‘Moments of joy’ to be savoured as lockdown gently eased

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce this afternoon (Thursday) the first tentative steps towards a ‘new normal’ with people from other households able to meet socially – while maintaining social distance – once more and some outdoor sports allowed to resume.

The announcement will allow people to be in the company of friends or family for the first time since 66 days of lockdown sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill said, for many, it would be the first time they could celebrate significant events and comfort each other over loved ones lost during the crisis.

He said: “It is good to see small steps being taken. Hopefully, they’ll allow for people to catch up on moments of joy that have been missed or comfort those who have lost.

“It’s a long way to go but a welcome start.”

Across the county, plans are afoot to reopen golf courses, bowling greens and garden centres.

The First Minister is also expected to give the green light to construction sites to restart as long as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) can be provided.

Schools will open on August 11 but teaching staff are expected to return next month and some pupils who face transitioning from nursery to P1 and primary to secondary school are likely to come into their new school at the end of next month. 

Phase one of the Scottish Government’s four phase route out of lockdown is expected to be confirmed by the First Minister this afternoon (Thursday) when she announces her review of the current lockdown restrictions.

Last week Ms Sturgeon set out a range of activities which will be allowed including outdoor recreation, meeting with people from other households and letting people who cannot work from home return to work if it can be done safely.

Iain Gray, East Lothian’s MSP, said there were questions which still needed answered by the Scottish Government.

He said: “While the ‘route map’ is understandably flexible in its later stages, we do know that there should be some easing of restrictions this week, including the return of some non-contact sport, the reopening of garden centres and recycling facilities, and being able to visit friends or relatives albeit only outside and two metres apart.

“After more than two months in lockdown this initial easing will come as a relief to many.

“However, there are still many issues the Scottish Government need to clarify about the way forward, including the expansion of testing to implement the test, trace, isolate and support strategy, measures to tackle the ongoing emergency in our care homes and plans for repairing the economy as we move out of lockdown.

“We have only reached this stage because people have obeyed lockdown, and reduced infection. It is so important as those restrictions ease that we do not slip into behaving as if we are back to normal. If we do, infections will rise again, and restrictions will be re-imposed, not eased.”

East Lothian Council leader Willie Innes thanked members of the public in the county for following the lockdown restrictions and the huge community response to help the most vulnerable people.

He said: “Dealing with the Covid-19 emergency is highly likely to remain a significant challenge for some considerable time to come. The Scottish Government has published its four-phase ‘route map’ aimed at restarting society while suppressing the virus and has confirmed that some restrictions will begin to be eased from the end of this week.

“It is very clear that, as progress remains fragile, the easing of lockdown restrictions must be taken very gradually and incrementally.

“Throughout this period we have been following the national advice and will continue to do so. “

On a practical note I, along with many others, will welcome the reopening of the recycling centres and the ability to meet friends and family albeit on a restricted basis.” East Lothian’s golf courses are being prepared to reopen with changes made to ensure safety for staff and members is a priority.

Bill Axon, chief executive of enjoyleisure, which runs golf courses at Musselburgh Old Links and Winterfield, Dunbar, said new policies include sneeze guards, masks and visors for staff and asking for flagsticks to remain in place at all times.

Mr Axon said: “For enjoyleisure, the safety of customers and colleagues come first.

“We have been constantly monitoring the latest Government advice surrounding Covid-19, and along with guidance issued by the Scottish Golf and the R&A, both courses have been adapted to comply with current social distancing policies.

“We ask all of our customers to adhere to the measures in place, so that we can continue to enjoy golf now and into the future.”

Indoor sports facilities are not included in the phase one changes but Mr Axon said enjoyleisure, which also oversees the majority of them in the county, would continue to follow government guidance on when they are allowed to reopen.

About 95 per cent of staff with enjoyleisure had been furloughed, with no redundancies made.

Mr Axon said there was no alternative work which could be offered and highlighted that the impact of the coronavirus had “not been insignificant” in terms of income, with income levels dropping by about £400,000 per month.

