https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📌" title="Reißzwecke" aria-label="Emoji: Reißzwecke">THREAD

It& #39;s ok to be frustrated with the new hospitality restrictions.

I& #39;ve read a few quotes from bosses in the hospitality sector who& #39;re also frustrated but its important we focus on the evidence before us.

This is all based on evidence, link here - https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-evidence-paper-october-2020/">https://www.gov.scot/publicati...

The R number is significantly above 1.

It& #39;s estimated there& #39;s 2,900 new cases a day!

Cases of people over 80 has grown by 60% in the last week.

60 - 79 age group doubled with almost an 120% increase

79% more ppl in hospital with Covid w/c 5th Oct.

Something needs to happen!

But where?

Well Greater Glasgow + Clyde, Lanarkshire + Lothian health boards account for 3/4 of all new positive
cases in Scotland over the past 7 days + nearly 2/3 of cumulative
positive cases overall.

For who?

The report acknowledges the impact opening schools, colleges + universities had but notes there has hardly been any change in the number of new Covid-19 cases amongst under 20s in the last few days.

Why now?

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="‼️" title="Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Doppeltes Ausrufezeichen"> This part is important.

Any measures put in place now is to avoid a longer period of more severe restrictions later on.
[https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎅" title="Santa Claus" aria-label="Emoji: Santa Claus">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤞" title="Crossed fingers" aria-label="Emoji: Crossed fingers">]

It also minimises the
economic + social harms that could results from later + more severe
restrictions.

I see frustrations about hospitality being restricted over schools but remember closing schools is a huge step as we& #39;ve seen before

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Kreuzzeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Kreuzzeichen"> Parents can& #39;t work
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Kreuzzeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Kreuzzeichen"> Key workers need emergency childcare
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Kreuzzeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Kreuzzeichen"> Children + young ppl face loneliness + isolation
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Kreuzzeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Kreuzzeichen"> Increase pressure on learning

Why hospitality?

The report doesn& #39;t blame hospitality for the rise in cases but it does identify it as a sector where we could minimise the spread + specifically in age groups where there has been a rise in cases. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤞" title="Crossed fingers" aria-label="Emoji: Crossed fingers">

[Again, to avoid a longer period of more severe restrictions]

So what do we do?

The report ends by stating that a temporary set of more comprehensive restrictions across the central belt should reduce
the R number as well as the infectious pool within the population.

But we *have* to stick to the guidance!

So to try + limit the spread the decision is hospitality is restricted for the next 16 days.

But @scotgov is providing a support package of £40 MILLION for businesses impacted to mitigate against reduction in business over those 16 days.

Support will be there.

When I get frustrated I keep reminding myself, it& #39;s 16 days now to avoid a longer period of more severe restrictions in the future.

16 days now to save lives, reduce the R number + claim back more normality at the end of it.

16 days. We can do this. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz">