A document outlining how decisions will be taken to control
coronavirus (COVID-19) while restoring a degree of normality to
everyday life has today been published by the Scottish
Government.
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.
It also recognises that new ways of living – effectively a “new
normal” – may have to be in place for some time to come.
First Minister said:
“Today I am seeking to start a grown up conversation with the
public about the complex decisions that lie ahead of us as we
look beyond lockdown.
“As we have done all along, we will seek to inform the public
with the best scientific advice possible, but the science will
never be exact and we are in uncharted territory so we also
need to make careful judgements and be prepared to adapt and
change course as we go.
“We want to ease restrictions, but we cannot rule out having to
reapply them should the virus run out of control.
“Every day we see evidence that this virus causes real harm,
but so too do the lockdown measures we are taking to contain
it. This is causing harm to the economy and living standards,
to children’s education and to mental health and wellbeing.
“That is why we need to try to find a better balance than the
one we have now, but as we do so we cannot take our eye off the
need to suppress the virus and minimise the damage it does.
“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.
“As we start to lift the restrictions, the real risk is that
COVID-19 runs rampant again so a return to normal as we knew it
is not on the cards in the near future.
“What we will be seeking to find is a new normal - a way of
living alongside this virus, but in a form that keeps it under
control.
“Physical distancing and limiting our contacts with others will
be a fact of life for a long time to come - certainly until
treatments and ultimately a vaccine offer different solutions.
But if we all keep doing the right things, there will be a way
through – and we will find it, together.”
Background
The document is available here
