EASING OF LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS
The First Minister has published the route map through and out of the crisis. As from Thursday 28th May the following changes to guidance will start.
You will be able to meet people from one other household, though initially in small numbers, and at 2 meters distance while you are outside.
You will be able to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas.
Some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart - such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing - subject to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing.
People will be able to travel up to five miles – preferably by walking or cycling - to a location near their local community for recreation.
Take-away and drive-through food outlets will be free to reopen,
Waste and recycling services will start to resume.
Outdoor retail outlets such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen.
Children’s hearings will restart
Non urgent NHS treatment and surgery will gradually restart.
Some construction will restart.
The document sets out four phases for seven activity areas, but we may not be in the same phases for all activities at the same time. This week the message remains stay at home. Next week that changes slightly to stay at home as much as possible. The decision on the future message has yet to be determined.
Willie asked the First Minister about the route map out of the lock down.
SHIELDING
The Government will issue new guidance before the initial period of shielding ends on 18th June. This will aim to increase your quality of life and your ability to make informed choices, while continuing to protect you as much as possible from the risks the virus poses.
Willie asked the First Minister about the need to restart non urgent health care and operations. He raised the cases of Linda McKenna from Tayport and Andrew Gould from Anstruther who require a gall bladder and a hip operation respectively.
SCHOOLS AND OTHER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Teachers and other school staff will return during June to prepare classrooms for the new term and a different model of learning.
The number of children who have access to the critical worker childcare hubs for those returning to work will increase.
Transition support will be offered to children going into primary 1 or moving from primary 7 to secondary school.
From 11 August, all schools will re-open. However, to allow appropriate physical distancing, children will return to a blended model of part time in-school and part time at-home learning.
Childminders can re-open during phase 1 and over the summer all early years childcare providers will re-open.
Universities and colleges will be allowed to have a phased return next term, with a combination of remote learning, and some limited on-campus learning.
Wendy spoke about policing in a virtual debate
TESTING ROLLED OUT TO EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 5
Testing for the virus has been opened out to everyone who is symptomatic over the age of five. This means anyone who is displaying any of the three symptoms of COVID-19 – continuous cough, high temperature, or loss of sense of taste or smell – will be able to book a test at the drive-through or mobile test centres. Do not travel more than 90 minutes to reach a testing site. If there is not a site near to you, then you should try to book a home testing kit. https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
If you are a key worker or have to leave home to work, and you have symptoms or a member of your household age 5 years or over is symptomatic: you can self-refer here www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers
BUSINESS RATE GRANT SUPPORT FOR RENTERS
After pressure from the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Government has agreed businesses that have a rateable value that would qualify them for support through the grant scheme but which pay their business rates through an intermediary—that is, through a rental agreement or a management charge for the rented service office space that they occupy— will now qualify for the support. More details will be announced soon.
Willie asked the Health Secretary about the virus outbreak at the Nike Conference in Edinburgh earlier this year.
FIFE BUSINESS SUPPORT
4,864 businesses have applied to the business support fund In Fife, with 3,263 applications approved, worth £41.4m. 391 have applied for the hardship relief fund for the self-employed with 355 paid out.
CHARITY GRANTS
Properties occupied by charities can now apply for the £10,000 Small Business Grant Scheme. An additional £31 million is being made available to more than 3,000 small properties occupied by charities – including day centres, workshops and halls. https://www.gov.scot/news/extra-support-for-charities/
COMMUNITY MUTUAL AID
These are the links to their Facebook groups and websites. If you need help with groceries, medicine collection etc please contact them.
Please do let me know whether you are running a group in your community.
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
This is an anxious and uncertain time but we wanted you to know that Wendy Chamberlain MP, Willie Rennie MSP our local councillors are ready to help in whatever way that we can.
