Wishart suggests Christmas travel window should be extended to allow for realities of island life
Andrew Hirst
Island communities have been “overlooked” when considering the five-day easing of Covid-19 restrictions over Christmas, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart has said.
Ms Wishart quizzed cabinet secretary Mike Russell in Holyrood yesterday on whether the government had considered extra travel time for people getting to and from islands.
The Scottish government confirmed last week that restrictions would be eased from 23rd-27th December, allowing folk to travel and form “Christmas bubbles” over the festive period.
However, Ms Wishart was initially concerned the five-day window did not account for time taken travelling between Shetland and the mainland.
Mr Russell later confirmed government guidance would would updated to clarify that people beginning their travel on 27th December by overnight ferry can complete their journey within the rules.
Speaking after the debate, Ms Wishart highlighted guidance permitting people to travel to or from Northern Ireland on 22nd and 28th December.
She suggested the same approach be adopted in Scotland.
Charlie Gallagher
With a vaccine due to start being delivered in December for just this one Christmas would not the safest and most sensible thing to do is to stay at home this year? We were expecting to welcome our son and his partner over Christmas for their deferred visit from last August, canceled at the last minute and now we are looking forward to Easter 2021 or even next summer. They have no wish to inadvertently bring infection to our Islands.