Question reference: S5W-35563
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 26 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its revised COVID-19 Strategic Framework, whether it has considered further reducing restrictions in Level 3 areas for island communities that have consistently low cases of COVID-19, earlier than outlined.
Answer
The Scottish Government regularly reviews the restrictions that are in place to ensure they are appropriate, and proportionate, to local circumstances. It is anticipated that it will be safe to return to the full local levels approach, including levels 0-2 once JCVI priority groups 1-9 have been vaccinated. There is a review of the levels system currently underway which will take account of the current situation as well as the challenges presented by the new more transmissible variant of the virus. Island communities are more susceptible to fluctuations in cases as these can have a greater relative effect on health services, for example with health workers requiring to self-isolate or limited capacity available at local hospitals. It is vital that decisions are driven by the best available data and evidence, and informed by clinical advice. There are currently many uncertainties about the effect of minor changes on cases numbers as a result of the new variant becoming dominant in Scotland, as well as the impact of vaccination on transmission of the virus.