Here come those tiers again.

[Cismyfatarse]

New Fred.

I don't think people will buy it.
Covid is here to stay, we can't stay locked up unable to leave or have visitors like some form of East German communist rule indefinitely.

I think citizen engagement and citizen panels are a great thing and I’m glad we have them.

All I’m saying is that if what the citizen’s panel comes up with as its preferred strategy is something really drastic, then we as a democratic nation can’t go “oh well we asked 20 of the public and they want this so tough shit to the rest of you, especially when even the panel recognises that the rest of the country isn’t going to want to do what it’s recommended.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56110282

BBC Scotland report on this now. Jason Leitch sounding very keen to get those borders shut.

@icanboogieboogiewoogie I would prefer the expert advisor to have an actual scientific background for one thing, and secondly to be unbiased and driven by data and numbers rather than having a very strong socio-political viewpoint in one direction and trying to shape policy on it.

Any personal attacks should be reported of course.

@AudacityOfHope do you mind me asking, we’re there quite a range of views about the response to/strategies for dealing with Covid? For example, were there people who were anti-elimination but changed their minds? Were there people who were anti-lockdown? People who disagreed with the SG strategy overall?

I know you have said there was a diverse mix of backgrounds and ages, which is great, but it would be interesting to know what the opinions of folk re: Covid strategy were going in and if there was much disagreement. Thanks for signing up to this and talking here about the results

Copied and pasted from the railing thread

I was listening to dr Chris smith who is a consultant virologist at addenbrookes in Cambridge and also the founder of the naked scientist

It was on radio Scotland from 9-10 this morning

The best sense I have ever heard spoken about the virus

He did say we will never eliminate Covid as it comes from nature unlike measles or polio which is human

So we have to learn to live with it and now as we have the vaccine and are vaccinating the vulnerable and elderly it will become a virus which we will hardly notice same as flu which we have accepted

Also regarding the variants he said it will just be like whack a mole as we do with the flu vaccine

He also said that the 4 nations should have a joined up approach as then messages become clear to everyone rather than confusion

In his hospital where he works in infection control he said a simple message actually they have found works better in controlling infection rather than confusing messages

He did also say that if we spent money now in the NHS in overhauling it would pay for itself in years to come. He said NHS is knackered after 60-70 years and it needs the overhaul

He was very positive about the future. But stressed that we will not be able to eliminate the virus

I never usually listen to a whole programme but this was fascinating

I think it will be on catch up

@MaxNormal

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56110282

BBC Scotland report on this now. Jason Leitch sounding very keen to get those borders shut.

@icanboogieboogiewoogie I would prefer the expert advisor to have an actual scientific background for one thing, and secondly to be unbiased and driven by data and numbers rather than having a very strong socio-political viewpoint in one direction and trying to shape policy on it.

Any personal attacks should be reported of course.

We spoke to virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, travel industry experts, public health professors, philosophy professor to discuss motivations and behaviours, education experts, and on and on and on.

Everyone gave their honest view, I think. Some were critical of the government, some were not.

Devi was not the expert advisor. Everyone basically had maybe a 10 minute presentation slot then time for questions. She was no more prominent than the 19 year old student from Orkney who we talked to about the use of social media to engage young people.

I am just listening to that interview on radio Scotland with dr Chris smith. It’s very interesting actually. It would be good if he was on daily briefings instead of Jason leitch. So easy to listen to and sensible sounding.
I totally get why people voted for an elimination strategy as it sounds like the least bad option available. But it seems almost impossible just now as numbers aren’t really going down anymore. Something would have to change before it would be possible and I don’t know what

Thanks for telling us about it @AudacityOfHope, it’s really interesting

Should I start a new thread, hope that's okay? just don't want to lose track ...

@littlbrowndog yes! I thought he was brilliant on the radio this morning, I only heard half of it so will go and catch up later but he was so clear on the fact that it cannot be eliminated and something we need to live with. I found it much more positive than anything I've heard in a long time.

On the app but having trouble sharing the thread, perhaps someone else can share it?

Yes he was great cheered me up no end.

Such clear messaging which is what we need

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/scotsnet/4169410-just-in-tiers-with-it-all-now

Nearly all experts state the strong need for robust border controls in the context of Covid. She's hardly an anomaly.

I was at my mum's so I popped in and got my home testing kit. Got 7 from what I can see x

What's the procedure on the home tests the?

DH has a box full with swaps and test cartridges which I think he uses every few days and logs the results under the test kit number or something.

Do it when I get up. Log it on a QR code. If positive book a drive through test and alert my line manager.

I think once I get the hang of it, it will be fine.

@StarryEyeSurprise

Nearly all experts state the strong need for robust border controls in the context of Covid. She's hardly an anomaly.

Which states are still planning border controls after vaccine?

When are people legally going to be able to leave their council?

Becoming really unhappy at the level of control the SG want over peoples freedom.

Is it an up the nose test @Groovee ?

@Lockdownbear what do you mean after the vaccine? If you mean after everyone has had it then I'd assume none. Not even power mad Scotland. We're not even close to that though. Everywhere still has restrictions not just us.

@AudacityOfHope thank you for all your insights into this really interesting process. I really appreciate it.

India, Cuba and Florida are doing pretty well with very few restrictions and life near normal. That’s the ones I know of.

Plus we have vaccines for all, so should be lifting restrictions not wittering about more, and zero Covid which is a ridiculous aim