HERD MIX MESSAGES

Coronavirus Scotland: Professor Jason Leitch says his ‘herd immunity’ remarks were mangled

PROFESSOR Jason Leitch has stressed his “herd immunity” remarks had been mangled — branding any suggestion he’d wanted people to die as “false and upsetting”.

The national clinical director said remarks he’d made in an interview on March 10 at the start of the crisis had “grown arms and legs”.

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In it Prof Leitch, signalled support for raising the number with the virus “over a very controlled period so that we get herd immunity in the community”.

Asked about the comment he said: “A number of things have been conflated.”

He added: “The suggestion that immunity will be helpful is true and remains true, we just don’t know what that immunity quite means yet.

"I’m unusually sorry that [herd immunity] has become something bigger than was intended.”

Nicola Sturgeon also stressed “herd immunity” - in the connotation of allowing people to become infected - has never been the policy of the Scottish Government.

Earlier this month the top medic said the tough curbs were needed as not all Scots could be trusted.

He made the comments as he fielded questions from DJ Ewen Cameron on his Greatest Hits Breakfast Show.

He said: "I don't trust the whole population to behave appropriately.

"So, you have to think about it at a five-million person level, not at an individual caller or correspondent level. It's so hard."