Issues being investigated under Term of Reference 2(c)

ToR 2(c) requires the Inquiry to investigate the strategic elements of the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland relating to:

“the delivery of a system of testing, outbreak management and self isolation”.

In relation to ToR 2(c) the Inquiry will examine:

1. System of testing
   1. Decision-making by the Scottish Government in relation to testing, including: to what extent consideration was given to a programme of mass testing at the start of the pandemic; the decision to start testing in hospital settings only; the decision to expand testing to a limited number of other settings; the decision to introduce testing across society; and decisions to introduce compulsory testing in some scenarios.
   2. Implementation of the testing regime, including: the establishment and operation of testing centres; provision, supply and distribution of testing kits and laboratory services, including what sectors qualified for testing kits; the basis on which particular tests were used; availability of test kits (home and lab kits) and laboratory facilities/staff to process; system of testing on arrival at, and departure from, Scottish airports and seaports; and testing on transfer from one setting to another.
   3. Impacts of the testing regime, including on individuals, businesses and in sectors such as the third sector, the public sector, health, education, justice and worship.
   4. Inequalities in accessing testing kits and testing centres, including for those who were: digitally excluded; financially impacted; non-English speakers; people with disabilities, and any other disproportionately impacted groups.
   5. Communication to the public about guidance and support that was available regarding testing, including: methods of communication and how accessible these were, particularly for more vulnerable groups, e.g. for people with disabilities, those who did not speak English, those who did not have access to the internet, etc.
2. Outbreak management
   1. Decision-making by the Scottish Government, including: use of the level system and restrictions on travel between areas; policies such as the requirement to isolate, form bubbles, work remotely, etc; closing certain sectors and requiring reduced capacity in some settings; the decision to allow greater flexibility to those who had been vaccinated; the decision to allow those with asymptomatic COVID to move freely in society; decisions to close and open certain sectors/facilities at various points; the extent to which decision-making in relation to outbreak management took account of the nature of transmission, being airborne, for COVID-19; the decision to reclassify COVID-19 so that it was no longer a “High Consequence Disease” and the resulting impact on outbreak management; and the decision for Scotland to participate in ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, and the effect of that on outbreaks. 
   2. Implementation of outbreak management policies, including: the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing requirements, and contact tracing; how these policies varied according to setting and the reasons for this; and how these policies were enforced.
   3. Impacts of outbreak management policies, including any disproportionate or unequal impacts.
   4. Communication to the public about outbreak management measures, including: methods of communication and how accessible these were, particularly for more vulnerable groups, e.g. for people with disabilities, those who did not speak English, those who did not have access to the internet, etc.
3. Self-isolation
   1. Decision-making by the Scottish Government, including: self-isolation requirements and periods; requirements for close contacts to self-isolate; to what extent consideration was given to ensuring access to fundamental necessities such as medical assistance, food delivery and mental health services during self-isolation; balancing the desire to reduce the spread of COVID-19 with human rights obligations, including the Human Rights Act 1998 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
   2. Implementation of self-isolation measures, including: how self-isolation was encouraged, enforced and monitored; financial supports that were made available to those who were required to isolate; and arrangements and requirements of suitable accommodation options for those who could not safely isolate at home.
   3. Impacts of the requirement to self-isolate, including on individuals; businesses; the public and third sectors; and, in particular, any disproportionate or unequal impacts.
   4. Communication about guidance and support that was available regarding self-isolation, including how accessible these were, particularly for more vulnerable groups, e.g. for people with disabilities, those who did not speak English, those who did not have access to the internet, etc.