Covid in Scotland: Pupils return & vaccine impact

Summary

The first results of the vaccination programme in Scotland suggests it is having a "spectacular" impact on preventing serious illness
A further 715 positive lab tests have been recorded which is 6.6% of all tests
Hospital admissions stand at 1,141 (nine more) and of those 99 are in ICU (no change). No new deaths have been registered
Nicola Sturgeon says that tomorrow she will update Scotland on the roadmap out of lockdown, which she says will be "cautious"
The first minister adds that there will be a focus on "data and not dates" but she will give indications of the phasing of lifting restrictions and the eventual return to the levels system
Scotland's youngest pupils returned to the classroom for the first time since the Christmas break
There is also a part-time return for some senior secondary pupils to complete course work
John Swinney says it is critical that parents follow mask-wearing and physical distancing rules at the school gates

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

Daily vaccinations dip but expected to 'ramp up' in weeks to comepublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
The first minister gives an update on the vaccination programme, saying 1,445,488 people have received the first dose.
Ms Sturgeon says that's an increase of 13,546 since yesterday.
In addition 1,863 got their second dose.
The first minister says there have been slightly lower supplies which is why the daily number has gone down.
That number is expected to ramp up in the weeks to come, she adds.
715 new Covid cases confirmed but no new deathspublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Breaking
A further 715 people have tested positive for Covid-19, which is 6.6% of the total number of tests carried out.
This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 198,184.
Health board breakdown:
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: 246
- NHS Lothian: 140
- NHS Lanarkshire: 99
The remaining cases are spread across nine other health boards
There are 1,141 patients in hospital with a confirmed case (up nine), with 99 being treated in intensive care (no change on Sunday).
No new deaths have been registered however the first minister said figures may be artificially low as registration offices tend to be closed at the weekend.
The Covid-19 briefing is next...published at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Nicola Sturgeon will now lead the daily briefing
Nicola Sturgeon will now lead today's Covid-19 briefing imminently, joined by Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith.
The return of some pupils to our schools and the news that vaccinations are reducing hospitalisation in Scotland look set to dominate.
BBC One Scotland will have expert analysis and political reaction to the briefing.
Meanwhile, you can watch all the journalists' questions at the briefing on the BBC Scotland channel.
We'll bring you the best of both here on the live page, so stay with us...
Covid in Scotland: The headlines...published at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
- Covid vaccination has had a significant impact on the risk of serious illness in Scotland, an analysis shows
- The work led by Public Health Scotland found by the fourth week after the first dose hospitalisations were reduced by 85% and 94% for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs respectively
- Scotland's youngest pupils and some senior pupils are returning to the classroom for the first time since the Christmas break
- People with underlying health problems are to receive vaccine appointments, the Scottish government has announced
- All adults in Scotland could receive the first dose of the vaccine by the end of July if supply is available
- Families will be able to make regular indoor visits to loved ones in Scottish care homes from early March
- Meanwhile all schools in England are to reopen on 8 March as part of the prime minister's "cautious" plan to lift the coronavirus lockdown
Scottish vaccine study 'extremely encouraging'published at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent
Image source, getty
Initial results of the Scottish vaccination programme suggest it's having a very significant impact on preventing serious illness.
Scotland is a good place to do this kind of observational study of how the vaccines are working in the real world.
Its population size and use of individual patient identifiers (known as CHI numbers) enable scientists to track data from the entire population and get results quickly. And while it’s still early days, the data indicates that a first dose of either vaccine prevents most people becoming seriously ill.
There are limitations of course. The study only tracked those who were admitted to hospital and whether they had had a vaccine or not. It didn't count anybody who had died from Covid in a care home, for example. And it didn't look at transmissibility, only the risk of becoming seriously ill.
Other similar studies are being conducted across the UK but this data will be seen as extremely encouraging.
Lunchtime Live is under way...published at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
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Pupil return is 'moving in the right direction'published at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website
Jeff Leaver, who chairs the education committee on Dumfries and Galloway Council, says everything possible has been done to prepare for the first group of pupils going back to school in the region.
"Across the council our teams have been putting plans in place to make sure that when our schools re-open parents can be confident that all arrangements are in place for the safe reintroduction to learning," he said.
"Bringing our youngest and oldest pupils back to school is such a positive step where we begin to see some light towards the re-opening of our school buildings.
"There will be a lot of challenges ahead but we are moving in the right direction."
Back to school for the first time this yearpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
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Covid in Scotland: Restrictions, guidance and advicepublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Image source, Getty Images
1. Scottish government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external
From Tuesday 5 January, mainland Scotland moved from Level 4 to a temporary lockdown, with new guidance to stay at home, external except for essential purposes.
- read a quick guide to what you can and cannot do: stay at home infographic, external
2. Postcode checker, external for COVID restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland
3. NHS Inform, external
The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.
4. Test and Protect, external
If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test.
The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.
5. Vaccines
What should you do if you have concerns about your vaccination appointment:
- Call your GP
- Call the helpline: 0800 030 8013
- As a last resort Nicola Sturgeon has reiterated you could e-mail her team at firstminister@gov.scot
- If you need to rebook an appointment check out the details in your vaccination letter or go to NHS Inform, external
Leitch welcomes 'very encouraging' vaccine studypublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
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Covid vaccines - 'spectacular' impact on serious illnesspublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Image source, Getty images
The first results of the UK vaccination programme suggest it is having a "spectacular" impact on preventing serious illness.
Research led by Public Health Scotland found during the fourth week after the first dose, hospitalisations were reduced by 85% and 94% for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs respectively.
It is the first sign of the real world impact of vaccination in the UK.
Among the over 80s, there was an overall 81% reduction in the numbers admitted to hospital.
Read more here.
Welcomepublished at 10:09 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2021
Image caption,
Younger pupils at Laurencekirk Primary School are welcomed back to class.
Welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic this Monday 22 February 2021.
You can follow the latest developments right here and watch and listen live by clicking on one of the tabs above - for coverage on BBC One Scotland, the BBC Scotland channel and Radio Scotland.
P1 to P3 pupils returned to the classroom this morning. Some secondary children are also making a return to school.
Meanwhile the first study to report on the impact of Scotland's Covid vaccination programme has found it massively reduces the risk of severe illness resulting in hospitalisation.