Question reference: S5W-35545
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 25 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 24 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether significant regional variation in COVID-19 infection rates, such as that between the West of Scotland and Lothian, will have a factor on the speed and levels at which lockdown is released.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been clear that any decisions made with regard to lifting lockdown restrictions will be informed by the best available data, and this will be published where it is available. The Strategic Framework update announced to parliament by the First Minister on 23 February outlines a cautious approach to easing lockdown restrictions given the number of uncertainties which remain about the new variant of the virus (B.1.1.7 or ‘UK variant’) and the efficacy of the vaccination programmes on transmission of the virus and wider health outcomes. On 16 March, the First Minister announced the next milestones of our exit from lockdown. This includes an indicative timetable for the easing of measures, and from the 26 April will include a national move to Level 3 measures. However, we will continue to monitor case numbers and we are ready to adjust these plans should any evidence of a rise in cases occur. When we move down from Level 4 we want to try to do that as one country, because that will allow us to lift travel restrictions. However, we will consider the data and take final decisions nearer the time.