Highland Council chief underlines importance of clear message on Covid-19
Highland Council chief executive Donna Manson has underlined the importance of a clear and simple national message during the coronavirus emergency.
She was speaking after being invited to give evidence at the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 committee on Wednesday.
Mrs Manson told the committee: “We have been having member briefings every week and listening to the very different issues and anxieties from one part of Highland to another.
"There has been positivity around the simple messaging that has been coming out on a daily basis, and the one thing that has come back from all of our communities is the importance of having a simple message for everyone to follow.
“We really feel that an inclusive message for the long-term future is really important and that national message in communities has kept everyone safe and it has kept everybody together.”
Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “Tourism is a vital part of our infrastructure and our employment levels in remote and rural areas. We need to welcome back many people that we’ve lost over the last year, or the reality will be that many small enterprises and services in the Highlands won’t be able to function because we won’t have the staff.
“I hope Highland Council’ s evidence to the Covid-19 committee will help to inform decision-making about how Scotland should gradually and safely release from lockdown.
“We are closely monitoring the latest guidance emerging as we hope to move into phase two of the route map and we look forward to supporting our communities and businesses in preparing safely for the time we can get our economy going and welcome visitors back to the Highlands.”