Mull group’s plea to island visitors
Mull Crisis Management group has taken unprecedented steps to protect the island.
MSPs and tourist board chiefs have already urged anyone planning to visit some of Scotland’s most remote locations to stay away while they prioritise the health and wellbeing of their residents.
In light of this, Mull Crisis Management Group, which consists of Mull Community Council, Mull and Iona Community Group, Tobermory Harbour Association, Argyll and Bute Council and the newlyformed COVID-19 Crisis Preparation Group, issued the following statement:
‘Please don’t travel here and put our community at risk. We have limited medical staff and resources. For now, treat our island as closed to all but essential travel. When this is over, you will receive a warm island welcome. Cancel all appointments with trades and services from outwith our island unless they are working remotely.
‘If you need a job done, use a local and try to minimise contact.
‘From today, Sunday March 22, please self-isolate as much as possible. Do one shop per week.
‘Clean your hands according to recommended practice before entering the store and as soon as possible after. We have confirmed information the virus can remain active on some surfaces for days.
‘If your business is nonessential can you now close? Is it really worth the risk staying open?
‘If your profession is high risk and involves close contact with customers, get the correct safety equipment, for example, masks if you work within two metres of customers.
‘Every home must have a “contactless” drop-off point for deliveries.
‘There are two tried and tested ways of slowing this outbreak: voluntary selfisolation and people tracking to inform contacts you need to isolate immediately for two weeks to protect others.
‘On Mull we are probably the finest experts in knowing everything about everything. From now on could you try and keep a short record of who you make personal contact with every day?
‘If by chance you get any symptoms this will give an immediate history to be traced.
‘Your contacts can then be followed back and advised they need to isolate.
‘The information you give could save a vulnerable person’s life. We can do this on Mull, where others cannot. We are only 3,000 people. Working together, we can beat this.’
In an email to his friends, family and business associates, group spokesperson Douglas Swinbanks said: ‘After much difficult talk and time-consuming preparations, we have today taken the decision to close the island.
‘What a past couple of months it has been. Such a difficult balance between a person's disbelief and the slow realisation of how serious the situation is.’
A link to the full statement can be found at https:// mullhealth.com/how-wecan-best-stop-covid-19-onmull/
Up to date information on the COVID-19 situation on Mull can also be found at https://mullhealth.com/