I’M UTTERLY SCUNNERED
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon writes for the Record
NICOLA Sturgeon has warned people in Glasgow and the west of Scotland not to travel to Edinburgh for Christmas shopping over the next three weeks.
The First Ministerr made the blunt call ass strict travel restrictionsns started in 11 councilcil areas from 6pm lastst night.
Glasgow and 10 otherher local authority areaseas across the Central Belt have been placed at Levelevel 4 of lockdown – meaningning that thousands of non-essential shops have been forced to close theirheir doors just as the festivetive season approaches.
But the capital remainsains at Level 3, leavinging businesses free to welcomeome shoppers into their stores.
The SNP l eade r encouraged Scots living under Level 4 to do their Christmas shopping online if possible – but warned against people from the west heading to the east coast.
Under new laws which take effect from last night, those living in Level 4 must not leave their council area unless they have a reasonable excuse such as travelling for work or school.
Asked if police would be enforcing the laws, Sturgeon said: “The police will enforce where they think it’s appropriate. I think the majority of people will abide by the law.
“But if we can’t maintain a tiered approach that allows us to have lower restrictions in areas with lower prevalence, then, as England is doing already, we would have to consider the same level of restrictions across the whole country.
“I’m being open with people – if we want to keep this targeted approach, travel restrictions are a key part of that and people should abide by them.
Sturgeon continued: “Remember, essential shops will remain open, so you don’t need to worry about essential food supplies. Shop online over the next three weeks if you can to get things that are not available from essential shops.
“If you live in Glasgow, as I do, do not travel to Edinburgh to go shopping, because not only will you be breaking the law, you will risk taking the virus to Edinburgh and putting people at Edinburgh at risk.
“That sounds blunt but given what we face right now, I think it’s important for me to blunt.”
Sturgeon also admitted that she’s “scunnered” with lockdown as she asked Scots to stick to the new rules.
She said: “These restrictions are difficult and we are all scunnered and fed up and I’m not going to stand here and
pretend otherwise because I feel that same sense of being utterly scunnered and fed up as the rest of you do.
“But we do now see a possible end in sight and I think it’s really important that we don’t forget that.”
Health Secretary Jeane
Freeman set out the Scottish Government plan for vaccination at Holyrood.
The First Minister added: “There is a very real prospect for all of us of a substantially more normal way of life being returned to us by the time we reach the spring of next year. I hope that encourages us. It won’t make the next few weeks feel any better, but it hopefully will strengthen our resolve to stay safe ourselves, keep our families safe, keep others safe before we reach that point.”
Frontline NHS and care home workers will be first in line if life-saving breakthrough drugs are given the green light as hoped, Freeman told the Scottish Parliament yesterday.
She billed the vaccination programme as among the “biggest civilian logistical challenges in our lifetime”.
The first wave of vaccine distribution, from December to February, is intended for frontline health and social care staff, older residents in care homes, care home staff, the over-80s, unpaid carers and the people who are carrying out the vaccination programme.
Everyone in that category will be contacted in December and January.