A clear message is vital over reopening
One of the important lessons of the COVID-19 crisis is that the public need clear messages that they understand.
The recent confusion over parttime/full-time education has only served to increase the anxiety of pupils and parents.
Likewise, some businesses have been left frustrated by the lack of clarity around when and in what form they can restart their operations.
Last Tuesday, when many parents were receiving letters from the school updating them on blended, parttime learning plans, the education secretary announced in Parliament that it is now the intention for schools to return full-time.
Teachers have spent weeks preparing new resources and teaching plans, while pupils prepared for a new way of learning and parents worried over the logistics of balancing part-time education with a return to work.
While it should be welcomed that our children will be able to resume their education full-time, the uncertainty over the way forward has caused distress and upset for many pupils, staff and parents.
Similarly, when Scotland moved to Phase 2 of easing restrictions, businesses faced a similar uncertainty.
The route map initially set out by the Government had advised that non essential retail and outdoor hospitality could re-open in Phase 2.
When it became clear that we would instead be phasing into phase 2, many businesses were left hugely disappointed after time and effort were invested in preparations for reopening.
While it is absolutely vital that re-opening and decisions around the easing of lockdown are in line with the scientific and medical advice, it’s also very important that the public are kept as informed as is possible to ensure that people aren’t left in a position where they are facing months of further uncertainty.
Going forward, the Government must manage expectations.
People must be kept up to date as much as possible, and if something seems unlikely to go ahead that had been outlined previously, that should be made clear.
We are all living in unprecedented times, and that includes the Government.
But it is vital that it works with people across sectors and society as well as following the science, to ensure that re-opening plans are suitable, people feel comfortable and are properly prepared for the next steps.
To achieve this, a clear message is vital for all.