'Please stay home and protect the NHS' police chief urges Highlanders as Covid-19 message hammered home

A POLICE chief has appealed to people in the Highlands to stick with the coronavirus lockdown rules and stay at home to protect the NHS.

Chief Superintendent George Macdonald made his remarks in the run-up to the weekend and amid concern in some quarters of a more relaxed attitude to the Covid-19 risk in some parts of the country.

He said: “I want to say thank you to those in our communities who are complying with the restrictions. I ask everyone to continue staying at home, to travel only if absolutely necessary and to adhere to the physical distancing guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

"Day-to-day policing also continues and we remain committed to supporting and protecting vulnerable people and victims of crime at this critical time. I would urge anyone who wishes to report a crime, or has concerns that someone may be at risk of harm, to come forward – we are to help.”

Related: Police arrest four people in the Highlands under emergency powers