Call for probe as Scottish R number goes up
SCOTLAND’S infection rate is rising despite strict lockdown measures, it emerged yesterday.
Nicola Sturgeon has claimed the country’s R number, or rate of infection, is between 0.7 and one.
This means every infected individual will pass it on to one person or fewer. The number in Scotland remains higher than elsewhere in the UK.
According to the First Minister, this is because Scotland is behind the ‘curve’ as a result of Covid-19 presenting later north of the Border than in England. But yesterday, Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘The Scottish Government has stated that the R number in Scotland is higher than the rest of the UK.
‘John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, told the Covid-19 committee two weeks ago that the R number was estimated at 0.7. Last night, he said on the BBC, it was 0.8.
‘If that is correct, and it is going up, we need to know why. If the Scottish Government is using a different R number in Scotland compared to England as a justification for greater restrictions, then that information must be shared with the public.’
Mr Fraser added: ‘The long-term consequences of extending lockdown any longer than is absolutely necessary could be horrendous.
‘For that reason we need full transparency for the choices that have been made.’
Before lockdown, the R number across the UK was around three. Boris Johnson has said that with the infection rate below one, restrictions
can be eased. On Sunday, the Prime Minister said some people can return to work and residents in England can travel by car to beauty spots for exercise.
Miss Sturgeon has so far refused to follow his lead but will consider the matter later this week.
Fears have been raised over whether the decision not to ease lockdown was made because of a rising R number in Scotland.
Although Miss Sturgeon has welcomed the drop in the number to below one, she has said it must remain low to give ‘head room’ for when she decides to ease the measures. A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Last week we set out that the reproduction rate in Scotland is currently between 0.7 and one, which means we have very little headroom to make any changes to lockdown.
‘In the view of the Scottish Government, any substantial change to the central principle that people should stay at home to save lives would risk pushing that rate back above one.’