BREAKING: Dramatic fall in infection level

From the Herald:

Is the above report an example of this?

Well, no, not really.

Here IS THE news.

The infection level in Scotland has fallen again for the 6th day since it peaked on the 21st, at 1 504 new cases in the previous 24 hours.

Today’s figure is less than half of that nearly one week ago and well down on 1 149 in the previous 24 hours.

I can’t see the data for England but in the previous 24 hours, based on 1 149 cases in Scotland, it was nearly THREE TIMES higher and climbing. It may well be four times the rate in Scotland now.

Hancock must go?

17 thoughts on “BREAKING: Dramatic fall in infection level”

    1. There is likely to be a drop in the number of people in general coming forward for tests over the holidays. The people who do come forward are more likely to have symptoms or been alerted to possible contact with a positive case. Taken together this probably skews the results towards an apparent increase in cases.

      However, another possible explanation, and the one that occurred to me when I saw today’s results, was that there had been problems again at the Lighthouse labs and thus not all results had been reported.

      I suspect that information on this will emerge in the next couple of days. Today’s results certainly look very odd otherwise.

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  3. Oh, so its not a surge?
    No news here then.
    Scottish “news” only being BAD news–BAD SNP news.
    Unless Scotland has a HUGE surge in cases, then expect a MARR special.
    Even if its only at 2PM on a dank Wednesday, and is over at 3PM.

    Though I would expect a MARR special just before May–the election, you know!
    With a cast of Disnae* animated characters.

    *Disnae—as in Scotland disnae meet our Brit Nit criteria.

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  4. All please note the low test numbers of 6793 no. Which is way below the preceding 7 day ave.of 21147
    But more importantly the positivity rate of 12.3 % for today
    Whilst the previous 7 days the rate on ave was 5.97 %
    The 12.3 % figure is actually very good as without doubt the low no.of 6793 test
    Were very highly targeted and focused
    And such only possible by excellent management,command & control system
    Which in turn can only fully work if a efficent
    Fully functional Test Track & Isolate system in place
    Our eyes despite the festive hols.are very firmly still on the ball
    Such will reveal itself in the coming days as England with its dysfunctional systems only
    Diverges even further apart than Scotlland
    With regards higher infection rates along with the resulting disproportionate increase in Hospital,ICU admissions and Deaths
    England and Boris all too often have taken their eye of the ball and paying the price
    I qoute Jeff Banks father of one of the finest goalies to stand between the posts
    His father gave him the Golden rule of goalkeeping
    All too often goalkeepers watch the players
    And not the ball
    So as it is not the player that goes into the net
    It is the ball that scores
    Never Ever take your eyes off the ball
    But glance at the players to know where to look for where the ball likely to go

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    1. Not giving BBC a click but can guess what it is…Scotland’s about to not just get a slap in the face, there is big UK EngGov foot sticking out at every step of the way, and it’s got a butchers apron logo on it to boot!

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  6. It seems to be part of a broader post-Christmas gloom is just around the corner”/”Wir ah doomed…”/keep spirits down kind of piece.
    Spotted this PQ piece setting out their latest smorgasbord, the usual “could” and “bleak”.. Had they published “Glenn Campbell could have been a brain surgeon but prospects look bleak” I still wouldn’t believe it.
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55458992
    A statement from The Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties are the latest excuse, no names just “they”…

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  7. Also on Covid, the BBC News website’s Scotland page today has this headline: “Covid in Scotland: Health leaders warn NHS could be ‘overwhelmed’ “

    It is reporting a statement just issued by the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties. The BBC article begins: “Clinicians are warning health services could be overwhelmed by any surge in coronavirus cases after restrictions were temporarily eased at Christmas.” Alert readers will note the ‘could’ word!

    So the framing of the BBC Scotland article is self-evident. The editorial decision is to focus on a threat of our NHS being overwhelmed, a forecast challenged by Jason Leitch, the national clinical director. You have to read a long way down the BBC article to find this in reference to the Scottish Academy’s statement: “They called on the public to recognise the severity of the situation and take the necessary steps to support health and social care services.”

    The actual text of the statement is framed in a different way. Yes, the BBC Scotland journalist has copied and pasted phrases accurately and, of necessity, selectively. But the selection and its effect on the framing is what is notable. The Scottish Academy’s statement by any reasonable reading is actually framed as a plea to the public to comply with Covid-19 related guidance and rules.

    The BBC, in order to provide a true, useful public service, could have selected from among the following sections of the statement:

    “.. in the face of the new strain, we are calling on the public, once again, to recognise the severity of the situation and take the necessary steps to support our health and social care services.

