Easing of Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland

[Berliner]

If people weren't upset about plastic screens protecting workers, banks wouldn't have spent so much time getting rid of them

I can't believe people are seriously upset about plastic screens protecting workers from all sorts of things. Sneezes, coughs, punches etc.

Do people really value customer facing staff so little that they are annoyed they have some extra physical barrier between them and customers?

 

[takno]

I can't believe people are seriously upset about plastic screens protecting workers from all sorts of things. Sneezes, coughs, punches etc.

Do people really value customer facing staff so little that they are annoyed they have some extra physical barrier between them and customers?

I think it's the concept of a wholly ineffective bit of plastic getting in the way of basic communication. Since I'm seeing very little evidence that most of the staff are feeling safer as a result of these flimsy semi-transparent bits of nothing, you have to wonder whose benefit they are there for. My money's on Sturgeon, but I'm sure there's a few happy plastic manufacturers out there as well

 

[Highlandspring]

I can't believe people are seriously upset about plastic screens protecting workers from all sorts of things. Sneezes, coughs, punches etc.

Where's this idea that I'm 'upset' about perspex screens coming from? I couldn't care less either way about them. If you actually read my original post I was simply asking whether anyone in Scotland had noticed any shops removing the various Covid paraphernalia yet, as I hadn't.

 

[MattA7]

I very much doubt that the flimsy Perspex screens will protect staff from violent and aggressive behavior. You would need more solid glass screens with thick security glass for that such as that seen in banks etc.

as for why they upset people it’s probably because it reminds them of the days when we had such oppressive restrictions. People south of the border should be appreciating the fact restrictions are gone especially when I (and many other forum members) who live in scummy Scotland are still subject to such oppression.

 

[Berliner]

I very much doubt that the flimsy Perspex screens will protect staff from violent and aggressive behavior. You would need more solid glass screens with thick security glass for that such as that seen in banks etc.

as for why they upset people it’s probably because it reminds them of the days when we had such oppressive restrictions. People south of the border should be appreciating the fact restrictions are gone especially when I (and many other forum members) who live in scummy Scotland are still subject to such oppression.

I went into a Tesco in central London (which is in Free England) the other day and they had perspex screens between each self-service till and at the main counter too. I saw the same thing in Boots around the corner and even on a little food stand outside KX station.

Not all things will go, we will need to get used to that. If a company has spent money installing these screens or the employees have expressed favour in keeping them then why on Earth would they get rid of them? What harm is it actually causing shoppers? I don't believe for one second anyone is finding it hard to live with perspex screens and getting flashbacks of "oppressive restrictions".

 

[fraser158]

My only complaint about the Perspex screens is that now that our self service tills next to the attendant screens have been switched back on it is awkward to actually find a place to stand.

it’s all well and good saying that we don’t have to socially distance anymore but it’s difficult to get used to it all again.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Went into a pub this evening, no masks enforced at all.

It was lovely.

 

[Merseysider]

Went into a pub this evening, no masks enforced at all.

It was lovely.

Same here, in Manchester, it was fantastic.

On my way back home, I ended up on Merseyrail about 10pm and it was great to see things back to normal - no masks whatsoever amongst well over 100 passengers (train and platform) - well, 3 masks on a group of cyclists who joined us for one stop from Liverpool Central to James Street - either they didn’t know the lay of the land or they felt uncomfortable and buggered off!

No masks, widespread drinking and kebab sharing, banter, the odd bit of swearing - I feel like non-Scousers wouldn’t appreciate it! But having lived like we have since last year it was nice to be back to normal

And back on topic, I got back from Scotland the other day and noticed in main stations a large number of people without masks. It wasn’t a majority but it was a significant minority - more than you’d expect to be exempt. On Scotrail over to FTW hardly anyone had one on, and social distancing was completely out the window, with strangers sharing a table maskless, etc.

I don’t imagine the population of Scotland will continue listening to Sturgeon’s rules for too much longer as they watch England continue with normal life with seemingly no consequential negative effects.

Edit: Even on the Caledonian Sleeper, despite one particular member of staff being grumpy about it, there were no masks in sight (despite them being mandated for parts of the train) & it briefly felt as though we were pre-pandemic again.

It appears also that catering is beginning to return to Scotrail.

 

[Mag_seven]

Glasgow was absolutely jumping this evening with massive queues of young (unmasked) people waiting to get into nightclubs.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Glasgow was absolutely jumping this evening with massive queues of young (unmasked) people waiting to get into nightclubs.

As expected, Saltcoats was packed but not as busy as it is normally. I'd assume most people had gone to Glasgow.

 

[philosopher]

I am currently on holiday in Scotland. Things definitely are notably stricter here compared to England. Social distancing still seems to be a thing, for example, quite a few one way systems remain and the hotel I was staying at yesterday still was restricting capacity for breakfast, meaning it had to be booked in advance. Mask wearing compliance also seems to be very high, higher than it was in London even before the 19th July.

