[ad_1]
No part of the country is ready to move to the lowest level of confinement, according to Professor Jason Leitch, Scottish chief medical officer.
However, the national clinical director has urged the Scots to “keep their nerves” because he insists that the coronavirus restrictions that are being applied are working.
Professor Leitch told MSPs that they can rely on the imposed measures, but the “state of the pandemic nationwide” means that it is too risky to allow any area to be at Level 0 in the Government’s five-level restriction system. .
Providing evidence to Holyrood’s Covid-19 Committee, Professor Leitch said that transmission of the virus in hospitality settings and through social interaction is declining as a result of the latest series of restrictions.
He added: “We will have to keep our nerves and if we stay nervous and the number of coronavirus cases decreases, we can gradually release some of those more stringent restrictions.”
He said that two weeks ago, there was little evidence that the restrictions were working, but he told the MSPs: “I think voters can be assured today that it is working.”
Level 0 is the most flexible restriction regime and would be as close to normal as possible with pubs and restaurants open during normal hours, while three households could mingle and meet indoors.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie asked what areas where coronavirus numbers are low they need to do to move to the lowest level of restrictions.
Professor Leitch said that having the lowest number of cases per 100,000 according to the government’s classification system, in addition to having the lowest positive tests and the lowest hospital and intensive care admissions, is not enough for an area to be at Level 0.
He said travel and tourism risks must also be taken into account, adding: “We know how quickly this virus is imported into countries or parts of countries.”
“The current position of the Senior Clinical Advisers in Scotland is that no area in Scotland is ready for Level 0 due to the state of the pandemic at the national level.”
Another factor that can influence the level of restraint of a local authority is the capacity of the intensive care units in the area.
Professor Leitch referenced South Lanarkshire, where patients attend one of three hospitals, including Monklands University Hospital in Airdrie, which has a 30-bed capacity for coronavirus patients, far fewer than the planned 76 that will be required in six weeks.
The adviser also said that the new rules that go into effect on November 2 will have specific advice for people who were previously protected and are at higher risk of contracting the virus.
He said: “What we have tried to do in the recent release of the preliminary levels is to link the council to high-risk groups, the so-called protectors.
“At none of those levels are we telling people to stay home and disconnect completely, we don’t think it’s appropriate at this point in the pandemic.”
[ad_2]
