Scotland’s delay on easing restrictions may not be justified.

The Scottish Government is suggesting an easing of the lockdown restrictions in Scotland may lag behind the rest of the UK because Scotland's infection rate is higher. It has also proposed support for the idea of self-isolating vulnerable groups and more generally of social bubbles, as mechanisms to contain the epidemic. Currently the Government’s statistics on deaths and infection rates do not differentiate between different population groups. They simply refer to the overall numbers. I think this simplification is a mistake that may lead us to prolong the lockdown unnecessarily. We know the infection and death rate among the elderly in care homes is particularly high. This is very unfortunate and distressing. But it does not necessarily impact directly on the rest of society. It also skews the overall data, giving a misleading picture of the presence of the epidemic in the general population. If the infections in care homes can be contained and managed, the infections there need not spread into the wider community. My suggestion is that more resources are applied to care homes to achieve this and that the data published by the government in future distinguishes between infections and deaths in care homes and those in the wider population. This might allow more of us to get back to work sooner, safer.

Why the contribution is important

To protect the elderly in care homes and to allow more of us to get back to work sooner.

by davidwright on May 08, 2020 at 10:17AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.4
Based on: 31 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Pythagoras May 08, 2020 at 10:22

    A very balanced an sensible analysis.

  • Posted by Summer May 08, 2020 at 10:23

    This is an accurate statement. The figures on Scotland’s infection rate do not justify why we are almost alone the only European country to remain locked up. I worry for the future of my children’s employment

  • Posted by Rm89 May 08, 2020 at 10:36

    I live in the Highlands and as such I feel that Sturgeon is guilty of "central belt centric" policy here, when her party often accuse Bojo and his party of being "London centric". The irony is incredible! I don't see why a regional approach to the lockdown is not in place.

  • Posted by DP May 08, 2020 at 10:41

    Absolutely agree. I fear a lot of the suggestions on this platform will go unnoticed as too many submissions (a lot of them duplicates).

  • Posted by Elkie May 08, 2020 at 10:45

    What makes a society is that there is, or at least shouldn’t be, “a rest of society”.
    While in normal times, I felt the occasional bias was given to the central belt, right now I would treat local easing of lockdown with caution.
    It would require a lot of controls and supervision, as people would certainly move to the opened up regions in droves.

  • Posted by Dwilliams21 May 08, 2020 at 11:06

    The analysis appears to be more about care homes and the approach there. I accept that may need focused attention.

    The argument made can apply equally to a UK wide approach. If the communication message can be made clear enough and the boundaries managed, then a differentiated approach makes sense to me

  • Posted by NoIdeology May 08, 2020 at 12:11

    Please keep politics out of it. Most of the ideas on this forum have merit but when there is an attempt, as there seems to be here, to be partisan the important messages are missed. You only need to look at the BBC hys for a clear example of this.
    There should be differentiated approaches where necessary across all regions. London needs a different approach from that taken, for example, in the North East of England for many reasons. Similarly, Scotland has its own peculiar circumstances and these should be considered when constructing and implementing strategies to combat covid.

  • Posted by Targa May 08, 2020 at 12:19

    Completely agree , should be first minister!

  • Posted by ArchieM May 08, 2020 at 18:58

    Excellent analysis.

    Pity the government won’t like it or even read it, just too sensible for them to acknowledge.

  • Posted by andrewmurphy May 08, 2020 at 19:35

    My thoughts exactly on the "transparent" statistics provided by the govt.
    We should be provided with a breakdown of deaths due to the virus by
    Age
    Sex
    Location (home, hospital, care home)
    Health prior to infection
    Geographic location

    This might help us understand the justification for an extended lockdown

  • Posted by FM79 May 11, 2020 at 08:19

    Agree. Current blanket approach to reporting stats is biased and doesn't give a true reflection of who is infected or dying re underlying health conditions, community v hospital/care home transmission of infection. Number sound big when reportwd daily by FM but no perspective is given to help people understand what the numbers actually mean
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas

Idea topics