Lockdown leaves us ‘ back to square one’
Smyth says restrictions highlight need for vaccinations
The new COVID lockdown in Ayrshire must result in a ramping up of a vaccination programme in the region, warns a concerned MSP.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced even tight e r restrictions on Monday afternoon – with all non- essential businesses closing their doors until the end of the month.
Schools are also closed until next month at least – except for children of key workers – where required.
And for Ayrshire’s many places of worship they too must close their doors to the public.
This new lockdown has all the hallmarks of last March, when the country ground to o a halt and restrictions were placed d on outdoor gatherings. s.
But South Scotland d MSP, Colin Smyth, , reckons the new w lockdown must be e balanced with a significant roll- out of f the COVID- 19 vaccine. .
He said: “People will be dismayed and worn down by the latest news and will rightly ask why a year into the pandemic, we still do not have regular COVID testing for teachers and senior students in our schools.
“The lack of mass testing for all key workers is just one of the catalogue of failures that means people will feel we are almost back to square one.
“It’s increasingly clear that the virus will continue to be out of control until the vaccination programme has been ramped up and rolled out to a lot more people.”
He added: “It’s frustrating that people over 80 still haven’t received letters with details of their vaccination appointment and I know there are many anxious people waiting.”
Health secretar y, Jeane Fr Freeman, said the rollout of a second vaccine would gi give “renewed hope” but ad added: “They can’t protect us all yet.
“So we must not let ou our guard down. Instead, we must re- double our vig vigilance and stick even mo more tightly to these tou toughened new rules.”