FIRST MINISTER SETS OUT MAP TO LIFT LOCKDOWN
Public will be staying at home until at least Easter
THE stay-at-home lockdown will remain in place until Easter Monday at least, after Nicola Sturgeon announced the latest exit strategy. The First Minister said that the easing of the restrictions would be “cautious, careful and patient”.
She announced the plan for Scotland a day after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed his route-map for England.
Johnson said the road was oneway and announced a series of dates for a phased lifting, with all restrictions to be removed by June 21. Sturgeon said to set dates that are too definite now would be “irresponsible”.
She explained: “There are far too many uncertainties such as the impacts of both new variants and of vaccinations.”
Sturgeon gave dates but they are indicative and dependent on continued suppression of the virus to as low as possible and progress with the vaccination roll out.
It is hoped that all over-50s will have been offered a first dose of the vaccine by mid-April.
For Scotland, the first change is all primary pupils and more secondary pupils returning to school on March 15 and four people from two households being allowed to meet outdoors.
Then, three weeks later and no earlier than April 5, the stay-athome requirement would be ended.
Other changes that could be implemented for that date include a final phase of returning to school, places of worship opening, more shops being added to the list of essential retail and click-and-collect returning for non-essential retail.
After another three weeks, by April 26, if progress allows, there would be a return to the tier system, with each local authority expected to be in level three or below.
Non-essential work in someone’s home could be allowed form then also.
Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was working to the six conditions set by the World Health Organisation for easing lockdown.
They are that transmission of the virus is controlled, preventive measures are established in workplaces and sufficient public health and health system capacities are in place.
Countries also need to manage the risk of exporting and importing cases, to ensure outbreak risks are minimised in high vulnerability settings and that communities are informed, engaged and participatory in the transition.
The First Minister said there will be a “phased but significant” re-opening in the last week in April when the system of multiple levels is re-introduced.
It would see non-essential retail, hospitality, gyms and hairdressers allowed to re-open.
Sturgeon said the plan in lifting restrictions was to be “cautious, careful and patient”.
She said: “The current position is positive and promising but still quite precarious.”
The First Minister warned that acting too quickly “will allow the virus to get ahead of us again and put lockdown back into reverse”.
Travel restrictions will be in place for some time yet to guard against importation of new variants.
The latest daily statistics showed there were 655 new cases recorded. There were 1076 people in hospital and 93 in intensive care.
Another 56 deaths were registered of a person who tested positive for Covid-19. There have now been 7006 deaths in Scotland.