The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Household visits banned.
Sturgeon’s ‘tough’ new measures to fight virus
Household visits are to be banned across Scotland, pubs will close at 10pm and people are being advised against car sharing, as “tough” new anti-Covid restrictions were announced by Nicola Sturgeon.
The first minister said going to other households would not be legally permitted from Friday but urged people to stop visiting each other in their homes from today.
A curfew requiring pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm from Friday will be introduced, bringing Scotland into line with Boris Johnson’s similar announcement for England.
In a statement to Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said she was keeping a so-called “circuit-breaker” or short period of nationwide lockdown to coincide with the October school holidays, under review.
The prospect of a shortened lockdown being introduced was raised this week when a leaked Scottish Government document revealed ministers were examining the possibility.
Ms Sturgeon urged people in Scotland not to book travel overseas for the October break “unless it is absolutely essential” and advised people against car sharing with those outside of their own household.
The measures were introduced as Scottish Covid cases rose by 383 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of positive tests to 25,009 people. That represents 7.6% of newly-tested individuals, up from 6.3% on Monday.
One new death of a confirmed patient has been recorded and the death toll under this measure is now at 2,506.
Household gatherings have been identified as one of the key ways that the virus is being transmitted. Therefore, the first minister decided to extend the guidance outlawing household gatherings currently in place in Glasgow to the rest of Scotland.
“Difficult though it is, any serious effort to reduce the R number below one must take account of this key driver of transmission and seek to break it,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“So after careful consideration, we have decided that from tomorrow, to be reviewed after three weeks and with exceptions that I will come on to, visiting other households will not be permitted.”
Those living alone will be able to form extended households, while couples not living together, those who need childcare and tradespeople will be exempt from the measures.
Ms Sturgeon said she shared people’s “despair” that measures were being tightened again, but said the sacrifices being made were not in vain and had saved lives.
Whilethe majority of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks are in those under the age of 40, Ms Sturgeon said a rise is now being seen in the older population.
She said: “It kills too many old and vulnerable people. And for younger, healthier people, while the risks of dying from it are much lower, it can still result in long-term, serious health problems.
“That’s why action to bring it back under control is necessary – and to bring the R number down again, the action we take now must go beyond the step we announced almost two weeks ago to restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to six people from two households.”
Ms Sturgeon said pubs had remained open in order to protect jobs, but that if the Scottish Government had the borrowing powers or the means to extend the Job Retention Scheme she might have reached a different verdict. Summary of new rules: ● Visiting other homes is banned. The measure comes into force on Friday but Ms Sturgeon has asked people to follow the rule from today.
There will be exceptions for those living alone or alone with children, who form extended households.
This includes couples who do not live together, grandparents providing childcare, and tradespeople.
● Bars and restaurants will be required to close at 10pm from Friday. Ms Sturgeon said further restrictions, including possible closures, will be “unavoidable” if social distancing and other measures are not followed.
● The Scottish Government is advising against car sharing with other households.
● Holidaymakers are urged not to book travel overseas for the October break.
● Everyone who can work from home should work from home.
● The rule of six remains – people can meet up with a maximum of six people from one other household in public indoor places or outdoors.
● Outdoors, children under 12 are exempt from these rules and young people aged 12-18 will be exempt from the household limit.
● Indicative dates previously outlined for lockdown easing on October 5 are “unlikely to go ahead” on that date.
● Vulnerable people are not being asked to return to shielding.
● Financial support of £500 will be made available for those on low incomes who have to self-isolate due to coronavirus.