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Scottish Government

Scotland Baby Box

Scotland Baby Box on Sunday 15 August

A Scotland Baby Box is offered to all newborns in Scotland.

Parents have overwhelmingly backed Scotland Baby Box.

In an independent evaluation, 97% of parents rated the box and its contents as good.

Around 186,000 Baby Boxes will have been delivered to families by its fourth anniversary on Sunday (15 August). Uptake among expectant parents hit a record high of 98% in 2020.

In the evaluation, parents highlighted benefits of the Scotland Baby Box, including saving them money on essential items for newborns and helping with information on child health and development.

In the evaluation:

  • 91% parents agreed that getting a baby box had saved them money on items they would otherwise have to buy
  • 84% of parents said they had found the leaflet on safe sleeping useful
  • 60% of parents felt the inclusion of books in the baby box had encouraged them to start reading with their baby earlier – younger, first-time and lower income parents were particularly likely to say this
  • 66% of parents said they found the leaflet on breastfeeding useful and 68% found the leaflet on post-natal depression useful

Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said:

“The Baby Box is part of our commitment to making sure that every child, no matter what their circumstances, has the best start in life. I am delighted that so many parents continue to value the box, and that they and their babies are benefitting from it and its contents.

“It is encouraging to see that the positive impacts of the Baby Box are felt right across all families, but particularly among first-time parents, younger parents and families on lower incomes.

“This evaluation really highlights the positive impact it is having on parents and their newborns  – a fitting tribute on its fourth birthday.”

Jackie Tolland, from Parent Network Scotland, said:

“As a parenting organisation, we were delighted to be part of the launch of the Baby Box in 2017. Since then, we have heard many stories about how helpful and very much-needed the Baby Box has been to families. We continue to promote the Baby Box and thank the Scottish Government for keeping parents in mind at the start of their parenting journey. We appreciate all the support.”

A Scotland Baby Box is offered to all newborns in Scotland.

Scotland Baby Box provides families with a range of essential items for their first six months, delivered in a sturdy cardboard box, which can be used as a safe sleeping space during the early months of a baby’s life.  The contents of the baby box are designed to inform and support positive parenting behaviours.

Scotland Baby

Here is the full list of items included in Scotland’s Baby Box:

A poem written by Scotland’s national poet, Jackie Kay, ‘Welcome Wee One’.

Scratch mittens (newborn)

Short-sleeved vest (newborn)

Long-sleeved vest (newborn)

Long-sleeved side buttoning vest (newborn)

Cotton hat (0-3 months)

Long-sleves vest (x2) (0-3 months)

Long-sleeved sleepsuit (0-3 months)

Jersey leggings (x2) (0-3 months)

Socks (0-3 months)

All-in-one daysuit (0-6 months)

Jersey trousers (3-6 months)

Long-sleeves sleepsuit (3-6 months)

Pair of socks (3-6 months)

Fleece jacket with hood (3-6 months)

Mattress

Mattress protector

Fitted sheet

Cellular blanket

Baby wrap

Hooded bath towel

Digital ear thermometer

Bath sponge

Bath and room thermometer

Teething ring soother

Baby books

Play mat

Emery boards

Bib

Muslin cloth squares (x3)

Comforter toy

Travel mat

Pack of disposable nursing pads

Maternity pads

Pack of three condoms (x2)

Further information

Baby Box University – This is an online education platform which hosts video clips on parent and baby health and wellbeing for new and expectant parents ( Baby Box University website www.babyboxuniversity.com )

Follow Peterhead.Live on Facebook for get more actual information

Self-isolation rules

New Self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID-19

Changes are being made to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID cases to allow essential staff in critical roles to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure.

It will be possible to apply to exempt those who work in critical roles where staff shortages are in danger of putting essential services, such as health and social care, transport and the provision of food supplies at risk.

Exemption will only be granted in respect of members of staff who voluntarily agree not to self isolate, and the employers’ duty of care to all their employees must be respected.

Strict conditions will apply – staff must be double-vaccinated and in receipt of their second dose at least two weeks previously. They will also require to have a negative PCR test and to agree to undertake daily lateral flow tests.

Applications may be made via the Scottish Government website.

Exemptions will be made on a temporary basis and last only for as long as there is an immediate risk to business or service continuity.

