Numbers up in Moray

[Ginsmything]

I know this may sound a selfish concern but I’ve read tonight that the numbers are quite high proportionately and if this continues there’s a danger that Moray may not be able to go down a level on May 17.
We are due to go up to Findhorn for our first holiday since 2019 after having to cancel last years big celebration break to Spain for my OHs 60th.
We were so looking forward to this fortnight away but I’m now concerned that travel between levels may be banned again.

It doesn't need to go down a level.

It isn't selfish to be looking forward to a holiday.

The cases are definitely higher there at the moment than elsewhere and I think they will be keeping a close eye on it - but they also seem to be focused in a few smaller areas rather than across the whole of Moray. Because it has a relatively small population a handful of cases affects the rate per 100K of the population a lot. So much can change in a short time and it did sound like they had a good grasp of where the cases were originating from so hopefully they've gotten on top of it and it'll come right again before you are due to go.

When do you go, Gin ?
Watching with interest: we are booked for a week in Nairn, in June.
Also booked to go away tomorrow to other places in the Highlands and Islands - and where we live is showing a spike. Now worried we won't be very welcome, coming from a "dirty" area.

Gin

We are also holidaying in Findhorn end of this month (might see you there!)

What happens, though, if where we live moves to level 2 and moray remains in level 3? I've looked at the Scotgov site and it says you can't move between levels unless for a permitted reason.

So is going on holiday a permitted reason?

www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-level-2/

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst if travelling to any of the islands you are advised to do two lateral flow tests so as your sure you don’t take anything in with you. www.gov.scot/news/regular-rapid-testing-for-everyone/

Hopefully that’ll give you peace of mind?

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst we are going 5June.

@aurea that’s my concern too. Although it would be extremely harsh to have the whole of Scotland in level 2 and Moray stuck in level 3. How could they stop people moving between areas?

@Ginsmything they did the same to Aberdeen though? City in lockdown for 2-3 weeks when the rest of the country wasn’t.

@MrsAmaretto that’s true. Oh dear just have to keep my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 that the numbers stat to decrease soon.

[quote MrsAmaretto]@Ginsmything they did the same to Aberdeen though? City in lockdown for 2-3 weeks when the rest of the country wasn’t.[/quote]
Exactly. And Glasgow and surrounding areas in level 4 when others were in level 2. Moray will just have to suck up whatever is coming same as we did.

Tbh, and I say this as a resident of Aberdeen City - the local 2.5 week lockdown really stop the spread.

I’m very selfishly hoping she doesn’t lock down the whole health board area as i believe Moray falls under NHS Grampian. I read somewhere that tiers going forward would be decided on Heath board area. I’m really hoping, like most Covid things you read, that it’s a load of rubbish.

I hope we do stay locked down for now. Its bad enough here at the minute without having holiday makers taking covid in as well.

My cancer treatments have been endlessly delayed, and 2 of my friends have died of cancer in the last few months due to the delays they faced. I cant see that ending if people prioritise their holidays over everything else or try and find 'loopholes' so they can visit as they have been doing throughout anyway.

I hope you manage to get away somewhere but genuinely hope people do not come here.

@Moraybornandbred I’m so sorry about your treatment delays and loss of friends.
I can assure you that we have no intention of trying to find loopholes so that we can go on holiday. I have very fond memories of childhood holidays in the Moray Firth and was looking forward to revisiting the area but we won’t travel if restrictions are in place.
I hope that you receive your treatment very soon and make a full recovery

Does anyone know when the levels will be confirmed for May 17th?

Things really aren’t looking good here. It’s very worrying.
Covid in Scotland: Spread of infections in Moray is 'uncontrolled' www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-57010292

Really worrying indeed. Had noticed that there seemed to be a reasonable increase in hospital patients across NHSG and article confirms so and that they are mostly from Moray. Really hope they can get things under control soon.

Also, really hope you can restart treatment soon @Moraybornandbred. I’m so sorry you’ve been delayed this way.

@Moraybornandbred so sorry to hear your treatment has been delayed.

Worrying news coming out of Moray, hope things get under control soon

NHS Grampian has accelerated vaccine programme in Moray its generally 2 weeks for a level of immunity so hopefully that and people being more aware will start to turn the tide on it!

I think they will stay in level 3, it's difficult with travel as the SG website is isn't clear and often contradicts itself! Some of the latest stuff was never on the roadmap either!

3 weeks @florafoxtrot for a total of something under 200 cases in a city of 230 000 . Started by someone told to quarantine who didn't. Not the pub crawl excuse.
Then NS let the central belt cases rise while she did Jack all.

3 weeks of no leaving the city unless for work or care needs.

The Moray case is unusual as they've not found the original source have they?

You still have some time till May 17th so you may be ok.

It's not looking good, our rate is at 93.9 which is far too high. We'll find out at the update tomorrow at 12.15 but all articles suggest we'll stay on level 3. Not sure how long that'll last, hopefully they'll check again weekly.

Oh noooooo!!! didn't she say previously that Scotland would move as a whole???

I'm in Moray and the numbers are continuing to rise, we are now rushing to vaccinate all 18-39 year olds and PCR testing is on site at certain schools to combat it.

We've been very lucky this past year so it seems to be a delayed reaction somehow but our local councillor has advised that if there isn't a sharp fall we are likely to remain in Level 3.

@latissimusdorsi

Oh noooooo!!! didn't she say previously that Scotland would move as a whole???

Generally when she says this it's usually means that the country gets held to central belt numbers but if there are pocket outbreaks in the North or Islands then these are different...... Been happening for ages!

@EvilOnion

I'm in Moray and the numbers are continuing to rise, we are now rushing to vaccinate all 18-39 year olds and PCR testing is on site at certain schools to combat it.

We've been very lucky this past year so it seems to be a delayed reaction somehow but our local councillor has advised that if there isn't a sharp fall we are likely to remain in Level 3.

We've became too complacent these last couple of months. Our rates have been so low since the start and just as we begin to look forward to less restrictions, this happens. I'm gutted to be honest 😢

@TeeniefaeTroon they are likely to drop quickly if everyone is sensible with it and especially with the accelerated vaccination programme there.
It might take 2-3 weeks but hopefully it will drop quickly. The same thing happened in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire although the shire didn't go into lockdown everyone was being more cautious.