Scotland must not follow Dominic Cummings on self isolation
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.
Reports have revealed the proposed change comes after a row with England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and is being pushed by the prime minister’s most senior aide Cummings, who escaped punishment for breaking travel restrictions during the first lockdown.
Responding to Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland had “no immediate plans” to reduce the self-isolation period and promised to follow clinical advice.
Speaking after the First Minister set out changes to Scotland’s local authority tiers, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said: “After breaking lockdown rules Dominic Cummings should be last person driving the response to this public health crisis.
“I am pleased the First Minister has committed to follow medical advice on the length of self-isolation. If compliance is an issue, we need to be supporting people better to self-isolate, not placing them in danger.
On testing, Alison Johnstone said: “The First Minister is right that we all want to see a decline in cases, but that’s why she needs to step up Scotland’s approach to testing. All frontline staff in the NHS and social care should have been getting weekly tests months ago.”