"Section 1: Scotland's Approach
We will act in accordance with our values.
We will listen to the best evidence.
We will engage the people of Scotland.
The World Health Organisation was notified of first cases of a new disease - COVID-19 - over 100 days ago..."
"Every individual member of Scottish society matters,& our entire strategy is focused on preventing every avoidable death. There is no such thing as a level of "acceptable loss...our commitment to safeguarding human rights & upholding human dignity is ethically correct approach"
'Although decisions on if/when/how to ease restrictions must be made by govt, they cannot be made in isolation. We're listening to best scientific advice, & will apply our best judgements to that. We must also listen to people of Scotland. Transparency/ engagement fundamental.'SG
ScotGov Section 2: COVID-19 harms
-Health crisis, social crisis & economic crisis causing harm on unprecedented scale.
-Difficult decisions required to balance these inter-related harms, to minimise harm.
-Harms do not impact everyone equally.
-Protect human rights/those at risk
COVID-19 causes harm Scotland in at least four ways.
1) to people's health: daily growth in number of new cases; hospitalisations; people requiring treatment in Intensive Care Units; & sadly, deaths
2) wider impact on our health & social care services;other treatments postponed
3)restrictions that Scotland, together with rUK, necessarily put in place to slow spread of virus, can cause harm to our way of living & society;negative effects of increased isolation, particularly for those living alone; impact on children's well-being; schools closed.
4)lockdown has had enormous impact on our economy, with a potential unprecedented fall of 33% in GDP during lockdown, causing deep uncertainty & hardship for many businesses, individuals & households. The damaging effect on poverty & inequality may be profound.
ScotGov:' We must do everything possible to avoid permanent, structural damage to our economy. All these harms are related; health harms impact on society & the economy, just as societal & economic effects impact on physical & mental health, & wellbeing.'
'Navigating right course through this will involve taking difficult decisions to balance these inter-related harms so as to minimise overall harm. Lockdown measures were carefully considered in light of medical & scientific advice, necessary to protect public health in Scotland.'
'Our collective endeavours, with the people of Scotland, the other nations across UK, & with our partners in EU & beyond, to respond effectively, will help us minimise the harms, respond to pandemic, recover as a people and, however difficult, renew as a society.' ScotGov
'Scotland is a responsible global citizen – an outward-facing, connected nation which listens to the advice & expertise of World Health Organization, European Union & its Centre for Disease Control, & to UK & Scottish sources of expertise, evidence & advice.' ScotGov
She read my tweet!
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