Scientist calls for Scotland-England border shut down as new figures show half of second wave covid strain came from south
A top geneticist has called for the border between Scotland and England to be effectively shut down, citing a recent study which showed half of new Covid-19 strains responsible for Scotland’s second wave came from south of the border.
By Elsa Maishman
Saturday, 9th January 2021, 7:00 am
 

There have been repeated calls for further restrictions at the border between England and Scotland.
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It comes as new measures were announced meaning travellers entering Scotland from abroad will need to show a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours before departure.
The system will be enforced by Border Force, responsible for the UK border.

 
Border restrictions are already in place between Scotland and England, with no non-essential travel permitted. But policing of the rules has come under criticism for being ‘light touch’ by Police Scotland.


Dr Thomas Williams, Edinburgh University.
 

 
 
Now Dr Thomas Christie Williams, a geneticist and clinicial lecturer at Edinburgh University, has called for further enforcement in practice despite logistical difficulties.
“We should shut the border with England for everything except essential travel,” he said.