House visit ban unlikely to end soon
NICOL A S t u r g e o n a n n o u n c e d t h e household visit ban will stay in place for as long as it is necessary. As higher numbers of deaths are being reported, the number of positive tested cases of coronavirus increasing and more people in hospital, the likelihood of restrictions continuing are high.
The First Minister said the household visit ban, put in place across Scotland three weeks ago and in Glasgow at the start of September, cannot be lifted at the moment.
She also said when the twoweek hospitality closures, and opening hours restrictions elsewhere, are lifted in the Central Belt, it will not be back to business as usual.
New rules on face coverings come into effect and a new strategy of tiers of restrictions, likely to be similar to those announced this week for England by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is expected to be revealed soon.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The regulations giving effect to the temporary restrictions on hospitality are due to expire on October 16.
“However, it is important to stress, though I believe everyone already understands this point, that given the ongoing challenge of Covid, that will not herald a return to 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 new strategic approach to managing the pandemic.
“Part of this new strategic approach will set out the different tiers or levels of intervention and restrictions which may be applied in future, either locally or across Scotland, depending on how the virus is spreading.”
She also announced the new rules on face covering in workplaces come into effect from now and urged people to comply.
The rules state anybody in a workplace canteen will have to wear a face covering when they are not seated at a table, for example if they are queueing, or are entering or leaving the canteen or going to the toilet.
A further change will take effect on Monday, which requires face coverings to be worn in other communal workplace areas such as corridors.
The First Minister also said that a ban on travel both inside Scotland and between Scotland and England, and the rest of the UK, was under consideration. Ms Sturgeon said: “Scotland has already acted first among the nations of the UK in applying tough restrictions.
“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.
“I believe and expect that this will make a difference.
“But although we have put in place tough measures, we cannot rule out having to go further in the future.”
The latest update showed 13 deaths and 1,351 positive cases reported yesterday with 450 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. New figures confirmed 601 people were in hospital – an increase of 31 from yesterday – with 51 in intensive care, marking an increase of two. The total number of deaths has now reached 2585.