LOCKDOWN ABERDEEN
Five-mile travel restriction and all cafes, bars and restaurants closed as 54 cases linked to outbreak
LOCKDOWN has been reimposed in Aberdeen to contain a local outbreak.
All bars, restaurants and cafes have been ordered to close for at least seven days.
SCOTLAND’S third-largest city was plunged back into lockdown last night as Nicola Sturgeon took steps to contain a rapidly growing Covid-19 outbreak.
All pubs, restaurants and cafes were ordered to close from 5pm in Aberdeen, where 54 positive cases have been linked to a cluster that first emerged at a bar in the city.
A five-mile travel restriction was reimposed for leisure and recreation, and residents have been banned from going into each other’s homes.
The local restrictions cover the Aberdeen City Council area but Sturgeon warned she might have to take further action, with contacts traced in the wider Aberdeenshire region.
A list of 32 licensed premises was published by NHS Grampian showing links to a golf course 30 miles west in Aboyne and at a pub in Stonehaven 15 miles south.
The First Minister yesterday said 64 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Scotland over the past 24 hours – the biggest jump since lockdown was first eased. It included 36 cases in the Grampian area.
Announcing the crackdown, Sturgeon said: “The fact that the outbreak is no longer simply associated with one location, combined with the accelerating increase in cases, means we cannot rule out community transmission now being the case in Aberdeen.”
Referring to plans for schools to reopen next week, she added: “Acting now gives us the time and the space to protect the ability of our young people to return to full-time education.
“I would ask people who attended any of the locations named to be extra vigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms.”
Hotel restaurants in the city can remain open to provide food for existing guests and takeaway services can continue.
People can continue to travel for work or education purposes.
The First Minister said the changes will be reviewed after seven days.
Efforts to stamp out the Aberdeen cluster have been led by NHS Grampian since four cases were linked to the Hawthorn Bar in the city.
The test and protect system has since found 54 linked cases, while 191 close contacts have been traced.
Business leaders last night feared a devastating blow to the local economy.
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “This will be very disappointing news for many businesses in Aberdeen who have just opened back up over the past few weeks and who were beginning to return to some form of normality.
“However, businesses will accept that it is imperative that local restrictions must come into force if we are to prevent any wider spread of cases from Aberdeen to other parts of Scotland.”
North East Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “All the evidence from around the world is that early action is essential if a local outbreak of Covid-19 is to be brought under control. Given the spread of infection in Aberdeen over the last 10 days, these measures are therefore welcome.”