Tag: protection levels

Covid update: Travel restrictions to three areas in England

Moray moves to Level 2, Glasgow remains in Level 3

Moray is the only local authority area to change protection level as it moved to Level 2 at midnight last night following improvement in coronavirus (COVID-19) prevalence.

Data available yesterday showed that in the last week case rates in Moray have fallen sharply, from 98 per 100,000 to 37 per 100,000, and cases of the April-02 variant – the so-called Indian variant – are lower there than in other parts of the country.

Both the proportion of cases and of positive tests have continued to rise in Glasgow, with the April-02 variant thought to be driving the spread, meaning the city will remain in Level 3 for at least another week.

Enhanced testing, vaccination and public health measures will continue to attempt to contain the spread, and enhanced contact tracing may mean close contacts of close contacts are asked to self-isolate and book a test.

A further £1.05 million per week has been made available to Glasgow City Council to provide additional support for businesses in hospitality and leisure in Glasgow of up to £750 per week.

East Renfrewshire will see public health efforts intensified to tackle an increase in prevalence there, but will remain in Level 2 for now and be monitored closely. According to this morning’s data, cases as a proportion of the population there have increased to 118 per 100,000 people in the last week, though many of these can be traced to specific household clusters.

Everyone in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire is encouraged to get tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by finding cases that might be missed, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms.

Travel between Scotland and three local authority areas in England will be restricted from 00:01 on Monday 24 May 2021 due to sustained high prevalence of the virus in Bedford, Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen.

This will be reviewed in a week along with the other measures announced today. People can travel freely throughout most of Scotland and between most of Scotland and the rest of the UK, other than to, or from, Glasgow.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The situation in Moray has improved very significantly – cases and test positivity have fallen markedly and the April-02 variant does not seem to be as commonly present as in Glasgow and some other parts of the country.

“I can therefore confirm that Moray will now move down to Level 2, taking effect from midnight tonight. This has been made possible by the efforts of local public health teams, their partners, and of course the public – and I am grateful to all of them.

“Extensive public health measures have been deployed in Glasgow city, including enhanced testing and vaccination in the areas with the highest rates of COVID – especially the G41 and G42 postcodes – and enhanced contact tracing has been put in place.

“Despite all of the efforts that have been made in the last 10 days, however, cases in Glasgow are still rising and we are fairly certain the increase is being driven by the April-02 variant.

“We are confident that the major public health efforts which are underway will be effective – and that they will bring levels of the virus back under control – but they need a bit longer to do that.

“We also need a bit more time to be more confident that vaccination will stop rising case numbers today becoming sharply rising hospital and severe illness numbers a couple of weeks from now.

“I know how unwelcome Glasgow remaining in Level 3 is for individuals and businesses, but I genuinely hope it will not be for too much longer, and all of us who do live in Glasgow can play our part in getting this under control as soon as possible.

“While the case rates per 100,000 in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire look similar, the total number of cases in East Renfrewshire – because it’s a smaller area – is significantly smaller than in Glasgow.

“More importantly, many more of the cases that have been reported in the last week in East Renfrewshire can be traced to specific household clusters than is the case in Glasgow, where transmission appears to be much more widespread. That means we think strong and targeted public health measures have more of a chance of stemming the rise, without the need to use wider restrictions.

“We know there are particularly serious outbreaks of the April-02 variant in three specific English local authority areas – Bedford, Bolton, and Blackburn with Darwen. For that reason, from Monday onwards, we are imposing hopefully temporary travel restrictions between Scotland and those three local authority areas in England.

“If you are planning to visit friends or relatives, or to stay in those areas, you must delay your visit. We hope that these rules and guidelines will not be in place for very long, but at the moment they are a further way of reducing the risk that people will bring the April-02 variant into Scotland from those locations.”

Coronavirus (COVID-19) protection levels: what you can do – gov.scot

Changes to COVID-19 protection levels

Fife, Perth & Kinross and Angus move to Level 3

Three council areas are to move up a protection level as cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise in their areas.

Fife, Perth & Kinross and Angus local authority areas will move from Level 2 – where they have been since the new levels system was announced – to Level 3 with the change coming into effect from 6am on Friday 13 November.

All other local authority protection levels are unchanged. The city of Edinburgh remains at Level 3.

Within Level 1, those living in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles will, from Friday, be able to meet one other household inside their homes, up to a maximum of six people. Guidance will issue for anyone who travels to the mainland to avoid in-home socialising for a period after their return.

Speaking in parliament this afternoon, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there was no immediate requirement to move any local authorities into Level 4 – the highest level – but that this was being kept under strict review.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The sacrifices everyone is making are hard – and they feel never-ending. But they are helping. They have made a difference, and they are saving lives. There is no doubt that the restrictions we have put in place have dramatically slowed the spread of the virus.

“But hospital admissions are still too high. The number of new cases we are seeing – more than 1,000 a day on average – is also too high. And we cannot be sure that we are seeing a sustained fall in cases.

