Lanarkshire outbreak shows why we must all follow the guidance

It’s good to hear that the containment systems in place are robust and effective, doing exactly what they are supposed to do: identifying those infected and stopping the spread. Well done all those involved.

The bad news is that the outbreak happened in the first place. We can collectively pat ourselves on the back regarding the how well Scotland is doing in moving towards eliminating the virus in the population, but we must accept that it’s still there.

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A “whistleblower” from the outbreak gave out some very interesting details: the systems in place controlling the work setting were good and up to standard. Correct spacing of desks, and a one-way system for movement through narrower areas. But the break-time facilities were not adequate for the number of staff present, which meant staff sat closer together than was safe.

I don’t know if teas and coffees were dispensed by an automatic machine, self-catered or obtained self-service from the same shared jar of coffee, box of tea, bag of sugar and carton of milk, and a couple of packets of biscuits. The only truly “safe” versions are the bring your own or the automated machine (wash hands after pressing the selector buttons!).

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Coming out of lockdown and returning to work does not mean the virus has been defeated. It’s not business as usual, back to behaving as normal. It’s a calculated risk, one where the risk has reduced due to the lower incidence of the virus in the community, AND by a suitably aware and diligent population behaving in a way that recognises exactly what’s going on. Some don’t by choice – wake up! It might be a personal decision, but it’s one that threatens others. Some forget, easy to do, but again – wake up!

According to the BBC, only 5% of the Scottish population has been infected (the rest were, and some still are, hiding in lockdown). Given the opportunity, the virus is quite capable of replicating the experience of the first half of this year. So if we don’t want another 3,000 deaths in Scotland we need to stick to the guidelines.

I say this with no animosity, but Scots need to be aware that statistically the virus is more common in England. If you visit England to “enjoy” a more relaxed social scene, you have elevated your risk considerably. The English rules are dictated by the Tory GovUK (GovEngland), who have throughout worked with the idea of balancing “acceptable deaths” against economic interests. In fact, at the start, the Tories were reconciled to a policy that would, in Boris Johnson’s words, “let the virus, as it were, move through the population”. In other words, do nothing to prevent the spread. Which is what happened, and is the reason the UK has unenviable “world leading” statistics for deaths due to coronavirus.

We will get a blip in our Scottish statistics for the virus as a result of this outbreak in Lanarkshire. And because our numbers are low, this surge of relatively few cases will cause our R number to jump, then drop back again as quickly, it will cause a surge in new cases (again relatively few), which will drop back again as quickly, but no doubt the hostile British media will jump on this brief opportunity for Unionist voices to condemn the Scottish Government for its failings. But it will be a brief opportunity, it will make no comparisons with elsewhere in the UK, and there will be no apology the following day when the figures drop again.

Pragmatically, we must accept that these crackles in the embers will still happen. But if we don’t add any more fuel, the fire will die down, and it will go out. Every one of us can help to make this happen faster.

Alistair Potter
via email