Curb your enthusiasm
»»Sturgeon hints at stronger restrictions on pubs, gigs and football matches »»FM begs all Scots to stay at home as the Omicron variant becomes dominant »»She pleads with UK Government for extra cash to support devastated businesses
STRONGER curbs on pubs, nightclubs, football matches and concerts may be needed to combat Omicron, Nicola Sturgeon has declared.
The First Minister spoke out yesterday before a raft of new restrictions on businesses start today.
In an alarming address at Holyrood, she urged Scots to stay at home as much as possible to stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
And she wrote to Boris Johnson pleading for furlough payments to help workers and businesses hit by the new measures.
Details of guidance released yesterday included encouraging table service and the collection of personal details in pubs and one-way systems in shops and supermarkets.
Sturgeon revealed Omicron will become the dominant Covid variant today.
She said she was “profoundly” concerned, adding: “Omicron is doubling every two to three days in Scotland. In parts of the UK the doubling time is currently less than two days. Lives again are at risk here, livelihoods are at risk and the NHS is at risk.
“For now, please stay at home much more than you normally would and as much as is feasible.”
The Scottish Government later released a letter from Sturgeon to the Prime Minister in which she raised Omicron as a “matter of extreme urgency”.
In the letter, she effectively admitted the new curbs may not be enough.
On asking the public to restrict their contacts ahead of Christmas, she wrote: “While we have already issued such advice in Scotland, I believe there is a need to strengthen it further.
“I also believe that restrictions on the operation of higher risk settings – while of course undesirable – may now be unavoidable.”
Although she did not define “higher risk settings”, the Record understands these include pubs, nightclubs, larger concerts and sporting events such as football matches.
Sturgeon said the issue needs the “urgent engagement” of both the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
She said: “We must not sleepwalk into an emergency that for both health and business will be much greater as a result of inaction than it will be if we act firmly and strongly now.”
Sturgeon admitted new restrictions would have a “massive impact” and appealed to Johnson to restore UK-wide schemes such as furlough to compensate workers and business owners.
She said: “Frankly, if we do not get Omicron under control, we are sacrificing the economic recovery we all want to see. If the Treasury does not provide financial compensation and protection, this result becomes all but inevitable.
“UK funding arrangements mean that the devolved administrations cannot establish at our own hand the financial packages on the scale needed – a point raised repeatedly by all three administrations in recent Cobra meetings.
“This means that while each of us has a devolved duty to protect public health, we lack the financial means to support necessary action. Only the UK Government can make funding available at the scale required.”
She also warned the number of people likely to be infected risks “overwhelming the NHS and disabling the economy” and she demanded a meeting with Johnson to thrash out any new restrictions.
A No10 spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the Scottish Government on the shared challenge the new variant poses to us all across the UK – this has included a number of Cobra meetings with the First Ministers and Deputy First Minister to coordinate, discuss and act on the latest data and information we have.
“We’ve acted rapidly to support and give the Scottish Government the certainty to spend additional money in the coming wee ks – exactly as they have asked in our discussions – and we will continue to listen carefully as that cooperation steps up.” It is understood
Johnson will speak to Sturgeon as in the coming days. Her comments came after her deputy John Swinney signalled a fresh round of curbs may be necessary.
Asked on the BBC whether there could be another change to the rules before Christmas, he said: “Potentially that would be the case but we obviously want to avoid that.”
The Scottish Government is providing £100million to help businesses in sectors such as hospitality,
Hospitality firms in Scotland say they have already taken a £1billion hit because of advice to cancel work Christmas parties, and bars and restaurants say the effect of new guidance to limit social interactions could be “devastating”.
And there was concern among business leaders last night after the guidance for pubs, restaurants and shops was issued just hours before it came into force at midnight.
Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are now in the busiest time of year for hospitality and retail businesses, many of which are already having to deal with increased staff shortages and a deluge of customer cancellations.
“Whilst we welcome the publication of the updated guidance today, to expect these hard-pressed businesses to review, digest and enact it before it comes into effect tomorrow will place immense strain on business owners and our employees.
“Talk of additional or extended restrictions is damaging confidence. What businesses need is a clear UK-wide plan of when restrictions will end and a clear package of financial support to compensate for loss of trade.”
A total of 5951 new coronavirus cases were reported in Scotland on Wednesday, with more than one third likely to be the new variant.
Omicron is doubling every 2-3 days in Scotland
NICOLA STURGEON IN HER ADDRESS TO HOLYROOD