Top microbiologist speaks out over nationwide raft of new restrictions
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A leading microbiologist has criticised the way Highlands have been included in the blanket countrywide raft of new coronavirus restrictions.
Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said populations north of the central belt would be wondering why they were being treated the same as Covid-19 hotspots.
The campaign group Caithness Health Action Team said it had sympathy for Prof Pennington's position as it has repeatedly called for a breakdown of virus figures so that the public can have a clearer idea of the number of cases in their local area.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that a ban on visiting other people's homes was being imposed across Scotland. The measure was already in place for more than 1.75 million people in Glasgow and some neighbouring areas.
But Ms Sturgeon said it was being rolled out across the whole of Scotland from Wednesday in a bid to get the virus under control again before winter.
She also confirmed that Scotland would be following England in imposing a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.
The curfew will be in place from Friday, with Ms Sturgeon warning that any premises that do not comply could be shut down completely.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings in Scotland were restricted to six people from two households just two weeks ago.
But a blanket roll-out of restrictions is not the answer, according to Prof Pennington. "I don't know why they have taken a national approach to what is a local problem," the microbiologist said.
"There will be people north of the central belt who live in communities that have low – or no – levels of the virus wondering why they will have to come under these rules.
"But it would not suit Nicola Sturgeon to be seen doing less than England – she has to be seen to be doing more.
"How does that sit with communities like the Western Isles who have not had a positive case since June, for example? The Highlands also have low levels.
"I am not impressed that these announcements as a biological control measure will have much effect.
"This may not make me popular, but I would have high on my list closing pubs and restaurants in hotspot areas like Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. I would be amazed if there was no evidence of transmission in pubs in Glasgow.
"They [governments] needed to ramp up control measures in certain places, and avoid such restrictions in others which do not have a problem. And all backed up with a good test and trace system.”
CHAT said in a statement that it had some sympathy with Prof Pennington's comments regarding the Highlands. "We have repeatedly asked for a breakdown of the figures so that the public could have an accurate idea of the number of cases in their local area," the group said.
"If there are no or very few cases in a certain area there are folk who would question why they have the restrictions. We also agree that there needs to be a good test and trace system in place.
"A number of folk have been complaining to us that they could not get a test in our area."
Councillor Struan Mackie, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, said: "I would welcome any effort to adopt regional approaches to the coronavirus pandemic, especially localised lockdowns and restrictions based on the prevalence of Covid-19 in the immediate area.
"The much talked about ‘circuit break’ lockdown discussed widely by both Holyrood and Westminster is a blunt instrument when localised solutions are needed."