Coronavirus Scotland
Self-isolation rules

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“It is essential that lifeline services and critical national infrastructure are maintained and we are implementing these changes now – ahead of possible changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts that may apply more generally in future – to ensure staff shortages do not put key services at risk.

“We have seen significant staff shortages in a small number of organisations in recent days and we have worked with them to protect services. Applications for exemptions are being considered from today and we will consider applications as they come in.

“Clinical evidence tells us we can safely and effectively release some critical staff from self-isolation, with appropriate safeguards. However, this is a very limited change at this stage, to be applied on a case by case basis and only where absolutely necessary.

“We will not allow key services to be threatened by staff shortages but equally we must continue to protect public health.”

More information

Information and support for people who are asked to self-isolate because of COVID-19.

The First Minister set out to parliament on 13 July that changes to self-isolation policy may take effect beyond Level 0.

Under this new process, before a staff member who is a close contact of a positive case can return to work, they must fulfil the following criteria:

  • be fully vaccinated, having had their second dose at least 14 days before exposure
  • be asymptomatic, and be in possession of a valid vaccination record (available from NHS Inform here)
  • have evidence of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
  • return a daily negative lateral flow test for up to 10 days after exposure
  • fully comply with any PPE requirements, hand hygiene and other infection control measures

Staff who cannot reasonably isolate from on-going exposure to a COVID positive household member will not usually be asked to return to work.

Applications can be made via the Scottish Government website and will be required to demonstrate:

  • that the organisation meets the definition of CNI as set out here Critical National Infrastructure | CPNI
  • how self-isolation is impacting critical functions and services
  • what steps have already been taken to address this pressure
  • the impact of no action
  • the scope of the requested exemption – location, number of staff etc
  • whether they are currently engaging with a local IMT regarding outbreak management

Health, social care and local services will have a different process and this will be communicated separately.

Scotland will move

Scotland will move to Level 0 on Monday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed that all of Scotland will move to Level 0 Covid -19 restrictions on Monday – however, there would be a number of changes to what had previously been announced.

Scottish Government covid protection levels update

From Monday (19 July) Scotland will move to Level 0, with modifications on previous guidance:

Scotland will move to Level 0 with Main changes new things:

  • Up to 8 people from 4 households can meet in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight.
  • Up to 10 people from 4 households can meet in an indoor public place with 1m distance between households.
  • Up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors in your garden or a public place for informal gathering – distancing not required within the group of 15 outdoors, but different groups need to distance.
  • You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home.
  • Customers no longer need to pre-book a two-hour time slot in hospitality venues (unless the venue requests it) but track and trace details must still be collected.
  • Hospitality venues must close at midnight.
  • Those arriving from amber list countries will no longer have to isolate on arrival in Scotland, if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
  • You can travel anywhere in Scotland.
  • You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries.
  • Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
  • You should still work from home where possible.
  • All organized outdoor and indoor sports, personal training, organized exercise and coaching are permitted with safety measures.
  • Small seated indoor events are permitted with a maximum of 400 people.
  • Outdoor seated and open space events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 2,000 people.
  • Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people.
  • We still shouldn’t be car sharing with those not in our household.
  • We should be testing regularly, regardless of whether or not we have COVID-19 symptoms – full details on different types of testing: https://www.gov.scot/…/coronavirus-covid-19-getting…/
  • Make sure you get both doses of your vaccine to reduce the risk of serious illness if you catch COVID-19.
  • Beyond Level 0 (on track for 9 August), the blanket self-isolation of all close contacts will be removed if double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test.
  • Advice is being gathered on the removal of self-isolation of young people who are close contacts in education settings. A further update and decision on this will be taken before the return of schools.
  • The next full review of the protection levels will take place on Tuesday 3 August ahead of the potential move beyond Level 0 from Monday 9 August.
Scotland will move
Scotland will move to Level 0

Scotland will move to Level 0: what you can do

Check the level for an area using the postcode tool.

