The fight against Covid-19 across the UK was given a lift yesterday after the threat level posed by the virus was decreased across the country.
UK Government officials announced that the coronavirus alert level has been downgraded from five (the highest level) to four.
Scotland and all the other UK nations have been at level five since January - which is when the most recent national lockdown restrictions were introduced.
The highest level indicates that the NHS and other healthcare services were being overwhelmed by the number of patients being treated in hospitals across Scotland.
But the numbers of Scots being treated in hospitals still remains high - despite the de-escalation of the level of risk posed by the virus.
Changes to the Covid threat level were announced via a joint statement from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers - which was signed by Scotland’s CMO Dr Gregor Smith.
It said: “The health services across the four nations remain under significant pressure with the high number of patients in hospital.
“However, thanks to the efforts of the public we are now seeing number consistently declining, and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded.
“We should be under no illusions - transmission rates, hospital pressures and deaths are still very high.
“In time, the vaccines will have a major impact and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they receive the offer.
“However, for the time being, it is really important that we all - vaccinated or not - remain vigilant and continue to follow guidelines.”
What is the alert system?
The Covid alert system was first introduced by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) in May 2020 and provides advice to the chief medical officers across the UK.
CMOs then advise government officials on the Covid-19 alert level.
There are five levels included in the plan, which reflects on the impact that the virus is having on the country.
Scotland has now moved into level four, which suggests that the epidemic is in general circulation across the country.
It also means that transmission is high or “rising exponentially”.
The levels on the alert system all mean:
- Level one: Covid-19 is not known to be present in the UK
- Level two: Covid-19 is present in the UL, but the number of cases and transmission is low
- Level three: a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation
- Level four: a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially
- Level five: as level four and there is a material risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed.
Why has it been decreased from five to four?
The decrease from five to four suggested that the demand for healthcare is not expected to exceed the forecasted patient numbers for at least the next 21 days across all UK nations and regions.
Guidance from the UK Government states that the decision “should be made in consultation with NHS directors and other contingency planners”.
However, health officials have warned that transmission remains high and healthcare workers are still under immense strain from the number of Covid patients.
What does the change mean for lockdown in Scotland?
So far, Nicola Sturgeon has not announced any changes to the lockdown easing plan off the back of this news.
It is expected that rules on meeting other households outside will loosen from next month, while more pupils are also anticipated to return to school from then.
A “phased but significant” reopening of the economy is expected to begin from late April under the plan.
Non-essential retail, hospital and services such as gym and hairdressers could potentially reopen when the tiered system of local lockdowns from April 26, when the tiered system of local lockdowns is pencilled in to return to Scotland.
