Scottish Greens back ‘fast up slow down’ approach to tiers
Scottish Greens have welcomed confirmation that the Scottish Government is pursuing a “fast up, slow down” approach to the tiers of restrictions on local authorities.
The comments were made by clinical director Jason Leitch at Holyrood’s COVID committee this morning in reference to the row over Edinburgh remaining at Tier three restrictions when the criteria suggested it should move down.
He said arguments around the “fixed point” data criteria for local authorities entering and leaving levels was a “slightly artificial” because the reality of evidence “is much more dynamic than that”.
He added: “The plan over the next few weeks is not only to have reviews as we have had, but also to review the processes, the nature of those reviews.”
Commenting, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “The Scottish Greens back a cautious, safety first approach and it is right that higher tier restrictions are only removed when it is safe to do so. This has to reflect local circumstances, such as the amount of visitors our capital gets over the festive period.
“However, while the fast up, slow down approach makes sense, it does fly in the face of the decision to relax restrictions over Christmas and allow schools to remain open until the day restrictions are lifted. Public health experts are rightly concerned that the festive arrangements will fuel a third wave, just as our NHS is focused on delivering a vaccine.”