Further lockdown measures possible in order to protect schools, Jeane Freeman says

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said that the Scottish Government is prepared to reintroduce some lockdown measures to ensure that schools are able to reopen as planned. 

Freeman told BBC Radio Scotland that she still expects to see a “phased restart” of schools in the Aberdeen area from Tuesday, despite the sudden reintroduction of lockdown measures following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the city. 

She said that “the priority is to get schools back” and that the government is prepared to take "additional steps" to make sure that can happen, but added that “right at the moment there is nothing to tell me that we need to do more in Aberdeen city that we’ve already done”. 

Freeman confirmed that as of Thursday morning 54 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in Aberdeen and that contact tracers had reached 191 others connected to the cluster. 

Lockdown restrictions were reintroduced to the city on Wednesday leading to the closure of bars, cafes and restaurants. 

A five mile travel limit was put in place and people in the city were told not to enter each other’s homes. 

The restrictions were imposed for an initial seven day period by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

Asked if the government would consider further lockdown restrictions for the city, such as the closure of some shops, Freeman said: “The priority is to get schools back.”

“We’ve been really clear that that’s a priority across the country, [it’s] one of the most important things that we can make sure that we do. 

“If there is a need for additional measures to help us do that, either in the North East or anywhere else, then I think you can see we’ve been prepared to take those additional steps. 

She added: “But right at the moment there is nothing to tell me that we need to do more in Aberdeen city that we’ve already done.”

Freeman said that the restrictions were introduced on a “precautionary” basis in order to prevent community transmission of the virus. 

Similar measures could be introduced in other cities, such as Glasgow or Edinburgh, Freeman confirmed, if the government judged necessary. 

Partial lockdowns on specific postcodes, as was seen previously in parts of Dumfries and Galloway, could also be seen in future, she said. 

Freeman said the situation in Aberdeen highlighted the importance of people following the basic guidelines on physical distancing and hygiene. 

She said: “The real point in all this is that Test and Protect is, if you like, a second line of defence against this virus. 

“What Aberdeen [shows is] that actually the first line of defence against this virus is every single one of us, making sure that we follow all the guidance. 

“Where places are crowded, we don’t go there and that we cover all the other guidance about face coverings, hand hygiene and so on.”