Most want family restrictions eased

More than 70 per cent of Scotsman readers want to see restrictions around visiting family and friends eased ahead of the re-opening of workplaces, a survey has found.

The Scotsman’s “The Lockdown Survey” asked readers to answer questions on how they are experiencing lockdown and what they are hoping to be able to do once restrictions are lifted.

Of more than 4,300 people who responded, 71 per cent said they wanted to see the Scottish Government prioritise the easing of restrictions around visiting family and friends ahead of other measures such as re-opening schools or increasing travel by public transport.

Measures which would see workplaces reopen were viewed as more of a short to medium term priority, the survey shows, with 45 per cent saying they should be a high priority and 42 per cent saying it should be a medium priority.

Among the lowest priority for readers was the return of professional sports and largescale events such as music concerts. Only 7 per cent of readers said the return of sport should be a high priority, with 70 per cent saying it should instead be a low priority for the government.

The attendance of large events was also deemed as a lower priority with nearly four fifths of the respondents saying it should be a low priority.

The survey also showed that more than half of Scotsman readers’ mental health has been impacted by the lockdown with one in eight saying it had “severely affected” their mental health.

The Scottish Greens’ communities spokesman Andy Wightman MSP said: “While the change in guidance to allow people out for multiple periods of exercise each day is to be welcomed, and will be a particular relief to those without a garden, the stay at home message continues to apply and many are struggling at home, in order to protect wider public health.”