Whilst people are still being encouraged to work from home and to stay at home except for essential purposes , the gradual easing of lockdown will mean an increase in the use of public transport.

The Scottish Government has published a Transport Transition Plan .

Physical distancing will be applied to all public transport in order to limit transmission of Covid19 and to protect workers and other users.

Face coverings are to be worn except for  young children or for those with health conditions on all public transport.

This also applies to ferries “unless the ferry is open to the elements and physical distancing can be achieved or the operator’s risk assessment concludes that the vessel is of such size that the configuration of facilities on the vessel permits adherence to physical distancing rules.”

Link: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice on how to travel safely

Ferries to Orkney and Shetland

Only if a prospective traveller can evidence that they are either an island resident, a key worker or travelling to provide support to family members will they be sold a ticket and permitted to travel. Northlink Ferries

Pentland Ferries operate a service for essential freight operators and key responders only. 

Trains

ScotRail  have produced information for passengers travelling with them.

The Weekly Data for Covid19 in Scotland

In the latest Covid19 statistics 18 health and care workers in Scotland have now died due to Covid19.

The weekly data from the National Records of Scotland (as of 24th of May) states that 3,779 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate.

It is over 9 weeks since citizens in Scotland went into lockdown which has been largely adhered to and because of this the number of those dying from Covid19 has for the 4th week shown a decrease.

But Care Homes continue to account for over half the deaths at 54%.

Download here: Covid19 deaths report week 21 NRS

Cumulative number of deaths involving COVID-19 by date of registration, Scotland, 2020. NRS

As the roll out of Test and Protect moves forward, questions from opposition leaders at First Minister’s Questions focussed on the under capacity of the testing being done and deaths in Care Homes.

Care Homes

Rhoda Grant MSP, Labour, has hit out at the limited powers of the Care Inspectorate as she responded to the Home Farm Care facility on Skye where 10 residents have now died.

Rhoda Grant said:

“The Care Inspector’s powers are clearly limited, and they are passing the buck. This puts holes all over Health Secretary Jeane Freeman’s statement that said Scotland already has an effective system of inspection for social care. Demonstrably this is not the case and Home Farm is just one example of that.

“NHS Highland chief executive Paul Hawkins has assured me he sent a care response team into Home Farm “immediately” after the first positive results of Covid-19 were identified.

“However, it might have been more prudent for extra support to have been drafted in sooner. There can’t have been a care agency in the country who didn’t see the Covid-19 storm clouds brewing.

“Care homes showing concerns should have been more closely-monitored from mid-February when news of this virus was breaking.”

MSPs have also raised concerns over testing in the islands.

Testing

Liam McArthur MSP, Lib/Dem said:

“If positive tests are going to be the trigger for action to suppress the virus, adequate local testing and tracing are going to be critical. Without it, there is a risk of delay and failing to keep the virus in sight.

“As we move to ‘Test and Protect’, the demand for tests will inevitably rise significantly.  Local provision must keep pace with that demand, so Ministers need to take steps now to ensure that happens.”

Link: Scotland’s Route Map: Test and Protect

For comprehensive statistics on Covid19 in Scotland click on this link: Scotland Coronavirus Tracker

Art work by Stewart Bremner

Reporter: Fiona Grahame