More support needed for people to self-isolate

Thu 19 Nov, 2020

Low compliance rates show more support is needed for those who lack resources or space to self-isolate, the Scottish Greens have said.

At FMQS the First Minister could not say whether promised access to hotel rooms for people self-isolating has happened.

Scotland surpasses 5000 coronavirus deaths

Wed 18 Nov, 2020

Commenting on figures published by NRS, showing that 5,135 coronavirus deaths have been registered in Scotland, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP said:

Scottish Government warned against complacency on testing

Tue 17 Nov, 2020

The Scottish Government must get on with regular asymptomatic testing for front line staff, the Scottish Greens have said, after the First Minister announced that next week we will see “options for extending testing to other groups of key workers”.

Responding to the First Minister’s statement on the new lockdown tiers and plans for testing, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said: “The time for exploring options on COVID testing is long past, we need action. If we had seen this earlier, we might not have needed a ramp up on restrictions, including on travel.

Greens: More clarity needed on student testing plans

Wed 11 Nov, 2020

Responding to the Scottish Government’s five point plan for student testing, Scottish Green health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said:

“I have consistently called for Scotland to show much more ambition on asymptomatic testing, so I welcome this move in the right direction on students.

“However, I’m concerned that the minister couldn’t commit to the same robust testing when students return in January. We don’t want to see the same mess of students being locked in halls again in the new year. Testing can’t be a one-off initiative, it needs to be an ongoing commitment.

Govt must come clean on track and trace errors

Wed 11 Nov, 2020

The Scottish Government must reveal the impact of errors in the track and trace system which saw around half of cases fail to be interviewed within 24 hours of being notified.

Reports show Pubic Health Scotland reporting contained errors which suggested contact tracing was happening better than it actually was. [1]

In some examples, actual rates were around five times worse than reported.

Scotland must not follow Dominic Cummings on self isolation

Tue 10 Nov, 2020

Proposals from Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings to reduce the time of self-isolation to 10 days could be at odds with current scientific advice, the Scottish Greens have warned.

People are currently asked to self-isolate for two weeks if they or a family member tests positive for COVID.

First Minister reveals lack of urgency on COVID testing

Tue 10 Nov, 2020

The First Minister has rejected calls to introduce weekly COVID tests for all NHS staff.

In a letter to Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone, Nicola Sturgeon appeared to rule out testing all hospital staff, instead preferring a slower, more gradual approach.

Scottish Greens welcome apparent vaccine breakthrough

Mon 9 Nov, 2020

Welcoming reports that substantial progress has been made in establishing a coronavirus vaccine, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP said:

“The news that rapid progress is being made toward a coronavirus vaccine is hugely encouraging and provides a much needed glimmer of light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel.

Scale of care home scandal astonishing say Greens

Wed 28 Oct, 2020

The scale of the care home scandal at the outset of the Covid19 crisis which led to people who had tested positive, and others who had not been tested at all, being discharged into care homes is astonishing, Scottish Greens Health Spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP has said.

Scottish Government cannot rely on UK testing system say Greens

Mon 19 Oct, 2020

Responding to reports of capacity issues and delays with the UK Government’s Lighthouse testing facility in Glasgow, Scottish Greens Health Spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP said:

“It’s been clear for some time that the UK Government’s privatised testing system is not fit for purpose. Now, once again, this shambles has left us with no idea about how many new cases there are in Scotland.