I've been supportive of the Scottish government's handling of the pandemic so far but today's announcement has left me scunnered.

We're told the new Omicron variant is much more transmissible and that the number of people infected is surging daily. But this doesn't yet seem to be transferring to hospital admissions and, looking at the Covid tracking app for Scotland (Talking Tabby is really informative) the number of Covid cases today is actually lower than yesterday.

Now I get that more NHS staff may need to self-isolate if they catch Covid and this puts further pressure on our hospitals. But early signs are that people who catch it won't end up in hospital, particularly if they've had the triple vaccination.

We were all looking forward to a few days off work and a few games to go to, including the derby at Easter Road. I was also looking forward to going to Musselburgh races on New Year's Day and donating to the bookies' Christmas fund. My younger grandkids were also looking forward to the panto at the King's. Now all of that is a no-go.

The focus has been on the pandemic but I seriously worry about people's mental health in all of this. My wife has struggled badly during the last 18 months and she is at rock bottom again tonight. Sport is an escape from the pressures of everyday life and many people see football as a release of the pressure valve. The maximum of 500 people at outdoor sporting events seems to me like a figure plucked from thin air. That Edinburgh City can have as many fans for a home game as Hearts and Hibs, Celtic and Rangers is ridiculous.

When you see politicians down sticking two fingers up to the rules and the rest of us while most of us have done as we've been asked - got vaccinated, wear face masks, use sanitiser and maintain social distancing - then it really pisses me off.

I'm away to open a bottle of Havana Club - an alcohol-fuelled Christmas beckons...

 

Last edited by MikeS (12/21/2021 4:57 pm)