1/ If you live in - or have recently spent time in - the Southside of Glasgow, PLEASE help get this outbreak under control by taking a test. I’ve just done so myself - thankfully negative! In this thread, I’ll post some useful links about where to access tests and what to do.
2/ Home lateral flow testing kits can be collected from the following Southside locations:
⚫ Govanhill - Calder St Health Centre car park
⚫ Glasgow Central Mosque
⚫ Tramway (Overflow Car Park), Pollokshields
4/ For instruction on using a lateral flow test, watch this helpful video from @jasonleitch - and remember to register the test result at gov.uk/report-COVID-1…
5/ Lastly, if you live in G41/42 please look out for further communication from the local public health team over the next few days. Thank you 🙏
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1/ I’m understandably inundated with messages about y’day’s disgraceful scenes in Glasgow. Police still have a job to do, which restrains my comments to some extent - but to say I’m utterly disgusted by the Rangers fans who rampaged through the city would be an understatement...
2/ I’m also angry on behalf of every law abiding citizen. In normal times, the violence & vandalism, & the vile anti Catholic prejudice that was on display, would have been utterly unacceptable. But mid-pandemic, in a city with cases on the rise, it was also selfish beyond belief
3/ People across the country still living under the most difficult restrictions - not able to see family or attend weddings and funerals - are rightly furious at the irresponsible actions of a thuggish minority who seem to care little for the risks they pose to other people
1/ Today’s events were entirely down to @ukhomeoffice actions. @policescotland were in an invidious position - they do not assist in the removal of asylum seekers but do have a duty to protect public safety. They act independently of ministers, but I support this decision
2/ I disagree fundamentally with @ukhomeoffice immigration policy but even putting that aside, this action was unacceptable. To act in this way, in the heart of a Muslim community as they celebrated Eid, and in an area experiencing a Covid outbreak was a health & safety risk
3/ Both as MSP and as FM, I will be demanding assurances from the UK government that they will never again create, through their actions, such a dangerous situation. No assurances were given - and frankly no empathy shown - when I managed to speak to a junior minister earlier
1/5 The rapid increase in Covid cases, driven by the new variant, is of v serious concern. The steep increases & severe NHS pressure being experienced in other parts of the UK is a sign of what may lie ahead. So we must take all steps to slow spread while vaccination progresses
2/5 We, like other countries, are in a race between this faster spreading strain of Covid and the vaccination programme. As we work to vaccinate as quickly as possible, we must also do more to slow down the virus - to save lives & help the NHS care for all those who need it
3/5 Following a meeting of @scotgov resilience committee y’day to assess latest situation, the Cabinet will meet tomorrow am to consider further action to limit spread & I’ve asked for @ScotParl to be recalled tomorrow afternoon so that I can set out our decisions in a statement
1/ Spent much of today in meetings about the impact of closure of France-UK border to accompanied freight, and @scotgov is actively engaged in supporting resolution of these issues. A few points worth highlighting... bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…
2/ The most urgent priority is for UK to reach agreement with France on a protocol that will get freight moving again. There is not a moment to lose on this and while the UK government has lead responsibility here, we will do all we can to support.
3/ Our most immediate concern is for our exporting seafood sector. This is the peak time of year for business and the impact on them is significant. I raised the issue of compensation at the COBR meeting earlier and @scotgov will also liaise with sector about support we can offer
1/ I was heartbroken to learn this morning of the passing of Sir Sean Connery. Our nation today mourns one of her best loved sons. bbc.co.uk/news/entertain…
2/ Sean was born into a working class Edinburgh family and through talent & sheer hard work, became an international film icon and one of the world's most accomplished actors
3/ Sean will be remembered best as James Bond - the classic 007 - but his roles were many & varied. He was a global legend but, first and foremost, a patriotic and proud Scot - his towering presence at the opening of @ScotParl in 1999 showed his love for the country of his birth.
Re speculation about lockdown in England - 1/ Prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are early signs that the tough restrictions in place since we moved quickly in late September have started to slow the rate of increase...
2/ We will base decisions on circumstances here - though what happens just across our border is clearly not irrelevant to our considerations. In coming days @scotgov will consider data on the spread of the virus, as we always do, and take account of any developments in England...
3/ Amongst other factors, this consideration will have to include whether any financial support will be available now as a result of steps in England, which would not be guaranteed to Scotland later.