Keep Islands Closed to Visitors
Thankfully the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, and to a lesser extent, Shetland, have all had low infection rates and very few, if any, deaths. A key part of this has undoubtedly been closing ferry and plane routes to all but essential journeys.
The Scottish and UK governments have both mentioned relaxing the lockdown in island regions as part of their TTIS strategy. I ask the Scottish Government to keep island borders effectively closed in order to maintain the low risk of infection.
Why the contribution is important
Many islands have very limited health care facilities that would be easily overwhelmed so it is imperative that if social distancing is relaxed it is only internally within islands. Many islanders are fearful that any relaxing of the lockdown could see hoards of tourists arrive in the good weather and unknowingly spread the virus.
Secondly, the island regions of Scotland have some of the most elderly populations - with many younger people acting as carers. The virus could spread particularly rapidly here due younger people all shopping for older folk as there is no supermarket deliveries on small islands.
by Eilean on May 06, 2020 at 03:09PM
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