Coronavirus

[AugustaHibs]

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Leitch on the radio calling for restrictions. I’m surprised he’s went public with this and it’s not coming from the Government who are our elected representatives.

He’s saying he doesn’t want short, sharp shock (not sure what that means) but then added he wants to turn off some bits of society - not sure what that means as well.

Here we go…

Let people get on with it and make their own decisions now. Are we just constantly going to be in and out of lockdowns?

Shambles

[H18 SFR]

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National clinical director Prof Jason Leitch said the NHS was stretched and elective surgeries could be delayed.

Scotland wanted "to get on top" of the virus and may need a "reverse gear" on some restrictions, he told the BBC.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Prof Leitch said: "We are hopeful that things might slow down, but there aren't many signs of that.

"We're doubling every seven days and that would mean we get to 10,000 sometime this week, maybe even beyond that by the end of the week.

"But it is in our hands. There are things we can do about that - vaccination, testing and following the rules, the three things everybody now knows so well."

He said people now catching Covid were younger, healthier and going to hospital for shorter periods of time, but increasing numbers overall meant more people would become seriously ill.

"We're now beginning to see rises in hospital admissions and that is harm," he said. "We don't admit people to hospital for no reason."

Prof Leitch said the increase in Covid cases was partly caused by the Delta variant being more transmissible, schools opening and more people meeting and gathering after lockdown restrictions were removed.

The health service was under pressure already, "with or without Covid", he added.

"When you add a new infectious disease on top of what we already manage, diabetes, and strokes and heart attacks and everything else that comes through our community and hospital system, of course it is stretched."

Efforts to tackle a backlog of elective procedures built up in the past year was being challenged by the latest surge, he said.

"The only thing you can turn off in a health system is elective care. You can't postpone strokes, heart attacks and emergency admissions for the elderly.

"We don't want to do that but if you need staff, beds etc for a novel infection disease then that's what you have to do because you can't just make respiratory consultants out of nowhere, or nurses in charge of intensive care out of nowhere, so you have to be flexible in that."

Prof Leitch warned that there had to be a "reverse gear" to protect public health but said further restrictions might not be a "short, sharp shock", but turning off "some bits of society".

"I hope we don't have to do any of that," he said.

Overall, 82.1% of over-18s in Scotland are fully vaccinated and 91.1% have had at least a first dose.

Prof Leitch said he was working with groups who were "vaccine hesitant" to address concerns.

"They have got legitimate questions," he said. "Some of it is, of course, scientific nonsense. The fertility one - there is no biological method where a vaccine could hurt fertility in any conceivable way - but there are legitimate questions about the blood clots, about allergies, that we can answer. When we answer, people come forward [for a vaccine]."

Scotland was "operationally ready for the 12 to 15-year-olds" when the JCVI approve vaccinations for that age group, he added.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58383606

This should be coming from a Government minister, if not the First Minister.

[Mikey]

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Leitch on the radio calling for restrictions. I’m surprised he’s went public with this and it’s not coming from the Government who are our elected representatives.

He’s saying he doesn’t want short, sharp shock (not sure what that means) but then added he wants to turn off some bits of society - not sure what that means as well.

Nightclubs and crowds at the football would be high on the list.

[H18 SFR]

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Nightclubs and crowds at the football would be high on the list.

I agree. Football is going to get shafted.

[Stairway 2 7]

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26,476 cases and 48 deaths registered in the UK today.

**Wales have not released any data today due to a public holiday.**

England's cases now undoubtedly dropping, that's 6 days in a row they have been lower than the same day the previous week. Scotland actually had decent case figures today, not much increase on last week's even with 2000 more tests. Only 1 day so will need to wait and see

[AugustaHibs]

That is a genuinely terrifying quote from him.

Prof Leitch warned that there had to be a "reverse gear" to protect public health but said further restrictions might not be a "short, sharp shock", but turning off "some bits of society".


Wtf does that mean?

[H18 SFR]

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That is a genuinely terrifying quote from him.

Prof Leitch warned that there had to be a "reverse gear" to protect public health but said further restrictions might not be a "short, sharp shock", but turning off "some bits of society".


Wtf does that mean?

It is utterly soul destroying. Why are the Scot Gov presenting this guy as their spokesperson. Is there no one in the Government who has the balls to tell us this?

[AugustaHibs]

I’m sure someone will be along just now to tell me ‘this is needed’ and that it’s a ‘great idea’

[Sylar]

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That is a genuinely terrifying quote from him.

Prof Leitch warned that there had to be a "reverse gear" to protect public health but said further restrictions might not be a "short, sharp shock", but turning off "some bits of society".


Wtf does that mean?

Shutting pubs and stopping folk going to football/rugby probably.

He (and the Government he works with) can go **** themselves if they think anyone will pay any attention to their “reverse” gear.

Unless they can pry the necessary powers from Westminster (or finances) to run their own furlough scheme, its fantasy politics from the SNP.

[Sir David Gray]

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It is utterly soul destroying. Why are the Scot Gov presenting this guy as their spokesperson. Is there no one in the Government who has the balls to tell us this?

Agreed.

