03/07 Scottish Coronavirus briefing thread.
The air bridges row rumbles on.
While the rest of us get on with our lives, these politicians argue about whether people will be quarantined or not.

They will have to agree at some point, because you can't have different rules for different UK airports. If people fly into Newcastle, who will stop them driving to Edinburgh? No-one, that's who!

Do you know something, most people don't want to hear about your quibbling and arguing @NicolaSturgeon or @grantshapps. This goes for both sides of the argument.
Just agree and be done with it.

How can NS expect constructive discussions when she is being so rude and confrontational? This relationship has deteriorated far further than it even appears on the surface.

It's just not possible for Scotland to carve a different path on this one. She's won a few battles on the Covid front, but Sturgeon needs to learn to pick her battles.
Her compulsion to fight on every point may be her downfall.

This is a clarion call to the border fanatics.
Talking about how England is 5 times higher in terms of infection. She doesn't say where those stats are from but the implication is an unpleasant one. This is really nasty today.

Someone called Begbie is going to be working for them on a job guarantee scheme. Hope it's not...

Today sees the lifting of the 5 mile travel guidance. Run free people. Anyone for a pint in Carlisle?

Jason Leitch is up, his dulcet nasally tones are reminiscent of a Scottish Kermit the Frog. I'm starting to quite like him really.

There are 11 positive cases in the Dumfries outbreak. The new case is connected to the Carlisle hospital. They think they have this under control which is good news.

I think it would be far better if it was just Jason Leitch doing this. He is less divisive and has really settled into his role. He also doesn't seem that interested in snide comments or slagging off the UK government which is welcome.

Fiona Hyslop announces £10m for performing arts venues. This is much needed for them.

Q. Even if you don't decide on an identical list of countries, due to a lack of checks on the border, how will you police it? Also, the list was drawn up with the help of Scottish CMO. Why not ask them?

A. NS says that if they decide on a different list, if someone flies into England from a country that they haven't agreed, they WILL have to quarantine on entry to Scotland. How in the world will they police that and how much will it cost the taxpayer?

She is saying there will be a 'requirement to quarantine' but if someone flies to Manchester and then gets a train home, who is going to stop them and enforce a quarantine. This is silly grievance-mongering now. Surely people are getting fed up of it? I know I am.

IMO Sturgeon has completely lost sight of even her own objective now. Difference and 'othering' seems to have become most important in her mind.

I can understand it's frustrating if the position has been shifting, I really do. She hasn't denied that her own CMO was involved in drawing up the list. Does she speak to the CMO of Scotland?

Sturgeon says she wants to 'be rational' in decision-making and it's not as fashionable across all governments as it "once was". How snidey and childish.

Q. Scots are already booking hols from English airports. How will it work when they come home? How will they be made to quarantine?

Spoiler...they won't be.

Her answer is begging people to stay in Scotland for holidays. She isn't exactly encouraging people to come to Scotland for holidays though. 70% of the tourism industry comes from England. The industry is on it's knees because of all of this.

How will people know to quarantine? "Because I'm telling them that".

Yeah, that'll work.

NS " If I was to stand here and just agree with what the UK Government want..."
most of us would be relieved and reassured.
Mess with wee SNP Jeannie's break to Benidorm and even she might start wondering why she's voting for you.

Q. A person from one of the affected households made up of NHS workers in Dumfries has been getting abuse for 'breaking the rules'. Leitch is being asked on what basis he is making the claim that they broke the rules?

This person is saying the 100% did not break the rules. I'm presuming they are trying to say that the way it's being framed in these briefings is creating suspicion and division in the community. This has been a worry for me for a while.

How did you get it? What did you do? What rules did you break? Have you washed your hands? Where have you been? Unclean! Unclean!

Boris said that there have been constructive discussions with the devolved administrations. Q is 'Is he lying"?
Is she going to call him a liar? Let's hope not.

She says that people can decide to take "The PM's interpretation of events or hers". Playground stuff.

She is saying that 'low risk' countries should be able to be agreed on but maybe not the 'medium risk' countries. Surely they can just agree a first tier of low risk countries first?

Q. Shop workers are worried that face coverings will lead to confrontation with customers. What should they do if a customer refuses to wear a face covering?

A. Shop workers are in a position of 'advising' and asks customers to be respectful of that. What if someone politely refuses? The regulations are coming soon but the enforcement will lie with the police issuing fixed penalty notices.

I suppose the councils have to make up their loss of revenue from parking charges somehow.

I do not agree with this proclamation that wearing a face mask is an 'act of love and kindness'. By implication, this means that if you don't wear one, you are selfish. Someone on twitter the other day intimated that you would be a 'killer'. This is not healthy for society.