First ministers briefing

[Trichford]

Is there one on today? If so what time will it be? Thanks

@fascinated actually that's not true. I have relatives and friends throughout Europe, NZ, USA, South Africa etc. Its mainly public transport.

I'm guessing you're not deaf / asthmatic etc or you'd have a different attitude.

Lots of governments that have done a great job are very keen on face masks. Eg China, Taiwan, Germany, Czech Republic. Believing that face masks make no difference is counter-intuitive - imagine someone who spits a lot when they shout shouting at you from 2 metres away. The effect is reduced if they have 2 layers of cloth over their mouth.

Face coverings are being made mandatory on public transport in England. I think Scotland should do the same, as a minimum. In Germany, they also have to wear them inside shops, but not on the street.

It's not reduced of the mask gets damp from wear, if there are gaps, of people touch them and take them on and off, and if they're not washed at a high temperature and dried to eliminate the virus/bacteria.

They'll obviously be made mandatory on public transport now England has done it 😃

She is going to be FUMING / LIVID (insert appropriate MN adjective) that the UK government has stolen her thunder about face masks.

Guess what she'll be announcing tomorrow? Face masks on public transport AND supermarkets to get one up on Westminster?

She can fuck right off if she thinks I'm putting a face covering on my asthmatic, hayfever ridden body to walk round Aldi.

I'm not wearing one as it will be disgusting when covered in slavers and lipstick.

I really think they're a bit of a fig leaf to persuade people it's safe to go out.

But yes, @SockYarn, definitely extra places!!

I think masks should be left to personal choice. I've worn one once and ended up with a sore eye - I have quite a small face and was wearing a standard issue mask and for a start it wasn't tight on my face and to get it to sit on my nose meant it was rubbing on my lower eyelids (yeah I know its not a big deal in the grand scheme of things) anyway, one got more irritated than the other and is still tender two weeks later.

DH has to wear them for work and he now has really dry sore cracked skin round his mouth and chin.

If it becomes law then I'll have to do it but it's not my choice. I'd rather carry on doing what I'm doing which is staying away from people and not breathing over anyone who passes by or i pass.

I'm not convinced about the value of facemasks - the evidence is not compelling. I think rigorous handwashing and social distancing is much more effective. I also think many people who wear face coverings or masks do not wear them correctly.

I bumped into my neighbour in the CoOp yesterday, she was wearing a mask. I said hello, she pulled it down for a chat.

Also seen lots of people wearing a mask over their mouth, but not their nose. How does that work?

A lot of people are fuckwits. I saw someone pulling down their mask to smoke the other day...

Should we start a new thread titled, Questions for the First Minister?

My DC school has requested questions from parents on FB and you should see the list so far (it’s longer than 5 miles).
Many of those questions could and should, be answered at government level, not leaving the individual schools to try and resolve.
Debates about facemasks are a convenient distraction from the real issues.

how long will the face mask rule be in place I wonder?

I definitely think if its applied to ALL public spaces then there will be uproar. Businesses will suffer from loss of customers. People will be fined and angry or they won't be fined because too many people are ignoring it and it can't be enforced.

agree its distracting from the real issues.

Why can't some places unlock, at least in a limited way? I know people would just travel if shops / hairdressers opened up but there is no reason why schools couldn't open in some areas - Orkney, for example. Are they just worrying that it will increase the attainment gap? Because that is just a race to the bottom. Equally, NHS (not A&E) could take non COVID cases, or resume surgery, or dentists could reopen - also services people need to be local to use or have an appointment for.

@Cismyfatarse this is what I wondered as well, why a more relaxed approach to those areas that have had very few cases and deaths could be more relaxed, my area has 0 in intensive care and never got above 5, below 50 deaths etc

I think it will suit the SG to blame already poor education stats on Covid

NS is loving the lime light. She just pretends to care, all she cares about is herself.

She has never had our vote and never will. She has proved herself the bigger idiot.

@IckleWicklePumperNickle I always voted SNP but won’t be next time

Just read this
BBC News - Coronavirus: Teachers warn of disputes over schools reopening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52936870

So, given that indeed mental well-being is important, what does this sound bite mean? (The bold, assuming it comes out, is mine)
Mr Swinney added: "This guidance states that teachers should be confident in prioritising their pupils' physical and mental wellbeing - over anything else - as the best way of supporting children and young people back into learning."

Oh, FFS.

I'm off the email my MSP. This is getting ridiculous.

Well, if it’s about cleaning protocols, for example, I think that’s fair enough. Our local council has beautifully maintained, almost brand new buildings with flowers outside, nice clean loos etc etc while schools have peeling paint on railings, broken signs, litter all over the playground etc. - it’s clear the Council don’t care much about the physical environment of schools vs the ones their workers and execs spend time in....

I just want them to care about the children.

It's unacceptable to send schools back without agreeing to extra cleaning. That's caring about children.

encouraging news on lack of spread in schools

This confirms local experience here. I saw the minutes of a discussion from Glasgow council on reopening schools that said they were putting a lot of weight on data suggesting that children are not severely affected and spread it less than originally thought. They note that out of ALL of their hub schools, there was only one symptomatic child, who later tested negative. They see no evidence of major transmission from children.

If more studies show similar, there is really no justification at all for not opening schools fully, especially if infection rates continue to drop at the rate they are.