Tag Archives: Scotland

Public Health Scotland say covid data is being misused deliberately by anti-vaccination campaigners

This afternoon.

Via Glasgow Times:

Public Health Scotland will stop publishing data on covid deaths and hospitalisations by vaccination status – over concerns it is misrepresented by anti-vaxx campaigners.

The public health watchdog announced the change in policy in its most recent covid statistical report, saying the frequency and content of the data would be reviewed.

Instead, officials will focus on publishing more robust and complex vaccine effectiveness data.

PHS officials said significant concerns about the data being misused deliberately by anti-vaccination campaigners is behind the move.

Covid data will not be published over concerns it’s misrepresented by anti-vaxxers (Glasgow Times)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): daily data for Scotland (Public Health Scotland)

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon supports the extension of the Scottish government’s Covid powers for six more months

Och.

Build Back McBetter.

What are the UK Covid restrictions? How rules will differ across four nations as Wales to drop masks by March (iPaper)

Covid: Will Scotland follow England in scrapping all restrictions, including self isolation rules? (The Scotsman)

Yesterday: Scottish Covid powers to be extended by six months

Getty

Oh.

This afternoon.

Very Krankie.

Meanwhile…

They were telt, in fairness.

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Professor Jason Leitch

The idea of a normal Christmas is a “fiction” and Scots should prepare for digital celebrations, national clinical director Jason Leitch has said.

The government has insisted that the latest Covid-19 restrictions are having an impact on the spread of the virus.

But Prof Leitch told BBC Scotland there was “absolutely no question” of a “normal” Christmas being allowed.

Measures could be eased if case numbers fall, but Mr Leitch said people should “get their digital Christmas ready”.

Meanwhile…

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government was making “really tough” decisions and would not “tell people what they want to hear to make it easier in the here and now”.

Covid: Scots told to prepare for ‘digital Christmas (BBC)

Protect Scotland app from Waterford-based firm NearForm

This morning/afternoon.

On September 10, Scotland released a Covid-19 contact tracing app called Protect Scotland from Irish firm NearForm, which had been launched with some fanfare by Scotland’s First Minister four months earlier….

Via The Times:

Nicola Sturgeon told the country “that your privacy will be respected at all times” when she launched Test and Protect on May 26.

The Times has now confirmed that data can be shared with Police Scotland to issue fines and other organisations that demonstrate an undefined “legitimate reason” to access the data.

The first minister also promised that the Protect Scotland app, which she has urged everyone in Scotland to download, will protect privacy.

However, the mobile numbers used to register on the app are retained by NHS National Services Scotland (NHS NSS), which can be compelled to hand them on to police.

…Despite repeated requests last night, the Scottish government declined to clarify its position, fuelling fears that police officers could be handed personal information given to contact tracers.

Anyone?

Coronavirus: Police could be given contact details from Test and Protect scheme (The Times)

Protect Scotland (NearForm)

This afternoon.

Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

The scene (top) after a ScotRail passenger train was derailed following a suspected landslip after heavy flooding.

The incident was described Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as “extremely serious”.

‘Serious injuries’ after passenger train derails near Stonehaven during storms (BBC)

RTÉ’s Joe Duffy

This afternoon.

On RTÉ’s Liveline.

Irish nurse Carol, who studied in Edinburgh, Scotland and is not registered with the Irish nursing body, told show host Joe Duffy that she is returning to Ireland to work but she has to pay €350 and wait 90 days before she will be able to work in an Irish hospital.

She told Mr Duffy and his listeners that she has been working in respiratory and emergency department nursing for the past four years.

Carol added:

“Part of the form I’m going to be filling out now is proof from the university in Scotland that my course was taught through English…I wish I was joking.”

Anyone?

Previously: Cometh The Hour

 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Summary of judgment made in Scotland’s highest civil court this morning in respect of Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament

This morning.

Three judges of the Inner House at the Court of Session in Edinburgh have said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament in the run-up to the October Brexit deadline is unlawful.

Their decision overturns a previous rejection of an attempt to have the suspension declared unlawful.

Severin Carrell, in The Guardian, reports:

The British government will appeal against the Scottish appeal court’s decision, which also contradicts a decision in Johnson’s favour by senior English judges last week, at the supreme court.

The supreme court has already scheduled an emergency hearing on both the Scottish and English cases for 17 September, alongside a third challenge brought in the courts in Belfast.

Scottish judges rule Boris Johnson’s prorogation unlawful (The Guardian)

Pic: Lorna Gordon (BBC)

In Scotland…

Breakingnews.ie reports:

A new factory dedicated to turning plastic waste into material for roads and car parks has opened, as part of efforts to tackle ocean pollution.

MacRebur opened its site in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, today, creating 12 jobs.

The process the firm uses sees rubbish granulated, mixed with an activator developed by the company, and then distributed to asphalt producers.

In fairness.

New factory opens to turn plastic waste into road surfacing (Breakingnews.ie)