    “Our plea to the public is simple, please …

    “Only by continuing to look out for each other and following the rules can we give our NHS doctors, nurses and support staff the best chance to do their jobs in the difficult weeks ahead.”

    The nature and purpose of the Scottish Academy’s statement seems very clear. It was issued – in the context of a continuing public health emergency – to encourage public compliance.

    Why has the public service broadcaster chosen to de-emphasis the Scottish Academy’s clear public health purpose and instead opt for this ‘overwhelming’ emphasis? I wonder!

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    1. More on the Scottish Academy: in its joint Christmas message with BMA Scotland (written while the plan was still for a five day relaxation of Covid restrictions over Christmas), the Scottish Academy stated this

      “It has clearly not been easy for politicians to strike a balance between lessening social isolation, with its effects on mental health, over Christmas and the inevitable rise in Covid-19 cases in that will occur in January as a result of more social mixing.

      “Many people will welcome the new temporary guidelines, but others will be apprehensive about the risks of meeting up over Christmas. Whatever risks this decision poses, we do not seek to change it. But we as doctors have a responsibility to help minimise any impact.

      “… But we also know that after the hardest of years, maintaining adherence to existing restrictions will be very difficult for some and therefore unrealistic to expect.”

      “It is therefore down to every one of us to think very carefully about our plans for those five days. All we ask, as we have done throughout the pandemic, is that when you make your choices about Christmas, you think of the risk of spreading Covid-19 to your family and to those in vulnerable groups in particular. … “

      So once again, the Scottish Academy, in acknowledging the difficult balancing required by political leaders and the potential adverse impact of any easing of restrictions, it frames it message as a plea to the public.

      Although concerned about the proposed five-day relaxation over Christmas – which of course was subsequently reduced – it did not seek to change the policy and it recognised the challenges of sustaining public compliance with more severe restrictions.

      Didn’t get that context from the latest BBC Scotland output!

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      1. BBC 1 evening news has just been making much of the threat of NHS Scotland being overwhelmed due to relaxation of restrictions and new strain of Covid. But of course ZERO reference to Scotland-only Covid stats for context – no comparative account.

        And then the BBC gives an opportunity for a UK minister (Ms Coffey) to offer the public reassurance over how the NHS – by implication in England – will cope and not be overwhelmed.

        But ZERO opportunity for the audience to hear a response from an NHS Scotland or SG spokesperson – despite already having a response from Jason Leitch on record.

        The BBC’s practices get more and more unacceptable – if that’s even possible!

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      2. Bravo for digging out that Scottish Academy statement and going through it Stewart, had a feeling misrepresentation was in play, you proved comprehensively that suspicion was correct…
        Unsurprising of late from BBC on Scotland matters, but no less blatant and scandalous propaganda…

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      3. I found this ‘warning’ from the Academy and tthe prominence and spin given to it by the BBC quite odd for several reasons.

        The numbers in hospital with Covid-19 has been fairly constant over the last few weeks – hovering just over1000. Ditto the numbers in ICU units which have been in the 50-60 range On the BBC Reporting Scotland tonight they quoted a total ICU capacity of just over 300 and occupancy of 288 of which around 50 or so were Covid-19 related. So still some spare capacity although we know things can turn on a sixpence where this virus is concerned so the clinicians are right to remind us to keep being careful.

        Another reason for scepticism of the BBC’s promotion, if that is the right word, of the strain on NHS Scotland is that until now hospitals in Scotland have not featured in any reports on ‘NHS at breaking point’. For example, round about the 18th Dec both BBC News and Ch4 news did major items on the strain being experienced by hospitals in Wales, NI and in England in particular London. Any mention of hospitals in Scotland was conspicuous by its absence. In NI 7 of its 11 hospitals were closed to routine admissions and services. Several trusts in Wales were in a similar position. I thing the number of Covid patients in hospital is around double the number in Scotland.

        I hope the truncated Christmas due to the new restrictions will cut any surge and not overwhelm the system. At the moment in Scotland it seems that by and large hospitals are coping.

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    2. stewartb
      No need to wonder
      Why because in the last 7 days England has had almost 250,000 new infections
      Whilst Scotland less than 10000
      The English number Will soon translate into
      Hospital admissions that WILL replicate the scenes seen in Northern Italy in the early stages of the pandemic
      They are merely hoping the same happens here so practising dipping their tarry brush into the same tar barrel for which they fervently hope that they can empty a bag of feathers over all
      ABC (BBC)
      Are totally evil
      I have more respect for the Mafia and the IRA
      at least they made you well aware of what would befall you should you ever attempted
      to escape their hold
      BBC are plague spreaders just as guilty as the US cavalry dragged infectious blankets through Red Indian camps
      I shall never ever apologise for this comment
      Call a spade a spade
      Never prevaricate with Devils

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