Michael Ejercito
2021-05-26 13:08:09 UTC
https://archive.ph/9ye4V
If vaccines have 'broken the link' between cases, admissions and death,
there is no need for 'aggressive' lockdowns, says the First Minister
By
Daniel Sanderson,
SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT
25 May 2021 • 8:52pm
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well underway,
the First Minister described elimination as the 'only sensible strategy'
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well under way,
the First Minister described elimination as the 'only sensible strategy'
Nicola Sturgeon has abandoned her Covid-19 elimination strategy in a
drastic shift which it is hoped will mean there will be no return to
prolonged lockdowns.
The First Minister said the success of the vaccination programme, and
mounting evidence that jabs are highly effective in preventing serious
illness and death, meant that she had begun a transition away from
focusing largely on case numbers.
She said that if it was established that vaccines had “broken the link”
between cases, hospital admissions and deaths it would mean she would
not have to react “quite so aggressively” to future outbreaks.
The major change comes after Ms Sturgeon repeatedly emphasised for
almost a year the need to effectively “eliminate” coronavirus by driving
case numbers to their lowest possible levels.
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well under way,
she described elimination as the "only sensible strategy" and warned
that the virus “won’t play ball” with any attempt to keep case numbers
at a “medium level”.
She has also repeatedly pressed the UK Government to adopt her
elimination goal.
However, she revealed on Tuesday that she hoped to ditch the approach,
because even if there was a surge in cases, this no longer necessarily
meant that a significant number of hospitalisations and deaths would follow.
Move paves way for full reopening
The shift was welcomed by businesses, which said it paved the way for a
full reopening of the Scottish economy in the coming weeks.
“Up until now, we have sought to respond as quickly as possible to
rising case numbers,” Ms Sturgeon said, at a coronavirus briefing in
Edinburgh.
“We have known that increasing case numbers lead, almost like night
follows day, to significantly increased hospital and ICU admissions, and
unfortunately to increased numbers of deaths.
“But increasingly, we are monitoring whether and to what extent
vaccination may be breaking that link between rising case numbers, and
significantly rising cases of significant illness and death.
“If that does prove to be the case, as we hope it will, then we hope
that our response to this virus can increasingly evolve as well.
“In short, while care will still be needed, because there will always be
people who require hospital treatment, it might mean that we don't have
to react quite so aggressively with tough restrictions in the face of
rising case numbers. Instead, we hope that we'll be able to rely more on
enhanced public health interventions.”
Despite case numbers doubling over the past 16 days in Scotland, the
number of Covid-19 deaths has remained low. There have been only six
coronavirus deaths in Scotland this month, while as of Tuesday, just six
people were in intensive care.
Scotland remains on track to offer a first vaccination dose to all
adults by the end of July, and it is hoped that everybody will have
received two doses by the end of September.
It is expected that restrictions across Scotland will ease further early
next month, ahead of the country reaching Level 0 by the end of June.
Sturgeon under pressure to lift restrictions
Ms Sturgeon is under intense pressure to ease Level 3 restrictions in
Glasgow, currently facing the harshest measures in the UK, and hinted
that she would soon allow the city to enter Level 2 under her new
approach, despite case numbers remaining high.
In future, she said, the virus could be dealt with by public health
interventions such as testing and vaccination, meaning the response
would mean “much less restriction on our day to day lives”.
However, she once again appealed to Scots to get vaccinated, amid
concern over a surge in missed appointments, saying it was their “civic
duty” to accept jabs when offered.
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said
the change of approach would receive “widespread support” from businesses.
“It is essential that we see a greater pace of unlocking restrictions,
particularly as our events sector and offices still remain closed among
others," she said.
Which local authorities have the highest case rates?
Cases and deaths by local authority
e.g Westminster or SW1W 0DT
Cases
Deaths
Rate (cases per 100,000 people)
(0-19.13)
(19.13-25)
(25-39)
(39-51)
(51-76)
(76-345)
LatestTotal
See live coronavirus data| Search figures for your local area, track the
UK's vaccine rollout, and see rate of infection by country
“This more flexible approach should be the key to bringing forward the
full re-opening of the economy in the coming weeks.
“We have seen that local outbreaks can be tackled locally with targeted
health measures, therefore, this approach should remove the need to
apply national lockdown measures as so many businesses are on the edge
of survival.”
Sandesh Gulhane, public health spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said:
"It is welcome that Nicola Sturgeon recognises the incredible success of
the UK vaccination rollout has given us a key weapon in fighting against
the virus.
“Vaccines are already proving to drive down hospitalisations and
intensive care admissions. That can hopefully mean we continue to safely
ease restrictions, even if the virus is still around us, and be able to
welcome more visitors to the country.
“This will be music to the ears of businesses who can ill-afford to have
tougher restrictions reimposed on them after suffering hugely over the
past year."