At Level 0:

  • you can meet socially in groups:
    • of up to 8 people from 4 households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
    • of up to 10 people from 4 households in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant
    • of up to 15 people from 15 households outdoors
  • under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but count towards the household numbers indoors
  • you do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home
  • you can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
  • you can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
  • you can provide informal childcare, for example to look after a grandchild
  • up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals
  • tradespeople can carry out any work in your home such as painting, decorating or repairing
  • you should work from home where possible

Testing

Everyone is encouraged to get tested, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Testing is free and results are available in around 30 minutes. Read guidance on getting tested.

Scotland will move to Level 0 What can open:

Places and business that can open at Level 0 include:

  • cafés, pubs and restaurants
  • all shops and stores
  • all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
  • all sport and exercise
  • tourist accommodation
  • all visitor attractions
  • all public buildings like libraries and community centres
  • all entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)
  • stadiums and events – with maximum numbers
  • a limited and phased return to offices

What must close at Level 0

Places and business that must close at Level 0 include:

  • Nightclubs and adult entertainment.

School clothing grant

School clothing grant

Help with school clothing grant for uniforms increases.

Eligible families can apply for a grant of at least £120 to help with the cost of school uniforms.

The Scottish Government and local authority leaders have reached an agreement to increase the national school clothing grant to a minimum of £120 per eligible primary school pupil and £150 per eligible secondary school pupil.  This will be supported by £11.8 million of additional funding to local authorities.

The announcement marks another commitment for the first 100 days of this Government.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“School uniforms can place a significant financial burden on families, some of whom are already facing additional hardship as a result of the pandemic.

“This school clothing grant will help to relieve some of that pressure for around 145,000 families and it will help to ensure that all children can go to school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”

COSLA Children and Young People’s spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said:

“Councils and schools are working to tackle the costs of the school day, ensuring that all children are able to fully participate in their education. Working with the Scottish Government, we are pleased that the national minimum school clothing grant has been increased and that families can get extra support as we continue on the road to recovery from the pandemic.”

Eligible families can apply for the school clothing grant through their local council.

School clothing grant

Help with school clothing costs – mygov.scot

COVID-19 Scotland

COVID Scotland update

COVID Scotland update: First Minister’s statement – 29 June 2021

Today’s statistics of COVID Scotland have actually just been published on the Scottish Government’s website, given that today’s briefing is a bit later than normal so I am going to quickly summarise these.

 COVID Scotland – Three thousand one hundred and eighteen positive cases were reported yesterday which is 11.6% of all of the tests carried out.

COVID Scotland – The total number of confirmed COVID Scotland cases for the duration of the pandemic is now 277,335.

COVID Scotland – As of today  215 people are receiving hospital treatment – that  is an increase of 13 since yesterday.

And 20 people are in intensive care, and that  is the same number as  yesterday.

COVID Scotland – Sadly, one further death has been  reported and that takes the total number of deaths registered, under our daily definition to 7,713.

And, as always, my deepest condolences are with  everyone who has lost someone as a result of the virus.

Let me also briefly update on the vaccination programme.

As of this morning, 3,781,887 people have received a first.

COVID Scotland: That’s an increase of 16,508 since yesterday.

And 9,420 people got a second dose yesterday, which brings the total number of second doses now to 2,701,195.

Today’s case numbers reinforce the pattern that we have seen over the past week.

There has been a much faster increase in cases than at any time since the start of this year – in fact, over the past 7 days we have reported more than twice as many new cases as we did in the previous week. 

In recent days, the numbers of positive cases being reported has also been higher than at any previous point in the pandemic.

It is, however,  important to put that into context, and there is two contextual points that I think it is worth me making at this stage.

Firstly, and before I make this one let  me be very clear that this is early days and we need to monitor this over the course of coming days.

When we look at cases over the past week by the date the specimen was taken as opposed to the date we report the test result, which are the numbers we report on a daily basis, then what we see is a peak in cases last Tuesday and since then we have seen what appears to be a slowing down of the rate of increase.

So that is encouraging, but again I would stress that it is early days, we will want to monitor this carefully over the days to come and obviously see what that looks like a week form now.

 But the second, perhaps more fundamental point of context is that while we are comparing case numbers now to the situation at the start of the year. It is the case that at the start of the year, which was the last time case numbers were anywhere near the numbers they are at just now, we were in much stricter lockdown.

Far, far fewer restrictions are in force now

So the reality now that now without vaccination the level of restrictions that are in place just now would undoubtedly be leading to far higher case numbers than is actually the case.

