Stark portrait of the bleakest Boxing Day
Grim contrast with 2019 sales as most of Scotland plunged into Level 4 and Sturgeon again threatens tougher curbs
SCOTLAND’S high streets were deserted yesterday on what is usually one of the busiest shopping days of the year – as the traditional Boxing Day sales became the latest victim of the Covid pandemic.
Most of the country was again plunged into the toughest Level 4 restrictions – similar to the full lockdown which began in March – forcing hard-hit ‘non-essential’ retailers to close and bargain-hunters to stay at home.
Pictures from an empty Buchanan Street in Glasgow and an abandoned Princes Street in Edinburgh highlighted the appalling toll of the coronavirus crisis on the economy.
This week, Scots will be unable to celebrate Hogmanay with friends and family who are not part of the same household.
And last night, as infections continued to rise, Nicola Sturgeon pleaded with the public to adhere to the strict curbs. In a Twitter post, the First Minister wrote: ‘Level 4 restrictions are now in place across mainland Scotland.
‘Please stay home/local as much as possible to help stop this new, faster-spreading strain of the virus running out of control.’
She has warned that if people do not follow the rules, she may have to consider writing them into law. That raises the prospect of people being fined for leaving their home without a good reason.
Figures yesterday showed that more than 1,100 new Covid cases were recorded in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the mutated form of the virus, which accounted for more than a third of cases last week, continues to spread.
Health boards have warned of considerable spikes in cases of the new strain, called B117. A significant outbreak in Wigtownshire may be down to the new variant, which is said to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.
High infection rates have sparked the move to Level 4 in mainland Scotland, meaning only essential shops can now remain open.
Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles and the outer Argyll islands will be in Level 3. Last night, to offset the economic toll of the restrictions, the Scottish Government said businesses that had to close or modify can apply to the Strategic Framework Business Fund for grants of up to £3,000 a week.
The Level 4 restrictions also mean travel between council areas and the rest of the UK is banned.
There must be no indoor mixing of households, even on Hogmanay, while schools will have a delayed return after the Christmas break.
The first day of term has been pushed back to January 11, with the first week of lessons to take place online except for the children of key workers.
Ms Sturgeon said: ‘Our strong advice is to stay as local as possible and to stay at home as much as possible. We will be considering in the days ahead whether we need to place that advice in law.’ The First
Minister said the tighter restrictions were needed to counter the risk of ‘exponential growth’ of the new strain of the virus. She added: ‘That would mean many more people catching Covid and, even without this new strain causing more severe illness, that would result in many more people needing hospital and intensive care. That would put an enormous strain on the NHS and lead to much more loss of life.’
The Office for National Statistics’ latest infection survey shows 38 per cent of cases in Scotland in the week beginning December 14 may have been down to the new strain – up from 7 per cent the previous week.
Yesterday, health experts in the Borders issued a warning after a rise in the number of cases, with 64 cases in the Wigtownshire area.
The B117 variant has also been identified in Lower Annandale.
Despite the travel restrictions, Chief Constable lain Livingstone has said it would not be ‘appropriate or proportionate’ for officers to establish checkpoints or roadblocks.