Scottish announcement

[ashmts]

Anyone else feeling deflated? It feels like England were given hope yesterday and we've not been given much. My area has basically been in lockdown (tier 3 or 4) since October. I do understand the need for caution and I suspect the English dates won't be met, but I'm scunnered tbh.

All we really care about is being able to see the grandparents and there's just no provision for that. We live opposite ends of the country with no family near us and haven't had any family support for so long now with two tiny kids. We can't drive two and a half hours each just to meet outdoors really. All four adults have been vaccinated, I just feel like we can't wait until what... May, June to see ANY family at all. Sorry, just so fed up :(

As far as I could gather, current restrictions until start of April, then back to tiers by area

Worse than that!! Stay at home order to be lifted from 5th April (which is written into law here; not just a guideline; can travel up to 5 miles outside council boundary for essential reasons) and then back to Level 3 / levels THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL - and only then if all goes well 🥴

@Babdoc

Boris is by nature an optimist and also understands that people are fed up and need to be offered a least some hope of restrictions easing. Sturgeon is by contrast a pessimistic control freak, who would prolong the pandemic and lockdown forever if it would keep the spotlight off her alleged lying over the Salmond enquiry.

Boris is an irresponsible (possibly criminally irresponsible) idiot who will spout any populist shite to make himself look good then row back if necessary (see Christmas, see kids back to school for 1 day in Jan). But yes I think he is hoping for some further compliance by promising Jam Tomorrow.

NS has had much higher political capital out of her handling of C-19. She has been more measured and more realistic than bombastic BJ all the way through. But she is certainly a control freak who wants to keep the spotlight off her alleged lying over the Salmond enquiry. Squirrel, anyone?

I think it is sensible tbh. It gives time to see how phased school re-introduction goes here and also how “everybody back at once” goes in England from 8 March.

I’m deflated too. Was desperate for kids to get back to school. They were supposed to get to do assessments to have evidence to submit to support teachers estimates this year, and not sure if they’ll now get to do that.

[quote XDownwiththissortofthingX]@Orangeblossom1977

Indeed, but I can't help but agree with Patrick Harvey when he says that Boris giving a date in June for a full return to normality, when that is four months away and he has a history of getting practically everything wrong, isn't just ambitious, it's irresponsible.

I understand why people were looking for certainty from the FM this afternoon, but I don't think it's possible to do that right now in terms of giving a firm date when this is all expected to be over. Rightly or wrongly, and whether that's what he intended or not, that is how people are interpreting Boris' June declaration.

We've been given three dates where things are going to be reviewed, a clear description of what, exactly, is going to be looked at on those dates, reassurance that the SG will look to 'speed things up' if the climate is right and it's at all possible, and confirmation that the plan is for the whole of Scotland to be placed into a 'reviewed' (and hopefully relaxed) version of the previous 'tier 3' by the last week of April.

I don't know what people were expecting beyond that, because making more concrete propositions would be a bit irresponsible, especially when you are silly enough to bind yourself to them by stating that relaxations are 'irreversible'.[/quote]
Boris didn't even say that he said if the data allows

Basically what I think NS does is watches Boris and then does the same kind of thing but two weeks later and with additional bells and whistles -

(so then she can watch and have lower numbers simply due to acting later and be smug)

I was annoyed with ministers saying to people not to book UK summer holidays last week.

It may be they don't happen, but people need something to look forward too. Often you find they come to their own realisation that it may happen.

I felt hope for the 1st time in ages yesterday. Its not a daft plan, it's slow and steady but we can see some light at end of tunnel. That was very very needed at the moment here.

It's sad that people on Scotland feel so deflated today. She is always overly cautious and is trying to maximise her political capital, especially at this tricky time for her. But a wee bit of hope was surely needed.

I think Nicola has communicated better than Boris throughout the pandemic, but I probably needed Boris's optimism this week rather than Nicolas doom & gloom.

I went from hope yesterday to despair today as I am desparate to cross that border and see my family.

No guarantee England will end restrictions on June 21, Boris Johnson warns

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-covid-lockdown-roadmap-vaccine-uk-reopen-school/

XDownwiththissortofthingX sounds pretty realistic to me

It has just gone too far now!

Glasgow has been under the highest restrictions since 1st Sept by the time the end of April comes that's 8 full months people haven't been allowed to see their own family at home, apart from Xmas day. And let's be honest we'll go straight back into the highest tier! Despite 40% of new cases being caught inside hospitals.

The numbers will start to drop significantly as the better weather comes in.

It's just too much now. Everyone is suffering it's really time to ease things up much more.

Was there an actual date for S1’s return?

It's just too much now. Everyone is suffering it's really time to ease things up much more.

This is exactly how I feel.

I'm cracking.

I want my life back.

If there was a vote / march / protest tomorrow I would be there with bells on.

I'm just done.

I have family there- feel sorry for my elderly dad who despite having had his first vaccine, is unable to see my sibling even for a wee walk as he's more than a few miles away.

His lunch group for the elderly has been off for around a year now and no way they seem to be able to meet outside. He's in sheltered housing and increasingly isolated and desolate.

Looks like I won't be able to go up and see him either for who knows how long.

so if the seniors dont go back full time till after Easter how will the grades be awarded.. will it just be teacher opinion or will they be almost immediate assessments on return??

When would they normally break up for summer after exams?

We normally break up before the end of June and I know the sqa have asked for evidence to be submitted at the beginning of June

I'm not sure I guess so,. I think it is not allowed to travel from your area more than 5 miles

I thought I saw a post asking if it was Ok to cross the border, to see family in Scotland- but it seems to have vanished. Maybe a different thread.

@frasersmummy

We normally break up before the end of June and I know the sqa have asked for evidence to be submitted at the beginning of June

SQA deadline has been extended until 25th June apparently. Our school says kids would get assessments 2 weeks after returning to school

www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/96763.html
My school finishes up 24th June

@gracielooloo Was there an actual date for S1’s return?

It was that they might return from April 5th. John Swinney has clarified on twitter that means from after the Easter Holidays - which seems to range from 12th to 22nd April depending on where in Scotland you are.

Basically another 2 months of learning by powerpoint and spreadsheet.

It just seems madness to give a date for school return that falls within the school holidays. Even Boris didn’t do that!

[quote GintyMcGinty]**@gracielooloo Was there an actual date for S1’s return?

It was that they might return from April 5th. John Swinney has clarified on twitter that means from after the Easter Holidays - which seems to range from 12th to 22nd April depending on where in Scotland you are.

Basically another 2 months of learning by powerpoint and spreadsheet.[/quote]
Yep. We won’t go back until 19th April. Shocking.

Oh for goodness sake, I think the announcement was spot on. Those doing what they like and ignoring the regulations are exactly the reason restrict ions can't be lifted earlier.
If everyone would just screw the nut and see out the next few months sticking as rigidly to the guidance as possible we could almost eliminate the virus here, we did last a summer until ravel reimported it.

Having hope snatched away is worse than having a little hope, ukgov have always over promised and under delivered throughout this pandemic.