Coronavirus (COVID-19) protective measures: indicators and data

Conclusion

Scotland as a whole continues to make good progress in tackling the virus with cases having been driven down considerably from the peak seen at the early part of the year due to the B.1.1.7 variant.  Crucially, hospitalisations and death rates have reduced significantly and the vaccination programme is progressing very well. However, the virus still has the potential to cause localised outbreaks and national resurgence, with the possibility of exponential growth in cases and potentially hospitalisations and deaths, requiring our route out of the pandemic to continue to be managed carefully. To ensure proportionality, it is necessary to consider where areas may, for reasons of prevalence, context and geography, be able to move to lower levels of restrictions.

The current  approach – a national path of easing restrictions but with scope for local variation informed by these indicators and the wider context – gives us the best chance of moving effectively through the next phase of the pandemic consistent with our strategic intent to suppress the virus and minimise the broader harms of the crisis.  As with other aspects of our COVID response, this approach will be kept under review to ensure it remains appropriate for the changing nature of the pandemic.

The current  approach – a national path of easing restrictions but with scope for local variation informed by these indicators and the wider context – gives us the best chance of moving effectively through the next phase of the pandemic consistent with our strategic intent to suppress the virus and minimise the broader harms of the crisis. As with other aspects of our COVID response, this approach will be kept under review to ensure it remains appropriate for the changing nature of the pandemic.