The service will initially focus on those who are vulnerable or isolated and don’t have a local support network, such as relatives or friends, who can help. This will include those who are self-isolating or have medical conditions, the over 70s, and single parents. … More WE’RE HERE TO HELP. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Businesses on our high streets are dealing with the reality, not the theory, of the crisis. They are saying to us that they need the support if they are going to be there at the end of the crisis. … More VIRUS: SHIELDING GRANTS FOR ONE PROPERTY ONLY
That statement made it clear that whenever a health or care worker on the front line feels that they should be wearing a mask, they should do so, as their professional judgment should be the guiding factor. … More PPE GUIDELINES CONFUSED, STATES TORY LEADER
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is using its artificial intelligence resources to improve understanding of the virus. … More HEALTH BOARD ASSISTS WITH VIRUS RESEARCH
Meanwhile, home care workers in Dumbarton and elsewhere are dying from having picked up the virus while having to keep up their hectic house calls schedule, which hardly gives them time to give clients a cup of tea. … More VIRUS: LOCAL MPs GIVEN £10,000 EXTRA IN EXPENSES
On the evening of Easter Sunday, Christians are invited to join in prayer at 7pm. We will be providing a prayer in both English and Gaelic which will be available from Friday evening on the Church of Scotland website. … More VIRUS: VIRTUAL RELIGION OVER EASTER WEEKEND
This week, Jackie Baillie also raised concerns over the growing number of care home patients who were dying as a result of the virus. She warned that these numbers would continue to grow if serious action wasn’t taken. … More VIRUS: MSP BAILLIE ON TRAGIC RISE IN DEATHS
The family of the first person from Dumbarton to die in the coronavirus pandemic have asked that we respect their privacy at this stressful time, and we are doing that. However, below, is the text of the homily given by Canon Gerry Conroy during the service at St Patrick’s Church on Wednesday morning to give … More VIRUS: HOMILY AT FUNERAL MASS FOR FIRST LOCAL PERSON TO DIE
Mr Rennie said: “People who are self-isolating or shielding others are running out of cash because they can’t get to the bank and some don’t have internet access. … More MUTUAL AID GROUPS SHOULD HAVE CARD READERS
people most at risk from COVID-19. More than that, local people are looking out for their neighbours and friends in different ways to help ensure that isolating doesn’t mean being isolated. This community spirit is something we should all be proud of in Argyll and Bute. … More VIRUS: ARGYLL AND BUTE LEADER UPBEAT ABOUT IT
The Scottish Government has not responded to a request to comment. However it told The Times that a list would be shared with supermarkets next week to allow deliveries to start. … More VIRUS: THE VAN MAN COMETH NOT
Then along come another set of experts, including Catherine Calderwood, our former Chief Medical Officer, to tell us the focus on testing is a “diversion” and doesn’t matter all that much. Who is one to believe? On balance, we tend to accept that “we are where we are”, even if it is not quite where we should be. … More BRIAN WILSON WRITES FOR THE DEMOCRAT
The Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News are to be liquidated, it has been confirmed today. … More VIRUS: TWO MORE NEWSPAPERS CLOSE DOWN
Especially given that it is a matter of life and death, underscored by the fact that a council home care worker, Catherine Sweeney, has died after contracting coronavirus. … More NOTEBOOK: WHERE’S THE COUNCIL LEADER GONE?