If there are genuine concerns that we may need to "turn off some bits of society" then we should be hearing this from the First Minister and if he's spoken out of turn (which he seems to have a history of doing) then someone needs to rein him in.

[Peevemor]

Why are people so outraged about this? Leitch isn't announcing restrictions, he's hypothesising/speculating about what may have to happen if the figures continue to worsen. As National Clinical Director he's entitled to do so and folk would be moaning if he swerved the questions.

If he starts imposing measures off his own bat then fine, criticise all you want, but that's not what he's doing.

Some folk really do look for any excuse to feel and act affronted.

[Santa Cruz]

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England's cases now undoubtedly dropping, that's 6 days in a row they have been lower than the same day the previous week. Scotland actually had decent case figures today, not much increase on last week's even with 2000 more tests. Only 1 day so will need to wait and see

Their schools go back next week.

It's not just Jason Leitch's opinion either.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19...ck-curb-virus/

[AugustaHibs]

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Why are people so outraged about this? Leitch isn't announcing restrictions, he's hypothesising/speculating about what may have to happen if the figures continue to worsen. As National Clinical Director he's entitled to do so and folk would be moaning if he swerved the questions.

If he starts imposing measures off his own bat then fine, criticise all you want, but that's not what he's doing.

Some folk really do look for any excuse to feel and act affronted.

Right on cue

[Peevemor]

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Right on cue

Sorry, I forgot to ask your permission first.

[Rocky]

Folk on here must really really trust the SNP government if they want them to gag the National Clinical Director.

[Smartie]

If (and it’s only if at this stage) we find ourselves in a position in a few weeks / months where people can’t have vitally important medical procedures because hospitals are clogged up with covid patients, is it really all that horrific a suggestion that some sort of restrictions were to be put in place?

I might yet join the outraged gang, but I’d like a bit more detail before I jump in with 2 feet.

[Rocky]

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I might yet join the outraged gang, but I’d like a bit more detail before I jump in with 2 feet.

That'll never catch on

[Sir David Gray]

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Rate of cases per 100,000 people in the 7 days up to 20th August;

West Dunbartonshire - 612.4
Dumfries and Galloway - 584.0
East Renfrewshire - 560.1
East Dunbartonshire - 516.8
Clackmannanshire - 499.1
Renfrewshire - 470.5
Glasgow - 467.7
Argyll and Bute - 464.7
South Lanarkshire - 462.6
Inverclyde - 447.7
North Lanarkshire - 441.8
Edinburgh - 417.3
North Ayrshire - 383.6
East Lothian - 337.3
West Lothian - 334.6
Scottish Borders - 327.1
South Ayrshire - 324.6
Stirling - 311.4
Fife - 307.6
Falkirk - 305.2
Dundee - 297.7
Midlothian - 290.9
East Ayrshire - 273.0
Highland - 244.7
Angus - 225.3
Perth and Kinross - 203.4
Aberdeen - 183.4
Aberdeenshire - 172.9
Na-h Eileanan Siar - 109.4
Moray - 99.3
Shetland - 65.6
Orkney - 53.6

Rate of cases per 100,000 people in the 7 days up to 27th August;

East Dunbartonshire - 1,175.2
North Lanarkshire - 1,173.4
West Dunbartonshire - 1,142.2
Inverclyde - 1,017.4
Renfrewshire - 966.1
South Lanarkshire - 953.5
East Renfrewshire - 928.6
Glasgow - 885.1
Argyll and Bute - 756.2
Edinburgh - 691.2
Clackmannanshire - 690.2
North Ayrshire - 687.5
Dumfries and Galloway - 648.7
Midlothian - 646.3
West Lothian - 618.0
Dundee - 612.8
Falkirk - 610.4
South Ayrshire - 604.6
Stirling - 570.8
East Lothian - 556.1
East Ayrshire - 552.6
Fife - 521.2
Highland - 478.3
Scottish Borders - 439.1
Aberdeen - 367.6
Aberdeenshire - 358.5
Angus - 352.3
Perth and Kinross - 307.4
Na-h Eileanan Siar - 200.0
Moray - 182.8
Shetland - 126.8
Orkney - 44.6

[Santa Cruz]

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Rate of cases per 100,000 people in the 7 days up to 27th August;

East Dunbartonshire - 1,175.2
North Lanarkshire - 1,173.4
West Dunbartonshire - 1,142.2
Inverclyde - 1,017.4
Renfrewshire - 966.1
South Lanarkshire - 953.5
East Renfrewshire - 928.6
Glasgow - 885.1
Argyll and Bute - 756.2
Edinburgh - 691.2
Clackmannanshire - 690.2
North Ayrshire - 687.5
Dumfries and Galloway - 648.7
Midlothian - 646.3
West Lothian - 618.0
Dundee - 612.8
Falkirk - 610.4
South Ayrshire - 604.6
Stirling - 570.8
East Lothian - 556.1
East Ayrshire - 552.6
Fife - 521.2
Highland - 478.3
Scottish Borders - 439.1
Aberdeen - 367.6
Aberdeenshire - 358.5
Angus - 352.3
Perth and Kinross - 307.4
Na-h Eileanan Siar - 200.0
Moray - 182.8
Shetland - 126.8
Orkney - 44.6

E.Dunbartonshire's has got the highest vaccination rate in the country - 96.1% first dose, 88.2% second dose (pretty impressive). I'm guessing the case rate has to be linked to schools.

