A kind word can help us overcome the worst effects of coronavirus

By First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

The  points that I want to make here today are about context, perspective and individual agency.  I make them to acknowledge, and not in any way to minimise, what we are all going through right now. I am acutely aware that as we enter winter with tough restrictions still in place, and mounting worries for many people about jobs and livelihoods, it can be hard to escape feelings of despair and helplessness. However, I want to encourage everyone to hold on to some key truths and to the hope that comes from them.

First, this pandemic will not last forever. It will pass and we will—I hope, soon—be able to foresee the time when we can start to talk about it in the past tense.

Secondly, we are not alone, either as a country or as individuals. This is a global pandemic. Countries across the world are going through exactly the same as we are going through, and are taking the same decisions that Scotland is being forced to take.

Here in the UK, Northern Ireland has introduced tough new curbs in the past 48 hours, which reflects the very high prevalence of the virus there. Additional restrictions are being introduced in parts of England and, as I mentioned, Wales is introducing further restrictions on travel.

Across Europe, restrictions on hospitality and other facets of everyday life have been reintroduced recently in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Ireland and many other countries.

Governments and populations around the world are wrestling with how to tackle and live with the virus, and we must try to learn from each other.

I know that, here at home, many people are struggling with feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety, but support—both practical and emotional—is available if people need it. Details of that can be found on the NHS Inform website.

As we deal with the difficult few months that lie ahead, let us all remember to be kinder to each other than we might normally be. Let us look out for people, offer help if we can, and remember that this is no-one’s fault.

I know that our experiences are different, but the pandemic is something that we are all living through. None of us is exempt from the impact, and we are all finding it hard, so let us try to help each other as much as we possibly can.

I know that this could sound clichéd, but I make no apology for saying that love, kindness and solidarity are more important right now than ever before.

Even just a smile and a kind word can help to make a tough day slightly better, so we should never underestimate the difference that we can all make, in ways large and small, to help each other through this difficult period.

Thirdly, let us remember that, although we cannot, unfortunately, magic the virus away or guarantee that we will not get it or pass it on, none of us is powerless against it. We can all, and we must all, act and behave in ways that will help to stop it in its tracks.

That will make us safer as individuals, it will help to protect our loved ones, our wider communities and the national health service, and it will save lives.

So, although I know that it is difficult and frustrating, please abide by all the rules and guidance. They are there for our individual and collective protection.

Finally, remember FACTS. Face coverings protect other people and help other people to protect you. Avoiding places with crowds of people also protects you and others. Cleaning your hands and surfaces does so, too. Keeping 2m distance from people in other households reduces the chances of the virus spreading from one person to another. Self-isolating and getting a test if you have symptoms will break the chains of transmission, too.

Now more than ever, it is vital for all of us that we follow all that advice and do everything that we can to beat Covid back. By doing so, we will protect ourselves, those whom we love and our communities. We will help our NHS to care for the people who need it and, above all, we will save lives.