New rules for region puts limit on indoor gatherings

Sturgeon calls for added vigilance

Lanarkshire was hit with further lockdown restrictions on Friday following a stark warning from the First Minister.

At her briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said that the situation in the area was causing “particular concern”.

And just hours later, word came through about the new measures to tackle coronavirus in the county.

From midnight on Friday, a limit was placed on indoor household gatherings in North and South Lanarkshire.

Ms Sturgeon said: “It is clearly regrettable that these restrictions need to be extended to people living in Lanarkshire.

“I understand that this will not be welcome news for people living in these areas, especially ahead of the weekend, but we must act now to protect people and get more control over the virus in the area.

“Public health teams have looked at where cases are being identified and by restricting indoor meetings, we are helping to protect those who are most at risk – as they are more likely to be meeting others in a household setting rather than in a public setting.

“I would ask everyone in the affected areas to be extravigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms.

“Above all, I want to emphasise that getting a test – and even getting a negative result – is not a substitute for self-isolating. If you have symptoms, or if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team and told to do so, you will need to self-isolate.”

The restrictions, recommended by the National Incident Management Team chaired by Public Health Scotland, are set to be reviewed this Friday.

The res t r i c t i o n s o n household gatherings are the same as for those already in place for Glasgow City, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire. These are:

■ People should not meet with people from other households in indoor household settings, whether in the affected local authority areas or elsewhere. Members of up to two households (maximum of six people) can continue to meet outdoors, including in gardens, and in hospitality settings, provided all existing guidance is followed.

■ If anyone living in these areas is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid- 19, they and all those in their extended household should self-isolate for 14 days.

■ Indoor visits to hospitals and care homes will be limited to essential visits only to protect the most vulnerable. Outdoor visits to care homes are permitted by three people from a maximum of two households, in line with current guidance.

■ Those households who have formed an extended household and people providing care and support – for example caring for an elderly family member or delivering shopping – can continue to meet indoors with enhanced hygiene measures in place.

People living in all affected local authority areas who were previously shielding are asked to be particularly vigilant.