Coronavirus tier review: Level 4 areas across Scotland drop down as Nicola Sturgeon announces changes

Local authority areas in Scotland which have been subject to Level 4 restrictions will drop down into Level 3 from Friday, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

Over two million people have been under the toughest set of virus rules since November 20, but the areas will come out of Level 4 as planned on December 11.

All eleven, including populous areas like Glasgow City and North and South Lanarkshire, will move to Level 3.

Changes will come into force from Friday at 6pm, with non-essential retail allowed to reopen from 6am to control the flow of customers.

There was good news too for three areas at Level 3, which will be moving down to Level 2; Inverclyde, Angus and Falkirk.

Edinburgh had been considered for Level 2, but increases in case numbers and the risks associated with people coming to the city around the Christmas period mean it won’t happen this week.

Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders will move down from Level 2 to Level 1 as they have low numbers of cases.

Concerns remain over Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, currently Level 2, but there is no move to Level 3 for them this week. The situation will continue to be monitored, with the First Minister saying a move up couldn’t be ruled out.

Ms Sturgeon said prevalence of the virus has “fallen significantly” in all 11 areas in west and central Scotland in Level 4, but warned against complacency.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, she said: “In reaching decisions today, we have had to consider the potential overall impact of moving to a lower level of restrictions at the same time as the Christmas period begins in earnest.

“That has led us to a proportionate but still cautious set of conclusions.”

She urged “care and caution” from people in high prevalence areas as they are moved out of the toughest restrictions, asking them to continue to follow the rules to ensure Covid-19 does not spread.

She said: “As we know from our experience of Covid so far, progress can very easily go into reverse.

“So please continue to abide by the rules. That means, in particular, not visiting other people’s houses.”

Vaccine ‘a huge turning point’

Tuesday morning saw Scotland’s first Covid-19 vaccinations get under way.

At the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Andrew Mencnarowski, a clinical lead at NHS Lothian, was among the first to receive the jab.

The Western General is one of 23 sites around Scotland which will act as vaccination centres for the priority groups.

Scotland’s deputy chief medical officer Nicola Steedman was at the Western General Hospital to see the rollout begin.

She said: “I felt genuinely privileged to see this long hoped for and clinically crucial vaccination programme begin at NHS Lothian’s Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and I would like to sincerely thank all those involved in the vast amount of work which has allowed us to reach this absolute milestone in our Covid-19 response.

“The arrival of these first Covid-19 vaccines is a huge turning point for us all and will protect those most at risk from the serious effects of the virus, but we can’t relax yet.

“Even after the first people are vaccinated it will be important for now that everyone continues to follow the Scottish Government’s guidance for their area and, above all, to follow FACTS.

“These will continue to be the most important things we can do to protect ourselves and others from the virus, as we continue to roll out the vaccination to all of those who need it.”

Deputy charge nurse Katie McIntosh administers the first of two Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine jabs to<br />Clinical Lead of Outpatient Theatres Andrew Mencnarowski

Welcoming the first Covid-19 vaccinations in Scotland, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This is obviously a very welcome milestone in our collective fight against the pandemic and I am very grateful to all those who have worked so hard to ensure Scotland is ready to deliver these first Covid-19 vaccinations.

“Science has given us hope and we are starting on a journey which will eventually allow us to return to the lives we want to lead.

“Following clinical advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) we will begin with those groups which have been prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with Covid-19.

“These include elderly care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers and a number of other groups who are at risk of serious harm and death from this virus.”

She added: “We ask everyone to be patient as we work through these groups as quickly as vaccine supply allows and we urge you to go for the vaccine when it’s your turn.

“Meantime it remains very important that as we vaccinate, we all stick to the necessary restrictions and public health advice to keep suppressing the virus to as low a level as we can.”