Council leader to push for relaxed restrictions in the Borders

Shona Haslam will meet with deputy first minister John Swinney on Monday to push for relaxed Covid-19 restrictions for the Borders region.

Mrs Haslam insists the region should no longer be in Tier 2, given the low numbers of positive tests in the region, notwithstanding the recent outbreak in an extra care housing facility in Peebles.

This week, it was announced the number of cases at Dovecot Court had risen to 28, with 16 tenants and 12 members of staff having tested positive for Covid-19, as the virus is also known.

Mrs Haslam says that all of the government set indicators now have the region firmly in Tier 1, with test positivity rate now at 2.1% and cases per 100,000 over the last seven days now down to 36.

However, first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the area would be staying in Tier 2 for the time being, with this being reassessed on Tuesday of next week.

Mrs Haslam, councillor for Tweeddale East, said: “I will be meeting with the deputy first minister on Monday to press for the Scottish Borders to move to Tier 1 as soon as possible.

“Our numbers have now been in Tier 1 for over a week and heading in the right direction.

“This is testament to the hard work of the people of the Borders who have stuck to the rules and got our numbers down.

“Moving into Tier 1 in the run-up to Christmas will make a huge difference to our hospitality industry and it is important that we balance the economic impact with the public health impact.

“With travel restrictions in place the issue of neighbouring areas being higher than us is not so concerning.

“Our numbers are low and decreasing and the Scottish Government should abide by their own rules and indicators and move us into Tier 1 as soon as possible.”