The Western Isles will enter level four lockdown at midnight tonight (Friday).
The move to harsher curbs follows a spike in increase in the spread of coronavirus along with a increase in infection rates.
Barra and Vatersay are already in level four -
New cases following a previous rise – including a community outbreak on Barra -
The Stornoway hospital is now reaching full capacity within available staffing resources.
Some non-
Clinical advice is that the move to lockdown is necessary to avoid the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
Under the level four rules, nobody who lives in the Western Isles should leave or remain outside their home except for an essential purpose like caring responsibilities, outdoor exercise and work that cannot be done from home.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “When the situation demands it, we must act quickly and decisively to safeguard health, save lives and protect the NHS.
“As we said we would, we have kept the island areas under review. The advice of our clinical advisers is that due to a rising trend of infections, lockdown is now necessary in the Western Isles. Discussions are underway to offer support and ease the pressure on local health services.
“It is essential that we further limit interaction between different households to stem the spread and bring the situation back under control, while we vaccinate more people.
“At the moment, lockdown is the best way of keeping each other safe, as vaccination continues. It is how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.
“I continue to be very grateful to people across the country for their patience and resilience in the face of this extraordinary challenge and I am sure those in the Western isles will realise the seriousness of the current situation makes this move necessary and respond accordingly.”
Western Isles in full lockdown, level four restrictions apply from midnight
29 January 2021
