The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Covid restrictions ‘likely’ for Moray
Travel restrictions could be imposed in Moray next week if the region remains at Level 3 Covid restrictions. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it is “highly probable” the region will be left behind the rest of the country in the next step of lockdown easing.
A final decision has been delayed until the end of the week with hopes that if case numbers drop significantly a delay can be avoided.
Huge numbers of locals have been vaccinated in recent days with opening hours at the Elgin centre being extended to 10pm.
Queues of up to 50 people at a time have been seen outside the Fiona Elcock Centre waiting for walk-up appointments while NHS Grampian reports “enormous interest”.
If Moray is held at Level 3, travel restrictions will be imposed preventing people moving in or out of the region – except for specific purposes.
Ms Sturgeon said: “If Moray stays at Level 3 then it will be necessary to reimpose travel restrictions to prevent travel in or out of the area, except for limited purposes.
“We will provide additional financial assistance to businesses affected.
“I know it would be deeply unwelcome... but hopefully any extension to Level 3 will be for as short a period as possible.”
The latest Scottish Government figures show Moray is recording Covid cases at a rate of 94 per 100,000 people – more than four times the national average and significantly higher than the 8.42 in Aberdeenshire and 7.63 in the Highlands.
However, hopes have been raised that the increase is beginning to slow following extra measures being deployed to the region – including extra testing units and an accelerated vaccine programme.
And chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith has ruled out tightening restrictions further to Level 4 as “disproportionate”.
Increased Covid cases in Moray have already led to potential visitors going elsewhere.
Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns said: “We’ve already heard from businesses and the tourism sector in Moray that they’re seeing the impact of us having such high Covid case numbers compared to the rest of Scotland – we owe it to them, and our NHS colleagues, to take responsibility and do as we’re asked.
“We all have the power to stop the spread.”
Chris Littlejohn, NHS Grampian’s deputy director of public health, said: “If the community continues to do the right things, Level 2 won’t be far away.
“There has been enormous interest in the accelerated vaccination programme – we would ask people to be patient with us and make every effort to attend the appointment made for them.”
Cases of coronavirus have continued to be reported in the region amid the recent announcement.
RAF Lossiemouth has confirmed a “small number” of positive tests among personnel, who are offered twice-weekly tests.
A base spokeswoman said: “Swift isolation of any lateral flow positive cases together with the localised tracing of close contacts in advance of formal Trace and Protect activities has meant there has been no impact on operational activities – we remain ready to secure the skies and protect the seas 24/7.
“Our visiting German colleagues are fully compliant with Scottish Government regulations on international travel. They are participating in regular asymptomatic testing whilst working from RAF Lossiemouth.”
Meanwhile, Moray Council has opened new rapid testing sites in Elgin, Lossiemouth, Lhanbryde, Buckie, Keith, Forres and Aberlour to drive down case numbers.
Fears have been raised some residents in the region have been spreading the virus without knowing.
It is hoped earlier detection will help get the outbreak under control.
Karen Sievewright, Moray Council’s environmental health and trading standards manager, said: “Almost one in three people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms but are still infectious and able to pass the virus on.
“By getting tested at a community testing site, you can find out if you are positive and take immediate action to stop the spread of the virus by self-isolating.”
Those with any of the symptoms should book a test, via nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online, and must not attend asymptomatic testing sites.
The individual and their whole household, including any extended or bubble members, should selfisolate immediately until the test results are returned.