New covid infections continue to rise in West Lothian as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave an address at Holyrood this afternoon.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows there 266 new infections as at 30 August and 1174 in the last seven days.
The highest number of cases were recorded in Wester Inch and Inchcross (65) followed by Bankton and Murieston (53).
Last week we reported that Covid-19 infections are now at record levels in West Lothian and far beyond the numbers of infections registered since the pandemic started last year.
As of August 28, Scotland had eight of the top 20 areas in Europe with the highest Covid rates per 100,000. Lothian sat at number three on that list with 588 cases per 100,000.
And Scotland recorded 6,170 today with 629 people in hospital.
But at her first briefing since the summer recess this afternoon, First Minister Nicol Sturgeon said she hoped she would not have to impose restrictions again, adding: “I am hopeful that we can turn the corner without having to re-impose any restrictions” but admitted “the situation we face just now is fragile and serious. We must stem the rise in cases.
“We have been urging everyone to comply with all the basic mitigations still in place – face coverings for example.”
She continued: “If the recent surge in cases was to continue – if, for instance, we were to see cases continuing to rise to 10,000 or more a day, something I hope won’t happen, but is by no means impossible – that will have serious consequences.
“A lot of people will fall seriously ill. Some will die.
“And the NHS will come under even more severe pressure.”
Ms Sturgeon went on to reveal proposals for vaccine certificates, subject to approval from Parliament.
Once all adults have had the option of both jags, certificates will be required for the following venues at venues including nightclubs and adult entertainment venues, unseated indoor live events, with more than 500 people in the audience, unseated outdoor live events, with more than 4,000 people in the audience and any event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people in attendance.
She added: “We do not currently consider it appropriate to introduce certification for the hospitality industry as a whole, and hope that it will not be necessary to do so. However, we will be keeping that under review.
“We are also very aware of the need to take account of people who - for good reason - cannot get fully vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine. So for example we envisage that children and people with particular medical conditions would be exempt.”
Ms Sturgeon urged the public to play their part in bringing down infections numbers.
She continued: “As I said earlier, I fervently hope that - vaccine certification aside - we do not have to impose any further legal restrictions.
“But that depends on all of us making a concerted effort now, through our own behaviours, to stem transmission.
“What we do know is we cannot let cases continue to rise at the pace of recent weeks. We must slow it down.
“That’s important for all of us as individuals, but especially for those who are most vulnerable to covid.
“We know that there are many of the people at highest risk from covid – including many of those who were advised to shield at the start of the pandemic – who are particularly anxious about the current situation.
“They worry that if they go outside their own home, especially with cases so high, they will be put at risk by people not wearing face coverings, washing their hands or trying to keep a safe distance.”
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