The Edinburgh Reporter March 2021

2 NEWS
Welcome...
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
announced lockdown on 23 March 2020.
All non-essential shops, public spaces,
communal parks and playgrounds, and
places of worship were closed. Funerals were
restricted to immediate family only, and no
weddings or christenings could be held.
Anyone who has attended a funeral in this
past year knows how dismal this makes
the experience.
The Stay at Home message was only
to be breached for essential purposes.
Gatherings of more than two people in
public were prohibited.
In January the same kind of lockdown
was reimposed after many versions of the
same in the last year. On 23 February the
First Minister announced a cautious strategy
for getting out of this lockdown. She
emphasised the phased return to school, the
reintroduction of the Levels 0-5 system and
the reopening of the economy with gaps of at
least three weeks between each review.
VACCINE HOPE
Restaurants and coffee shops are open for
takeaway only and have become slicker at the
food being offered. Perhaps we have also
become better at queuing, masking up and
social distancing.
There is funding for some sectors of
business, but not for all. It is not clear to me
how people manage to keep going, and
certainly there is a huge demand for prepared
meals and food which charitable
organisations have delivered since last March.
Supermarkets have contributed free food to
charities who either redistribute it through
food banks or create meals with it.
The Trussell Trust, which supports a
network of food banks in the UK, campaigns
for a Hunger Free Future. But they warn that
without the £20 Universal Credit payment
over one million people might be back at the
food bank.
But we have the vaccine. And everyone
over a certain age is entitled to get two doses
of it for free. While things may look much the
same on a practical level as they did at the
end of last March, there is a wee light at the
end of this 2021 tunnel.
Phyllis Stephen, Editor
Letters to the editor
Edinburgh Walk for Parkinson’s
Dear Madam
People in Edinburgh may be
stuck for ideas on how to
support good causes whilst they
aren’t able to meet with friends,
family and their community to
fundraise during the coronavirus
pandemic.
At Parkinson’s UK, our annual
‘Walk for Parkinson’s’ series will
return this summer, uniting
people in Scotland and across
the UK to raise money that will
transform the lives of people
with Parkinson’s.
But if summer’s too long to
wait, our ‘Organise Your Own
Walk’ event is a fantastic way to
enjoy some fresh air while also
raising funds for our vital work.
Why not stroll 2 miles for the 2
people diagnosed with
Parkinson’s every hour in the UK?
Or trek 12.4 miles for the 12,400
people living with Parkinson’s in
Scotland? You choose your route,
how far, when and who you walk
with - just make sure you follow
the local coronavirus guidance.
Dear Madam,
There are many examples all
over the world where democracy
is being attacked, so as citizens
we really need to vote. However,
only about 58% of registered
voters in Edinburgh and Lothians
voted in the last Scottish
Parliamentary election in 2016.
This seems quite low to me.
Elections for the Scottish
Parliament are due to take place
in May this year.
Also, about 7% of the Scottish
population have non-UK
nationality. A German EU citizen I
met in Princes Street recently
had lived in Edinburgh for over
20 years but had never registered
to vote. Some of your readers
may not be aware that they can
vote in Scottish Parliamentary
elections if they are resident
here. You don’t have to be
Scottish (but you do have to be
The funds you raise will help
support people living with
Parkinson’s, their families, friends
and carers right across Scotland
and the rest of the UK, who need
us now more than ever.
Yours etc
Marion Pirrie
Regional Fundraiser
Parkinson’s UK Scotland
To download your free pack with
everything you need to plan a
sponsored walk, visit:
parkinsons.org.uk/get-involved/
organise-your-own-walk
If you have any questions,
call 0800 138 6593 or email
scotlandfundraising@
parkinsons.org.uk
Register to cast your vote
over 16 years of age).
I encourage everyone to
register and take part in this
democratic opportunity to shape
our community.
Patricia Baillie Strong
You can register to vote at the
website www.mygov.scot/
register-to-vote-scotland
GET IN
TOUCH
TODAY!
Coronavirus statistics
THE NUMBER of people who have received their first dose of vaccine in
the last month has risen steadily with a peak of daily jags administered
on 12 February when 64,881 people were vaccinated in one day. Daily
figures have reduced to around half of that due to an expected dip in
supply. The vaccination programme treated older people and those in
care homes first. The number of deaths in care homes fell by 62% in the
first three weeks of February.
On 1 February the test positivity rate was up at 9.5% but has reduced
to almost half that as we went to press. The number of people in hospital
with confirmed Covid-19 has also reduced by half, although there has
not been just as steep a drop in the number of cases reported each day.
We report the daily figures online as soon as we can after they are announced
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY
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SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK
Yes folks it is almost time for the clocks to go
forward. It seems like just a minute ago that they
changed, but it is now six months since then,
and a year after lockdown began. We will have
an hour more of light in the evenings to enjoy
after clocks go forward on Sunday 28 March.
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About us...
We write about news relating to the Edinburgh area. If you
have any news, or if you would like to submit an article or
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Editor: Phyllis Stephen
Designer: Felipe Perez
Photos: Martin P McAdam
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