Murdo Fraser MSP has welcomed the announcement that Perth and Kinross has been placed in Tier 2 and not linked with Dundee in the Tier 3 Covid restrictions.
The Scottish Conservative politician, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, underlined how important this decision will be to many residents and businesses in the area.
Mr Fraser had described the push by NHS Tayside to include Perth and Kinross along with Dundee in the far more restrictive Tier 3 along with Dundee as “ridiculous” and feels the vocal outcry from Councillor Murray Lyle, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, was instrumental in the decision by the SNP Government not to proceed with this move.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “I am very relieved to hear from Nicola Sturgeon that Perth and Kinross will be in Tier 2 and not linked with Dundee in Tier 3 of the new Covid restrictions. This move will be welcomed by many residents and businesses concerned about the impact of tighter restrictions.
“It’s important to stress how a large part of this decision to place Perth and Kinross in Tier 2 and not Tier 3 was down to the lobbying of Murray Lyle – a fact that Nicola Sturgeon essentially acknowledged today at Holyrood.
“I know that Murray put forward the case that he didn’t agree with the push by NHS Tayside to tag Perth and Kinross in with Dundee into Tier 3. This would have been very unfair as Perth and Kinross has had low rates of Covid for some time.
“For example, figures produced for the last seven days showed that Dundee had 212 Covid cases per 100,000 population compared with just 73 in Perth and Kinross. To have Perth and Kinross placed in Tier 3 would have been inappropriate based on this.”
The latest Tier Covid restrictions take effect from 6am on Monday, November 2.