Scotland Aims To Ease Lockdown On 28 May 2020 Coronavirus lockdown measures in Scotland could begin to be lifted from the 28th of May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
The first minister said this would mean people could meet someone from another household as long as social distancing is maintained. More outdoor activities will also be allowed.
Ms Sturgeon also announced that coronavirus testing will be extended to everyone in Scotland over the age of five who is displaying symptoms.
Tests can be booked online and will be available at one of Scotland's drive-in testing centres, or at one of the 12 mobile testing units that are spread around the country.
Ms Sturgeon also said the Scottish government would publish more details on Thursday of the "phased approach" to easing the restrictions.
The first minister added that the changes to restrictions would depend on there being progress on suppressing the virus.
"We will continue to take a cautious approach that ensures the virus is suppressed while seeking to restore as much normality as possible where it is safe to do so," Ms Sturgeon added.
SCC Gives Evidence to Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee This morning, the Chief Executive of SCC, Liz Cameron, gave evidence by digital means to the Economy Committee at the Scottish Parliament on its ongoing enquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on Scotland’s businesses, workers and the economy.
Ms Cameron appeared alongside the CBI & the FSB on one panel, while the SCDI, STUC and the Fraser of Allander Institute appeared on a second panel.
Ms Cameron shared findings from the Network’s tracker surveys that have been conducted in the weeks following lockdown.
In these evidence sessions, attendees raised wide-ranging issues impacting on Scottish businesses. Issues raised included:
Papers for the meeting can be downloaded below, with a recording of the evidence session to be published by the committee which SCC will share once released.
Early media Coverage on SCC’s Evidence to Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee can also be found below.
SCC Virtual Meeting With Jamie Hepburn MSP This morning, SCC coordinated a Chamber Network Roundtable with Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn MSP.
At the session, attendees raised wide-ranging issues impacting on Scottish businesses. Issues raised included:
SCC raised the following policy areas and we will be following up with the Minister in writing on behalf of the SCC Network.
Update To Coronavirus Symptoms A statement from the four UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to Coronavirus symptoms has been issued today:
“From today, all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia.
“Anosmia is the loss or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.
“We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19 and after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.
“The individual’s household should also self-isolate for 14 days as per the current guidelines and the individual should stay at home for 7 days, or longer if they still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell or taste.”
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr Gregor Smith; Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton;
Changes for the symptomatic individual and their household:
Connectivity Boost For Vulnerable Consumers And NHS Staff
More companies have agreed to give NHS frontline staff across the UK who are existing customers the data, texts and calls they need at no additional cost.
Other measures include a move to prioritise broadband upgrades for NHS clinicians working from home.
Other firms are committing to work with customers who find it difficult to pay their bill as a result of coronavirus, remove data allowances on fixed broadband services and offer generous new mobile and landline packages.
The move follows two previous announcements that the UK’s major internet service and mobile providers had agreed commitments to support and protect vulnerable consumers and the NHS.
Seafood Sector Investment Announced By Government Shellfish growers and trout producers will receive a share of £800,000 of funding to help make improvements to their businesses to mitigate the impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The grants from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to 11 aquaculture businesses include nearly £100,000 for phase two of the expansion of Seaforth Mussels on the Isle of Harris and around £200,000 for new specialist trout harvesting equipment at Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd in Lanark.
This investment for small aquaculture businesses is in addition to hardship payments of up to £27,000 which were launched as a direct response to COVID-19 last month.
Of the £800,000 awarded, £600,000 comes from the EU and £200,000 from the Scottish Government. Phase nine of the European Maritime Fisheries Fund also includes £1.4 million for two Marine Scotland Science projects and £58,950.00 for a Scottish Government project, with £22.5 million invested in the seafood sector in response to Covid-19.
QEI Launches Today The Q2 2020 Quarterly Economic Indicator survey fieldwork has begun today and will finish on Monday 8th June.
Communication materials and the survey link have been shared with chambers and we hope that you can these use to promote it among your board, members and partners.
The data for this QEI will be the first major source for comparison with pre Covid-19 data. Alongside our collaboration with the British Chambers of Commerce, the overall results will indicate the seismic shift from pre Covid-19 business conditions to the present and give a clearer picture of the situation facing businesses across the UK.
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The SCC Business Support Hub The Business Support Hub on the SCC website has been created to enable businesses to find useful information quickly.
The Hub is updated daily and includes information on business support, access to finance, contact numbers, public information and travel advice.
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