The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sturgeon in bid to allay panic about new Covid variant
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is no need to “hit the panic button” over the new variant of coronavirus.
The new strain of the virus has been found in South Africa, Botswana, Israel and Hong Kong, but no cases have yet been reported in the UK.
However, Belgium yesterday became the first European Union country to announce a case of the variant B.1.1.529 in a traveller who returned from Egypt on November
11. The patient first showed symptoms on November
22.
And Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser of the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the new variant may already be in the UK, although current signs are reassuring.
Little is known about the variant, but the four nations of the UK have taken the decision to add South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia to the travel red list as a precaution.
Speaking to Bauer Media ahead of the SNP conference yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves and I don’t think we should be pressing the panic button on any of this.
“But there is no doubt that developments in the last 24 hours around this new variant are the most significant and the most concerning that we have had in the last few months.
“We still need more data, more analysis. We’re monitoring it very carefully, but given the level of concern about the potential of this new variant, we’ve taken highly precautionary action in restricting travel and asking for self-isolation of people coming from certain countries.
“That’s the appropriate action to take at this stage, but we will be looking carefully at developments over the days to come.”
Meanwhile, people aged over 40 will be able to book a booster jab of the Covid19 vaccine from today, the Scottish Government has announced.
An online portal already open for those aged 50-59 has been expanded to take bookings from the 40-49 age group.
Appointments will be available from Tuesday, but six months must have passed since the second jab was given.
Those aged 16 and 17 will also be able to book their second dose using the same portal from Tuesday.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We have now delivered more than 1.5 million boosters and third doses and the excellent progress with the autumn/ winter vaccination programme now allows us to invite people aged 40-49 to book online.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK was “buying time” by adding South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia to its travel red list, adding that the government was taking a “safety-first approach”.
Passengers arriving in the UK from these countries from 4am tomorrow will be required to book and pay for a government-approved hotel quarantine for 10 days. Downing Street urged anyone who has arrived from these countries recently to get tested.
Yesterday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons discussions are ongoing over the prospect of adding further countries to the red list as he said there is “huge international concern” over the variant.