Concerns over variants ‘seeding across Europe’ risks international travel

Scotland’s chief medical officer said he is concerned by the spread of coronavirus variants across Europe, suggesting that international travel could be some time off still.

Dr Gregor Smith said some countries across Europe were seeing “exponential growth” in Covid cases, fuelled by both the so-called“kent” variant–which is believed to be more transmissible and is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in Scotland – but also “variants of concern” from south africa and Brazil.

"I spent a little bit of time last night looking at some of the data from different countries across Europe and there’s no doubt about it, there are many countries who are back into experiencing that exponential growth of the number of cases they are seeing,” Dr Smith said.

“Some of them some of the largest countries in europe just now. They are experiencing that because they are now very exposed to three particular variants of concern which a reseeding across Europe .”

Dr Smith said the B117 variant, which began in Kent in England, was “widely seeded” across the continent.

“We also have some countries in Europe just now, more worryingly, which are seeing growing cases of variants from South Africa and more recently the variant which came from Manaous in Brazil,” he said.

"The biggest concern that I have – are those two latter variants going to establish themselves in continental Europe as a potential source of problems?

"That worries me because of the rate of transmission associated with those virus, but also because of the potential they have for immune escape as well and we’ re monitoring that situation very, very closely.

"That emphasis es why it’ s really important that we are taking all the safeguards we possibly can to limit the introduction of those back into our own country.”

Ms Sturgeon said she would speak to the aviation industry this week about when Scotland “might” see some element of international travel again.

She said: "I don’t think that will be possible before the 17 May, but my view is that it may not be possible for a period after that. I take no pleasure in saying that. All of us want to have every aspect of life back to normal.

"While we see lots of signs for hope here in Scotland and across the UK, the picture is not as rosy in many other parts of the world, including some other parts of europe where we are starting to see some increase again in incidence of the virus.

"This is likely to be one of the restrictions that is in place for longer. This is just a hard fact. I wish it were different, but it’s not at the moment.”

Ms Sturgeon said she had tried “really hard” to get a fournations approach to international travel, but pointed to England’s different approach to managed quarantine.

Travellers to Scotland have to stay in a quarantine hotel at a cost of £1,700 for ten days. However, in England, only people coming from countries on the ‘red list’ – where coronavirus cases are high – have to do so.

The Scottish Government said yesterday that more than two million people have received their first dose of the vaccine in Scotland.

The milestone was met a week before the first anniversary of the UK being placed into the first lockdown.

Ms Sturgeon announced that "virtually all" of those over the age of 65 had received their first dose, along with 67 per cent of 60 to 64-year-olds, 42 per cent of 55 to 59-yearolds and 34 per cent of 50 to 54-year-olds.

All over-50s, unpaid carers and adults with certain underlying health conditions, are expected to have been invited for vaccination by mid-april, the First Minister said.

In a statement after the two millionth vaccination, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "That this has been achieved in little more than three months is down to the enormous efforts of our vaccination teams.

"I would like to thank everyone who is working tirelessly to make this a success, and also every individual who has taken up their offer of a vaccine.

"Scotland's Covid-19 vaccination programme is now in the final stages of vaccinating the first nine priority groups.

"When you are offered the vaccine please take up the invitation. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow.

"All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together."

Dr Miles Mack, the chairman of he Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, reflected on the pace of the development, supply and rollout of vaccines.

"It is remarkable that a year after the first Covid-19 mortality in Scotland, effective vaccines have been developed, and are now being rapidly rolled out across the country," he said.

"It is a testament to the hardworking healthcare staff, military personnel and volunteers that we mark the milestone of two million first dose vaccinations, since the vaccine rollout programme began in December."

The news comes as Scotland reported 12 more coronavirus deaths since Tuesday, and a further 625 cases.

The First Minister said at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh that the death toll under this measure, of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days, is now 7,529.

The daily test positivity rate is 3 per cent, down from 3.8 per cent the previous day.

There are 422 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down 18 in 24 hours, and 38 patients are in intensive care, a fall of four.