MINISTER’S MIXED MESSAGES
No change for some areas, says Freeman, but is forced to backtrack
JEANE Freeman was accused of spreading ‘mixed messaging and confusion’ after she was forced to backtrack on suggestions that some areas could remain in lockdown when the coronavirus restrictions are reviewed this week.
The Health Secretary yesterday claimed ‘all options are on the table’ when asked if some of the 11 council areas under the strictest measures could remain in Level 4.
Her comments came despite Nicola Sturgeon stating the restrictions would be eased on December 11. Just hours after making the comments on television, Miss Freeman appeared to backtrack on social media.
Tomorrow, the First Minister is to announce the latest review of the current measures – with millions of Scots hoping to see the restrictions they are living under eased.
Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West Lothian, East and West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire, East and South Ayrshire and Stirling are in Level 4 – the highest of the five tiers in Scotland.
This means non- essential shops are closed along with hospitality venues, gyms and other leisure firms. Speaking on December 1 at Holy
‘Extra helping of Christmas misery’
rood, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘The Level 4 restrictions that are in place in 11 local authority areas will be lifted a week on Friday – 11 December.’
But on the BBC’s Politics Scotland programme, Miss Freeman was asked if some areas would remain in Level 4 after this week’s review.
In response, she said: ‘All options are on the table at this point, as you would expect them to be. That 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.’
After sparking fears that more than two million Scots could remain in lockdown during the runup to Christmas, Miss Freeman later took to Twitter to clarify her remarks.
She said: ‘Eleven local authorities currently in Level 4 will come out of that level on Friday. That position has not changed.
‘The Cabinet will decide on Tuesday what level below 4 they’ll go into. My comments were intended to mean in respect of that decision, all options are on the table.’
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘This mixed messaging and confusion from the health secretary helps nobody as they plan to come out of the toughest restrictions.
‘The questions she was asked could not have been clearer. These restrictions affect millions of people and they deserve a clear message from ministers.
‘While it is welcome that the government has eventually confirmed these restrictions will end, there was no need for this speculation to occur in the first place.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘This is an extra helping of Christmas misery for all those who now face extended restrictions over the festive period.
‘ Ministers have consistently refused to provide the evidence to demonstrate that they are putting in place the right solutions.
‘This is being compounded by the inability of the health secretary to give a straight answer. The public need a clear and effective plan of action, not guessing games.’
Meanwhile, a leading restaurateur claimed relaxing restrictions over Christmas could leave ‘thousands’ of Scots jobless.
Mario Gizzi, director of the DiMaggio’s Group, which employs 1,200 people, told the Sunday Mail: ‘Allowing uncontrolled, free-for-all socialising at home over the festive period seems to completely contradict the Government’s stance on public safety so far.
‘It’s much safer to allow people to see friends and family in a controlled hospitality setting and we’re left wondering if allowing people to socialise at home is a purely populist move that will see hospitality again bearing the brunt of increased Covid-19 cases in January.’
The restaurateur claimed that between July and the end of September, only 17 infections were detected from 1.8million customers who gave contact details at dozens of pubs and restaurants.
Mr Gizzi added: ‘There’s still no evidence that hospitality is a hotspot for transmission, but these restrictions are putting thousands of jobs at risk.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We know that the festive period means a lot to people and it can be an especially difficult time to be alone or to feel isolated.
‘It is for that reason we have agreed a cautious and limited relaxation of the rules on household meetings for a short time.
‘We know this is a particularly anxious time for business and we are doing everything we can with the powers we have to help, offering support which now exceeds £2.3billion.’