 

[greyman42]

I am currently on holiday in Scotland. Things definitely are notably stricter here compared to England. Social distancing still seems to be a thing, for example, quite a few one way systems remain and the hotel I was staying at yesterday still was restricting capacity for breakfast, meaning it had to be booked in advance. Mask wearing compliance also seems to be very high, higher than it was in London even before the 19th July.

It makes me wonder why anyone would want to go on holiday to Scotland at the moment. The only reason i can think of is that some of these holidays are not the type where you use hospitality.

 

[Berliner]

It makes me wonder why anyone would want to go on holiday to Scotland at the moment. The only reason i can think of is that some of these holidays are not the type where you use hospitality.

Or people who are rational and realise wearing a mask for about 1% of their day doesn't spoil the other 99% of it. Scotland is, I am sorry to advise you, doing just fine rebuilding it's tourism, with masks. Most people don't care and in many cases, Scotland is far more relaxed than their own countries. Feel free to come back whenever you like.

I was on the tube yesterday for about 3 hours in total, many many wearing masks still, around 70% at least. I also noticed plenty of masked-up staff at mainline stations too. I am not fussed either way about others wearing masks, but I suspect some of the people claiming no one is wearing a mask in England anymore are telling fibs to score a political point.

 

[yorksrob]

It appears that the SNP Government in Edinburgh is looking to make lockdown powers permanent. This is in the live news feed, however the BBC haven't deemed it newsworthy enough for an actual column:

cottish government seeks to make some emergency Covid powers permanent
John Swinney
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

The Scottish government is seeking to make many of its emergency coronavirus powers permanent, including the ability to close schools, introduce lockdowns and operate virtual courts.

It is also looking at a change in the law to permanently allow them to release prisoners early or permit a wider range of healthcare workers to administer vaccinations.

In June, MSPs agreed to extend the emergency measures until March 2022, with the option of extending them for six months, to September 2022, without passing a new law.

Announcing a public consultation on removing the planned expiry date, SNP Deputy First Minister and Covid Recovery Secretary John Swinney insisted that some of the changes have had a "demonstrable benefit to the people of Scotland".

The consultation published by ministers argues that making many of the measures permanent would ensure "ministers can respond effectively and rapidly to any future threats to public health in Scotland" and not just coronavirus.

Under the proposals, ministers would also be able to order school closures "during the remainder of the pandemic" or for any future outbreak of an infectious disease, so long as they believe it is "necessary and proportionate", and the chief medical officer has been consulted.

The consultation also suggests a permanent shift to more digital options, including the remote registration of deaths or still births, council meetings and electronic court documents.

Mr Swinney said: "As we enter the recovery phase, we now have a unique opportunity to reimagine how health and social care, learning and justice services can be designed and delivered around the lives and needs of the people who use them."

He added that the government remains "committed to expiring or suspending any existing provisions that are no longer necessary, and will continue to report to Parliament every two months on the use of any temporary powers".

The public will have 12 weeks until the consultation period ends on 9 November to share their views.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: "These powers were intended to be temporary measures to deal with the pandemic.

"The fact that SNP ministers are now seeking to make many of them permanent is a clear sign they are unwilling to give up their control over people's lives.

"It is a dangerous route to go down to allow ministers to implement sweeping powers upon society on a whim."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-58240835

 

[kez19]

It appears that the SNP Government in Edinburgh is looking to make lockdown powers permanent. This is in the live news feed, however the BBC haven't deemed it newsworthy enough for an actual column:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-58240835

Does seem a dangerous route to go down, but are these rules just for us plebs or will they follow these rules too? Seems clear they do as what most politicians do, do as I say not as I do.

It’s a bit ironic the whole “control” theory does seem partly true - why do they not want us living our lives as normal?

Politicians seem to forget they work for us not the other way round? It makes you wonder if there is indeed more to this but I always hope to be wrong but like all things they come out in the wash, so what else is coming?

 

[Berliner]

It appears that the SNP Government in Edinburgh is looking to make lockdown powers permanent. This is in the live news feed, however the BBC haven't deemed it newsworthy enough for an actual column:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-58240835

It's going to a public consultation so not much to report until that's concluded I'd imagine.

In any event, it is unacceptable for scotgov to be suggesting these things are permanent. I'd hope any such vote fails to gain support In the parliament, so we have to rely on the greens if this sees the light of day.

 

[kez19]

It's going to a public consultation so not much to report until that's concluded I'd imagine.

In any event, it is unacceptable for scotgov to be suggesting these things are permanent. I'd hope any such vote fails to gain support In the parliament, so we have to rely on the greens if this sees the light of day.

