Crushing Scottish report "Scotland Covid Inquiry: No evidence to support lockdowns during pandemic"; "It remains unclear as to whether or not Covid-19 vaccination has resulted in fewer COVID deaths

by Paul Alexander

August 6, 2023

"It has been argued that the restrictive measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in individual, societal and economic harm that was avoidable and that should not have occurred."

‘In the report, Dr. Croft writes:

"In 2020 there was scientific evidence to support the use of some of the physical measures (e.g. frequent handwashing, the use of PPE in hospital settings) adopted against Covid-19. For other measures (e.g. face mask mandates outside of healthcare settings, lockdowns, social distancing, test, trace and isolate measures) there was either insufficient evidence in 2020 to support their use – or alternatively, no evidence; the evidence base has not changed materially in the intervening three years."

"It has been argued that the restrictive measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in individual, societal and economic harm that was avoidable and that should not have occurred."

"During August to November 2020 there was little scientific evidence to support the physical measures that were mandated in Scotland against Covid-19."

And on vaccines, Dr Croft added:

"It remains unclear as to whether or not Covid-19 vaccination has resulted in fewer deaths from Covid-19. Covid-19 vaccines have been shown in randomised controlled trials to be effective, or probably effective, in reducing the number of people acquiring Covid-19 or severe Covid-19; however vaccine-induced protection against Covid-19 is short-lived."''

And on vaccines, Dr Croft added:

‘A new report has shed new light on the impact of Nicola Sturgeon's "intrusive" Covid lockdown restrictions and revealed there is no evidence to say they were effective. Scots were subject to the strictest restrictions in the UK during the pandemic.

The Scottish Government's handling of coronavirus is going to be scrutinised by the Scottish Covid Inquiry which commissioned an independent report on the epidemiology of the virus. Written by Dr Ashley Croft, Consultant Public Health Physician and Medical Epidemiologist, it will form the basis of discussions during the probe.

But he has said there was "insufficient evidence... or alternatively, no evidence" to support the use of face masks outside healthcare settings, lockdowns, social distancing and test, trace and isolate measures in 2020. He adds: "The evidence base has not changed materially in the intervening three years."

The whole of the UK was plunged into a strict lockdown in March 2020 and Ms Sturgeon often went much further and was far more reluctant to lift the restrictions than the authorities in England. The legal requirement to wear face masks indoors was not lifted until April 2022.

In the report, Dr Croft writes: "The physical measures recommended or mandated by the Scottish government ranged from simple public health practices (the encouragement of frequent handwashing, cleaning of environmental surfaces, the use of PPE in hospitals and care homes) to coercive and / or intrusive measures (face mask mandates outside of healthcare settings; lockdowns; enforced social distancing; test, trace and isolate measures)

"In 2020 there was scientific evidence to support the use of some of the physical measures (e.g. frequent handwashing, the use of PPE in hospital settings) adopted against COVID-19. For other measures (e.g. face mask mandates outside of healthcare settings, lockdowns, social distancing, test, trace and isolate measures) there was either insufficient evidence in 2020 to support their use – or alternatively, no evidence; the evidence base has not changed materially in the intervening three years.

"It has been argued that the restrictive measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in individual, societal and economic harm that was avoidable and that should not have occurred."''