Stay strong now and this will pass
»»Mum of sick girl makes plea to stay at home this Easter and protect vulnerable »»Sturgeon warns rules MUST stay in place as Scotland sees highest daily death toll
IN ANY other year we would be looking forward to spending Easter weekend with friends and family.
But this isn’t any other year. This is 2020 and it will be etched on the memories of those who live through the current crisis for the rest of their days.
Some may have thought, or at least hoped, that the lockdown restrictions would have been eased at the end of this weekend.
It is now clear the conditions we have lived under for the past three weeks are set to continue for much longer.
Each of us feels frustrated and stressed that there is no end in sight.
But we have to stay disciplined and strong in the face of this unprecedented challenge to our way of life. It’s the only way we’ll get through it.
SCOTS must save the NHS by giving up rolling eggs with pals or visiting their grannies this Easter weekend.
That was the plea last night from the mum of a cystic fibrosis patient, who begged people to stay at home to save vulnerable people like her daughter Kelli.
As Maggie Gallacher spoke, Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots to stay at home for Easter and confirmed there would be no lifting of the lockdown over the holiday period.
Maggie, who runs the charity Flutterby Fundraisers for Cystic Fibrosis, warned the public that leaving their homes could kill her daughter.
She said: “This Easter is not a time for meeting up with your friends and their kids to roll eggs.
“I know it is exciting for children but this year please stay at home. Maybe instead of buying Easter eggs, people could donate to the NHS or their favourite charity.
“Don’t be tempted to drive to the beach. And send your granny a text message, go on Zoom or Houseparty or just phone her to keep in touch.
“It is really, really important that people stay at home, not just for the shielded and the vulnerable but for yourself, your community and the NHS.
“Staying at home will save lives.” The Scottish Government drove home the same message as another 81 deaths were recorded – the biggest daily rise since the outbreak began – taking the death toll in Scotland to 447.
There have now been 4957 confirmed cases of Covid-19 here and 1781 people were in hospital yesterday, with 212 of them in intensive care.
The UK death toll rose to 7248, with 881 deaths overnight.
The First Minister said strict lockdown measures would not be relaxed over Easter. The initial three-week lockdown is almost over, but the virus has yet to peak and it will be extended.
At a virtual First Minister’s questions with opposition leaders, Sturgeon said she wanted a “strong re-emphasis of the vital importance of everyone following the public health restrictions”.
She said no one should leave their home except to shop for basic necessities a maximum of once a day, take exercise once a day, care for a vulnerable person or travel to essential work if it cannot be done at home.
Sturgeon said: “I know how hard it is for everyone to do that and it will seem even harder over this Easter holiday weekend, especially for families with children, the children themselves and older people who would normally be spending time with their grandchildren.
“Please stay in touch with family, friends and loved ones in whatever alternative way best works for you. Reach out to and look out for people even as you stay physically apart from them.
“But please do follow the rules and stay at home over Easter.
“By doing that, all of us can help control the spread of this virus. We can help to protect our National Health Service and we can also help to save lives.
“I don’t want these measures to be in place for a single minute longer than they have to be, but equally I don’t want us to come out of them prematurely in a way that will do damage, to see the virus spiral out of control, our NHS potentially overwhelmed and more lives lost.
“I want to be clear to people – there is no likelihood or prospect of these measures being lifted after the Easter weekend.
“Cobra is likely to meet again later next week and we will start to think about what the exit strategy might look like, but the restrictions are going to be in place for some weeks to come yet.
“Stick with this. We are not asking people to change their lives in such a fundamental way for no reason. I don’t want to be doing it but it is vital for the health reasons I think we all understand.”
The Scottish Government’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch said it was important for Scots on lockdown to stay mentally and physically active.
But he added: “We need to use common sense. Please exercise at home and, if you are going out for a daily walk, run or cycle, stay at least two metres away from people you don’t live with.
“Do not be tempted to go for a drive for leisure.”
Lewis Morrison, chairman of doctors’ body BMA Scotland, said: “This is a whole Scotland battle. All communities and all of us as individuals will play their part.
“That means everyone needs to stay at home. Socially distance. Improving weather makes that tougher, but we must stick to it. That is what will blunt the weapons of Covid-19.”