Don’t let EK be like Aberdeen
Learn lesson or face stricter lockdown
Residents and businesses from across East Kilbride are being urged to learn from the lessons in Aberdeen.
It comes as the Granite City was plunged back into lockdown in efforts 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 were linked to a cluster that first emerged at a bar in the city.
That’s after ‘bad practices’ in place at a number of hospitality hotspots in the city and locals not conforming to the restrictions in place, or hygiene measures expected of them.
East Kilbride MSP, Linda Fabiani, pleaded with her constituents to play by the rules and protect the wider community.
The outgoing representative said: “The situation in Aberdeen is a stark reminder that this virus is still around and that we all have to take care.
“We have done really well here in East Kilbride and I would hate to see the same thing happen here.
“It is imperative we comply with the rules as we do not want a local lockdown in East Kilbride and we simply cannot underestimate the dire consequences of a second spike of COVID-19.”
Following the outbreak in the north, NHS Grampian were last week forced to release a list of 28 boozers which people with the virus are believed to have visited.
A five-mile travel restriction was reimposed for leisure and recreation, and residents have been banned from going into each other’s homes.
Graham Simpson said the lessons from what’s happening there must be learned from and he hoped the people of East Kilbride would play their part.
The Conservative MSP added: “The decision to impose lockdown on Aberdeen will be a bitter blow to the city
“There has been some evidence of a shambolic test and protect system there with bars carrying out their own.
“The lessons are there for all of us though. We need to stick with the behaviour that has kept most of us safe – keeping our distance from others and washing our hands regularly.
“I wouldn’t want East Kilbride or anywhere else to have to take a step back because of the actions of a few.”
On Monday more than half of the new coronavirus cases in Scotland were said to be in NHS Grampian health board area.
The First Minister confirmed there had been 29 new cases across Scotland in the previous 24 hours,18 of which were in Grampian.
Monica Lennon said there was “no room for complacency” from people in the greater East Kilbride area, pointing to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Lanarkshire as an example, as well as that in Aberdeen.
The Labour MSP told us: “None of us want to see East Kilbride forced into lockdown so we all have a duty to follow public health guidance and self-isolate and book a test if we have symptoms.
“The vast majority of the public have been patient and responsible and have avoided the temptation to have parties or gather in big crowd.
“This is a major week, with school staff going back to work and young people returning to the classroom. Many people are anxious about being in busy environments after several months of being largely at home.
“It’s important the Scottish government supports South Lanarkshire Council with clear guidance on social distancing, face coverings and testing.”