Question reference: S5W-33923
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 9 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the First Minister on 8 December 2020 (Official Report, c. 11), what the political rationale was behind the decision to keep Edinburgh under Level 3 of the COVID-19 restrictions; what discussions were held with public health officials regarding the most appropriate Level for the area and whether any of the officials recommended moving the city into Level 2, and whether it will publish the full public health data on which the final decision was based.
Answer
In order to have allowed limited gathering over Christmas, a deliberately cautious approach was taken for the review of levels allocations. Lowering prevalence of the virus prior to the festive period was considered key to avoiding the need for more restrictive measures in the new year and ensuring that any pressures on the NHS were minimised. These decisions were taken with the best available evidence and clinical advice at the time and, significantly, prior to the emergence of the new variant of Covid-19.
It was considered vital that the risk of gatherings of family and friends, particularly around the festive period, was carefully managed so that the relative progress which had been made at the time was not undermined.
On taking these decisions, consideration was given to the considerable risks around increased social activity over the festive period which are understood to be particularly acute in large urban areas. A move to level 2 in Edinburgh would have meant opening up significantly more services in Scotland’s second biggest city in the two weeks before Christmas. The frequent transport links and high concentrations of hospitality and retail venues means Edinburgh attracts large numbers of people, particularly at Christmas, thereby creating increased opportunities for transmission.