WIPE AWAY THE TIERS
Two million Scots move out of Level 4
NEARLY half the country will move out of the highest Tier 4 restrictions on Friday as Scotland begins a landmark week in the battle against Covid-19.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said Glasgow and 10 other surrounding council areas – covering more than two million people – would leave the strictest level.
MORE than two million Scots will leave the highest Level 4 Covid restrictions on Friday as the country starts a landmark week in the fightback against coronavirus.
The move out of the top tier was confirmed for Glasgow and 10 surrounding areas yesterday, despite mixed messages by Scotland’s under-pressure Health Secretary.
Jeane Freeman threw the timetable into confusion in a BBC interview when she stressed “all options” were on the table – including the potential for even longer in the harsh Level 4 tier.
The Scottish Government scrambled to undo the mess within hours and Freeman posted a clarification on social media.
She wrote: “Eleven local authorities currently in Level 4 will come out of that level on Friday.”
Despite the confusion, the week ahead is a major milestone in the pandemic.
● The first doses of a Covid vaccine are expected for frontline health workers tomorrow.
● Care home visitors will begin to get rapid tests in 14 locations from today.
● Scotland’s 32 council areas will all be in Level 3 or lower at the end of the week, once First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirms the next lockdown review tomorrow.
But the mess on the route out of Level 4 led to criticism from Holyrood opposition MSPs.
In a BBC Politics Scotland interview, Freeman was asked if any Level 4 areas would stay in the same band after the review.
Presenter Gary Robertson asked: “So it could be the case that some of the areas that are currently in Level 4 will remain so after the end of next week?”
Freeman replied: “Well, all options are on the table at this point, Gary, as you would expect them to be. But it doesn’t mean, people shouldn’t read from that any decision one way or the other.
“The work goes on over the weekend so that we have the most up-to-date data, the most up-to-date clinical advice, then we take a decision as a cabinet on Tuesday, and the First Minister makes that announcement on Tuesday.”
She then wrote online that her comments were always meant to confirm Level 4 would end.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “This is not the time for spin. Jeane Freeman muddled the message and should hold her hands up and apologise to those businesses and people living in Level 4.
“The pandemic is far from over and people in Scotland need clear, consistent and reliable information from the Scottish Government at all times.”
At the last weekly review of restrictions, Sturgeon said it is “likely” she will be able to make major changes tomorrow. Decisions will also be made on the rest of Scotland councils, with some hoping to go to even lighter restrictions in Level 1.
There could be good news in the Highlands for people mixing indoors.
Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said officials have been looking at Level 4 regions closely. Last week, he said: “We are very encouraged by the trajectory in a lot of these areas.
“In truth, after these restrictions were applied it’s only really this week we’ve seen the impact fully coming through.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, meanwhile, attacked the SNP for risking another “divide” on the way out of the pandemic.
He said the unsettled argument over independence undermines a sense nse of community.
Ross said: “Throughout this pandemic, mic, we’ve seen communities coming together her to support each other and one of the few ew positives out of Covid-19 is how we’ve all worked together, put aside differences ces for the greater good.
“And the SNP wants to throw all that hat in the bin, get rid of all that and divide de our country, our workplaces, our families ies again over a constitutional argument ent when the priority should absolutely be on getting on top of this virus, rebuilding ng our economy post-Covid.”
He added: “Nicola Sturgeon tries to portray herself as someone who is solely ely focused on dealing with the pandemic mic c when that’s clearly not the case.”