If vaccines have 'broken the link' between cases, admissions and death,
there is no need for 'aggressive' lockdowns, says the First Minister
By
Daniel Sanderson,
SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT
25 May 2021 • 8:52pm
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well underway,
the First Minister described elimination as the 'only sensible strategy'
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well under way,
the First Minister described elimination as the 'only sensible strategy'
Nicola Sturgeon has abandoned her Covid-19 elimination strategy in a
drastic shift which it is hoped will mean there will be no return to
prolonged lockdowns.
The First Minister said the success of the vaccination programme, and
mounting evidence that jabs are highly effective in preventing serious
illness and death, meant that she had begun a transition away from
focusing largely on case numbers.
She said that if it was established that vaccines had “broken the link”
between cases, hospital admissions and deaths it would mean she would
not have to react “quite so aggressively” to future outbreaks.
The major change comes after Ms Sturgeon repeatedly emphasised for
almost a year the need to effectively “eliminate” coronavirus by driving
case numbers to their lowest possible levels.
As recently as March, when the vaccination programme was well under way,
she described elimination as the "only sensible strategy" and warned
that the virus “won’t play ball” with any attempt to keep case numbers
at a “medium level”.
She has also repeatedly pressed the UK Government to adopt her
elimination goal.
However, she revealed on Tuesday that she hoped to ditch the approach,
because even if there was a surge in cases, this no longer necessarily
meant that a significant number of hospitalisations and deaths would follow.
Move paves way for full reopening
The shift was welcomed by businesses, which said it paved the way for a
full reopening of the Scottish economy in the coming weeks.
“Up until now, we have sought to respond as quickly as possible to
rising case numbers,” Ms Sturgeon said, at a coronavirus briefing in
Edinburgh.
“We have known that increasing case numbers lead, almost like night
follows day, to significantly increased hospital and ICU admissions, and
unfortunately to increased numbers of deaths.
“But increasingly, we are monitoring whether and to what extent
vaccination may be breaking that link between rising case numbers, and
significantly rising cases of significant illness and death.
“If that does prove to be the case, as we hope it will, then we hope
that our response to this virus can increasingly evolve as well.
“In short, while care will still be needed, because there will always be
people who require hospital treatment, it might mean that we don't have
to react quite so aggressively with tough restrictions in the face of
rising case numbers. Instead, we hope that we'll be able to rely more on
enhanced public health interventions.”
Despite case numbers doubling over the past 16 days in Scotland, the
number of Covid-19 deaths has remained low. There have been only six
coronavirus deaths in Scotland this month, while as of Tuesday, just six
people were in intensive care.
Scotland remains on track to offer a first vaccination dose to all
adults by the end of July, and it is hoped that everybody will have
received two doses by the end of September.
It is expected that restrictions across Scotland will ease further early
next month, ahead of the country reaching Level 0 by the end of June.
Sturgeon under pressure to lift restrictions
Ms Sturgeon is under intense pressure to ease Level 3 restrictions in
Glasgow, currently facing the harshest measures in the UK, and hinted
that she would soon allow the city to enter Level 2 under her new
approach, despite case numbers remaining high.
In future, she said, the virus could be dealt with by public health
interventions such as testing and vaccination, meaning the response
would mean “much less restriction on our day to day lives”.
However, she once again appealed to Scots to get vaccinated, amid
concern over a surge in missed appointments, saying it was their “civic
duty” to accept jabs when offered.
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said
the change of approach would receive “widespread support” from businesses.
“It is essential that we see a greater pace of unlocking restrictions,
particularly as our events sector and offices still remain closed among
others," she said.
Which local authorities have the highest case rates?
Cases and deaths by local authority
e.g Westminster or SW1W 0DT
Cases
Deaths
Rate (cases per 100,000 people)
(0-19.13)
(19.13-25)
(25-39)
(39-51)
(51-76)
(76-345)
LatestTotal
See live coronavirus data| Search figures for your local area, track the
UK's vaccine rollout, and see rate of infection by country
“This more flexible approach should be the key to bringing forward the
full re-opening of the economy in the coming weeks.
“We have seen that local outbreaks can be tackled locally with targeted
health measures, therefore, this approach should remove the need to
apply national lockdown measures as so many businesses are on the edge
of survival.”
Sandesh Gulhane, public health spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said:
"It is welcome that Nicola Sturgeon recognises the incredible success of
the UK vaccination rollout has given us a key weapon in fighting against
the virus.
“Vaccines are already proving to drive down hospitalisations and
intensive care admissions. That can hopefully mean we continue to safely
ease restrictions, even if the virus is still around us, and be able to
welcome more visitors to the country.
“This will be music to the ears of businesses who can ill-afford to have
tougher restrictions reimposed on them after suffering hugely over the
past year."