Question reference: S5W-29919
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its COVID-19 pandemic response is not modelled on a strategy of elimination.
Answer
Our objective has been to control and suppress the virus and we are making real and sustained progress.
We published the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Route Map through and out of the crisis on 21 May 2020, which sets out the criteria to be met for progressing through the route map phases. These criteria include required statistical measures of progress in suppressing the virus and broader requirements based on the World Health Organization's conditions for easing restrictions.
We must get as close as possible to elimination of the virus now and build confidence in our ability to control it in future through surveillance, testing, contact tracing and, where necessary, targeted suppression measures.
A safe, effective Covid-19 vaccination could provide a key stepping stone towards elimination, and we are delighted that the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow along with NHS colleagues are taking part in the human safety trials for the development of a vaccine by Oxford University.
There is no guarantee of success, but it is prudent that we plan on the basis of this becoming available and we are liaising with UK Government officials on all aspects of development including the work of the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force.