Highland MSP Maree Todd insists it is the 'beginning of the end' of the pandemic but urges people to stay at home and protect lives amid new lockdown
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Highlands & Islands MSP Maree Todd has issued a call for people in the region to “stay at home, except for reasonable and specific purposes.”
It comes after the First Minister announced that Scotland would be re-entering a new period of March-style lockdown in a bid to curtail rocketing cases.
Only the islands currently at Tier 3 have been exempted from the lockdown.
Speaking earlier today, Ms Sturgeon warned that “I am more concerned about the situation we face now than I have been at any time since March last year.”
This comes as 1905 new cases were confirmed today on top of 2464 recorded on Sunday sparking the recall of the Scottish Parliament for the second time in four weeks and just the fifth time ever.
The next set of figures for NHS Highland will not be released until Tuesday – when the case load from January 1 to January 4 will finally be known but there have been no localised breakdowns of coronavirus figures over the New Year weekend.
The First Minister said the current situation was a race between the vaccine and the burgeoning number of cases with the hope that innoculations can “outpace” Covid.
Ms Todd action is necessary now as the window of opportunity is "tight" and described the measures announced as "vital."
“We are now seeing a higher prevalence of Covid-19 in the Highlands than we saw in the first wave of the virus," she said.
“Although cases remain lower than in other areas of the country, they are rising and the new variant of the virus which is understood to be even more infectious means firm and decisive action is needed now.
“The extreme pressure that the NHS is experiencing in other parts of the UK also presents us with a stark warning.
“We need to act and take preventative action to ensure our health service in Scotland does not become overwhelmed. But, the window to achieve this is tight and is why the measures set out by the First Minister today are so crucial.
“Right now, the message is clear – stay at home, except for reasonable and specific purposes. This includes education, caring responsibilities, essential shopping and exercise.
“As also announced today, remote learning for school pupils will continue until at least February 1. Schools will, however, be open for vulnerable children and those of essential workers.
“Returning to in-school learning remains a priority but we need to see reduced levels of community transmission whilst taking extra precaution due to the new strain of the virus.
“Undoubtedly, there are difficult times ahead, but we are at the beginning of the end of this pandemic.
“As the vaccine programme progresses, normality is in sight, but we need to give the vaccine the time it needs to get ahead and in order to do that, we must slow the virus down.
“It’s critical that we all follow the measures set out by the First Minister today and stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.”
