Coronavirus in Scotland: No ‘guards or fences’ around proposed quarantine hotels in Scotland, says Leitch

Guests at Scotland’s proposed quarantine hotels will be “allowed to behave like human beings”, according to the national clinical director.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Professor Jason Leitch said he did not expect people to “absond” from quarantine hotels, adding that the Scottish Government was not planning to use “guards and fences around every hotel to keep people in it”.

His comments came after questions were raised over how officials planned to enforce the isolation of overseas travellers.

In some countries, like Australia, quarantine hotel guests are subject to strict rules prohitibing them from leaving their rooms.

Prof Leitch said the aim of “supported isolation” in quarantine hotels was “to put in place meals and accommodation to allow people to safely quarantine before they go back to their families, their workplaces or whatever else they do.

“We will allow people to behave like human beings so people will go outdoors for fresh air - that will be part of the operational process.

He added: “The testing for the staff, how the meals will be delivered, which hotels it will be - that's being worked out even as we speak.

“We've done this very, very quickly, and it will be in place on Monday.”

Guests at Scotland’s proposed quarantine hotels will be “allowed to behave like human beings”, according to the national clinical director. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

At the same time, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the Scottish Government is still trying to convince its UK counterpart to adopt a “tougher” stance on overseas travellers.

She said that many overseas visitors will “enter the UK via the major airport hubs in London, Manchester and elsewhere, and will then travel to Scotland.”

“Now we continue to discuss with the UK government because we think that their approach, which confines itself to the redzone areas is insufficient.

“And we continue to work with them to try and persuade them that they should adopt the tougher stance that we are adopting.”

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Professor Jason Leitch said he did not expect people to “absond” from quarantine hotels, adding that the Scottish Government was not planning to use “guards and fences around every hotel to keep people in it”.

The Scottish Government hopes that isolating overseas visitors will help prevent the onset of a third wave of coronavirus cases.

In the last 42 hours, Scotland recorded 67 deaths from the virus along with 830 new positive cases.

It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 6,666.

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At the same time, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the Scottish Government is still trying to convince its UK counterpart to adopt a “tougher” stance on overseas travellers. (Photo by Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images)

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