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NHS Highland consultant backs continued coronavirus lockdown in Scotland


By Staff Reporter

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Sharon Pfleger.
Sharon Pfleger.

An NHS Highland consultant who has been producing her own videos to combat myths around coronavirus has given her backing to the continuation of lockdown in Scotland.

Sharon Pfleger, a consultant in pharmaceutical public health, has admitted she was personally “disappointed” when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed recently that lockdown was to continue in Scotland even as measures to ease it were unveiled for England – but said it was the right call.

“After weeks of not seeing family and friends, not going to work, home schooling, it’s getting tougher each day staying home, but I knew it was the right decision,” she said.

“Six feet apart or six feet under, that’s the stark choice.

“Would you jump out of a plane with a parachute on and be floating towards earth only to jettison it because you’d slowed the rate of descent?

“You need that parachute until you reach the ground.

“In a similar way, we need the lockdown until we can be sure the R-number (the rate at which the virus reproduces) is well under one.

“The more we stay home, the more loved ones’ lives we will save, the sooner we will defeat the virus and can get back to normal.”

In the latest posting on her Twitter account, Mrs Pfleger also hit out at anyone flouting Scotland’s continuing strict coronavirus lockdown rules and regulations.

“Recent days have seen more cars on the road, more trips on public transport and more people meeting up in the warmer sunny days,” she said.

“The majority of people are still staying home and saving lives but some think ‘what does it matter if I go out, it’s only me and my mate meeting up?’

“Well it does matter.

“Think about how many people you may pass, how many surfaces you touch, how many times you inadvertently touch your face.

“People say there are precautions such as wearing face coverings in shops, but can you really say that someone hasn’t walked closer than six feet past you?

“Remember, that if you wear a mask it protects others from your breathed out droplets, it doesn’t protect you, and you can still catch the virus from others even if they have face masks on.

“You may be following the rules but do you want others to put you and your loved ones at risk?

“Let’s remember what Scotland looked like seven weeks ago with the virus spreading like wildfire and the numbers going into hospital and dying increasing every day.

“It’s a hard call to make, hard to stay home but let’s make the right choice, stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

Mrs Pfleger’s videos can be seen on her Twitter account @SharonPfleger

Related article: NHS Highland consultant takes Trump to task

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