Joint statement from:
NHS Dumfries and Galloway Chief Executive Jeff Ace
Dumfries and Galloway Council Chief Executive Gavin Stephenson
Police Scotland V Division Chief Superintendent Linda Jones
Following satisfactory control of our cluster of cases in the east of the region, travel restrictions have been relaxed throughout Dumfries and Galloway – but please consider the risks if venturing into other parts of the country.
That is the message from local agencies as we approach the first weekend in lockdown where the whole of Dumfries and Galloway is able to travel more than five miles for leisure and recreation.
We are still in a precarious position with regards to COVID-19. This is a highly transmissible virus with potentially devastating consequences, and we have a population in Dumfries and Galloway which has had very little exposure and therefore very little immunity.
After a period of several weeks without identified cases in the region, we experienced a recent cluster which demonstrated how the virus can quickly spread despite everyone’s best preventative efforts. No one should be blamed for contracting the virus, and some people have no choice but to travel to other parts of the country for reasons including work.
We know that rates of coronavirus have been relatively low in Dumfries and Galloway, but this isn’t the case everywhere else in the country. In particular, we are aware that rates of transmission in Carlisle have risen markedly in recently weeks and are now considerably higher than in our region. Please consider the risks before travelling outside the region and if you do travel please take the measures that we know can reduce your chances of catching the virus –
- Face coverings in enclosed spaces
- Avoid crowded places
- Clean your hands and surfaces regularly
- Two-metre social distancing
- Self-isolate and book a test if you develop coronavirus symptoms