So it looks like Scotland will be locked down longer than the rest of the uk

[frasersmummy]

Judging by Nicola Sturgeons remarks today Scotland will remain In lockdown as it is now till the end of May while England will start easing up

Given we have so many less deaths in Scotland does anyone else feel Nicola is just making an independence point now

She's doing the right thing and I'm glad she is taking the right measures instead of bowing to pressure.
We all know Boris is all about the money, he couldn't care less about the people.
Still getting thousands of positive tests daily in England yet he wants to ease up?
Am relieved we aren't following suit and going with the WHO advice

It would be a bad thing because It is sparsley populated and not representative for it to be effective.

and yes, it does remind me of the Poll tax.

Ah well, just go and try it on the scots! Guinea pigs for the cause.

No she has my backing .

I felt enraged at his comment.

First cases/deaths in Scotland were later than in England, so it makes sense that peak will be later and therefore lockdown lasts a bit longer.

I don’t think it’s grandstanding, I think it’s just giving a damn.

never but it wouldn't be a bad thing for the people of the Highlands though?

The poll tax was not good for many. Gove's suggestion would have allowed the people of the Highlands to make a living? (I haven't read what he said btw).

I should say I do not like or trust Gove - he may be Scottish but he's a weasel. But I still can't see it as a bad thing. Greater Glasgow - I may have had a different opinion.

@toffeeyoghurt

Where are the stats for that - certainly for hospital deaths London has dropped right down now so it isnt hundreds.

The difference as well is that somewhere like London has a lot more immunity around than some areas (looking at a minimum of 10%) so is a completely different situation to others. Its R0 rate is also according to Patrick Vallance lower in London

people wanted a lifting of the lockdown, the basic guidelines were hardly followed, everybody is happy apparently.

why would the peak be different? I don't get that.

I do understand Scotland was behind in the cycle. But Scotland locked down at the same time as everyone else.

So infections started to ease at the same times. So why would Scotlands peak be lager? It would be a much lesser peak than London, but why would the risks last for longer?

If Scotland is behind England on the curve why did they go into lockdown at the same time?

One of the arguments for locking down late was people would only tolerate it for so long. People are certainly getting fed-up missing family and becoming worried about cash.

I can't see Westminster being willing to fund furlough in Scotland longer than England. So which budget is she going to get the cash from?

Blackbear they won't.

Frankly I’m dreading the next few weeks. People in England will be disappointed on Sunday when things aren’t eased as much as they expect. In Scotland the numpties will decide to follow England and create more problems for Scotland. It’s going to be an absolute mess - and in the middle will be all the people who end up with covid, some will be seriously ill, some will die. And next time round it’ll be all the harder to get a grip on the figures. It’s awful. The U.K. government has messed up big time and hasn’t really helped the citizens to manage their expectations. Of course people are fed up and scared but shutting things down has helped to keep cases lower than they would have done without. You have to look at Italy and Spain, with similar death rates to U.K. (well, sadly, lower now than U.K.) - they’re several weeks ahead with cases of disease than UK and they have only partially opened up again. They have disgruntled citizens too, people moaning about the government/s, but they’re still trying to keep a handle on it - and to a point they’re succeeding. There’s no way England should be opened up greatly next week - the numbers just aren’t right yet.

Much of Northumberland where I live is actually north of parts of Scotland.

I can't see how different approaches can work in reality here.

Quartz So 90% of 9 million people without immunity in London. Presumably including many of the 1.5 million vulnerable over 65s living there.

The still operating Heathrow airport. One of the busiest airports in the world. Reduced passenger numbers for now (although still several thousand a day) but no checks or quarantine, and presumably increased numbers once lockdown lifts.

Then there's the hundreds of thousands who commute into London daily. Even if some continue to work from home. It's not difficult to see how vulnerable London is to the second wave. Just as it was the first.

That doesn't mean nowhere else is at risk.

Which is why I want the government to take the fairly simple measures (taken by other countries) that would save lives and the economy before easing lockdown.

There’s no way England should be opened up greatly next week - the numbers just aren’t right yet.

I very much doubt England will be opened up 'greatly' on Sunday.

And many Scots don't need the English to make them behave as Numpties ......and I say that as a Scot.

But the mistakes that have been made haven't been made in when to lockdown. They have been made in testing and PPE.

And the vast majority of Scots i know ain't numpties and are taking this seriously. Same as England.

I think the Ro rate in London is lower now because London had more cases earlier, the shutdown has brought the figures under control, but it could increase again and quite quickly if things get eased too quickly and by too much. London’s got so much to be guarded about - just the huge population, people commuting, especially on the Tube. We all saw these pictures on the Tube a few weeks ago, people crushed in together. Surely whatever the PM’s plan he has to have some measures to protect Londoners from a sudden rise in numbers of cases again.

From the BBC yesterday.

Hospitals across London have registered 53 new deaths linked to coronavirus, a 58% increase from yesterday.

There have now been 5,231 deaths in London hospitals linked to coronaviurs according to NHS England figures.

London remains the worst affected area in the country.

Truthfully I think they might allow some more places to open,
Garden centres as the argument for keeping them closed while DIY shops have theirs open makes no sense.

And at a push clothes shops, similar logic to Garden centres, you can browse around George but not Next!

I think they might allow 2 households to mix, for childcare and for single people (must be torture to alone if your not working).

I agree England doesn’t make Scots behave like numpties, @Hadenoughfornow. Everywhere’s got their own numpties.

And Theresa Villiers was speaking in parliament about her wish to open up London's tube asap.

If it happens I think the cabinet ministers should lead by example and squeeze themselves on at rush hour.

The UK government isn't looking out for Londoners. Nor for anyone else. Nicola Sturgeon is clearly doing a better job.

not everyone is a Londoner though.........

Its not London that made BJ PM.

And I am sure London will bounce back quicker than other areas.

Just putting that out there as I think MN is often London centric.

To answer the second part, @Hadenoughfornow, I too know lots of Scots taking this very seriously. I think - hope - they are in the majority. Recent polls I’ve seen suggest over 70% of Scots think the Scottish govt is doing a good job in this crisis. So that’s 20 or so % who are at risk of behaving like numpties come Monday.

Well Hardenough coronavirus has certainly been London centric. I'm quite sure that's not something to envy.

I'm also fairly certain those Londoners hardest hit, the already desperately struggling extremely deprived communities, won't just 'quickly bounce back'.

Like I said nowhere is without risk from the pandemic but it would be wrong and insulting to the memory of those lost to deny who has been most affected.