Scots face more travel curbs over Omicron variant threat
Sturgeon fires warning as third case is linked to UK
NICOLA Sturgeon has warned of more potential travel restrictions to combat the threat of the new variant of coronavirus.
On the final day of the SNP conference, the First Minister will today tell delegates there are “very real challenges” over the winter months from the Omicron variant, believed to be potentially more resistant to vaccines due to its mutations.
She will say it is causing
“profound concern here and across the world” and we should assume there will be cases in Scotland.
It comes after a third case of the new variant linked to the UK was confirmed yesterday.
The case involves a person who visited the Westminster area of London but who is no longer in the UK.
They were linked to travel in southern Africa, where Omicron was first identified.
Testing is being carried out at locations the individual in the third confirmed case visited in London, the UK Health Security Agency said.
The agency said it was “very likely” more cases would be found in the coming days.
The First Minister will use her address today to say: “We must not drop our guard. This is a time to be more vigilant, not less.
“The new variant has led the Scottish Government to impose tighter restrictions again at our borders. That none of this was even contemplated just a few days ago is a reminder of how fast this virus can move and change. We must, all of us, therefore, redouble our efforts to stop it in its tracks.
“The good news is we know how to do that. We’ve done it before.
“Over these next weeks of winter, we need to pull together and look after each other.”
The First Minister spoke out as new travel restrictions were imposed by the UK Government.
Scotland will also impose the travel restrictions, which will see all passengers arriving in the UK required to take a PCR test and remain in isolation until they receive a negative result. That will apply to everyone, regardless
of their vaccination status. While no cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in Scotland as yet, Ms Sturgeon warned that further travel restrictions may be necessary.
Speaking on the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show yesterday, she said: “There are no cases identified in Scotland yet that I know of.
“Clearly, that is a moving picture.” She added: “We have stepped up surveillance, we are monitoring this very, very carefully.
“I hope we don’t identify cases in Scotland, but I think we should assume we will. Therefore, I am asking people to behave right now as if this new variant is present in Scotland, comply with all the mitigations and protections that are currently in place, pick up our compliance, and that will help us, if it is here, slow down any risk of transmission.”
While she stressed the need for a “proportionate response” to this latest development in the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon added: “I think we may have to go further on restricting travel in the days to come.
“I hope I am wrong about that, but we must keep our minds open to that.”
She also refused to rule out another ban on indoor mixing between households, although she was clear that “none of us want to go back” to those kind of restrictions.
In her speech today, Ms Sturgeon will say no government can fight a virus alone .
“That was true before the detection of Omicron, and it is even more so now,” she will say.
“If all of us increase our compliance with the protections already in place, we will help slow transmission.
“So I am asking everyone to please, take the time now to think afresh about the basic steps you can take to keep yourself, your loved ones and the country safe.”
She will say if people do so, there will be hopes of a more normal and safe Christmas.
Her comments come after Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said the confirmation of cases of the
Omicron variant in England are
“a stark reminder that we must not drop our guard”.
He added: “No cases have yet been detected in Scotland, but the fact this new variant is on our doorstep is clearly a worry and we should act as though it is already here.
“There is still much to learn about the Omicron variant. Questions remain about its severity, transmissibility and effect on treatments or vaccines and scientists are working at pace to provide additional information.
“Until more is known, we must adopt the precautionary principle and do everything we can to minimise the risk of spreading infection.”
The exemption of the common travel area from new Covid-19 restrictions against the Omicron variant has been welcomed.
New tougher measures including PCR testing will be introduced for arrivals to the UK from tomorrow morning.
All contacts with a suspected case of Omicron will have to isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status, amid concerns existing jags will be less effective against the strain that is believed to spread rapidly.
However, this will not apply to the common travel area, which covers Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the move and clarified that travellers from Ireland to the UK will not be affected by the measures against the new Covid-19 variant.
On Saturday, the Irish Department of Health announced its own measures to mitigate against Omicron.
Visa requirements have been updated and the advisory to avoid non-essential travel has been applied to those countries concerned, including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Returning Irish residents will be required to undergo strict home quarantine regardless of vaccine/ recovery/test status, and undergo
PCR testing during quarantine.
We must do everything we can to minimise the risk of spreading infection