Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Covid in Moray: Travel restrictions could be imposed if Level 3 is extended

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Travel restrictions could be imposed in Moray next week if the region remains at Level 3 Covid restrictions.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it is “highly probable” the region will be left behind the rest of the country in the next step of lockdown easing.

A final decision has been delayed until the end of the week with hopes that if case numbers drop significantly a delay can be avoided.

Huge numbers of locals have been vaccinated in recent days with opening hours at the Elgin centre being extended to 10pm to accommodate the accelerated rollout.

Queues of up to 50 people at a time have been seen outside the Fiona Elcock Centre waiting for walk-up appointments while NHS Grampian reports “enormous interest”.

Hopes Level 2 will come to Moray soon

If Moray is held at Level 3, travel restrictions will be imposed preventing people moving in or out of the region – except for specific purposes.

Ms Sturgeon said: “If Moray stays at Level 3 then it will be necessary to reimpose travel restrictions to prevent travel in or out of the area, except for limited purposes, and hopefully only for a short period.

“If the decision to keep Moray at Level 3 is confirmed we will provide additional financial assistance to businesses affected.

Residents in Moray have been urged to receive Covid tests.

“I know it would be deeply unwelcome for people in Moray but hopefully any extension to Level 3 will be for as short a period as possible.”

The latest Scottish Government figures show Moray is recording Covid cases at a rate of 94 per 100,000 people – more than four times the national average and significantly higher than the 8.42 in Aberdeenshire and 7.63 in the Highlands.

However, hopes have been raised that the increase is beginning to slow following extra measures being deployed to the region – including extra testing units and an accelerated vaccine programme.

And chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith has ruled out tightening restrictions further to Level 4 as “disproportionate” at the moment.

Rising cases already putting visitors off

Increased Covid cases in Moray have already led to potential visitors going elsewhere to seek greater freedoms away from Level 3.

Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns said: “We’ve already heard from businesses and the tourism sector in Moray that they’re seeing the impact of us having such high Covid case numbers compared to the rest of Scotland – we owe it to them, and our NHS colleagues, to take responsibility for our own actions and do as we’re asked.

Susan Webb, NHS Grampian director of public health, Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns, Visit Moray Speyside chief executive Laurie Piper and Moray chief nurse Sam Thomas at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

“Community transmission means we all have the power to stop the spread, we need to step up and accept the responsibility that goes along with it.”

Chris Littlejohn, NHS Grampian’s deputy director of public health, said: “If the community continues to do the right things, Level 2 won’t be far away.

“We are pleased to say there has been enormous interest in the accelerated vaccination programme for Moray – we would ask people to be patient with us and, wherever possible, make every effort to attend the appointment made for them.”

Covid cases detected at RAF Lossiemouth

Cases of coronavirus have continued to be reported in the region amid the recent announcement.

RAF Lossiemouth has confirmed a “small number” of positive tests among personnel, who are offered twice-weekly tests to limit the spread.

A base spokeswoman said: “Swift isolation of any lateral flow positive cases together with the localised tracing of close contacts in advance of formal Trace and Protect activities has meant there has been no impact on operational activities and we remain ready to secure the skies and protect the seas 24/7.

“Our visiting German colleagues are fully compliant with Scottish Government regulations on international travel.  They are participating in regular asymptomatic testing whilst working from RAF Lossiemouth and noting the surge in local cases in Moray, are working hard to ensure they minimise all contact with the local community.”

Meanwhile, Moray Council has opened new rapid testing sites in Elgin, Lossiemouth, Lhanbryde, Buckie, Keith, Forres and Aberlour to drive down case numbers.

Fears have been raised some residents in the region have been spreading the virus without knowing.

It is hoped earlier detecting of the cases will help get the outbreak under control.

Karen Sievewright, Moray Council’s environmental health and trading standards manager, said: “Almost one in three people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms but are still infectious and able to pass the virus on to loved ones, friends and the wider community.

“By getting tested at a community testing site, you can find out if you are positive and take immediate action to stop the spread of the virus by self-isolating.”

Residents attend the mobile testing unit at Regent Square in Keith.

When should I get tested?

Those with any of the symptoms listed below should book a test, via nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online, and must not attend sites asymptomatic testing sites.

Those with both classic and extended symptoms in Moray should immediately book a test via nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online.

Extended symptoms include:

  • General weakness
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhoea
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Runny nose
  • Dry or productive cough

The individual and their whole household, including any extended or bubble members, should self-isolate immediately self-isolate until the test results are returned.

A timetable of when asymptomatic testing is available at locations across Moray can be found here.

Vaccination programme accelerated in Moray