Coronavirus

[Sir David Gray]

If the increase in Scotland’s Covid case numbers continues the country could see 14,000 infections a day as university and college students return for their studies, a public health expert has warned.

Professor Linda Bauld said that with the rate at which the virus spreads (the R-number) “well above one”, for every ten people testing positive they could infect up to 13 others.

“We’re seeing a sharp rise in cases in Scotland, they’ve doubled over the last week,” she told STV News.

“The modelling that’s been done shows really quite an alarming picture. We could have 14,000 cases a day if this doubling time continues.”

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/risk-of...university?top

[Stairway 2 7]

Why is Scottish NHS toiling just now if it is. We've a quarter of the numbers we had in hospital with covid in January and January would have had the pressure of winter. Is it staff shortages? We're obviously doing more elective surgery now than then as well though.

[Hibrandenburg]

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If the NHS is on the verge of falling apart I'm not sure what else they can do.

I would say that vaccine passports must be considered first though.

I'm struggling to see what people expect if the hospitals look like they're about to be overwhelmed. Do they expect the government to let hospitals send people home with severe covid to die without treatment? If the circumstances necessitate the reintroduction of some measures then surely the government will need to act?

[Santa Cruz]

Welsh Gov make a start at improving air quality in schools (as opposed to delegating to hapless LA's)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58382889

[McSwanky]

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Welsh Gov make a start at improving air quality in schools (as opposed to delegating to hapless LA's)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58382889

Ventilation in schools should be top of the list to limit the spread, but it hardly gets a mention anywhere. Good to see the Welsh leading the way again, but even they are way behind where they should be with this.

[Santa Cruz]

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Ventilation in schools should be top of the list to limit the spread, but it hardly gets a mention anywhere. Good to see the Welsh leading the way again, but even they are way behind where they should be with this.

Agreed. There's a local primary school with 2 co2 monitors, being increased to 6 for 400+ pupils, no plan for what to do when the monitor indicates poor air quality despite the couple of windows in the classroom already open. That will be a big problem in the Winter. I expect the Trade Unions will be applying pressure in many sectors.

[calumhibee1]

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I'm struggling to see what people expect if the hospitals look like they're about to be overwhelmed. Do they expect the government to let hospitals send people home with severe covid to die without treatment? If the circumstances necessitate the reintroduction of some measures then surely the government will need to act?

People expect to see the blatantly obvious measure of introducing vaccine passports before we get to that stage.

We’re at a stage now where pretty much everyone that is of age and willing to do their part has done their part if they’re going to.

If you’re 18+ and haven’t had a single dose then it’s time you stopped being allowed to go around spreading and/or catching the virus. You’re not willing to do your bit then don’t expect to be a danger to others and/or severely impact their life by leading to them having to live under restrictions.

I understand not introducing vaccine passports until everyone had the chance to get vaccinated. It’s now time though. If you’ve not had one yet then I’d suggest you’ve no intention of getting one.

[G15 Hibs]

I've no particular pro/anti-lockdown (other than I hate the idea of it again) or pro/anti-government axe to grind and although I've not contributed much to this thread I've been a regular reader over several months and there are posters who's opinions I value, so I was wondering how folk see things going over the next wee while. Given that the reintroduction of some restrictions seems very likely, going by the tone of what ministers are saying, how does that play out? Obviously the hope is that case numbers drop and pressure on the NHS is eased, but what happens then? Unless there's a significant change in circumstances then cases will go back up once restrictions are lifted again and they're reintroduced a few weeks later. Is there a way out of this cycle? Vaccine passports have been mentioned a fair bit lately but would they have the necessary effect?

I'm asking as I really don't know what to think now.

[calumhibee1]

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I've no particular pro/anti-lockdown (other than I hate the idea of it again) or pro/anti-government axe to grind and although I've not contributed much to this thread I've been a regular reader over several months and there are posters who's opinions I value, so I was wondering how folk see things going over the next wee while. Given that the reintroduction of some restrictions seems very likely, going by the tone of what ministers are saying, how does that play out? Obviously the hope is that case numbers drop and pressure on the NHS is eased, but what happens then? Unless there's a significant change in circumstances then cases will go back up once restrictions are lifted again and they're reintroduced a few weeks later. Is there a way out of this cycle? Vaccine passports have been mentioned a fair bit lately but would they have the necessary effect?

