Covid in Scotland: Western Isles goes into lockdown
- Published
Western Isles Hospital has reached capacity amid an outbreak affecting patients and staff
The whole of the Western Isles has moved up to level four lockdown restrictions as part of efforts to suppress the spread of Covid-19.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said "quick and decisive" action was needed following new cases on the islands.
Barra and Vatersay were already under level four restrictions. The rest of the isles moved up from level three at 00:01 on Saturday.
One of the outbreaks is affecting Western Isles Hospital in Lewis.
Ms Freeman said the hospital, the largest on the island, was reaching full capacity and the isles had seen six new Covid cases on Friday and nine on Thursday.
Some non-urgent procedures will be rescheduled but the hospital in Stornoway will maintain a full emergency service.
The Scottish government said lockdown was necessary to avoid the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
Islands MSP Alasdair Allan said the new cases in the Western Isles included the UK variant of Covid, which has been "accelerating spread" of the infection in Scotland, and widely across the UK.
In the Scottish government's daily Covid briefing Ms Freeman said the numbers were high in proportion to the population of the Western Isles. The islands are home to almost 27,000 people.
She appealed to all islanders to stay at home and only leave for essential reasons.
Ms Freeman said: "These cases follow on from quite a high number of cases two weeks ago including a significant community outbreak in Barra.
"All of that is placing significant strain on hospital capacity in the Western Isles health board area."
Barra, along with neighbouring Vatersay, is already in lockdown
In her appeal to islanders, Ms Freeman said: "Please don't wait for us to reach a view on whether or not we should act to move to level four. Please behave now as if that is the case."
The outbreak at Western Isles Hospital involves both patients and staff.
There are pressures on the hospital due to numbers of patients affected and the impact on staff, including close contacts also having to self isolate.
NHS Western Isles has been offered support from NHS Highland and NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank to manage the situation.
Barra, along with neighbouring Vatersay, entered level four this month following rising cases in an outbreak on Barra.
The number of cases recently reached 50.
On Thursday, NHS Western Isles said a new cluster of three cases had also been identified in Benbecula.
A decision on moving the whole of the Western Isles up to level four is expected on Friday
Islands MSP Mr Allan said: "This continues to be a an extremely concerning situation in the islands with six new cases linked to the outbreak at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway - including the new UK variant of Covid.
"I have made the case to the government for the need to ensure adequate arrangements are in place while the hospital outbreak is dealt with."
He added: "More hopefully, it is clear that vaccination is proceeding well locally, with the Western Isles one of the first parts of the country already giving first doses to the over 70s."
Roddie Mackay, leader of Western Isles local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said moving up to level four was "disappointing but not entirely unexpected".
He said: "Our communities continue to make stringent efforts to protect themselves and others and it is imperative, now more than ever before, that we maintain and indeed - wherever possible - increase these efforts.
"While this will inevitably cause concern in our communities, we are confident in local resilience and commitment which will help us get through this challenging period."
Tighter restrictions
The Western Isles along with Orkney, Shetland and some islands in Highland and Argyll have been under level three restrictions since Boxing Day, when mainland Scotland went into lockdown.
Under level three, six people from up to two separate households can meet indoors in a public place such as a café or restaurant, and outdoors in a private garden or in a public place such as a park or an outdoor area of a pub.
But under the tighter level four restrictions, a maximum of two people, aged 12 and over, can meet outdoors for a permitted purpose if they are not from the same household.
Under both levels, children under 12 do not count towards the total number of people allowed to gather.
For large parts of last year, the Western Isles had recorded the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in Scotland.
September saw an outbreak affect South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula. It was declared over at the end of October.
This month's outbreak in Barra was linked to socialising not permitted under level three rules.
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said earlier this month: "What we are seeing in Barra is a good example of what happens when people let their guard down and come together."
