Businesses facing huge anxiety over new curbs
BUSINESSES are facing ‘huge anxiety’ because SNP ministers have failed to make clear what the trigger would be for further Covid restrictions, it has been claimed.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday said he could not say what level of pressure there would have to be on hospitals to lead to the return of coronavirus curbs.
He also failed to explain what restrictions are likely to be reintroduced first, but did say he wanted to avoid further school closures ‘at all costs’.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr Swinney said the relationship between case numbers and the pressure on the NHS is ‘fundamental’ to any decision.
Pressed on how high hospital numbers would need to be, he said: ‘There is not a precise answer to that question. We have to make a judgment about the degree of preshave sure that the NHS is under and we’ve also got to consider the question of whether any restrictions would be proportionate.
‘And that’s the key assessment ministers have to make because, in terms of fulfilling our legal obligations to apply any restrictions to the freedoms that individuals enjoy, we have to be satisfied there is a proportionate danger and risk in having to act in that fashion.’
Mr Swinney added: ‘Essentially the judgment is what is going to make the proportionate impact on the suppression of the virus, what is going to have the best effect?
‘Members of the public have seen over the last 18 months the type of restrictions we have to apply in certain circumstances.
‘We want to avoid that at all possible cost, which is why I concentrate on the fact that it is important that individuals comply with the baseline measures which can help to avoid the circulation of the virus and therefore means that we don’t to look at any possible further restrictions that might need to be applied in the future.’
He said that the Scottish Government is ‘not at this moment’ considering cancelling large-scale events, football matches or gigs.
Mr Swinney admitted the return of schools after the summer break will have ‘undoubtedly’ contributed to the recent rise in cases. But he said that he wants to avoid school closures ‘at all possible costs’.
Scottish Tory Covid recovery spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon clearly wants to cling onto the control she’s had over people’s lives. Now her Deputy has failed to give any sort of clarity over what might be the trigger point for restrictions being reimposed.
‘That only serves to create huge anxiety among individuals and businesses who are desperate to continue getting back to normality.
‘It is deeply unhelpful for those at the top of the SNP raising the prospect of restrictions being introduced again, without having any idea of the basis that would be used for bringing them back. The public are weary and just want to move on from strict Covid controls.’
Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: ‘Businesses should not have legal restrictions re-applied, just as we are starting to reopen and recover after losing over 12 months of trading capacity. We are clear that any return to tighter restrictions will risk economic recovery and business confidence and our top priority should be allowing the economy to fully re-open.’
‘Failed to give any sort of clarity’