I'm asking as I really don't know what to think now.

That’s about it.

Cases are going to go up when restrictions are eased. There’s no way around that.

The extent of how much they go up and how much hospitalisations and deaths go up off the back of that depends on how many we have vaccinated and how much the people who are refusing to be vaccinated are going around spreading and/or catching it.

With vaccine passports, you’ll get a decent amount of the unvaccinated deciding to go and get vaccinated so they can live a normal life. You’ll then have the rest of the unvaccinated unable to go into largely attended events and either spread and/or catch the virus. This should see an improvement in the situation compared to where we are now/where we will be if we carry on as we are.

[WeeRussell]

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People expect to see the blatantly obvious measure of introducing vaccine passports before we get to that stage.

We’re at a stage now where pretty much everyone that is of age and willing to do their part has done their part if they’re going to.

If you’re 18+ and haven’t had a single dose then it’s time you stopped being allowed to go around spreading and/or catching the virus. You’re not willing to do your bit then don’t expect to be a danger to others and/or severely impact their life by leading to them having to live under restrictions.

I understand not introducing vaccine passports until everyone had the chance to get vaccinated. It’s now time though. If you’ve not had one yet then I’d suggest you’ve no intention of getting one.

Seeing as it’s a blatantly obvious solution, how long will it take to have everyone registered, sorted and in receipt of these passports and will they all be being used effectively for the correct businesses and places in time to stop the spread getting out of hand as described above?

If not then it’s not a blatantly obvious measure at this time. I say that as someone who has absolutely no issue with covid passports, in fact I’m pretty much in favour of the idea.

[calumhibee1]

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Seeing as it’s a blatantly obvious solution, how long will it take to have everyone registered, sorted and in receipt of these passports and will they all be being used effectively for the correct businesses and places in time to stop the spread getting out of hand as described above?

If not then it’s not a blatantly obvious measure at this time. I say that as someone who has absolutely no issue with covid passports, in fact I’m pretty much in favour of the idea.

It’s been a blatantly obvious solution for a long time now. I’d agree it’s now a race against the clock (although I still don’t think it would take that long) but it’s been the inaction that’s caused that, not the vaccine passports or the concept of them themselves. NS first mentioned vaccine passports absolutely ages ago now and it looks like nothing has been done.

[Stairway 2 7]

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Seeing as it’s a blatantly obvious solution, how long will it take to have everyone registered, sorted and in receipt of these passports and will they all be being used effectively for the correct businesses and places in time to stop the spread getting out of hand as described above?

If not then it’s not a blatantly obvious measure at this time. I say that as someone who has absolutely no issue with covid passports, in fact I’m pretty much in favour of the idea.

France and Greece done it in about 2 weeks. We've been told they would be imminent for a few months, maybe they don't want to bring the app out because more people will say let's use them. They will be hoping that cases will burn through the unvaccinated soon and they don't have to use them.

Its a no win because if they put restrictions without trying passports the 90 odd percent won't be happy. If the do try them the unvaccinated will be angry. The unvaccinated are almost all under 50 mainly under 40 and it goes up the younger you go, although still 75% in 18-25. That is also the swing towards voting independence/snp the younger the more pro

[Bristolhibby]

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It’s been a blatantly obvious solution for a long time now. I’d agree it’s now a race against the clock (although I still don’t think it would take that long) but it’s been the inaction that’s caused that, not the vaccine passports or the concept of them themselves. NS first mentioned vaccine passports absolutely ages ago now and it looks like nothing has been done.

Got mine down here in England. Just no disuse to actually use them as intended (except in nightclubs from September).

J

[Hibrandenburg]

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Got mine down here in England. Just no disuse to actually use them as intended (except in nightclubs from September).

J

I've used my EU vaccine pass several times already. It merely saves me having to provide negative tests when doing some things.

[calumhibee1]

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Got mine down here in England. Just no disuse to actually use them as intended (except in nightclubs from September).

J

I’ve got mine but it’s of no use in Scotland just now.

I’ll need it if I go abroad or if the SG do the right thing and introduce them so thought I’d get one before it becomes a nightmare to receive it.

[Peevemor]

For info, in France any printed test result has a QR code on it. After each vaccination you also get a paper saying whether it's your 1st & 2nd jab & à corresponding QR code.