Data from the NRS shows a total of 354 deaths had been linked to the virus as of 5 April. This compares to a figure of 220 deaths reported on that day using Health Protection Scotland data. … More VIRUS: DEATH NUMBERS WILL BE RELEASED WEEKLY
Jackie Baillie MSP said: “I am glad that Boots has temporarily suspended their £5 delivery charge. I called for this decision to be made months ago as it put those who were unable to leave their house at a financial disadvantage. … More BAILLIE WELCOMES BOOTS DELIVERY CHARGE WAIVER
Lent and Eastertide could be a moment of creativity and conversion for the Church, for the world and for the whole of creation. … More VIRUS: POPE FRANCIS WARNS PREPARE FOR THE AFTERMATH
“Not only do they look after her medically, they do so much more on top. They know I am down south and have gone out of their way to make sure we can stay in touch. Just brilliant.” … More I PADS KEEP PATIENTS IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY
Death stalks the area as Coronavirus impacts. Eleven deaths in ten days in one care home already. More deaths in other homes too. Complaints of severe shortages of PPE to frontline carers and NHS staff. … More VIRUS: READER COMMENT ON NEW FOI LAWS
The 7,400-tonne boats can circumnavigate the globe submerged, producing their own oxygen and drinking water. … More HMS AUDACIOUS ARRIVES AT CLYDE HOME
In addition, as previously announced, the BBC has donated £700,000 to support The Film and TV Charity to assist freelancers affected by the hiatus in filming and production caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. … More BBC SCOTLAND RINGS CHANGES DURING VIRUS LOCKDOWN
Cardinal George Pell has been driven from prison to a church property in Melbourne’s inner east after the nation’s highest court quashed his child sexual abuse convictions. … More CARDINAL FREED ON APPEAL AFTER SEX ABUSE CHARGES
They may not all be answerable within normal timescales. But authorities such as West Dunbartonshire Council which appear to treat the right to know as a disposable extra may lose public trust when they most need it. … More CORONAVIRUS: FREEDOM OF INFO REQUESTS
She was however able to tell the daily midday press briefing that the death toll in Scotland now stands at 296, an increase of 74 on yesterday’s numbers. … More VIRUS: BILL HEANEY’S NOTEBOOK ON FIRST MINISTER’S PRESS CONFERENCE
“She was a caring and generous person, especially when it came to her time, having dedicated over twenty years of her life as a home carer to unfailingly serving the needs of the most vulnerable in society.” … More VIRUS: PRAISE FOR HOME CARER CATHY SWEENEY
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson moved to intensive care 8.30pm on Monday, April 6 By Bill Heaney Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured left, has been moved to intensive care in hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street has said. Mr Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him, a spokesman added. The prime … More PRIME MINISTER MOVED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
As we hear reports of aprons, gloves and other vital personal protection equipment designed to protect workers being stolen or locked away by manufacturers, suppliers and unscrupulous people connected with hospitals and healthcare, this song by Frances Black came to mind: … More CON ARTISTS WHO RIP OFF VITAL VIRUS PROTECTION SUPPLIES
“This letter raises serious concerns over the actions of management at Castleview Care Home, which may well have had tragic repercussions for residents and their families. … More ELEVEN DEATHS IN 10 DAYS AT LOCAL CARE HOME
Tom Gordon, political editor of the Herald, got it in one when he described the handling of the sacking – was it a sacking or a resignation? – of Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer on Sunday night. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon didn’t or couldn’t say which at her press conference in St Andrews … More BILL HEANEY’S NOTEBOOK ON THE STURGEON PRESS CONFERENCE
Police Scotland can confirm that the body of a man was found on the shore between Rosneath Point, Rosneath and Kilcreggan around 12.10pm on Sunday, 5 April, 2020. … More MAN’S BODY FOUND ON PENINSULA SHORE
10.15pm. Breaking News: Catherine Calderwood, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, has resigned. … More CMO CATHERINE CALDERWOOD HAS RESIGNED
Dr Calderwood said there were “reasons” for her to have left her house in Edinburgh to go to second home, but that they were “not legitimate reasons”. … More SHAMED MEDICAL OFFICER TAKES A BACK SEAT
