No general agreement reached for Western Isles exemptions

But she has warned that any such move would likely be matched by increased travel restrictions for those travelling to the islands from the mainland.

Speaking at her daily lunchtime COVID-19 briefing session on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that discussions had taken place on the issue between Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, and the Island-based local authorities.

A spokesperson for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar confirmed this week that that meeting took place two weeks ago and said that those attending expressed a commitment “to working together and remaining in dialogue over the coming weeks and months.”

But in a statement, NHS Western Isles (NHSWI) confirmed that the three island-based NHS Boards (Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland) had been represented ‘at a ministerial level meeting at the beginning of October’ but that they had warned at that meeting against any island-specific relaxation of restrictions at this time.

A spokesperson for NHSWI said: “The collective North of Scotland Public Health view expressed at that meeting, was that support could not currently be given to any island specific relaxation of restrictions.

“Given the speed in which COVID-19 can spread, as evidenced for us in the Uist outbreak, NHS Western Isles agreed with that position.”

NHSWI’s spokesperson added:  “We must ensure that we remain vigilant and take every step possible to suppress and contain COVID-19 and any spread. This becomes of particular importance as we approach the winter months and the very significant set additional pressures and challenges this will place on the local health and care services.

In a statement issued last weekend, Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan also backed retention of the existing restrictions in the islands. He said: “The recent outbreak of Covid in Uist has been hard for the community as a whole, and demonstrates that islands are not in any sense immune to a virus which has clearly been among us here for some time now.

“People are very conscious of the finite health services available on an island, and the need to ensure that  community transmission is kept in check.

“There continues to be a need for policies on the pandemic to be appropriately ‘island proofed’, but as the example of the Uist outbreak shows, that does not and should not mean complacency.”

“The Government has made clear”, Mr Allan added, “that any relaxation in any restrictions in the islands would have to be accompanied by a virtually total clamp-down on people using planes and ferries, of the kind we saw here in the spring.

“For the moment, difficult as they are”, the MSP concluded, “I think the restrictions in place at present are the best way to keep on top of Covid in the islands.”

Nicola Sturgeon said in her briefing on Monday:   “Our islands are, for obvious reasons, in a different position and I think we have got to be very cautious about saying that there is no risk to them from Covid. 

“All of the islands have had cases, the Western Isles has had quite a significant outbreak in the last couple of weeks, Orkney and Shetland even in recent days have had cases, so we can’t be complacent about the risks in the islands.”

The First Minister added: “…like anything in relation to this virus, there are trade-offs. If we wanted to have a situation where restrictions that are in place on mainland Scotland were not in place in the islands, that would probably necessitate more strict travel restrictions between the islands and the mainland.

“There is always a trade-off to be made”, Ms Sturgeon concluded: “and that’s why it is important for us to continue to listen to those on the islands, the island authorities, and not rule-out anything, and that will continue to be a part of our consideration in the period ahead.”

Scotland’s Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Fiona McQueen, also speaking at the lunchtime briefing on Monday, said:   “It is easy sometimes to think that areas of low transmission are not at risk because it very much depends on travel…sometimes there can be asymptomatic carriage, so [this] does need to be looked at incredibly carefully. 

“Again, we have quite a lot of intelligence and quite a lot of data that will help us guide that decision.”

NHS Western Isles has also raised concerns about the possible mass testing of asymptomatic people travelling to the islands, following comments made by Scotland’s National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch,

In the minutes of a Q&A session with the Scottish Tourism Alliance held at the end of last month, Jason Leitch is reported to have said in a response to a question asking if  Scotland’s island authorities should be resourced to enable testing of travellers at island arrival points:

“We’re going to look into it and we may use the islands as a trial. It depends on how much risk you are willing to take. It’s not ruled out but with the global prevalence we have it’s just something we’re not doing.”

NHS Western Isles warned in their statement that receiving a negative test result whilst asymptomatic “results in a false sense of reassurance, as people could be incubating the virus”, and said that these individuals could be less likely to be vigilant “with the important measures of hand and respiratory hygiene and physical distancing.”

“This false sense of reassurance”, NHSWI’s statement continued, “could also result in individuals being less likely to immediately self-isolate and request a test if symptoms appear. This would put communities more at risk of spread.”

The Health Board also expressed concerns that all tests (for those asymptomatic arriving on island) would have to go off-island for processing with longer turnaround times during which “the person would have to self-isolate”, and said:

“NHS Western Isles needs to prioritise on-island testing for those with symptoms, admissions to hospital and staff screening, who really require testing locally.

“An additional issue with on-arrival testing”, NHSWI concluded, “would be the practical issue of someone arriving on island, testing positive and having to isolate on island for 10 days (and their household for 14 days).”

Highlands and Islands MSP, Donald Cameron said: “The Western Isles have a unique geography so it’s perfectly reasonable to explore the possibility of a more tailored approach to Covid-19 restrictions, not just for public health reasons, but also to help protect the local economy and save jobs and livelihoods.

“However, as we have seen, the islands are sadly not immune to the virus, so it’s crucial that if there is a differentiated approach, that ministers consult and listen closely to local representatives to ensure local buy-in.”

Rob McKinnon, Chief Executive of Outer Hebrides Tourism said that many local hospitality businesses, while open, were “doing little more than keeping their heads above water”, and in terms of any further travel restrictions said that they would need further funding “if we are to avoid business failures and protect jobs.”

Lynne MacIver, Chief Executive of Outer Hebrides Chamber of Commerce said:  “Parts of the Outer Hebrides have had many months with no reported cases, however are subject to blanket restrictions. 

“We would welcome dialogue to understand how areas less affected could ease restrictions on businesses while continuing to keep their customers safe.”