Question reference: S5W-32000
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a bereavement support bubble policy, which would enable grieving households of any size to come together and form a support bubble with one other household, in the event of further local or national lockdowns and restrictions.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting people to grieve following the loss of a loved one.
We have no plans to introduce a specific bereavement support bubble policy at this time. In Scotland, extended household arrangements (similar to the support bubble arrangements in England) were introduced to support those who were most likely to be affected by loneliness and isolation. However, as the risk of Covid -19 spread increases whenever households mix, it is important to balance the needs of the bereaved to grieve with the need to minimise the spread of the virus. This is particularly important given the increase in cases we have seen recently.
In order to balance these risks as much as possible, our COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making makes special provision at all tier levels to allow for people to attend funerals and wakes and grieve together as an exception to the restrictions on social gatherings.
A death of a loved one is often a highly emotional and incredibly difficult event. Unlike most other gatherings, those in attendance are likely to know or be close to many others in attendance. Because of this, it is much more likely that vital public health measures to help mitigate or break chains of transmission of COVID-19, such as observing strict 2 metre physical distancing between households, will be forgotten. This is completely understandable at a time of grief, when people need the support of their close family and friends more than ever.
To suppress the spread of Covid-19 it is essential that, with limited exceptions, there is no travel to or from areas where higher numbers of people may be carrying the virus, whether in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK.
But as with all the restrictions in place, we will keep the restrictions on extended households under review and will base any future changes on the most up to date scientific advice and evidence.