FM warns ‘real danger’ of Scottish lockdowns similar to Leicester

Sturgeon suggests localised Covid-19 outbreaks inevitable north of the border

Nicola Sturgeon has warned of Leicester-style lockdowns in Scotland and said localised Covid-19 outbreaks are inevitable north of the border.

Marking 100 days since lockdown was announced, Ms Sturgeon warned of a “very real danger” of a Covid-19 resurgence and defended her refusal to rule out quarantine measures for those crossing the English-scottish border.

Despite the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) pointing out 70% of Scotland’s tourism market came from the rest of the UK, Ms Sturgeon said she is unable to guarantee such measures would not be introduced given the unpredictability of the virus.

At her daily coronavirus briefing, she said there is a “genuine chance” of coming close to eliminating the virus but urged the public not to become complacent. People should “be on their guard” as restrictions ease or face progress being “squandered”.

Ms Sturgeon announced the deaths

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Given more than 70% of Scottish tourism comes from the UK market, any restrictions on domestic travel will have a seriously negative impact on the sector. MARC CROTHALL, SCOTTISH TOURISM ALLIANCE

of three more patients over the last 24 hours, taking the total to 2,485, after four days with no deaths registered.

She said in the previous seven days there had been a total of nine Covid deaths in Scotland, compared to 23 in the week before that.

She pointed out two weeks after lockdown began National Records of Scotland data suggested there was an average of more than 90 per day.

Referencing Leicester, where shops and schools are to shut in response to a virus surge, she said: “We are likely to see localised flare ups and we have to be ready to deal with them, but try to avoid a cycle of local lockdowns.”

Ms Sturgeon was asked about the STA’S reaction to the prospect of quarantine measures for travellers coming north of the border.

The STA said a few businesses had been contacted by people south of the border asking for refunds because they were concerned by a “prospective quarantine”.

Marc Crothall, STA chief executive, called for the four governments of the UK to work together as the Scottish tourism sector prepares to reopen on July 15.

He said: “Given more than 70% of Scottish tourism comes from the UK market, any restrictions on domestic travel will have a seriously negative impact on the sector.”

PA. People wearing PPE in Leicester after Health Secretary Matt Hancock imposed a local lockdown.