Lockdown in Aberdeen is extended by a week as cases increase by 24
LOCAL lockdown restrictions imposed in Aberdeen have been extended for another week after more virus cases were confirmed.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the move yesterday as she confirmed another 24 positive tests in the NHS Grampian area.
It means bars, restaurants and cafes must remain closed, while people in the city must restrict leisure travel to a maximum of five miles from home and cannot visit one another’s houses.
There have been 272 positive cases in the Grampian area since July 26, including 177 associated with the cluster linked to city bars.
Some 940 contacts have been traced and told to quarantine for two weeks. There have been no coronavirus deaths in Scotland during the past 24 hours.
Miss Sturgeon acknowledged that people in Aberdeen ‘will be disappointed’ but thanked them for ‘complying so well with the measures put in place last week’.
Restrictions will not be extended to Aberdeenshire but officials are monitoring for any evidence that the virus has spread beyond the Aberdeen city border.
In a statement to MSPs the First Minister said: ‘Nobody wants these restrictions to be in place for longer than is necessary.
‘They will be reviewed in one week’s time and as soon as we can relax any of them, then we will do.’
Miss Sturgeon added that the number of cases in Aberdeen shows how quickly coronavirus can spread through a small area. In total, 19,126 people – up 47 – have tested positive for the virus across Scotland, with 2,491 patients dying in hospital after testing positive.
David Groundwater, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in the North-East, said extending lockdown in Aberdeen was ‘understandable’ but urged policy makers to work out how to get businesses in the city up and running again.
He added: ‘Allow Aberdeen eateries to benefit from the Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme later this year, as they’re missing out this August. Another sensible proposal is to roll-out local grants.’
Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, repeated this plea, saying: ‘I’m calling on the Chancellor to support the hospitality sector in Aberdeen and extend Eat Out to Help Out to provide businesses the opportunity to get back on their feet.’
Miss Sturgeon said she would also ‘make that case’ to the UK Government, adding: ‘I hope it will be prepared to listen.’
Meanwhile, National Records of Scotland data shows there were five deaths linked to Covid-19 in the week to Sunday – the lowest weekly total since the first fatality in March. The figures cover when Covid-19 is mentioned on a death certificate.
Comment – Page 20
‘As soon as we can relax this, we will’