The 2nd jab paper is the Covid passport, as is a printed test result (valid for 2 or 3 days depending the purpose).

You can scan these into your smartphone on the official app which, should you so wish, can be deactivated for everything else other than storing certificates.

I recently spent the weekend at the Lorient festival and had to show my Covid passport maybe a dozen+ times. I used a photocopy of my 2nd jag certificate most of the time instead of opening the app on my phone. I took a couple of photocopies for peace of mind in case I ran out of battery - which I eventually did.

The people checking your pass can see whether it's valid, your name & date of birth - that's all.

Bar staff, waiters, etc. won't check your identity - only whether you're in possession of a valid pass. The police are meant to be doing random identity checks to see that the passes are in order. I've seen a couple on the TV news but I've yet to hear of any police checks witnessed by family or friends. Folk caught without a pass, using a dodgy one or even loaning your pass to someone else (it's easily done) are fined 135€. This rises very steeply for repeat offenders.

That's how it works here anyway.

[calumhibee1]

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For info, in France any printed test result has a QR code on it. After each vaccination you also get a paper saying whether it's your 1st & 2nd jab & à corresponding QR code.

The 2nd jab paper is the Covid passport, as is a printed test result (valid for 2 or 3 days depending the purpose).

You can scan these into your smartphone on the official app which, should you so wish, can be deactivated for everything else other than storing certificates.

I recently spent the weekend at the Lorient festival and had to show my Covid passport maybe a dozen+ times. I used a photocopy of my 2nd jag certificate most of the time instead of opening the app on my phone. I took a couple of photocopies for peace of mind in case I ran out of battery - which I eventually did.

The people checking your pass can see whether it's valid, your name & date of birth - that's all.

Bar staff, waiters, etc. won't check your identity - only whether you're in possession of a valid pass. The police are meant to be doing random identity checks to see that the passes are in order. I've seen a couple on the TV news but I've yet to hear of any police cheeks witnessed by family or friends. Folk caught without a pass, using a dodgy one or even loaning your pass to someone else (it's easily done) are fined 135€. This rises very steeply for repeat offenders.

That's how it works here anyway.

Fingers crossed we bring in similar. Sounds like a more than decent system.

[Sir David Gray]

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Fingers crossed we bring in similar. Sounds like a more than decent system.

We were advised last month that a "digital solution" would be coming into operation "over the coming weeks" - whatever timescale that entails I don't know but hopefully it can be introduced before any restrictions are reimposed and we can allow the majority of us to continue enjoying things like events and pubs and restaurants.

[neil7908]

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For info, in France any printed test result has a QR code on it. After each vaccination you also get a paper saying whether it's your 1st & 2nd jab & à corresponding QR code.

The 2nd jab paper is the Covid passport, as is a printed test result (valid for 2 or 3 days depending the purpose).

You can scan these into your smartphone on the official app which, should you so wish, can be deactivated for everything else other than storing certificates.

I recently spent the weekend at the Lorient festival and had to show my Covid passport maybe a dozen+ times. I used a photocopy of my 2nd jag certificate most of the time instead of opening the app on my phone. I took a couple of photocopies for peace of mind in case I ran out of battery - which I eventually did.

The people checking your pass can see whether it's valid, your name & date of birth - that's all.

Bar staff, waiters, etc. won't check your identity - only whether you're in possession of a valid pass. The police are meant to be doing random identity checks to see that the passes are in order. I've seen a couple on the TV news but I've yet to hear of any police checks witnessed by family or friends. Folk caught without a pass, using a dodgy one or even loaning your pass to someone else (it's easily done) are fined 135€. This rises very steeply for repeat offenders.

That's how it works here anyway.

What's the feeling now in France? I remember reading about protests etc when it was first introduced. Has it been accepted now? Is it being seen as a success?

[WeeRussell]

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I’ve got mine but it’s of no use in Scotland just now.

I’ll need it if I go abroad or if the SG do the right thing and introduce them so thought I’d get one before it becomes a nightmare to receive it.

When you say you have yours just now, do you mean that your document will suffice should we roll out passports in Scotland?

