Coronavirus (COVID-19) General Chat

[Tom]

The questions today seemed to be quite focused on how to keep infections in Scotland coming down when tourism is re-opened, to England in particular. The question of whether Nicola Sturgeon would look to quarantine travellers from England was answered with a "no plans" line, but it wasn't categorically ruled out.

With all the talk of the possible need to re-instate lockdown measures in Leicester, we absolutely should not want to risk importing the virus from anyone travelling up from that area to get away from it all for a bit.

If Nicola Sturgeon is set on the elimination route, then all decisions should mirror this, and visitors from regions and countries with (relatively) high infection rates should be kept out of Scotland.

It would be an absolutely wise decision to make, however, it would immediately descend into a Unionist v Independence debate which leaves Sturgeon in the crossfire either way.

 

[Gemma]

With all the talk of the possible need to re-instate lockdown measures in Leicester, we absolutely should not want to risk importing the virus from anyone travelling up from that area to get away from it all for a bit.

If Nicola Sturgeon is set on the elimination route, then all decisions should mirror this, and visitors from regions and countries with (relatively) high infection rates should be kept out of Scotland.

I don't think that's feasible in any way. Maybe in airports - but I don't think we've got that power.

Testing at the border? You would need to have tests where the result could be found out quickly, rather than in days?

 

[Shelby]

I don't think that's feasible in any way. Maybe in airports - but I don't think we've got that power.

Testing at the border? You would need to have tests where the result could be found out quickly, rather than in days?

Don't take bookings from folk with English addresses? ?

It's never going to happen.

 

[Son Of Jack]

Leicester looks buggered. I wonder where their recent surge in cases has stemmed from? The protests? People congregating in parks? People breaking lockdown guidelines? The locals aren't happy but what else can the government do?

How do you actually enforce a local lockdown and/or identify areas? Wouldn't you need to be proactive and actually put security of some type in to stop and remind people, with powers to find etc? I doubt the police would be able to do it without support.

 

[Zidane]

How do you actually enforce a local lockdown and/or identify areas? Wouldn't you need to be proactive and actually put security of some type in to stop and remind people, with powers to find etc? I doubt the police would be able to do it without support.

Non-essential shops are to shut and schools, to the extent they are back, have more or less had to do likewise. Imagine anyone in breach of this will be force closed and/or fined.

Beyond that? Who knows.

 

[Son Of Jack]

Non-essential shops are to shut and schools, to the extent they are back, have more or less had to do likewise. Imagine anyone in breach of this will be force closed and/or fined.

Beyond that? Who knows.

I suppose that limits spread opportunities. I was thinking more of dafties jumping on the train to go for a pint in Derby or go shopping.

 

[Jess]

On a train into the office for the first time since face coverings became compulsory and surprise surprise about 1 in 3 aren't wearing one. They might fall into an exemption but somehow I doubt the majority do. Totally pointless if not enforced. Of those wearing a couple have them pulled down round their neck and only pulled them up if someone official looking walks up.

 

[Franco Pinion]

• Face coverings will be mandatory in shops for next week
• Exemptions to the 2m distancing rule will also be introduced for some premises
• Children under 12 will no longer need to maintain physical distancing from other households outdoors from Friday
• The five-mile travel restriction for leisure will be lifted from tomorrow
• But people in areas affected by "cluster" in Dumfries and Galloway will need to continue observing five-mile limit

Really happy with the changes announced. Seems a very fair balance of risk and responsibility.

 

[Gemma]

I think in the short term that's a fairly balanced set of measures in terms if maintaining social distancing but getting the retail and hospitality sectors moving.

I think gyms have been forgotten about ? ?

 

[Aimie]

On a train into the office for the first time since face coverings became compulsory and surprise surprise about 1 in 3 aren't wearing one.

Not really a surprise there's quite widespread resistance to masks when we've been told they had next to no benefit, only for a u-turn to be implemented several months later when the severity of the crisis had diminished substantially, is it? This wasn't just SAGE getting another thing wrong either - the WHO didn't recommend them either.

I can't say I'm enamoured at that thought of wearing one but if it's what has to be done for certain things then fine. You can be fined £1000 in England for not wearing one on public transport, but I've yet to see an example of this being enforced.