Public told to expect wait for further lift of lockdown
IT may be several weeks before any more lockdown restrictions are lifted Nicola Sturgeon has said. Last week saw the biggest changes so far in the gradual easing of lockdown with the opening of the hospitality trade, indoor shopping centres and businesses like hair salons.
But the First Minister said that time is needed to assess the impact of the easing so far before going any further.
She said the priority now is to ensure children return to school as normal next month and people who are shielding are able to have their extra restrictions lifted at the end of this month.
She revealed another day had passed with no deaths and the lowest weekly death total since lockdown.
Ms Sturgeon said phase two lasted three weeks. However, she said: “This current phase three is likely to last longer than that.
“We have to carefully monitor the number of new cases.
“We need to be confident it is safe to change restrictions.”
It is unlikely any more changes are made until after schools return.
She said: “The main focus is on keeping the virus at a low enough level to allow schools to return in August 11 and to remove shielding on July 31.
“These are important priorities and are only achievable if the level of Covid in the community remains low.”
The next three-weekly review is due next week on July 30.
She added: “It is possible we might not be able to announce further changes other than shielding and schools.” Meanwhile, 20 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in connection with an outbreak at a call centre in Lanarkshire, Ms Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said 15 positive cases have been identified among staff at the Sitel call centre at Eurocentral and five family members and close contacts of workers have also tested positive. Ms Sturgeon said it is unlikely any special local lockdown will be imposed as people have been traced and are being tested.
She said 390 test results out of 400 workers have been returned. Five premises in Lanarkshire and Glasgow were identified that Sitel staff who have tested positive were linked to before they were aware they had the virus.
Owen’s Bar in Coatbridge, the Railway Tavern and Merlin’s Bar in Motherwell, Costa Coffee in Carfin, and End Clothing in Glasgow.
The First Minister said they have been checked by environmental health and measures are in place that mean the risk of transmission is low.
The latest coronavirus statistics show there were 10 new cases reported.
There were 295 people in hospital with confirmed coronavirus and three people were in intensive care. There were no deaths reported.
The weekly National Records for Scotland report showed six deaths in the week ending on Sunday, July 19, a reduction of six from the previous week.
Since the outbreak started in March, 2491 people have died who have tested positive, and 4193 deaths have been registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.