SCOTS WANT LIVES BACK
Public ‘weary’ and ‘appalled’ by curbs that could spell ruin for elderly, mental health and business
THE announcement of fresh Covid-19 restrictions was met yesterday with a ‘sense of weariness’ among Scots desperate to see a return to normal life.
After six months of measures restricting travel, socialising and business, fears were raised that imposing new curbs will spell disaster for mental health, elderly care and the economy.
Charity bosses said lockdown and social restrictions are ‘taking a huge toll on the mental health and wellbeing of older people’, while members of the public described the Scotland-wide measures as ‘appalling’.
Following Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement yesterday, social media erupted in criticism of new measures to restrict household visits, pub opening hours and travel.
Social media user Steven Nugent wrote: ‘Sturgeon has to take the blame, cases in Glasgow and Lanarkshire were rising at an alarming rate for weeks but she didn’t put it into full lockdown like she did in Aberdeen and here we are.’
Another added: ‘This infection spike has come as a result of the Scottish Government’s failure to lock down infectious areas of Glasgow. Had she taken the action she took in Aberdeen then perhaps I might be able to visit my elderly parents now? This Scotland-wide lockdown is appalling.’
Care home bosses are also worrying whether families will still be able to visit elderly relatives in low transmission areas.
Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: ‘People are tired, they have worked extremely hard and many have not had the usual holiday break they would normally have taken over the summer, so there is really a sense of weariness. This is a really hard time for families. We need clarification from local health boards about whether indoor visits in areas with low transmission can continue.’
Adam Stachura, head of policy and communications at Age Scotland, said the measures were ‘understandable’, but added: ‘We also recognise that the restrictions in place to stop the spread of the pandemic
are taking a huge toll on the mental health and wellbeing of older people, especially those already experiencing loneliness and isolation.’
Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers said: ‘It is imperative that the Scottish Government is clear in its messaging to avoid confusion and also to emphasise that self-catering remains open for business and that our customers can be reassured that the strict cleaning measures we have in place mean that our properties are safe.’
The reaction came as leading microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said closing pubs an hour early ‘isn’t going to make that much difference really’. He said: ‘I don’t know whether it’s been thought through or whether it’s just saying we’ve got to do something about pubs and this is the best way without doing too much damage to them.’
On the ban on home visiting, he said: ‘I don’t know how they will enforce that.’