Sturgeon outlines multi-tier plans after Fife death

Nicola Sturgeon insisted her government did not ignore advice from scientific advisory group Sage, as she said ministers have to strike a balance between suppressing coronavirus and the harms of lockdown.

Scotland has recorded 13 deaths of corona virus patients in the past 24 hours, with the first death being recorded in Fife since June.

The death toll of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days has now risen to 2,585.

In a statement to a virtual session of the Scottish Parliament, the first minister said 1,351 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours.

This is 17.6% of newly-tested individuals, up from 16 .4% on Wednesday.

She said 44,036 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 42,685 the day before.

Of the new cases, 450 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 374 in Lanarkshire, 161 in Lothian, and 111 in Ayrshire and Arran.

There are 601 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up by 31 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 13 were in intensive care, up by two.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard accused the first minister of ignoring advice to introduce virus restrictions “without ambiguity or contradiction” and that are “equality-proof ”.

He said the Scottish Government has imposed confusing restrictions that will hit those on the lowest incomes the hardest – contrary to the scientific guidance.

In a virtual Holyrood session, Ms Sturgeon replied: “T he Scottish Government absolutely did not ignore this scientific advice from Sage.

“In fact I think if we look at the actions of governments across the UK , the Scottish Government acted to implement many of the recommendations that Sage made.

“As I have said previously, governments have to take account of the scientific advice and the further we go into this pandemic, we must balance the imperative of stopping the virus with the harms that are done through some of the measures that we have to use to do that.

“So we have to reach balanced decisions that stop the virus, protect people’ s jobs and livelihoods and wider wellbeing and health as well.”

She added the Scottish Government introduced a nationwide ban on visiting other people’s homes on September 22 – the day after Sage’s meeting – and have since introduced restr ict ions on the hospitality sector.

“I do agree that there needs to be the right balance struck between the need to take quick, decisive action in the face of a pandemic of an infectious virus, but have as much consultation and engagement as possible,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“I will make no apology on occasion, given the nature of the threat we are dealing with right now, for being prepared to take quick, firm and decisive action if we deem that as necessary to save lives,” she added.

Ms Sturgeon went on to say the Scottish Government is planning on implementing a multi-tier framework of Covid restrictions later in October, similar to that being introduced in England.

New measures were imposed chiefly in Scotland’s central belt at the weekend.

However, Ms Sturgeon said these“reset” restrictions were “temporary” and would be replaced with a multi-tier system.

This will feature different levels of measures which could be introduced either across the country or in specific health board areas, depending on where outbreaks of coronavirus are detected.

The first minister stressed that tighter restrictions than are currently in place were not “inevitable”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We intend to develop our own tiering framework and bring that to parliament after the October recess, and that will coincide with the ending of the temporary restrictions.

“At a strategic le vel we will be looking to align as closely as possible with other UK nations – although I would stress that decisions will be taken at a devolved level.”

I will make no apology on occasion, given the nature of the threat

INSISTENT: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government had to strike a balance and that they implemented many recommendations by Sage.