 

[Huntergreed]

Sadly most people on my social media are saying it’s “far too early” and that this is our biggest mistake of the pandemic so far.

I’m stuck in as I have classes sadly, but I might head a wander into town and see what the atmosphere is like.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Sadly most people on my social media are saying it’s “far too early” and that this is our biggest mistake of the pandemic so far.

I’m stuck in as I have classes sadly, but I might head a wander into town and see what the atmosphere is like.

Oh of course theres always a few. No doubt they'd moan if it was extended.

They've reopened in England and things seem to be fine.

 

[nlogax]

Today is the day!

Anyone got plans?

Yeah..work :/ May grab a sneaky pint or two while passing through Edinburgh next weekend though.

 

[philosopher]

Sadly most people on my social media are saying it’s “far too early” and that this is our biggest mistake of the pandemic so far.

I’m stuck in as I have classes sadly, but I might head a wander into town and see what the atmosphere is like.

I have heard others say “it is far too early“ too whenever there is an easing. I do wonder exactly in what situation they would be OK opening up.

 

[Journeyman]

Oh of course theres always a few. No doubt they'd moan if it was extended.

They've reopened in England and things seem to be fine.

This is what's encouraging. Cases are still heading resolutely downwards.

 

[185143]

Today is the day!

Anyone got plans?

In the words of Father Jack... DRINK!

Now that us germ ridden English folk are allowed in, I'm heading up to tick a few 'Spoons off in Central Scotland for a couple of days.

 

[takno]

I have heard others say “it is far too early“ too whenever there is an easing. I do wonder exactly in what situation they would be OK opening up.

I've got some people who are genuinely quite irritated about going back to work, as you might expect. In a couple of cases it's translating into "concerns", but the NHS staff I know are giving it pretty short shrift and making it clear that they want a drink.