The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Swathes of Scotland put into Tier 4 restrictions
Scotland is on the verge of passing the “sombre and deeply distressing” milestone of 5,000 Covid deaths, Nicola Sturgeon has warned.
The first minister said there must be no let-up in the fight against the virus as she announced Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross will stay in Tier 3, meaning residents will face spot fines for breaching travel restrictions that prevent them from straying outside their local authority areas.
Large swathes of the central belt will be plunged into the most severe restrictions for three weeks from Friday.
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeenshire will remain in Tier 2 for the time being while Highland, Moray and the islands will stay in Tier 1, the most relaxed arrangement under the Scottish Government’s fivetier system.
Making a statement to Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon announced that the travel restrictions for those in Tier 3 and 4 will become law on Friday, despite opposition concerns about how a ban will be enforced.
Ms Sturgeon said fines would only be issued as a “last resort” when there had been a “flagrant ” breach of the rules.
She said the decisions were informed by the mounting death toll and the need to ensure the NHS can cope during the winter.
The first minister also said imposing the restrictions now increased the chance of easing them at Christmas.
A further 37 Covid deaths had been recorded over the last 24 hours of patients who first tested positive in the last 28 days.
Under that measurement, the total number of Scottish deaths stands at 3,323.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS) will publish its weekly report of deaths confirmed as Covid-related through a test as well as fatalities that are presumed to be related to the virus today.
“It is very likely, based on the numbers we have reported in the past seven days, that the death toll on that wider measure will this week pass 5,000,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“That is a sombre and deep ly d is tress ing milestone. It is important we acknowledge it and remember every individual whose life has been lost to this virus.”
She urged the public to “hold firm” on the restrictions, arguing they would save lives until the “brighter times” now in sight with the development of a vaccine.
And she made a specific plea to people living in less restricted areas.
“Please don’ t assume that being in one of the lower levels means you can ease up,” the first minister said.
“On the contrary, having fewer restrictions mean that the virus has more opportunities to spread – so it is more vital to abide by all the rules and precautions.”
Tier 4 restrictions will be imposed in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, We s t Dunbartonshire, North Lanarksh ire , South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
The measures, which come into force from 6pm on Friday, will run until December 11 and sparked anger from businesses with CBI Scotland describing them as a “body blow” in the run up to Christmas.
The move to Tier 4 means as well as non-essential shops, bars and restaurants will have to close – though takeaways will be permitted – along with visitor attractions, hairdressers and gyms.
The City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire, will stay at Tier 3 for now, while East Lothian and Midlothian will buck the overall trend by moving from Tier 3 to Tier 2.