Picture copyright Getty Pictures
Picture copyright
Getty Pictures
Nicola Sturgeon hosted her Easter Monday briefing because the fourth week of lockdown will get below method
Scotland’s coronavirus lockdown isn’t prone to be lifted “within the very close to future”, Nicola Sturgeon has mentioned.
The primary minister mentioned there have been “early optimistic indicators” that social distancing measures had been having an impression on the unfold of the virus.
However she mentioned that “till we all know extra and have strong proof, we should keep it up”.
She mentioned the lockdown wouldn’t be in place “for a single minute longer than crucial”, but it surely stays “important”.
Interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith additionally mentioned the lockdown measures had been anticipated to stay in place for a “important time period”.
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Ms Sturgeon mentioned a complete of 6,076 Scots had now examined constructive for coronavirus, though she careworn that this is able to be an under-estimate and didn’t embody figures from some native laboratories.
She mentioned there have been 1,797 sufferers in hospital, 211 of whom are in intensive care.
And an additional 9 individuals have died after testing constructive for the virus, bringing the whole determine to 575.
Nevertheless, Ms Sturgeon careworn a “word of warning” across the figures, as they solely embody hospital deaths the place sufferers have recorded a constructive take a look at and there tends to be a reporting lag over the weekends.
Extra detailed figures together with deaths in care properties and different settings – and people the place coronavirus is a “suspected” trigger – will probably be launched on Wednesday.
By regulation, the UK’s lockdown restrictions must be reviewed each 21 days, and are set to be checked out this week.
Nevertheless, Ms Sturgeon mentioned there was no prospect of them being lifted within the brief time period.
She mentioned: “I need to be very clear, so no one is below any illusions – that overview isn’t prone to end in these restrictions being lifted within the very close to future.
“There are early optimistic indicators that the steps we’re taking are working, however till we all know extra and have strong proof, we should keep it up.”
Stressing that the stringent measures stay “important”, the primary minister added: “They won’t be in power for a single minute longer than crucial, but when we raise them too early or achieve this with out pondering by way of correctly how we will ease them whereas nonetheless preserving the virus below management, then we threat it spreading uncontrolled, threat it overwhelming our NHS and threat it taking many extra lives.”
Evaluation by BBC Scotland’s David Henderson
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The normal Easter message is certainly one of rebirth and renewal. The message from the Scottish authorities, embroiled as it’s within the nation’s largest disaster in a long time, cannot be so uplifting. “Do not delay funerals” was the grim theme of what the interim chief medical officer needed to say.
Some households, it appears, might need to delay holding a service till the federal government lifts strict limits of what number of household and associates can attend. It underlines how the virus – and the lockdown – impression on everybody’s lives.
The primary minister made it clear there will be a overview of restrictions this week – however they don’t seem to be prone to be lifted within the very close to future. The important thing objective, she mentioned, was saving lives.
What then of an exit technique from the lockdown? On this too, there was warning – a necessity to attend and see how lifting controls may work – or backfire – in different European nations. Nicola Sturgeon mentioned the extra consistency throughout the UK the higher, when restrictions are eased. But when Scotland has to take a distinct method for sensible causes, she’s completely happy to take action.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned “we have to perceive a bit greater than we do now in regards to the impression these measures have had” earlier than consideration is given to lifting them.
She mentioned that “the virus might not have gone away”, and that having repressed it there was a hazard that it might begin to unfold once more after restrictions are lifted.
The primary minister mentioned that when measures are eased, the nation might “successfully return right into a comprise technique” the place the virus is stored in test by way of “testing, tracing, and isolating”.
Dr Smith mentioned there was “actual curiosity” in creating a brand new app to assist hint individuals who might have the virus, and mentioned it “seems very promising” as a method of monitoring instances – though he mentioned it will be linked to “conventional strategies of contact tracing”.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned when this occurred in several elements of the UK would rely on the proof, “not a degree of constitutional ideology both method”. She mentioned “simplicity of messaging” may make it simpler to keep up a “constant” method throughout the entire UK, however mentioned if the proof confirmed totally different timescales or approaches needs to be utilized in Scotland then “we is not going to hesitate to do this”.