STURGEON LOCKDOWN WARNING TO PUBLIC
SCOTS could be hit with greater lockdown restrictions today, Nicola Sturgeon warned yesterday.
The First Minister said it was “possible we will have to do more” after announcing a further 697 people had tested positive for coronavirus.
Sturgeon will meet with members of her cabinet this morning to discuss if a “circuit breaker lockdown” is needed.
She is expected to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament later in the day – an indication that a significant announcement could be on the way.
The “circuit breaker” – as it was called in leaked Scottish Government documents – could see pubs and restaurants told to close for a fixed time and restrictions brought in on how far Scots can travel.
The leak said it would tie in with the school October holidays.
It comes just two weeks after a nationwide ban on indoor social gatherings was implemented and a 10pm curfew imposed on hospitality businesses.
But despite a range of local lockdowns being imposed across the country in recent months, the number of new Covid cases continues to rise. A total of 242 were logged in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area, with a further 145 in Lothian and 130 in Lanarkshire.
Sturgeon said: “It is vital that we do everything we can to get this situation under control in a proportionate way.
“The restrictions we announced a couple of weeks ago – particularly the request not to visit other people’s houses – is an attempt to get the virus under control. We are very hopeful it will help us stem its increase. But given the numbers we are seeing, it is possible we will have to do more. There may well be a need for some further restrictions in the near future.
“If we do decide more restrictions are necessary, we will endeavour to give the public as much notice as possible.”
Sturgeon indicated travel restrictions were being considered and added the 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants “is one of the areas where we may have to go further for a period”.
However, she insisted the Government wants to keep schools open, saying: “We have no proposals to switch to part-time schooling.”