[Stairway 2 7]

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Their schools go back next week.

It's not just Jason Leitch's opinion either.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19...ck-curb-virus/

The steady exponential growth started before schools opened about 5 days after all restrictions ended. Last month 1200 doctors scientists and deepti in your article, said ending restrictions at the end of July in England would cause devastation in August in England. They were saying 200,000 to 300,000 cases per day.

I think it's mainly an opening spike in Scotland, more testing and mixing at school will obviously add. The numbers have been mental for a few months and allowed to build in Scotland. It's exactly what scot gov wanted, immunity from mass infecting the young. Without furlough, businesses simply cannot close, unemployment causes deaths too.

[Sir David Gray]

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If (and it’s only if at this stage) we find ourselves in a position in a few weeks / months where people can’t have vitally important medical procedures because hospitals are clogged up with covid patients, is it really all that horrific a suggestion that some sort of restrictions were to be put in place?

I might yet join the outraged gang, but I’d like a bit more detail before I jump in with 2 feet.

We can start with restrictions against the willingly unvaccinated and take things from there.

If we do that and things are still going the wrong way then I'm happy to look at things again at that point.

[Pretty Boy]

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Agreed.

If there are genuine concerns that we may need to "turn off some bits of society" then we should be hearing this from the First Minister and if he's spoken out of turn (which he seems to have a history of doing) then someone needs to rein him in.

It was a recurring criticism of the PM when unelected advisors were sent out to do the dirty work. It was merited then and it's merited now.

I said it a few pages back; I hate all the nudge, nudge stuff when it comes to restrictions with weeks of hints, preparation and 'leaks'. We all know it's coming so just be ****ing honest.

[Sir David Gray]

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It was a recurring criticism of the PM when unelected advisors were sent out to do the dirty work. It was merited then and it's merited now.

I said it a few pages back; I hate all the nudge, nudge stuff when it comes to restrictions with weeks of hints, preparation and 'leaks'. We all know it's coming so just be ****ing honest.

[Rocky]

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It was a recurring criticism of the PM when unelected advisors were sent out to do the dirty work. It was merited then and it's merited now.

I said it a few pages back; I hate all the nudge, nudge stuff when it comes to restrictions with weeks of hints, preparation and 'leaks'. We all know it's coming so just be ****ing honest.

Do people genuinely not understand that the purpose of hints and warnings is to encourage people to modify their behaviour without the need for mandatory restrictions?

[Peevemor]

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It was a recurring criticism of the PM when unelected advisors were sent out to do the dirty work. It was merited then and it's merited now.

I said it a few pages back; I hate all the nudge, nudge stuff when it comes to restrictions with weeks of hints, preparation and 'leaks'. We all know it's coming so just be ****ing honest.

What? Like the rumoured circuit breaker that folk were going daft about on here last week, only to be knocked on the head by NS a day or two later?

[Pretty Boy]

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Do people genuinely not understand that the purpose of hints and warnings is to encourage people to modify their behaviour without the need for mandatory restrictions?

I understand it fine but it's hardly been a roaring success as a policy thus far has it? Every time they start with this, restrictions follow a few weeks later.

My post was more a response to people who are suggesting Leitch was just offering an independent opinion. He's had the FMs ear since day 1 and vice versa. If he's saying something then it's coming from government.

[lord bunberry]

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Here we go…

Let people get on with it and make their own decisions now. Are we just constantly going to be in and out of lockdowns?

Shambles

He’s been sent out to soften us all up for what’s coming. There will be denials that more restrictions are planned, but they won’t be ruled out, but before you know it football stadiums will be closed along with pubs and nightclubs. I hope they’re ready for the backlash.

[Stairway 2 7]

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Do people genuinely not understand that the purpose of hints and warnings is to encourage people to modify their behaviour without the need for mandatory restrictions?

Screenshot_20210830-193821_Chrome.jpg

The cases are in 15 to 24 year olds. I'm sure they are not going to listen to Jason leitch unfortunately, especially when they see the English at Leeds and creamfields

[Rocky]

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I understand it fine but it's hardly been a roaring success as a policy thus far has it? Every time they start with this, restrictions follow a few weeks later.

My post was more a response to people who are suggesting Leitch was just offering an independent opinion. He's had the FMs ear since day 1 and vice versa. If he's saying something then it's coming from government.

And without them maybe the restrictions would be needed within days rather than weeks.

Plus I can't see that what he said is fundamentally different from what Sturgeon has been saying so the suggestion that he's doing the government's dirty work seems a tad far fetched to me.

[Peevemor]

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I understand it fine but it's hardly been a roaring success as a policy thus far has it? Every time they start with this, restrictions follow a few weeks later.

My post was more a response to people who are suggesting Leitch was just offering an independent opinion...

Nobody said that though.