If you believe the Greens will not back this, you are short sighted, they’ll back this regardless

Just since you mentioned the Greens, where have you been recently? They seem to back most things SNP, and if led to believe forming a coalition with them is true according to media then there is no chance in hell to even consider looking to the Greens.

 

[Huntergreed]

If you believe the Greens will not back this, you are short sighted, they’ll back this regardless

Agreed.

The greens will back it, SNP will back it, Labour will probably back it.

I can imagine the Scottish Tories might go against it.

 

[yorksrob]

Does seem a dangerous route to go down, but are these rules just for us plebs or will they follow these rules too? Seems clear they do as what most politicians do, do as I say not as I do.

It’s a bit ironic the whole “control” theory does seem partly true - why do they not want us living our lives as normal?

Politicians seem to forget they work for us not the other way round? It makes you wonder if there is indeed more to this but I always hope to be wrong but like all things they come out in the wash, so what else is coming?

It's going to a public consultation so not much to report until that's concluded I'd imagine.

In any event, it is unacceptable for scotgov to be suggesting these things are permanent. I'd hope any such vote fails to gain support In the parliament, so we have to rely on the greens if this sees the light of day.

It will be interesting to see what reaction there is, North of the border.

 

[kez19]

Agreed.

The greens will back it, SNP will back it, Labour will probably back it.

I can imagine the Scottish Tories might go against it.

Which again, it’s a repeating cycle (who knew), I agree that I can see Labour backing it as they have no backbone - just like the UK Parliament, the devolved one in Scotland is playing the same thing - there is no opposition (wonder what it will take for the opposition to stand up and break the camels back?)

 

[Mag_seven]

It will be interesting to see what reaction there is, North of the border.

Unfortunately a lot of Scots (particularly in the populated central belt) are addicted to big government - a believe that the state should intervene in most aspects of their lives.

 

[yorksrob]

Unfortunately a lot of Scots (particularly in the populated central belt) are addicted to big government - a believe that the state should intervene in most aspects of their lives.

There's big government and big government. The Covid state seems a different world from traditional socialism.

 

[Scotrail12]

That just reinforces my decision to be out of Scotland in 2024 once I'm done with uni. What an echo chamber of a country. What's the point sticking around when the people have totally different values to you?

 

[Watershed]

It appears that the SNP Government in Edinburgh is looking to make lockdown powers permanent. This is in the live news feed, however the BBC haven't deemed it newsworthy enough for an actual column:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-58240835

And there we go. They want the charade to continue, whether it's for Covid or another similar disease in the future.

To be fair, much the same laws were already on the books in England. But it wasn't until last year that they'd been used in such a manner. And there's no excuse for introducing them now on a permanent basis.

 

[Smidster]

I fail to see what the fuss is about to be honest.

Which specific powers do you object to?
I look at that list and it is either useful to have things in reserve just in case there were another emergency or they just seem like very sensible things to do anyway - doing more things digitally just seems like the right thing to do.

 

[route101]

I am currently on holiday in Scotland. Things definitely are notably stricter here compared to England. Social distancing still seems to be a thing, for example, quite a few one way systems remain and the hotel I was staying at yesterday still was restricting capacity for breakfast, meaning it had to be booked in advance. Mask wearing compliance also seems to be very high, higher than it was in London even before the 19th July.

Indeed. One way systems are still in place. Announcement on Cross Country from Edinburgh to Glasgow included to maintain social distancing and sit in a window seat.

 

[liam456]

I fail to see what the fuss is about to be honest.

Which specific powers do you object to?
I look at that list and it is either useful to have things in reserve just in case there were another emergency or they just seem like very sensible things to do anyway - doing more things digitally just seems like the right thing to do.

If they're so sensible, why not introduce proper primary legislation that is scrutinised the whole way rather than sneak them in via Statutory Instrument after statutory Instrument?

 

[Butts]

Unfortunately a lot of Scots (particularly in the populated central belt) are addicted to big government - a believe that the state should intervene in most aspects of their lives.

Make that "work for big government" as well.

I believe we have more at the "Public Trough" up here than most of the UK.

 

[duncanp]

If they're so sensible, why not introduce proper primary legislation that is scrutinised the whole way rather than sneak them in via Statutory Instrument after statutory Instrument?

Exactly.

We need a new Public Health Act (in England and Scotland) that determines how we handle such situations in the future.

The legislation should define the circumstances in which the measures can be used, and have safeguards to make sure that they are not used for longer than is necessary.

Above all, it should be made clear that the powers are NOT to be used as a means of dealing with "winter pressures" within the NHS .

 

[kez19]

Here is the link… just own opinion regardless let’s say the public didn’t agree with it would be steamrolled in - opinions don’t matter and I just see this as a pointless exercise as even at local level if people say they don’t want things they will still do it.

Covid recovery: a consultation on public health, public services and justice system reforms - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by The Scottish Government

consult.gov.scot