Lockdown stays

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that all restrictions will remain in place until at least the middle of February. The First Minister said that due to the rising pressure the NHS is under, “we cannot afford” to lift restrictions and risk interacting more.

Much as I disagree with Sturgeon on almost everything, I do believe she has made the right call on this occasion. Coupled with the vaccine, this lockdown will hopefully point the way out of this nightmare for our people,

Allan Payne

As long as the UK Government sends the furlough money the lockdown shall remain.

Elizabeth Mcarthur There isn’t a zero tolerance policy for any other illness/ virus or disease.. One in three people who have the infection are asymptomatic, which is an indication of how non-threatening it is to a huge percentage of the population. A sense of proportion has been sadly lacking from the outset – it’s beyond scary to wonder what the exit strategy would have been if no vaccine was imminent..we should have learned to live with Covid from the beginning.

Irene Isdale

Asymptomatic people threaten everyone. What don't you understand about their ability to infect other people?asymptomatic carriers are the most dangerous, especially with a Covid variant which is twice as infectious as the prior one.

Barbara Suttar

Suicide figures are never mentioned. I’m sure there will be many more deaths due to suicide than people dyingd of Covid. Mental health issues will be going through the roof. I would predict the vast majority of the population are now dealing with some sort of mental health problem whether it be depression, anxiety, whatever . . . Time will tell when it's too late for many families.

Doreen Shields

Not unexpected as so many people broke restrictions in order to “celebrate” Hogmanay.

Elspeth Durkin

I wouldn't call it a lockdown; it's not the same as March 2020. More places are open and there are more cars on the road. When I go out to the shops or drive to my office to collect work there is lots of traffic and the shops are busy.

Nicola Walker

It'll be at least the end of

March, beginning of April before things change. I know she's not got a crystal ball but mid-february is unrealistic in everyone's opinion. False hope is a dangerous game.

Annette Cumpsty

Incrementally extending the lockdown period and restrictions is not the hallmark of good leadership.

William Dow

The question remains what is she going to do when there is nothing else to lock down and the virus is still spreading?

James Stirling