Moray 'unlikely' to move to level two Covid-19 restrictions with the rest of Scotland

Health bosses say it's "unlikely" Moray will drop to level two Covid-19 restrictions with the rest of the country this month.

The First Minister is expected to confirm tomorrow whether the country can move into level two restrictions from May 17th.

However, due to the cases per 100,000 people rate in Moray currently sitting at 93.9, health experts say it's "entirely possible" the region won't move with the rest of Scotland.

This case rate in Moray is more than double the case rate of second-placed Glasgow, which has 48.3.

NHS Grampian says it has seen recent hospital admissions from the local population, including younger people, under 50 years of age.

Deputy Director of public health, Chris Littlejohn, says the COVID-19 situation remains of "great concern".

He said: "It does seem to us to be unlikely that Moray would be able to go down to level two at the same time as the rest of the country.

“Please stay patient, we need people to continue to do the right thing and stick with the guidelines." - Chris Littlejohn, NHS Grampian

"The situation remains of great concern and according to previous Scottish Government thresholds, it’s entirely possible that Moray won’t move into level two.

"We have been delighted with the community response to our request for increased testing, and we are asking for that to continue as well as everyone’s continuing compliance with the regulations and rules.

“If the community continues to do the right things, level two won’t be far away. We are pleased to say there has been enormous interest in the accelerated vaccination program for Moray.

"Our team is working its way through calls and queries as quickly as they can; we would ask people to be patient with us and, wherever possible, make every effort to attend the appointment made for them.

“We’ve also seen many people take up the enhanced testing offers – finding the virus and getting those with it to isolate, even if asymptomatic, really is the way we beat it and get Moray back on a level-footing with the rest of the country.

“The impact of being left behind could be quite significant. It will be painful and understandably it will be upsetting for many, but with the extra vaccinations, testing and people sticking by the guidelines Moray will very soon be heading in the right direction and I’d thank each and every person who is playing their part in protecting Moray.

“Please stay patient, we need people to continue to do the right thing and stick with the guidelines.

"Things aren’t going to improve overnight, there is a lag between exposure, incubation and symptoms, but we hope that all of these measures will result in an improving picture in the next 10-14 days."

He also outlined five major measures which they're using to bring the situation under control.

"These include case finding through testing, contact tracing and managing clusters of cases, vaccination, population restrictions (currently Level 3), and clear communication with the public about these.

“Be assured, we are working flat out to do everything we can to prevent further people becoming infected and sick, but it requires a continuing collective effort by everyone.

"I am grateful to everyone involved in getting these messages out to everyone in the community.

“We continue to have enhanced the availability of testing in Moray.

"We are urging everyone to #ProtectMoray and get tested even if they have no symptoms, through asymptomatic testing sites or lateral flow kits ordered online.

"We have deployed an additional mobile testing unit to increase access to ‘PCR’ testing for those with covid symptoms, and we have gone further by asking anyone with ‘extended’ symptoms to seek a PCR test.

"We are looking into the possibility of door-to-door testing in particular ‘hot-spots’ if the situation continues to worsen.

“We have an experienced and tireless contact tracing service, helping to identify and isolate exposed people before they have a chance to become infectious. Covid-19 spreads through clusters, and sustained community transmission involves a growing number of these, some small and some large and complex.

"As a result of the past year, we now have experienced teams with processes to investigate and manage clusters as early as possible, whether in workplaces, schools or care homes.

“We have accelerated the population vaccination program. It takes at least two weeks after vaccination for protection to develop, and protection is not 100%.

"But when a very high proportion of the population have been vaccinated this gives additional population protection as well as individual protection.

"The current level 3 population restrictions continue to limit population mixing, especially indoors. It remains vital that people continue to comply with these."

The health board are encouraging residents to take part in asymptomatic testing.

Test kits can be ordered for free postal delivery at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

Testing is available without booking at the sites listed at www.moray.gov.uk/covid19.

For more information head to https://www.nhsgrampian.org/covid-19/covid-19-public-information/subpages/covid-19-community-testing/.