Nicola Sturgeon urged to relax COVID restrictions despite high case numbers

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to move Scotland into level zero next week as planned, despite a high number of COVID cases. 
 
The First Minister is due to give an update on the government’s plans at a specially recalled session of parliament tomorrow. 

The latest figures confirmed another 2,134 new infections identified since Sunday.

However, Public Health Scotland warned a delay in results from the Glasgow Lighthouse laboratory might have affected these figures. 

The test positivity rate was 11.1 per cent – far higher than five per cent rate the WHO says means an outbreak is under control.
 
A total of 469 people remain in hospital receiving treatment for the virus, while 40 are in intensive care. 

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has urged the First Minister to follow Boris Johnson’s lead and open up the country. He called for a clear timetable for exiting restrictions.

Ross said: “For the past 16 months, the public have made huge sacrifices. People now expect a steady return to normality and that must be delivered. 
 
“The SNP cannot stall Scotland’s progress any longer. We have to keep moving forward and that means moving Scotland to level zero next week.
 
“The public shouldn’t be punished for the SNP’s failures to boost the vaccine rollout pace and deliver a fully functioning Test and Protect system.
 
“The SNP have lowered the bar instead of meeting the expected standard for Test and Protect. They’ve manipulated what is classed as a successful contact tracing effort instead of doing the hard work to improve the system.
 
“If Tuesday’s statement does not deliver a plan of action for tackling the virus and a clear timetable for exiting restrictions, Nicola Sturgeon risks losing public buy-in.  
 
“People are fed up with the uncertainty and the SNP’s mixed messages. As I told the First Minister on Monday morning, this is a crunch moment for thousands of businesses who need certainty and support.”

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader and health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said the government needed to tackle current case numbers with more urgency to allow the planned easing of restrictions.

Baillie said: “The SNP has lost control of the pandemic and our exit from lockdown hangs in the balance.

“We need immediate action that meets the scale of the crisis before us.

“That’s why Scottish Labour is calling for the time between vaccine doses to be cut to four weeks, in line with the WHO’s advice, to speed up the vaccine rollout.

“We are also calling on the government to get a grip of our failing Test and Protect system and instead of cutting corners and lowering standards, do all that they can to support the staff in their efforts.

“We also need to see leadership on long COVID if we are to avoid another health and economic crisis after the pandemic has passed.

“Make no mistake, any delay to the easing of the restrictions will be the result of SNP inaction and failure.

“We are at a crucial moment in the pandemic – it’s about time we showed the urgency and ambition that we need.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens called for a more cautious approach. The party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “Scotland is still in the grip of the COVID-19 virus, with a high number of cases and pressure on our health services, so it is absolutely appropriate for parliament to be recalled. 

“This is not a time to throw caution to the wind and accept widespread new infections, as the UK Government has irresponsibly done in England. 

“We’ve seen in the Netherlands that removing all safety measures can lead to going back into lockdown, so the Scottish Government must follow clinical advice and WHO guidance to take a safer, more gradual approach until the vaccine programme is further on.

“We have particular concern for those who remain vulnerable even when vaccinated and for young people who may be asked to return to normal activity without being vaccinated, and it is vital for both those groups that we all remain vigilant and keep up good practice like face coverings and self-isolation.”