I think I've envisaged the process and docs being more complicated than they actually are or would be. As I say, I've been largely in favour of them since the suggestion came out - the only obvious concerns/issues to get around for me would be those that are unable to get the vaccination due to medical reasons etc (but I'm guessing they could be accommodated so as not to lose out) while I would have no sympathy for any "anti-vaccers" who miss-out on nightclubs, travel or anything else they do themselves out of.

[Peevemor]

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What's the feeling now in France? I remember reading about protests etc when it was first introduced. Has it been accepted now? Is it being seen as a success?

As I answered someone yesterday (not a dig BTW) -

Pretty mixed TBH. There are even people among the demonstrators who are vaccinated but are against the principle of covid passports.

Out of 10 people at my work, 3 are against and having seen and spoken with a lot of people I know over the past few weeks, I'd say 70:30 is pretty representative in terms of opinion, while most of the reluctant 30% will end up biting the bullet.

My wife just had her 2nd jag, very much against her will, but she wouldn't be able to work otherwise.

[cabbageandribs1875]

NHS Lothian | News & Media

for some strange reason when you click on the article about hibs players getting their vaccinations the page can't be found

NHS EasterRoad.jpg


but anyway, well done those responsible dudes :)

[neil7908]

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As I answered someone yesterday (not a dig BTW) -

Pretty mixed TBH. There are even people among the demonstrators who are vaccinated but are against the principle of covid passports.

Out of 10 people at my work, 3 are against and having seen and spoken with a lot of people I know over the past few weeks, I'd say 70:30 is pretty representative in terms of opinion, while most of the reluctant 30% will end up biting the bullet.

My wife just had her 2nd jag, very much against her will, but she wouldn't be able to work otherwise.

Ah sorry, missed that - thanks for the info, interesting to hear.

[Sir David Gray]

A record high of almost 400,000 people were waiting to see an NHS specialist for an outpatient appointment at the end of June, new figures show.

The Public Health Scotland statistics show that there was a growth in the NHS activity in the three months to the end of June.

But the number of patients seen was still well down on the 2019 average.

Almost half of the people on the list had been waiting longer than 12 weeks for a hospital appointment.

One in 12 had been waiting for more than a year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58388675

[Sir David Gray]

Daily Scottish update;

6,029 new cases since yesterday - 14.9% positivity rate
Increase of 34 in the confirmed cases in hospital since yesterday
Increase of 2 in the confirmed cases in intensive care since yesterday
4,106,408 people have now received their first dose of the vaccine - 2,721 people since yesterday
3,680,761 people have now received their second dose of the vaccine - 12,720 people since yesterday
7 deaths registered since yesterday

**Please note that we continue to see a larger proportion of specimens reported that were processed more than 48 hours ago.**

[calumhibee1]

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When you say you have yours just now, do you mean that your document will suffice should we roll out passports in Scotland?

I think I've envisaged the process and docs being more complicated than they actually are or would be. As I say, I've been largely in favour of them since the suggestion came out - the only obvious concerns/issues to get around for me would be those that are unable to get the vaccination due to medical reasons etc (but I'm guessing they could be accommodated so as not to lose out) while I would have no sympathy for any "anti-vaccers" who miss-out on nightclubs, travel or anything else they do themselves out of.

I’ve got my vaccine certificate. You can order it through the NHS website.

It’s the proof of vaccination you’ll use if you want to go abroad etc just now so I’m presuming it would be the same one we’d use if we go down that route for bars etc but I suppose that’s nothing more than an assumption on my part!

[SteveHFC]

https://twitter.com/chrismusson/stat...761019906?s=21

Nightclubs back to being closed soon it looks like it.

[Sir David Gray]

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https://twitter.com/chrismusson/stat...761019906?s=21

Nightclubs back to being closed soon it looks like it.

Hospital numbers have increased by 87.5% in the space of 11 days so I don't think there's any doubt that restrictions are coming.

We did see a similar jump in hospital numbers in early July but that was off the back of far smaller case numbers.

[lord bunberry]

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Hospital numbers have increased by 87.5% in the space of 11 days so I don't think there's any doubt that restrictions are coming.

We did see a similar jump in hospital numbers in early July but that was off the back of far smaller case numbers.

Are the Scottish government going to provide furlough payments for the staff affected?

edit
i see furlough doesn’t end until the end of September.

[SteveHFC]

https://twitter.com/stvnews/status/1...531112967?s=21

There’s no money to provide support for any future lockdowns.