No home comfort: North-east facing Tier 2 virus curbs

Government expected to keep region’s current restrictions in place for weeks

The north-east is today expected to be told it will face further weeks of the coronavirus measures currently in place.

Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City are to be made subject to Scotland’s Tier 2 restrictions – effectively status quo.

It would mean a continuation of the existing curbs on the operation of hospitality businesses and on indoor meeting with other households.

Aberdeen City Council co- leader Douglas Lumsden declared himself “disappointed” with the hint – revealed in a letter from the Scottish Government to Cosla chief executive Sally Loudon – as he called for greater clarity on how the city could progress.

His Aberdeenshire compatriot, Jim Gifford, said: “Hopefully we get the right level and then the name of the game is to ensure we go from there to level zero as quickly as possible.”

Low virus rates are expected to result in the Highlands, Moray and the islands being placed in Tier 1, while much of the rest of the country finds itself in Tier 2.

Dundee, where cases are giving “cause for concern”, could be placed in Tier 3 and troubled North and South Lanarkshire in the highest tier.

Cor on a virus restrictions could be eased across Moray , the Highlands and island communities next week as part of Scotland’s new tiered approach to tackle coronavirus.

The Press and Journal has seen a letter from the Scottish Government to Cosla chief Sally Loudon outlining where council regions could be placed.

The proposals include Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire being classed in level two, which is broadly similar to the restrictions already in place.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden said he was “disappointed” to hear the area may be assigned level two and has called for more information on exactly how it can progress.

“They are looking at infection rates and hospital capacity but they haven’t told us what these need to be to go down to level one,” he said.

Aberdeenshire Council leader Jim Gifford, meanwhile, met the deputy first minister yesterday as efforts continued to find the appropriate level for each local authority.

He said: “Level two is pretty much where we are already, but these things are changing on a daily basis.

“Hopefully we get the right level and then the name of the game is to ensure we go from there to level zero as quickly as possible.”

Mo ray, Highland, Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles are expected to benefit from reduced infection rates during the pandemic by being placed in level one.

They could, however, continue to face the added restriction of no home visits.

The move, which would come into effect next Monday, could pave the way for soft play areas, bingo halls and bowling alleys to reopen as well as football stadia to welcome back fans with restricted numbers and bars to serve alcohol indoors without the need to buy a main meal.

The five regions collectively make up the parts of the UK least affected by Covid-19 per head of population.

Yesterday the Scottish Government stressed no final decisions had been made about where individual regions would be placed, with talks due to continue this week.

However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in her daily briefing there would be “no immediate change” in restrictions “for many places”.

The tiered system is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament today before being implemented.

Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson was “hopeful” the region would be placed in level one but is seeking clarity on the proposals, par tic ularly about visiting people inside homes and tourism.

The letter to Cosla, which represents all 32 Scottish councils, said the regions placed in tier one would still be subject to the current ban on home visiting, with “reinforced” travel advice about the risks of people bringing Covid-19 into the regions from elsewhere.

It said recent data from Dundee “gives cause for concern ”, with consideration being given to moving the city to level three, similar to restrictions already in place in the Central Belt, after about 60 new daily cases in the NHS Tayside area in recent days.

North and South Lanarkshire are being considered for the highest tier, level four.

The letter says the current situation means no area has been considered for level zero, the closest to normal without a vaccine.

Ms Sturgeon explained a region would have to demonstrate a “sustained” fall in virus transmissions to moved down a tier.

She said: “The best way of moving to a lower level of restrictions and of living more freely is to have a lower level of transmission of the virus.”

The Scottish Government confirmed there were no plans to reduce the selfisolation period from 14 to 10 days amid reports the UK Government is considering it.