So that is the first sign that vaccination is actually having an effect.

But the number of new cases now is still a cause for concern – and it is obviously the main issue I want to talk about today.

Before I  come on to do that, though, in a bit more detail, l just want to confirm a change that we have indicated this morning in relation to travel.

Because there is no longer a significant difference in case rates between Scotland and the following places, I can confirm that the travel restrictions relating to Manchester, Salford and Bolton are being lifted.

However restrictions will remain in place for now between Scotland and Blackburn with Darwen – where case levels remain higher than in those three other areas. We will undertake a further review of those restrictions, over the course of this week.

Let me return now, though,  to the situation here in Scotland.

As we have been saying from the start of this year, we are very much in a race just now between the virus and the vaccines. Our job is to do all we can to make sure the vaccine stays ahead of the virus.

I should be very clear we are confident, very confident that the vaccines will ultimately win this race. The question is what happens between now and then.

If, over the next few weeks, the virus gets ahead, unfortunately we will see more people become ill, we will see more people die and we will see more significantly pressure on our National Health Service than will be the case if we manage to keep the vaccines ahead of the virus

 The problem we have got just now is  the virus is running faster than it has ever done previously.

COVID Scotland – The Delta variant that we are dealing with just now is –  accounts for the overwhelming bulk of all new cases right now – is significantly more transmissible than previous variants.

And that is helping to driving the steep rise in cases that we have  been seeing in recent days.

On the other hand, and this is the positive part,  we know that the vaccines are breaking the link between cases and serious illness.

The nature of this wave of the virus is different both in nature but also in  impact than previous waves.

 Let me just illustrate that over the whole pandemic, round about 13% of all cases and 89% of all deaths have been in the over 65  year old age group.

However because virtually all over 65 year olds have now had both doses of vaccine, that is changing, and it is changing really markedly.

According to our most recent figures, those aged 65 or over are now accounting for just 2% of new cases. And what we have seen in recent days is that more than 80% of new cases are in people under the age of 44.

The impact of vaccination is also clear when we look at the data on hospitalisations.

Back in January, more than 10% , perhaps closer to 13 % of people who tested positive for COVID Scotland were being admitted to hospital within 14 days of the positive test.

By the start of June, the start of this month that had fallen to just 3%.

In addition, more of those who are admitted to hospital with COVID Scotland now are being discharged relatively quickly.

Again, that will reflect the fact that most new cases now are in younger age groups.

So in summary, fewer people who get COVID Scotland now need to go to hospital. And a higher proportion of people who do need to go to hospital, are not staying in hospital for as long.

Those two factors are helping, obviously, to cut down the serious illness impact of the virus, but also they are helping to  protect the NHS from the full scale of the pressure that case numbers like this would have heaped on it before vaccination – and these factors are also what continues to give us  confidence that vaccination is going to get us out of this. And that hasn’t changed.

That is why, notwithstanding this increase in cases that we are seeing just now – and obviously bearing in mind that we have  to keep this under review, as we always have done  – we do remain hopeful that we will be able  to continue lifting restrictions first on the 19 July and then ultimately on the  9 August.

But – and this is an important but – how safely we get there will depend on what we do now.

This is a critical moment – I really can’t stress that enough – and over the next few weeks, it demands renewed care and vigilance from all of us.

COVID Scotland, The virus, as we can see,  is still out there – and it is still potentially dangerous.

COVID Scotland Vaccination is very effective – after two doses – but no vaccine gives 100% protection.

And – importantly – while we are vaccinating as quickly as we can, there are still a lot of people who do not yet have the protection of both doses of the vaccine.

That includes many younger people. And while younger people are much less likely to fall seriously ill, they can still be badly affected, including of course from long COVID Scotland.

And finally, while we know that a lower percentage of people with COVID Scotland are ending up in hospital now, the fact is that a lower percentage of a very big number of cases, is still  going to be a sizeable number.

So if cases continue to rise as they have been doing, we will see pressure on our NHS in coming weeks – and our worry is that that will set back work that is now being done to recover our  NHS and catch up with the COVID Scotland backlogs.

And so my appeal to everyone right now is a serious one.

