Nicola Sturgeon’s document on her strategy for easing the lockdown must be one of the more eagerly anticipated articles to be posted on the Scottish Government’s website.
This was the official piece of work that would tell the public just how brightly the light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel is shining.
Unfortunately, the contents of the Scottish Government’s 24-page Covid-19 – A Framework for Decision Making made for sobering reading.
It would appear there is some light at the end of the tunnel, but it can only be glimpsed by peering through the gloom.
Bitter disappointment must have greeted anyone hoping the document might herald joyous reunions with shielded loved ones, pubs reopening and the football season kicking off at the end of the summer.
Instead, it offered a sharp dose of reality – describing a “new normal” that involved living with the virus and only easing restrictions when it was safe to do so.
“The pandemic is a health crisis, a social crisis and an economic crisis that is causing harm on an unprecedented scale,” was how the situation was summed up.
Launching the new publication at her daily coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon did even more to manage the expectations of those yearning for a swift exit from the stifling restrictions.
Hammered home yet again was the message that the sacrifices being made by the public were saving lives. Some form of restrictions may last until next year, the first minister said. No dates for coming out of lockdown were forthcoming. And even once restrictions are relaxed, they may well have to be brought in again should the spread of the virus pick up again. There was the possibility of a “cycle of lifting and re-imposing restrictions” which would occur until a vaccine is developed.
Even small increases in the spread of the virus would have a big impact on the number of deaths. “That does not leave us much scope to ease restrictions,” the document warned.
Initial steps when it came to relaxing the guidance would be “small” and “incremental”. As the first minister put it: “Talk of lifting the lockdown as if it is flick-of-a-switch moment is misguided.”
But there was comfort in the fact that the document at least set out a coherent summary of the balancing act that has to be performed by the Scottish Government when it comes to making progress.
By having what she described as a “grown up conversation” with the Scottish public, Ms Sturgeon is making a good fist of explaining the rationale behind her decisions in what are incredibly challenging and complex circumstances.
During the briefing held to coincide with the document’s publication, it was easy to sense the frustration among London-based journalists that the Westminster government had not yet come up with something similar.
She's said 'it's only right that we treat people like grown ups by sharing our thinking with them' – press conference now
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) April 23, 2020
Ms Sturgeon has calculated that she must share her thinking with the Scottish people in order to take them with her. Regardless of which country is dealing with the coronavirus, without the public’s co-operation the strategy will fail.
So far, the Scottish public has grasped the severity of the situation and behaved accordingly. As the document said: “We have seen an unprecedented response from the people of Scotland to an unprecedented challenge. It has been innovative and compassionate. It is up to us how we move through this crisis and come out of the other side.”
The light at the end of the tunnel may feel dim and distant, but at least it can still be seen.
