Caithness councillor Nicola Sinclair sees 'a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel' with return of hugging
Caithness councillor Nicola Sinclair has welcomed the opportunity for people across Scotland to hug their family and friends again, saying: "It’s the simple things that are so precious."
She said the major lifting of Covid-19 restrictions from Monday, announced this week by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, offered "a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel".
Ms Sturgeon said on Tuesday that from May 17 people will be able to hug their loved ones and meet in private homes as most of mainland Scotland moves to level two, with restrictions being eased on hospitality, entertainment, education and sport.
Councillor Sinclair, chairperson of Highland Council's Caithness Committee, said it had been a worrying time for many and she praised the key workers and volunteers who have "worked tirelessly" throughout the pandemic.
"It feels like many years since we were all bracing ourselves for lockdown as the pandemic took hold, and I know it was an anxious and lonely time for so many of us," the Wick and East Caithness councillor said.
"The community spirit in Caithness got us through, albeit with some sad losses along the way, and it’s great to now see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
"I know the community feels enormous gratitude to all the key workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the past year and continue to roll out the vaccine programme.
"Our businesses have also had a hard time and it’s lovely to see them begin to open their doors again.
"Probably most important of all is the opportunity to gather with family and friends in our own homes again and have a hug. It’s the simple things that are so precious and it’s truly a gift to have them back."
Ms Sturgeon confirmed the lifting of restrictions from level three to level two, although Moray could be excluded from the move because of the higher number of Covid cases in that area. At the same time, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles will move to level one.
The new rules will mean that:
- Up to six people from three households will be able to meet inside homes and can also stay overnight
- Social distancing will be suspended indoors and in private gardens so people can hug their loved ones
- Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve alcohol indoors until 10.30pm in two-hour booked slots
- Up to six adults from three households will be able to meet indoors in a public place
- Outdoors, up to eight adults from eight households can meet
- Adult outdoor contact sports and indoor group exercises will be able to resume
- Venues including cinemas, theatres, concert halls and bingo halls will be able to reopen
- More than one person will be able to sing during religious services
Ms Sturgeon said: “The success of the vaccination programme, and continued high compliance with the various rules and restrictions, means that we have seen continued suppression of the virus in the last three weeks. As a result the situation overall is a very positive one, and we are now in a position to relax more restrictions and restore much more normality to our everyday lives.
“It is almost eight months since most of us have been able to meet in each other’s homes. While I know all of us have been looking forward to being able to do that again, I would encourage everyone to please use judgement – close physical contact still carries risk, so if you have loved ones who are vulnerable for any reason, you should still be careful.
"And you should perhaps limit the overall number of people that you choose to have close physical contact with."