TOUGHER TRAVEL RULES MAY BE ON THE WAY, SAYS FM
travel NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted that travel restrictions between Scotland and England “need to be considered” as Covid infections continue to rise.
The First Minister delivered a virtual update to MSPs yesterday on how measures introduced three weeks ago were working in the fight against the spread of the virus.
The SNP leader said Scotland was at a “critical moment” which needed difficult decisions to be made – and hinted even further restrictions could be required in the coming weeks.
The announcement came after new figures yesterday showed a further 1351 people tested positive for Covid and 13 people died who had previously tested positive.
Raising the prospect of restrictions in travel between the four UK nations, she said: “Although we have put in place tough measures, we cannot rule out having to go further in future.
“For example, the approach to travel being adopted by the Welsh Government to mitigate spread of the virus from high to low prevalence areas not just within each of the four UK nations but also where necessary between the four UK nations needs to be considered here, too.
“So as we consider these issues, plan future steps and, where necessary, take emergency action, we will seek to ensure that Parliament is fully informed and involved in these decisions.”
At yesterday’s briefing, Sturgeon confirmed that lockdown restrictions in place across Scotland will not be eased as Covid infections continue to rise.
The ban on household gatherings across the country would remain in place and she stressed
people should only meet outdoors in groups of up to six people from two households.
She also asked Scots not to travel to Covid hotspots elsewhere in the UK, with Blackpool again mentioned as an example of where to avoid if possible.
“Scotland has already acted first among the nations of the UK in applying tough restrictions,” she told MSPs via a live video stream.
“We have done so at a time when our levels of Covid -– although far too high for comfort – are actually lower than in the other UK nations.”
The First Minister also warned that even the expiry of “tough temporary restrictions” on the hospitality trade would not signal a major change.
She said: “It is important to stress that given the ongoing challenge of Covid, that will not herald a return to complete normality.
The restrictions on household gatherings for example will remain in place until it is considered safe to ease them.
“And more generally we intend to replace the temporary restrictions with a more strategic approach to managing the pandemic”.
In a new move, Sturgeon also announced face coverings will have to be worn in workplace canteens and corridors.