SCOTLAND FALLS SILENT FOR COVID VICTIMS
A PUBLIC inquiry into the response to Covid-19 will be high on the SNP’s to-do list if it forms the next government, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Addressing MSPs in Holyrood on the anniversary of the first lockdown, the First Minister said “establishing a statutory public inquiry will be a priority for this Government if we are returned at the election”.
Sturgeon also confirmed some lockdown easing measures, including that the Western Isles will move to Level 3 from 6pm today and collective worship with up to 50 socially distanced people will be permitted in Scotland from Friday.
She told MSPs: “A year ago today, we all felt scared and uncertain. We did not know exactly what lay ahead or how long it would last.
“But we knew we had to come together to save lives, and I will never be able to adequately express the depth of my gratitude for all the sacrifices that have been made by so many.
“Today, I want to reflect on the anxiety, isolation, loss and grief that have marked the last 12 months, but I also want to acknowledge the compassion, solidarity and love that has brought hope and light to these darkest of times.”
She paid tribute to the “dedication, expertise and compassion” of health and care workers and also praised the work of the police, local authority staff, teachers and businesses.
Young people have been “truly magnificent” throughout the pandemic, Sturgeon added as she thanked them for how they have handled restrictions in the past year.
She announced that Scotland has recorded seven deaths of coronavirus patients in the past 24 hours.
There were 495 new cases in the same period. A total of 2,214,672 people received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination as of 7.30am yesterday and 235,671 have received their second dose.