Lanarkshire stays in Tier 3 ... for now
Lanarkshire will remain in level three following the Scottish Government’s first review of the new coronavirus restrictions.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the region would not be subject to tougher restrictions from Friday, November 13, in a statement to MSPS at Holyrood on Tuesday.
The rate of new cases in Lanarkshire has started to decrease after peaking in October.
However, a move to level four in future wasn’t ruled out as case numbers in the region have stabilised at a “stubbornly high level”.
The First Minister also confirmed 171 new coronavirus cases in Lanarkshire – the lowest daily total since October 18.
The test positivity rate in Lanarkshire remains very high and the forecast for hospital admission also remains very high.
However, the forecast for new cases in the coming weeks has been revised down to moderate.
The Scottish Government have published evidence to justify the move to keep Lanarkshire in level three which suggests case numbers in South Lanarkshire could fall below 500 per week in the near future.
Addressing MSPS, Ms Sturgeon said: “There is a varied picture across the level three areas and a move to level four for some in the near future cannot be ruled out.
“There are areas where current restrictions have worked very effectively to halt sharp increases in cases and stabilise the situation – that includes, in particular, the City of Glasgow and North and South Lanarkshire.
“That stabilisation is really positive news. Without the sacrifices everyone has been making, the situation would be much more severe. While cases have stabilised in these areas, they have stabilised at a stubbornly high level.
“I have set out previously the risks of going further into winter with a high level of cases even if it has plateaued. The difficult question we must consider in the next days is whether more time in level three will start to reduce cases in these areas or whether that is going to require more action.”
According to the Scottish Government evidence, South Lanarkshire “continues to be an area of concern” despite “slight decreases in cases and test positivity rate”.
There is some improvement in forecast cases, with “the probability of over 500 cases reduced from 81 per cent to zero” however, the region “should remain under close scrutiny”.
North Lanarkshire also “remains an area of concern” with “cases and test positivity rates remaining stubbornly high”.
There was also “some evidence of improvement in forecast cases” but the region will also “remain under close scrutiny”.