Nicola Sturgeon in renewed COVID-19 containment drive
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has pressed home her advantage on the coronavirus crisis by insisting on additional protective measures.
Sturgeon, who is also the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), has sounded the alarm in recent days over the UK government’s apparent readiness to give into public pressure by relaxing lockdown measures next month.
In her latest intervention, the leader of the Scottish government has recommended people cover their faces while frequenting shops or using public transport.
But whilst recommending masks to compensate for the inability to exercise strict social distancing, the SNP leader was careful to stress that it was “not a substitute” for existing lockdown restrictions.
This is a thinly-veiled swipe at the British government’s prevarication over extending the current lockdown once it expires on May 07.
Strangely enough, Sturgeon’s recommendation for the public to wear face masks puts her at odds with the Scottish government’s national clinical director, who in early April claimed there was “no evidence” that masks offer an extra layer of protection to healthy members of the public.
According to Professor Jason Leitch, masks should be worn primarily by healthcare workers and people who have contracted COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
In her speech today, Sturgeon announced additional coronavirus-related measures in Scotland, most importantly testing all over-70s for COVID-19 on admission to hospital.
Moreover, once in hospital the elderly will be tested for COVID-19 every four days for the duration of their stay.
Sturgeon has consistently out-paced the British government in London on coronavirus crisis management and has partially compensated for the leadership deficit in London.
Sturgeon’s speech came on the day when a further 70 coronavirus-related deaths were announced in Scotland bringing the total number of deaths to 1,332.
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