A LARGE number of public buildings and facilities have been closed in Dumfries & Galloway in response to the ongoing Covid-19 situation.

Dumfries and Galloway Council, which takes in a sizeable portion of south west Scotland from Gretna and Annan to Stranraer, closed most public buildings and facilities in the county in order to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

The closure, which came into effect yesterday, included leisure facilities, swimming pools, museums, galleries, cinemas, libraries, public conveniences and public halls.

The closures are in place “until further notice.”

The council’s community outreach service will continue to operate.

A spokesman for the council said: “All relevant Direct Debit membership fees in relation to any of the activities [affected by the closures] will be automatically frozen for the duration.

“We recognise the importance of protecting our most vulnerable people and we will work to ensure we maintain our Welfare, Housing, Homelessness and Benefits Advice Services.

“This will include working with third sector partners to ensure we maintain public access to food parcels.

“The registration service [for] births, deaths and marriages will continue to operate in each area by appointment as normal by telephoning the Council’s Contact Centre 030 33 33 3000.”

The spokesman added that the current situation is an “unprecedented and challenging” time.

“We are working across Dumfries and Galloway to manage and respond to the situation as it develops, following official advice.

“The importance of maintaining our Council’s household waste collection service and the continued operation of household waste recycling centres is fully recognised and we are making arrangements to ensure we can maintain business as usual as far as possible.”