CONTINGENCY plans are being put in place to mitigate the potential impact of Coronavirus.
Politicians have been keen to stress that we’ve NOT TO PANIC.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t panicking at all until Boris Johnson came out of hiding to tell the nation NOT TO PANIC. If the Skiver-in-Chief is willingly putting on clean pants and showing up to work, you know shit just got serious.
For now at least, it’s business as usual for most and a crash-course in hand washing for those who hadn’t considered the benefits of basic hygiene before the virus came a-callin’.
Still, we’re hearing ominous warnings about the risk to public health and the disruption that would come with a widespread outbreak.
Up to 20% of the working population could be forced to self-isolate at home. I’m long-term single, dislike most people and work freelance – mostly in my pyjamas – so I won’t notice much difference.
MSPs have been keen to make it clear that they will not be cowed by the threat of mass-infection. At FMQs on Thursday they sat side by side in a gloveless show of defiance.
Unsurprisingly, Jackson Carlaw used his questions at FMQs to ask Nicola Sturgeon about the Scottish government’s Coronavirus contingency plans.
Before he did so, he promised the "full and engaged support" of the Scottish Conservatives and thanked the First Minister for the "constructive way" she had worked with the UK government on the issue.
We are so used to seeing the two leaders tearing lumps out of each other, that it felt a bit odd to watch their measured, respectful exchanges. It appears that all it takes for politicians to treat one another with courtesy is the threat of a viral pandemic.
Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland is facing a "potentially very serious situation" and said there are now six confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Scotland, a number which she said she expected to rise – "possibly rapidly"- within the coming days.
Jackson Carlaw asked about testing facilities and whether they would need to be expanded as the virus spreads. Nicola Sturgeon said that the Scottish government is setting up a third testing facility in Tayside, stressing that at this stage, we have the capacity to carry out Coronavirus tests.
Jackson Carlaw thanked the First Minister for her response and went on to ask about the possibility of asking recently retired NHS staff to help out, which she said her government is actively looking into, before providing details.
Oh glorious harmony! There was no shouting. Neither reverted to party political soundbites or cheap digs. It was a very grown-up show of leadership from both Carlaw and Sturgeon. If shaking hands wasn’t fraught with danger right now, I get the feeling they would have reached across the aisle to solidify their new-found friendship.
We’re all going to have to make sacrifices in the coming months.
Jackson Carlaw and Nicola Sturgeon have managed to put their political differences to one side for the good of the country. All we’ve got to do is wash our hands. Which isn’t much in comparison, is it?
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