HELENSBURGH'S MP has called for a review of the tiered system of coronavirus restrictions imposed in Argyll and Bute following an outbreak of cases at Faslane naval base.
Brendan O'Hara has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asking for clarification on why rural parts of his constituency have been "lumped in" with the town at the centre of a huge surge in positive cases in recent days.
According to Public Health Scotland figures for the seven days up to Tuesday, December 8, there were 103 positive cases in the Garelochhead area (also covering the Rosneath peninsula), accounting for 85 per cent of the cases across the entire Argyll and Bute region over the same period.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said Argyll and Bute - and Helensburgh and Lomond - would remain under the same Tier 2 protections which were first introduced three weeks ago.
Noting "a large workplace outbreak," she insisted the cluster of Covid cases at HMNB Clyde is "not indicative of wider community transmission" but the situation will be "monitored carefully".
In his letter to the First Minister, Mr O'Hara said: "Over the last few days I have been contacted by many constituents, primarily residents and business owners from the islands and rural areas of Argyll and Bute who feel they have been unfairly treated by continuing to be placed in Tier 2, when many other similar communities including the Highlands and the Western Isles have been in Tier 1 for the last few months.
"I am aware that in your statement to Parliament [on Tuesday] you mentioned the Covid outbreak at Faslane Naval Base had influenced the decision to continue with Argyll and Bute being placed in Tier 2. I also welcome your comments that this will continue to be monitored and fully recognise that these decisions are being taken with safety foremost.
"However, the news that Argyll and Bute as a whole will remain in Tier 2, primarily due to the large but isolated outbreak at Faslane, has been met with dismay by many of my constituents from Tiree to Campbeltown.
"There are parts of my constituency, as you will know, that lie several hours' drive or sail away from Helensburgh. Many are already economically fragile communities where residents have followed the rules so that Covid cases are low. They are utterly dismayed to be lumped in with the isolated outbreak at Faslane.
"I wrote to you on October 28 to ask you to review the Tier 2 status given to the islands and rural areas like Mid Argyll and Kintyre and I ask you again, to look at the situation as a matter of urgency."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We know restrictions are tough but we need to act to halt the spread of the virus.
"Scotland’s levels-based approach has been crucial to avoiding a second national lockdown, as there has been in the other UK nations and in many countries in Europe.
"Restrictions are kept under constant review by the national incident management team led by Public Health Scotland.
“As the First Minister set out to parliament earlier this week, Argyll and Bute has seen a very sharp rise in cases in recent days.
"At this stage it appears this reflects a large workplace outbreak and is not indicative of wider community transmission, but we are monitoring the situation carefully.”
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