Coronavirus: 20% of protective equipment from China unsuitable Emergency ward – doctors and nurses working with virus patients. By Democrat reporter Around 20 per cent of a consignment of personal protection equipment (PPE) delivered from China last weekend does not meet Health Service Executive (HSE) requirements and cannot be distributed to staff dealing with patients … More VIRUS: CHINESE PROTECTION KIT ‘UNSUITABLE’
“Scotland-wide, it is worrying that absence levels among the social care workforce are soaring, as are fears about lack of personal protective equipment. … More TRAGIC DEATH OF WEST DUNBARTON CARE WORKER
Gordon Jackson QC was filmed on a train apparently making comments about the former first minister and identifying two of his accusers. … More SALMOND’S QC RESIGNS AS DEAN OF THE FACULTY
Not even the stipulation that people should stay at least two metres apart at all times made it possible to have a congregation at the service in St Patrick’s. … More VIRUS: BILL HEANEY’S NOTEBOOK COLUMN
“It demonstrates the gravity of suffering that families the length and breadth of the country have become accustomed to.” … More VIRUS: DEATHS TOTAL NOW BEYOND 200 MARK
“We can hold residents, their families and staff in our thoughts and prayers and follow the public health guidelines to stay home and reduce the devastating effect of this virus. … More MINISTER’S SYMPATHY AFTER 13 CARE HOME DEATHS
MSPs on the Committee also called for the Scottish Government to consider whether the Bill could be amended to allow already married couples to convert their marriage to a civil partnership. … More SMOOTH PASSAGE FOR NEW CIVIL PARTNERSHIP
Trade unions argue that all production should be halted due to Covid-19., but Pernod Ricard, which operates a bottling plant in Dumbarton, disagree. … More IS WHISKY ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH AND WELFARE OF SCOTLAND?
“Instead, now we are the only Western democracy to use emergency legislation to restrict scrutiny and transparency. That is not something we should be proud of.” … More SNP’S VIRUS LAWS RESTRICT SCRUTINY AND TRANSPARENCY
Efforts to tackle nursing home outbreaks to be ramped up as scandal of useless equipment from China unfolds By Democrat reporter Thirteen residents at a Glasgow care home have died in one week following a suspected outbreak of coronavirus. Staff at Burlington Care Home, Cranhill, said they were “closely monitoring” the health of other people … More VIRUS: THIRTEEN DEATHS IN ONE NURSING HOME
Pope Francis prayed also for those living in housing that makes them more susceptible to risk, such as shared houses and barracks and prisons, particularly prisons that are overcrowded. … More VIRUS: PAPAL APPEAL TO WORLD LEADERS
Ms Baillie received 10,311 votes, against 7,528 for the only other remaining candidate, Glasgow councillor Matt Kerr. … More BAILLIE’S 10,000 VOTES WINS LABOUR DEPUTY POST
“This model is deliverable, although this may in time need staff to be utilised from wider teams, such as roads and grounds staff. This means we will only be making emergency road repairs in very serious situations. … More VIRUS: A&B COUNCIL INTRODUCE TWO BIN COLLECTIONS
Dumbarton Churches Together have established a unified response to support the community of Dumbarton by bringing volunteers and people in need together; this could be something as simple as a weekly/twice weekly telephone call to those who are socially isolated or to help someone who needs food or medications picked up due to the coronavirus pandemic. … More VIRUS: GROUP BRINGING HOPE TO THE COMMUNITY
The death of someone we love is always so hard to bear, but in these extraordinarily difficult circumstances, it is an even heavier burden which people must carry, essentially, on their own. … More SCOTTISH REVIEW: LITTLE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Stay safe and follow the new arrangements at local hospitals. … More VIRUS: HEALTH BOARD’S NEW ACCESS AND PARKING RULES
Published: 03 Apr 2020 12:39 Local services to supply groceries and medicines to those most at risk Deputy FM John Swinney and CMO Catherine Calderwood. By Bill Heaney People at highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) will begin to receive home deliveries of essential groceries on Friday. Letters from the Chief Medical Officer, Catherine … More VIRUS: DELIVERIES OF FOOD FOR HIGH RISK GROUPS
And she dismissed speculation that special measures could begin to be phased out soon, telling a media conference that summer holidays, as we knew them, would not be happening. … More VIRUS: CORONA DEATHS TOTAL SURGES TO 172
