Wisdom needed, not petty point-scoring
It seems the only certainty with Covid-19 is uncertainty. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, the First Minister gave a clear signal that July 19 could come and go without restrictions being lifted as comprehensively as had been expected.
Nicola Sturgeon underlined the recent spike in cases north of the Border and was at pains to point out that Boris Johnson’s ‘freedom day’ applied to England, not Scotland.
the wearing of face coverings and observance of social distancing would be with us ‘for some time’, she said.
the goalposts are being shifted. On tuesday, we will learn which restrictions are to come to an end, but in the language used by the First Minister and other ministers we are being nudged to ratchet down our expectations.
Of course, caution is of the utmost importance, especially in a precarious situation with a high infection rate and increasing hospitalisation.
Protecting life and public health is a priority of the first order. If a body of evidence points to dire consequences for pressing ahead with plans for July 19, it would be reckless to do so anyway. As always, these things are a balancing act and decisions must address the problems we face, not the scenario we wish to be in.
there are other forms of consequences and different sorts of balance to be struck. the current uncertainty is destroying Scottish businesses, particularly smaller and family-owned enterprises that have long since spent whatever rainy-day reserves they had stored up.
Pubs, clubs and shops are tip-toeing the line between solvency and sequestration.
If they are in for bad news, they should be made aware as quickly as possible. Ambiguity is a trade-killer, a profit-killer and a job-killer.
It may seem encouraging for the travel industry the First Minister is ‘not ruling anything out’ on allowing Scots who have been double-jabbed to travel to amber list countries without quarantining on return, a policy being introduced in England, but she also noted Scotland was at ‘a fragile point’ and therefore had to be ‘careful’.
It appears too soon to say which way the Scottish Government might go on this question. the First Minister will have to decide wisely in each of these matters.
there may be a justification for a slower, tapering off approach to ending restrictions, but only if the evidence and expert advice requires it. Political considerations and doing things differently from England for the sake of it must not come into it.