Travel restrictions to remain in place around areas affected by cross-border Covid cluster
People living in Gretna, Annan, Dumfries, Canonbie and Lockerbie should continue not to travel more than five miles for leisure or recreational purposes this weekend, according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The measures come after a cross-border outbreak of coronavirus in the area. 11 people have now been confirmed as having the virus. Mobile testing centres have been established at three workplaces and a cross-border incident management team with of Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England has been set up.
In today's Briefing, Ms Sturgeon said she was "very hopeful" the outbreak had been contained. She also said care homes in the area will not welcome visitors this weekend, and said she was "genuinely sorry" that people in Dumfries and Galloway wouldn't be able to travel to England to go to the pub.
The factories identified as 'high risk' in relation to COVID-19 cluster in Dumfries and Galloway are Young's Seafood and Alpha Solway - both in Annan. National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government Jason Leitch says they don't think there are cases there, and are only testing as a precautionary measure.
In a statement Young's Seafood said: “Our site at Annan has very recently been informed by an employee that they have tested positive for Covid-19 as a result of community contact with an external party. This individual has been on holiday from the site since 19th June and has confirmed that they have had no contact with anybody from the site during this period of absence. They are now self-isolating at home.
“We are in regular contact with health authorities and as a precautionary measure Public Health Scotland is currently testing employees on a voluntary basis on site at Annan.
“We continue to adhere to UK government Covid-19 risk assessment guidelines and there are strict hygiene controls in place across all of our sites to protect our employees. These include use of personal protective equipment, extra sanitisation sites around working areas, the use of Perspex screens between employees in our factories and changes in site practices and facilities to ensure social distancing.”
The third 'high risk' workplace identified is the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
In a statement they said: “Our staff are subject to the national track and trace programme, some of whom live across the border. The identification of the cluster highlights how effective the track and trace programme is and we are pleased that action is being taken to contain the cluster so quickly.
“In order to protect the safety of patients and staff a number of measures are in place at our sites including, staff wearing appropriate PPE including face masks for all staff in every hospital setting, hand sanitisers at our entrances and exits, one way systems and social distancing across all sites. We also, as a matter of routine, undertake testing for COVID-19 as part of the admission process and every seven days following admission.”
Jason Leitch said in today's Scottish Government briefing that coronavirus guidelines "may not have been adhered to" in parts of the region.
Questioned by ITV Border's Political Editor Peter MacMahon as to whether these restrictions amounted to a "lockdown", First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said no - and that the restrictions were "inconvenient" but "proportionate" and for the safety of people in the area.
Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader Elaine Murray said:
“Dumfries and Galloway has done well so far in controlling coronavirus however some complacency has crept in recently.
“We know that a couple of social gatherings which shouldn’t have taken place may be implicated in the spread of this outbreak.
“It’s vital that we adhere to the guidance this weekend, including that which remains in place in part of our region but has been relaxed elsewhere in Scotland."
Postcodes affected by the travel restrictions:
DG1
DG2
DG11
DG12
DG13
DG14
DG16
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