The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife’s coronavirus infection rates have turned a corner, says Leitch
Covid infection rates in Fife have “turned a corner” but the area still has some way to go before moving down a restriction level, Scotland’s clinical director has warned.
Professor Jason Leitch briefed MSPs yesterday on how efforts in tackling the pandemic are going.
Fife and Per th and Kinross were both placed in stricter measures earlier this month, joining Dundee, Angus and the rest of the Central Belt in firmer restrictions.
Prof Leitch said the programme is working to reduce infection in Fife, but it will be some time yet before it could be placed into Tier 2.
He added Perth and Kinross had shown no signs of its infection rates decreasing prior to being placed into firmer lockdowns, even though it had a relatively low rate of infection compared with other Tier 3 councils.
“In Perth and Kinross
the graph continues to rise, but slowly,” he said.
“That is why we thought Tier 3 was needed, to pull it down... it appears to have stabilised.
“The positivity rate was 5% and is now 4.7%. It has flattened but not turned the corner.
“Fife was earlier into Tier 3. It is down 27% in the last seven days which is what you would expect Tier 3 restrictions to do.
“The curve in Fife has started to turn... it’s going, definitely, in the right direction.
“Turning is not enough to get to Tier 2, it has to be consistent and it is still too high in Fife.”
The committee also heard the government cannot make any guarantees public transport will not be overwhelmed this Christmas as restrictions are relaxed for five days.
Travellers are being warned to book in advance to avoid missing out on seats and being reminded social distancing measures which limit capacity will still be in place between December 23-27.
Pinch points could be at stations and ferry terminals, it was warned.
Prof Leitch said any relaxation of travel restrictions will increase the prevalence of the virus and that public health had to try to achieve a balance on how to ease restrictions, given some people would break the rules over the Christmas period regardless.