Let Brazil bug in
inadequate, says Freeman after variant makes it to Scotland
stress that there is currently no reason to believe that the P1 variant of the virus is in circulation in Scotland. However, I hope this summary reassures you that we are doing everything necessary to check whether this variant of the virus could have been transmitted within Scotland and to identify and break any possible chains of transmission.”
She added: “We know that current vaccines are effective against the strains of the virus which have already been established in the UK.
“However, more work is required to determine that this remains the case for emerging strains of the virus, such as the one we are highlighting today from Brazil.”
The Health Secretary said the issue of international travel remained the main area of contention with the UK Government.
All international passengers arriving at Scottish airports must enter the hotel quarantine system, whereas the UK Government only requires this of those coming from countries on the “red list” – most of which are in South America and Africa.
Scottish Government advisor Professor Devi Sridhar, of Edinburgh University, said in a tweet that the arrival of the new variant showed the red list approach “doesn’t work”, as the passengers in question arrived in the UK via Paris.
Freeman said she agreed with Prof Sridhar’s assessment, adding: “That’s why the Scottish Government has consistently argued that the red list as the sole means of introducing and providing managed quarantine is inadequate.”
And Scotland’s national clinical director said he was “worried a little” about the discovery of a Brazilian coronavirus variant in the UK.
Professor Jason Leitch said: “It’s the first time we have found this particular
Brazilian strain in Scotland and that worries us a little bit but people shouldn’t get too concerned. There is no community spread, no evidence it’s gone anywhere else.
“And the reason why we’re worried scientifically is we’re not absolutely certain that this version is amenable to the natural immunity some people already have, and the artificial immunity we’re creating with vaccination.”
Looking ahead to the next few months of the pandemic, he said: “I’m optimistic.
“There is light at the end of a tunnel and it’s not a train coming to get us this time, I don’t think.”