Plea to tackle bikers who may spread Covid-19

Large continents of bikers travelling from areas with high levels of Covid-19 are ‘potential virus transmitters’, members of Innerleithen and District Community Council were warned when they met via videolink last night.

But the argument was countered by the fact that, until England goes into lockdown on Thursday, such activity is not illegal.

Ross McGinn, chairman of Innerleithen Community Trust, said: “I am still very concerned about the visiting bikers from Wales and the north of England, the Newcastle area, they are coming almost on a daily basis. These areas are in lockdown and it looks as if the Scottish Government and Police Scotland are not doing anything to protect this community from these potential virus transmitters coming into our area and we are going to get hit.

“Jedburgh has already had it, probably because people stop there for coffees and toilets when they come over the Border from the A68, so I’m really concerned.”

Councillor Shona Haslam said: “There are no travel restrictions at the moment and we only went into our tier restrictions today (Monday), and England goes into lockdown from Thursday and as there are no travel restrictions there is nothing the police can do at the moment.

“I had a meeting with the Deputy First Minister last week and I asked him if he could supply me this week with information on how the Borders has been affected by people bringing the virus in and at the moment there is no scientific evidence at all that we can pin down on people bringing the virus into the Borders from outside.”

Councillor Stuart Bell added: “I think it’s important that we don’t leave the impression that the outbreak from Jedburgh was brought in from people outside. It’s important not to surmise on those things because it results in unconstructive speculation and reaction.”