Douglas Ross and Richard Lochhead welcome Tier 1 move

Moray's MP and MSP have both welcomed today's announcement that the region is being placed within Tier 1 of the new Covid-19 restrictions.

Moray is in Tier 1 along with the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

This means that pubs and restaurants can again open until 10.30pm.

However people are still not allowed to visit other people's houses – although this will be looked at once more by the Scottish Government on November 10.

Douglas Ross urged local people to continue to "stick with the rules".

He said: "I am pleased to see that Moray has been placed in a low level with fewer restrictions compared to other parts of Scotland.

"I think this is the right decision, as there are still relatively low numbers of the virus in Moray but we have to remain vigilant.

"The level one status will allow a return to something approaching normality, but there is still a restriction on visiting other households which I know people are finding very difficult.

"People in Moray have done the right thing by obeying the rules so far, and I would urge everyone to stick with it to make sure the virus does not take hold here."

Richard Lochhead said: "Whilst the number of cases in Moray is lower than other parts of the country, we can’t be complacent, and we shouldn’t forget that families in our local communities have lost loved ones."

"It is absolutely essential that we all continue to follow the rules to ensure the virus is suppressed locally."

A large swathe of the Central Belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, are in Tier 3, which means cafés, pubs and restaurants cannot serve alcohol and are only open until 6pm.

All leisure and entertainment venues are shut, and only essential travel is permitted.

Aberdeenshire is in Tier 2, along with Aberdeen City, Angus and Perth and Kinross.

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