In a fast developing situation due to the new strain of Covid19 in the UK there has been more news about travel.

Euro Tunnel have made the following announcement

International Travel Update – 20^_th December 2020​

Following the announcement by the French Government that it will not accept persons arriving from the UK for at least 48 hours from midnight CET, access to the Eurotunnel Folkestone terminal will be suspended for passenger and Freight traffic from 22:00 GMT, Sunday 20 December.

Customers with bookings after this time are advised NOT to travel to the terminal as they will not be able to cross to France.

A cross border travel ban is also in place in Scotland in a preventative measure to limit the cases of Covid19 reaching communities already under pressure.

Scotland

Police Scotland have increased traffic patrols on the roads between Scotland and England. Police Scotland Statement on Cross Border Travel Ban

Travel by train and plane continues with reports of crowded trains leaving London and the South East.

Ferries

Northlink Ferries have the following information:

COVID-19 information

Sailings to and from Orkney and Shetland are open, however, the festive relaxation of COVID-19 rules will now only cover Christmas Day. From Boxing Day, Orkney and Shetland will enter Tier 3 and Mainland Scotland will enter Tier 4 for a number of weeks. If you need to change your travel plans please contact us.

Please view Festive Travel Advice from Transport Scotland.

Please note, many on board services have been suspended, passengers must disembark the vessel upon arrival.

Private operator Pentland Ferries state:

If you have booked to travel with us, please make sure that you complete the following prior to travel:

To suppress the spread of COVID-19 it is essential that, with limited exceptions, there is no travel to or from areas where higher numbers of people may be carrying the virus.

And CalMac state:

COVID-19 Update on 19 December – Scottish Government have announced that the previous 5 day festive relaxation of COVID-19 rules from 23 – 27 December will now only cover Christmas Day. From Boxing Day, Mainland Scotland will enter Tier 4 for a number of weeks. Please view the latest update on restrictions from Scottish Government.

Refunds – Find out how to apply for a refund online. Customers with existing bookings on any sailing until the 31 January 2021, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their reservation and we will waive the £10 refund administration fee. 

Follow us on twitter for the latest service updates @CalMac_Updates and if you have any questions – just send us a tweet from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.

Level 3 and Level 4 Tiers

Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles will go to Level 3 restrictions on the 26th of December .Mainland Scotland will be placed into tier 4 – which is basically lockdown from the same date.

From Boxing Day, in line with existing law, travel across local authority boundaries between areas in Level 3 or 4 will not be legal other than for specific exempt purposes Scottish Government

Relaxation of rules will only now apply on Christmas Day itself. The advice continues to be that the best way is to celebrate Christmas is at home and only travel where absolutely necessary, not staying overnight, and keeping the visit as short as possible. Meeting outdoors being preferred to indoors.

The stats for Scotland on 20th of December are:

• 934 new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 3 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends)
• 58 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 1,061 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 20,923 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results – 5.1% of these were positive

The number of deaths in the 4 nations of the UK where Covid19 is mentioned on the death certificate is shocking.

All 4 nations of the UK have imposed tougher rules. There is a new strain of Covid19 which is much more infectious than previous ones.

This link will take you to what is permitted in tier 3 in Scotland: Tier 3

And this for Tier 4 in Scotland

And remember Scotland’s NHS has a contact tracing app which you can download free to your mobile phone: Protect Scotland

Reporter: Fiona Grahame