Decisive action over new Covid strain 'difficult but necessary' say SNP MSPs Kate Forbes and Maree Todd
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Highland MSP and Finance Minister Kate Forbes has spoken of her anguish about the need for new restrictions to be placed on the country.
The measures are aimed at preventing the emergence of a new highly contagious strain of the Covid virus in Scotland.
Currently, there are just 17 known cases of the new variant – 16 of them in the Glasgow area.
Earlier, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a range of hard hitting measures to combat the spread of the new strain including a travel ban to the rest of the UK and the Highlands entering a near lockdown from Boxing Day.
It means that pubs, bars, restaurants, gyms and other hospitality venues as well as all non-essential shops and businesses will have to close for what is thought now to be a period of three weeks.
Schools will also reopen later than expected on January 11 and resort to online learning with more details expected to be confirmed in the coming days, including the status of international travel.
Ms Forbes, as a member of the cabinet took part in the decision and admitted she will have friends and family of her own who will be “gutted” at the new measures while agreeing with the First Minister that the move was deeply upsetting.
“Nicola Sturgeon said that these decisions made her want to cry – and I echo that sentiment,” she said. “I, like many others in this constituency, have family and friends who are gutted about the new restrictions and will now have to change plans completely.
“However, it is difficult to argue against a new strain of the virus which has spread so rapidly in parts of England. If we have learned any lessons in the first and second waves of the virus it is that the quicker you act, the more effective the intervention.
“I, like everybody else in the Highlands, desperately want to get back to normality and this preventative action will hopefully allow us to do so quicker than if we were to wait for the new strain of the virus to take hold.”
Her fellow Highland MSP Maree Todd, who is also the children’s minister, joined her in supporting the move but acknowledging that it is “absolutely necessary.”
She said: “Whilst Scotland has the lowest case rate out of all UK nations, the new measures announced today by the First Minister, which sees the Highlands enter Tier 4 on the December 26, are absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of the new strain of coronavirus.
“It’s vital that we all follow the rules on travel and don’t visit other households indoors. Staying home and staying apart are the most important things we can do to halt this virus.
“I know this news will be disappointing for people across the Highlands but if we stick with it and stick together, we will get through this.”