“As I have said repeatedly in recent days, a rising or even plateauing rate of infection is not a stable position. We want to see a decline in cases. And so we will be monitoring the situation carefully in the days ahead.

“In light of the situation I have just outlined, it would clearly not be prudent to ease restrictions today.”

The First Minister again stressed the importance of travel restrictions in bringing down the infection rate of the virus.

Those in Levels 3 and 4 should not travel outside their local authority area unless travelling for essential reasons such as work, healthcare, or caring responsibilities, while those in a Level 1 or 2, should not be going into a Level 3 or Level 4 council area, except for those same essential purposes.

She added that these will remain in guidance over the next week but preparation for regulations will continue in the event they are required to be put into law.

Level allocations from 6am Friday 13 November:

Level 1:

  • Highland
  • Moray
  • Western Isles
  • Orkney
  • Shetland

Level 2:

  • Aberdeenshire
  • Aberdeen
  • Scottish Borders
  • Dumfries & Galloway
  • Argyll & Bute

Level 3:

  • Fife
  • Angus
  • Perth & Kinross
  • Inverclyde
  • East Dunbartonshire
  • West Dunbartonshire
  • Renfrewshire
  • East Renfrewshire
  • City of Glasgow
  • South Ayrshire
  • East Ayrshire
  • North Ayrshire
  • Stirling
  • Falkirk
  • Clackmannanshire
  • City of Edinburgh
  • Midlothian
  • West Lothian
  • East Lothian
  • Dundee
  • North Lanarkshire
  • South Lanarkshire

The assessment of what level of protection should be applied to each local authority is broadly based on an analysis of five key indicators:

  • number of positive COVID-19 cases per hundred thousand people over the last week
  • percentage of positive tests
  • forecast for new cases in the weeks ahead
  • capacity of local hospitals
  • capacity of local intensive care facilities

These factors are assessed alongside the advice and recommendations of local public health officials, National Incident Management Team, the Scottish Government’s chief clinical and policy advisors, and consideration of local circumstances, such as: specific COVID-19 outbreaks; travel and work patterns; and the extent to which health services are provided by neighbouring health boards.

Final decisions are based on all of these factors.

Alongside a table setting out the levels, a detailed analysis paper has also been published setting out the Scottish Government’s assessment and overall decision for each local authority.

Find out more about the COVID protection levels and what you can and cannot do at each level.

Protection Levels: First Minister addresses the nation

Address to the nation following the confirmation of local authority protection levels – Thursday 29 October: 

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to all of you for the sacrifices you’ve made, as we’ve faced this Covid challenge together.

For some of you, these sacrifices have been compounded by the loss of a loved one, serious illness, or worry about your job and paying the bills.

This has been difficult for everyone, but truly awful for many. No words can make that better.

And I am sorry to again ask for more.

But Covid is still with us. And it is still dangerous.

Europe is now firmly in the grip of a second wave. Some countries, including France and Germany, are back in full lockdown.

Here in Scotland, we see rising cases, more people in hospital and, tragically, more lives being lost.

But we also have grounds for cautious hope.

The difficult restrictions introduced a few weeks ago to limit household visits and hospitality are slowing the rate of increase.

Restrictions are still necessary, but this slowdown is allowing us to act in a more targeted way.

Today I confirmed the different levels of protection that will apply, from Monday, to different parts of the country, depending on the levels of infection.

Detailed information about the level in your area is available on the Scottish Government website. And from Monday a postcode checker will let you find out exactly what the rules are in your area at any given time.

These levels will be reviewed weekly.

But I want to emphasise two restrictions which, for now, apply everywhere.

The first is household mixing. 

It remains the case – in all parts of Scotland – that we should not meet up in each other’s homes. That is incredibly hard for all of us. But household mixing – especially indoors – is one of the biggest risks of transmission.

And secondly travel.

A regional approach to restrictions will only be sustainable if we don’t spread the virus from high to lower prevalence areas.

So if you live in a level 3 area, you should only leave your own local authority for essential purposes, such as work, education or caring responsibilities.

And if you live in a level 1 or level 2 area, do not travel to a level 3 area, except for the same essential purposes.

These restrictions are tough but please believe me when I say they are still necessary.

Of course, I wish I could tell you when things will return to normal.

I can’t do that yet. I can only be straight with you.

And given the challenge we face, I cannot guarantee that we won’t have to return to the highest level of restrictions across the whole country.

But I do know the best way for us to avoid that – and I hope secure some degree of Christmas cheer –  is to keep abiding by all the rules and guidance. I know that because it is starting to work already.

Doing that – as it has always been – is fundamentally an act of solidarity, compassion and love.

It is how we make each other safer, protect our NHS, and save lives.

This all gets so much harder after seven months and as winter and Christmas approach. I know that. I feel that.

But we need to dig deep. And we need to stick with it. We will get through this. Let’s keep doing it together – and for each other. Thank you.