Malcolm Duck, who is part of the steering group involved in Scotland’s Golf Coast, said: “We are waiting for the First Minister to give us the date.

“The impression is it will be Friday but I am not sure that has been confirmed yet. Golf clubs will be able to open and people will be able to get on golf courses.”

Mr Duck encouraged people to visit the 21 courses across the county when it was safe to do so.

He said: “The weather is great and it will be great to be able to go out on the golf courses.”

Billy Mellors, county bowls development officer, said not all bowling clubs in East Lothian would be opening their doors and restrictions would be in place.

He said: “Depending on what Nicola Sturgeon says on Thursday, bowling clubs are free to open on Friday with some pretty severe restrictions in place.”

That will include limiting the number of people allowed on the green at any one time, as well as clubhouses not opening.

Brian Whellans, president of Haddington Bowling Club, said club bosses were meeting online today (Thursday) to discuss a way forward.

He said: “The bowling green is ready to go. We’ve got a greenkeeper that is paid on a monthly basis. Grass still grows and needs to be cut and things are ready to go when it is safe to do so.”

Garden centres across East Lothian have been operating a home delivery service during lockdown, but now preparations are being made for them to reopen their doors as early as Friday.

Merryhatton Garden Centre, by East Fortune; Dunbar Garden Centre and Strawberry Corner Garden Centre, Wallyford are all poised to re-open.

Merryhatton’s Helen MacDonald said that she received confirmation from the Horticultural Trade Association that, providing the First Minister gives the green light, she can open tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10am.

Merryhatton’s cafe will remain closed.

She said: “Although we’ll be delighted when we’re allowed to reopen the garden centre, we’ll continue to offer both home delivery and click and collect because we understand that some of our customers will have to remain in isolation.”

To prepare for reopening, the layout of the garden centre has been rearranged to create a “flow system” and markers have been placed on the ground, designed to help keep customers safe Helen added: “We will provide disposable gloves and sanitiser for our customers and there will be a queuing system in place to limit the number of customers at any one time.

“To be fair to all our customers we’re asking people to shop on their own or in a maximum group size of two. If at all possible, we are asking that only adult customers visit during this critical time.

“Although we’re looking forward to seeing our customers again, I have to confess to being a little nervous about re-opening with these measures in place.

“However, the safety of customers and staff is our priority and we hope that customers will be patient with us whilst we find our feet and adapt.”

Under the Scottish Government’s route map to ease lockdown restrictions, outdoor workplaces can resume with “physical distancing measures in place once guidance is agreed”, meaning that garden centres can reopen but not their cafes unless it is for takeaway.

County recycling centres are due to open to the public on Monday, with social distancing measures introduced.

Phase two of the route out of lockdown, which could be introduced at the next review in three weeks’ time, could see the return of outdoor markets such as Haddington Farmers’ Market and more workplaces open as well as the introduction of more social gatherings.

Colin Beattie, MSP for Musselburgh, welcomed the phase one plans.

Mr Beattie said: “I am pleased with the cautious approach which the Scottish Government is taking towards releasing lockdown.

“The approach is clear and unambiguous compared to the chaos and contradictions south of the border. The absolute priority is protecting lives.

“The economy is certainly going to be our next priority but we can rebuild the economy while we can’t bring back someone’s mum or dad if they contract a terminal case of Covid-19. By and large people have respected the lockdown in Scotland and I am confident that we will all continue to respect the phased release of lockdown. It is in all our best interests to do so.”

Meanwhile, the number of deaths related to Covid-19 in East Lothian has risen by two in the past week.

National Records of Scotland said that the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the county, up to Sunday, May 24, was 76 – two more than on May 17 (74 deaths).

Across Scotland, there was a total of 3,779 Covid-19 deaths up to May 24, a rise of 230 over the last week.

However it was noted this was a decrease of 105 in the number of deaths related to Covid-19 recorded in the previous week’s period and the fourth week in a row when the number of deaths recorded had fallen.