Protection Levels update

Glasgow to move to Level 2 from 5 June

Glasgow will move to Level 2 from next weekend as long as key indicators remain stable or fall.

In line with the recommendation of the National Incident Management Team (NIMT), the First Minister said there are signs that the situation is stabilising in the postcodes at the heart of the initial outbreak and across the city generally, and that, if that trend continues, the city can move to Level 2 from 00:01 on Saturday 5 June.

Enhanced testing, vaccination and public health measures will continue to work to contain the spread, and enhanced contact tracing may mean close contacts of close contacts are asked to self-isolate and book a test.

Further funding has been made available to Glasgow City Council to provide additional support for businesses in hospitality and leisure in Glasgow, with grants ranging from £250 to £750 per week.

Other areas of concern across Scotland continue to be monitored closely, including Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire. All of those areas, however, have low absolute numbers of cases and public health teams think that the outbreaks there can be controlled in other ways. These areas will remain in Level 2 for now, although public health efforts will be intensified to tackle the increased prevalence.

Everyone in Glasgow,  Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire is encouraged to get tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by finding cases that might be missed, as around 1 in 3 people with the virus don’t have symptoms.

Travel restrictions between Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and certain local authority areas in England will remain in place.

The First Minister said:

“Case levels in Glasgow are uncomfortably high but there are signs of progress. So the view of the National Incident Management Team is that it would be premature to move Glasgow out of Level 3 this week while the situation remains so fragile. However, if incidence continues to stabilise, and assuming levels of hospitalisation remain reasonably stable, they will support a move to Level 2 from the end of next week.

“Of course, it is necessary that we do see progress continue. We will be watching the critical statistics carefully every day. If the massive public health efforts continue to have an impact; if our collective efforts continue to drive the virus back; then from next Saturday – 5 June – the plan would be for the city to move to Level 2.

“But, I need to be very clear. We need to see the positive signs to continue to make that a reality. To give as much advance notice as possible, I intend to confirm any decision to Parliament no later than Wednesday of next week.

“So, my message to the people of Glasgow is, don’t lose heart. I live in the city, so I know how hard this is. But please, continue to help with all of the public health efforts that are in place. If we continue to do that, we will move out of Level 3 quickly.

“In particular, please come forward for the vaccine - not just the first, but both doses. And that applies to young people too. This virus can and does make people ill - being young is not a cast iron protection against it. Far from it - a high proportion of the, albeit relatively low, number of hospital cases now are amongst younger age groups.”

Mainland Scotland is currently due to move from Level 2 to Level 1 on 7 June. The First Minister said she is planning to confirm on Tuesday to Parliament whether that move will take place.

 Background

Coronavirus (COVID-19) protection levels: what you can do - gov.scot

More information on testing and accessing Lateral Flow Devices can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): Testing in Scotland | NHS inform

NHSGGC : COVID 19 - Asymptomatic Test Facilities

Self-Isolation Support Grant now open - gov.scot

Level 1 restrictions continue to apply in:

  • the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney
  • all islands in Highland, except for Skye given its fixed link with the mainland
  • the Inner Hebrides islands in Argyll, including Islay, Jura and Mull

Level 2 restrictions apply across all of mainland Scotland, with the exception of Glasgow City local authority area. Travel to, and from, Glasgow continues to be prohibited other than for permitted reasons.

A new app – Check in Scotland – was launched at the end of April, to help Test and Protect easily contact people who need to self-isolate. Please download and use the app if you can.

Clinical evaluation by Public Health England and the University of Oxford showed lateral flow tests have a specificity of at least 99.9%. This means that for every 1,000 lateral flow tests carried out, there is fewer than one false positive result.

While the latest evidence suggests vaccines provide a high level of protection against the effects of COVID-19, they don’t yet provide a guarantee that you can’t still get the virus or pass it on to people around you.

First Minister's statement - 28 May 2021

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