Scotland didn't start off well. Mistakes were made. But the current infection rate (new cases per million people per day) is only about a tenth of that in England . What can we learn from this? I suggest four factors in today's Courier (front page news!)

First, Scotland has a clearly articulated 'elimination' strategy based on driving the infection to as near zero as possible such that, when we do reopen, we can do so with confidence and with minimal remaining disruptions.

Second, Scotland is implementing the policies necessary to drive towards elimination: slow careful steps in reopening before infection levels are low enough, maintaining distancing, use of masks and a local approach to 'test and protect'

Third, Scotland has employed clear and consistent public messaging, explaining the overall need for vigilance, the exact action necessary to limit the infection and the need to act together as a community to fight the pandemic

Fourth, engaging the public as a partner in fighting the pandemic. Being realistic, open, respectful and - above all - listening to the public voice when developing policy. As a result the government is trusted and its guidance is followed by the public.

But, critically, this isn't a competition. It's a matter of learning from each-other to. The figures are a clear vindication of an elimination strategy/policy. England must adopt such a strategy for everybody's sake.
After all, England sneezes, Scotland catches COVID-19.

For more detail, here is a link to the article: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/opinion/1442222/stephen-reicher-nicola-sturgeon-has-won-the-publics-trust-on-covid-unlike-boris-johnson/

And here is the leader comment on the piece

Lastly, this isn't an argument about Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP or the Scottish government in general. It is a specific attempt to understand the figures on COVID-19 - an issue on which I have been advising both the UK and Scottish governments.

I welcome genuine attempts to understand the multiple factors behind these figures (it is a complex issue, not a simple 'either-or'). I don't welcome attempts to distract from the figures through facile accusations of political bias.