The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney is now at 4, 971.
The stats for Scotland published on the PHS Daily Dashboard are as follows:
Also today , it has been announced that the PM of the UK Boris Johnson and his Chancellor, Rishi Sunak have both been fined for breaking the laws set in place to limit the transmission of Covid. The fixed penalty fines are for attending a party at Downing Street when such gatherings were illegal. The fixed penalty fines issued by the Met Police are not criminal convictions. Several parties were held in Downing Street whilst the whole country was in lockdown and people were unable to even visit the last days of loved ones who were dying or attend funerals.
- get the vaccine or the vaccine booster
- if you don’t have symptoms take lateral flow tests twice a week, and if visiting someone vulnerable or going to a crowded place
- if you have symptoms – self isolate and book a PCR test
- you must wear a face covering (unless exempt) in most indoor public spaces and on public transport
- open windows when meeting indoors
- wash your hands regularly, and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
- work from home as well as the office if you can – businesses and workplaces should follow the safer workplace guidance
- use the apps: COVID status (vaccine passport) and Protect Scotland
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“Also today , it has been announced that the PM of the UK Boris Johnson and his Chancellor, Rishi Sunak have both been fined for breaking the laws set in place to limit the transmission of Covid.”
I wonder how much they were fined? It would need to be an awful lot, to matter to them.
Unlike the care worker who was fined £200 for visiting a beauty spot to un-wind after finishing her shift. https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-03-26/somerset-carer-in-tears-after-being-fined-for-covid-lockdown-rule-breach-at-a-beauty-spot
That’s the issue with ‘fixed’ penalties… day-fines which are dependent on income (as is the case in several other countries) would probably be more effective. But the question is rather not the fine… in my opinion it is a question of integrity. And I have long failed to find any integrity whatsoever in the PM’s conduct. It is a matter of principle. Nobody is above the law and it is even more concerning when the ones who shape the laws do not respect them. This makes them unfit for leadership or holding a high office… and it is undermining the foundations of society.
We are not talking about a lapsus or small mistake. And I don’t buy excuses such as not being aware. If someone in this position is so daft that they don’t realise they are doing something unlawful, they are not qualified to do the job. Similarly, if they are deliberately breaking the rules, this adds the component of intent, which makes matters even worse and also disqualifies from holding such office.
Sadly, I guess he will somehow wriggle out of it. Probably a few heads will roll… of some junior staff… but he is likely to try to protect himself and a few others. He and his supporters will probably argue that a time of crises is not the time to change leadership.
I hold the opposite view: In times of crises you need a responsible and mature person with integrity to lead the country.
His disregard for scientific advice cost many lives over the last two years and has done untold damage to the economy, much of it will only be felt over the next years. His inability to secure a usable ‘deal’ with the EU after Brexit although negotiators had several years to work through all the issues, does not speak for his qualifications either. Breaking laws which were implemented to safeguard public health, could be deemed criminal or at least constitute dereliction of duty (sure, lawyers will find the correct expressions in due course).
Is this the right person to steer the country along the abyss of even more dangerous crises?