WILL FAMILY GATHERINGS BE CURBED?
Sturgeon considers cutting limit to just SIX
NEW curbs on family visits and other social gatherings could be imposed following the ‘dangerous’ resurgence of coronavirus across Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has warned.
The First Minister will today set out new restrictions on how many people can meet up with each other indoors and outdoors, after admitting that the current rules have become too complicated.
She confirmed she is considering measures similar to those unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has set a cap of just six people for indoor and outdoor gatherings in England from Monday.
And she admitted she cannot rule out a return to a full national lockdown over the winter – but urged people to act now in order to prevent it happening.
It follows concerns about the rapid spread of the virus in recent days – with daily confirmed cases now running at treble the number from just three weeks ago.
Miss Sturgeon also said she is likely to put on hold other plans to exit lockdown in the coming days, which could mean theatres need to remain closed and sports fans will not be allowed to return to stadiums.
Scientists believe rapid action is needed across the UK to avoid a further surge in the virus in the coming weeks, which could put renewed pressure on the NHS.
She said: ‘It is not an exaggeration to say that Scotland is currently at a very dangerous point. So too is the UK as a whole, as are many of the other countries round the world.
‘We can see from the level of cases in countries like Spain or France, that the current increase in cases could very easily continue – and also start to translate into serious illness and death – if we are not very careful.’
Ahead of announcing the outcome of her latest three-week review today, Miss Sturgeon said she will ‘take a very cautious approach to any further changes’. She added: ‘In fact, we cannot rule out the need to make changes to the number of people allowed to gather together, like those announced for England last night.
‘We are carefully reviewing existing guidance and regulation – as well as considering what new steps may be necessary to keep Covid under control.’
In Scotland, the current rules state that no more than eight people from a maximum of three different households can meet indoors, while up to 15 people from five households are permitted to gather outdoors.
Mr Johnson has announced that a ‘rule of six’ for indoor and outdoor gatherings will be introduced in England from Monday – with those getting together in larger groups facing dispersal by police, fines and even arrest.
The move was introduced following concerns about transmission of the virus within larger social groups – and a similar trend is being seen in Scotland.
Latest daily figures published yesterday revealed a further 159 positive coronavirus tests north of the Border, including 63 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, where people have already been told not to visit each other’s homes.
The average number of daily positive cases was 155 over the last seven days, compared with 52 just three weeks ago – while the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 across Scotland increased by seven, to 274.
Miss Sturgeon yesterday admitted coronavirus rules have become ‘complicated’ and said she would be trying to ‘simplify’ them as much as possible.
She said it is ‘highly unlikely’ there will be any further easing of restrictions – meaning plans for the return of spectators to live sport and the reopening of theatres and live music venues from Monday are now in doubt.
She added: ‘Obviously, as we heard for England last night with a restriction on the number of people able to gather together, that is something we need to look at as well.’
Miss Sturgeon suggested her final
approach on gatherings of friends and family may differ from Mr Johnson’s plans by further restricting the number of households which can meet.
She said: ‘The six that has been announced (in England) can be from six different households. We have a household limit.
‘We may or may not, depending on the decisions we take today, change these limits.
‘But I think it is likely that we will still have, as well as an overall number limit, we will probably have a household limit as well.’
On the prospect of spectators returning to sports stadiums from Monday, she said: ‘A few times this week I’ve used terms like “putting the brakes on” or perhaps not going ahead with things we had hoped to go ahead with, given the evidence we are seeing right now, so people can draw a direction of travel on that.’
She added: ‘A few weeks ago, we might have hoped that this would be sooner than it might turn out to be to have spectators back in stadiums.’
Miss Sturgeon also yesterday signalled that non-essential offices may need to remain closed for some time.