Question reference: S6W-00568
- Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 9 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine whether countries are listed as (a) red, (b) amber or (c) green on its international travel and managed isolation regime.
Answer
Decisions on the risk rating for individual countries is made on the basis of assessments by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, using a methodology endorsed by the four UK Chief Medical Officers. This takes into account incidence and test positivity, presence of variants of concern, and capability for genomic surveillance in that country, to reach a red, amber or green rating. The travel regulations are devolved public health measures, but we work with the other nations of the UK to come to a consistent view wherever we can.
For example, the recent decision to move Portugal onto the amber list was not one taken lightly. However it was necessary following evidence of rising incidence and higher test positivity than in Scotland. It also showed a strain of the Delta variant with an additional mutation that could mean vaccine resistance. It is therefore vital that we regularly review this data and take the right decisions for Scotland, in order to limit importation of the virus and not reverse progress with the vaccine rollout.