A TORY councillor who claimed Glasgow avoided the kind of lockdown Aberdeen experienced because it is a “Yes city” has been branded “reckless” for his comments.
Douglas Lumsden, the co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, wrote a series of angry posts on social media after the First Minister announced new lockdown restrictions in Glasgow.
People in the city are no longer allowed to go into others’ households due to an increase in coronavirus cases linked to indoor gatherings.
Last month Aberdeen hospitality venues were shut and residents faced a five-mile travel limit following a coronavirus outbreak linked to pubs and bars.
READ MORE: Coronavirus in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon imposes partial lockdown in Glasgow
Lumsden tweeted after the First Minister announced the new Glasgow restrictions to say: “Glasgow is a ‘Yes’ city so escapes the lockdown Aberdeen had."
He also wrote: “I hope that @NicolaSturgeon will explain to businesses in Aberdeen that were forced to close, why Glasgow businesses are not being forced to close.
"Aberdeen was locked down for three weeks, no hospitality, no travel, no visiting. Glasgow lockdown = no visiting."
He added: "Glasgow lockdown. No household gatherings so meet your pals in the pub instead."
Nicola Sturgeon has explained that different areas experience different kinds of outbreaks, therefore prompting alternate responses.
For example an earlier outbreak in the south of Scotland led to tighter travel restrictions, but no new rules on visiting others’ homes.
On social media this morning, Sturgeon explained: "Our data suggests that spread in and between households is driving much of the transmission just now.
"That doesn’t mean there are no cases in pubs etc - but unlike in Aberdeen, pub clusters don’t appear, at this stage, to be main driver. That analysis has guided decisions based on data, clinical advice is that restricting household gatherings indoors - where it is most difficult to keep physical distance - is vital.
"Closing pubs wouldn’t be an alternative to that - but an additional measure which, for now, they don’t consider proportionate.”
Stephen Flynn (below), the SNP MP for Aberdeen South, said the Tory councillor’s comments were “beneath contempt”.
He went on: “Every single action that is being taken is based on rigorous scientific advice, with the aim of protecting public health and ultimately saving lives.
“The difference is that the evidence in Aberdeen was clear that the virus was being spread in hospitality premises – the evidence in Glasgow is that transmission is mainly taking place in the home.
“Douglas Lumsden’s reckless outburst says more about him and his party than it does about the Scottish Government. The people of Aberdeen expect and deserve better.”
The new measures in Glasgow are in place for two weeks, but the Scottish Government has not rules out extending this period if necessary.
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