Blackpool
Sturgeon begs fans not to travel down south to watch Old Firm game in pubs Over past month, 180 Scots who tested positive for Covid had visited seaside town
NICOLA Sturgeon has pleaded with fans not to travel to Blackpool to watch this weekend’s Old Firm match after a spate of infections were linked to the seaside resort.
The First Minister spoke out after reports that some Celtic and Rangers supporters were considering heading south of the Border – where pubs largely remain open – to watch Saturday’s showdown at Parkhead.
But the SNP leader warned the popular Lancashire destination was “associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland”.
Football fans have been seeking alternative arrangements after hospitality businesses across the central belt were shut last week, prompting fears Scots could gather in households to watch the big game.
But the SNP leader appealed to fans to instead watch the action in their own home and not put others at risk by travelling unnecessarily.
She said at least 180 people in Scotland who tested positive for Covid-19 in the past month reported a recent trip to Blackpool. An incident management team had been set up to deal with those who have travelled between the town and Scotland.
“I need to advise you that trips to Blackpool are now associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland,” the First Minister said.
“Blackpool is being mentioned in Test and Protect conversations far more than any other location outside of Scotland.”
Sturgeon added: “Blackpool is a place that many Scots love and like to visit, particularly at this time of year. Many of us have happy childhood memories of going to see the Blackpool illuminations.”
She said 342 people who were contacted by Test and Protect in the past week after contracting coronavirus reported travel outside of Scotland, 252 to somewhere else in the UK and 94 to Blackpool.
Sturgeon added: “If you were thinking about going to Blackpool and haven’t booked yet then please do not go this year. Even more specifically, because we know this is an issue and I want to be very clear about this, do not travel to Blackpool this weekend to watch the Old Firm match in a pub. If you do that, you will be putting yourselves and you will be putting other people at risk.”
She urged people who could lose money on booked trips to travel very carefully, maintain physical distancing – especially on public transport – and avoid pubs.
The First Minister said: “We are currently advising against non-essential travel to the parts of England which are classed as very high or high alert areas under England’s new three-tier system.
“And I’m asking people from these areas not to travel to Scotland either.”
The SNP leader spoke out after revealing that 15 deaths were recorded from Covid-19 in Scotland in the past 24 hours, while a further 1429 people have tested positive.
The Scottish Government has urged Scots from the five health board areas with the worst infection rates – Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, and Lothian – not to travel unnecessarily and avoid public transport. While an official travel ban has yet to be imposed, Sturgeon said the benefits of staying as close to home as possible were clear.
She said: “This guidance is very firmly intended – which is why I’m putting so much stress on it today – to minimise travel as much as possible between the Central Belt and other areas of Scotland.”
The Scottish Greens last night called for the Celtic v Rangers match to be broadcast free in an effort to encourage supporters to remain in their homes.