While we work hard to get to get people vaccinated – and more and more people are being fully vaccinated every days just now,  please help us keep the virus at bay by taking care and following all of the vital health advice.

I know, I really do know, everyone is sick of this – and I include myself in that – I also know that many feel frustrated because we might think others are not taking this as seriously as we have been – but the fact is we are so close now, not just at seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but actually  reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.

Having come so far, let’s redouble our efforts, just for  a few more weeks,  to make sure that we get there and get there as safely as possible.

So there are three key things in particular that each of us really need to do right now to help make sure we get to those milestones, and get to those milestones with as little health impact as we possibly can.

I know that you will have heard this before.

But I’m stressing it again for a reason – with case levels so high, it really is vital that we all play our part in slowing the virus down while the vaccines continue to get ahead and do their work.

So, firstly, please continue to follow the key rules where you live and all of the basic but vital public health advice – for example on physical distancing, hand-washing and face coverings.

Also, meet other people outdoors as much as possible particularly when the weather is a bit nicer – no environment is risk free, but we know that outdoors is relatively safe compared to indoors.

If you are meeting people indoors, please stick to the limits and open the windows to maximise ventilation.

That does apply if you are watching football – or of course now with Wimbledon underway   the tennis.

Good luck to Andy Murray for his next match. And good luck to England tonight.

But if you are planning to watch sport indoors with others, please remember that the maximum group size is 6 people, from 3 households. And the 3 households includes  your own.

That rule is really important. And if we all stop and think about it, It is obvious why that rule is important, if somebody in your group has COVID Scotland and might not realise it, then if you have got a limited number of people and households in the house with them, then it is reducing the number of households that the virus might be able to spread to

In addition, try to make sure that people from different households are sitting as far apart as is possible. And as I said earlier, keep some windows open because that helps ventilation and the better ventilated a room is, the less risky it is going to be.

 The second thing everybody is being asked to do, please get tested regularly – and that is especially important if you are planning to visit somebody. Test before you go. Because you are helping not just to spot if you have the virus, but you are obviously helping to protect those you are going to visit.

Lateral flow tests are available through the NHS inform website.

You can get them sent to you that way in the post. But also now you can collect them from local and regional test sites, and from your local pharmacies.

If you test positive through one of these lateral flow devices – or if you have symptoms of the virus – make sure that you self-isolate, and book a PCR test as quickly as possible, and that’s vitally important.

If you are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID Scotland, you will be asked to self-isolate for 10 days –usually through a text message so that gets to you as quickly as possible.

Self-isolation is really tough. It is probably more frustrating now that there are fewer restrictions in place than it was earlier in the pandemic .

But it remains vitally important to help break chains of transmission.

Thirdly and finally, our key and ultimate weapon against the virus is the vaccine.

So make sure that you do get vaccinated when you are invited to do so. And make sure you attend for both doses.

If you are aged 18 or over, you should definitely have received news of your first appointment by now.

If you haven’t done so – go on to the NHS Inform website, you can self-register. The new portal which allows you to do that opened yesterday.

 And that means your up to date details can be submitted and you can get an appointment sent to you as quickly as possible

You should also go to the  website if you need to rearrange an appointment, or if you had your first dose of the vaccine 8 weeks or more ago and want to bring your second appointment forward.

I cant stress enough how important it is that all of us get vaccinated with both doses.

It protects you – but it also protects your family, your friends and anyone that you come into contact with.

So please make sure that you get both doses when you get your invitation – I think, part of the collective, civic duty we all owe to each other.

But to be blunt about it,  it is also our ticket out of this nightmare. So let’s  make sure make full use of it and get out of this as quickly as possible

So these are the three points I want to stress.

Get vaccinated when you are asked, get tested regularly and particularly if you are going to visit somebody or going for an outing somewhere, and continue to follow the public health guidance.

The current surge in cases is a concern – we are seeing it happening elsewhere as the COVID Scotland Delta variants starts to take hold – so I’m not going to pretend it is not a concern.

 But I do know that if we all exercise caution and common sense we can make a difference while the vaccine gets ahead. And I remain as confident, possibly even more confident than I have ever been that the vaccine is getting us out of this.

 So if we can all can just keep the heed, keep doing all the things we know we need to do so that we can look forward to the vaccine  getting us back to normal later this summer.

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