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LOCAL MSP: WE MUST PREPARE FOR “NEW NORMAL” AS PLAN TO EASE LOCKDOWN PUBLISHED

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has said that the public must prepare for restrictions on normal life to continue for some time.

The comments come as the Scottish Government published a new document outlining how decisions will be taken to control coronavirus (COVID-19) while restoring a degree of normality to everyday life.

The paper – COVID-19: A Framework for Decision-Making – sets out the position during this ongoing period of lockdown and outlines the factors that must be considered as we move gradually to ease restrictions.

The Scottish Government’s document outlines six key approaches:

• Suppress the virus through compliance with physical distancing and hygiene measures
• Care for those who need it, whether infected by the virus or not
• Support people, business and organisations affected by the crisis
• Recover to a new normal, carefully easing restrictions when safe to do so
• Protect against this and future pandemics, including through effective testing, contact tracing and isolation
• Renew our country, building a fairer and more sustainable economy and society.

It also recognises that new ways of living – effectively a “new normal” – may have to be in place for some time to come.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“It is welcome that the Scottish Government has published an outline of how and when the lockdown may be lifted and I urge everyone to take the time to read the document.

“It is vital that any decision to ease restrictions is based on the best scientific advice possible – but we are in uncharted territory and we must be prepared to adapt. That might mean having to reapply restrictions after they are lifted.

“It is only when we are sure the virus is under control that we can even start to ease any of the restrictions because the virus will not have gone away.

“Unfortunately, returning to what we regard as a normal life will not be possible in the near future so we need to prepare for a new normal until treatments and a vaccine offer different solutions.

“While these measures are difficult for all of us, they are saving lives and protecting our NHS.”

ENDS

Notes:

The document is available here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-framework-decision-making/

Published: 27th April 2020