Mainland Scotland is being placed back in lockdown, with schools across the country ordered to stay closed, as part of restrictions to try to combat the new, faster spreading strain of Covid-19, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The First Minister stressed the need to act “quickly and decisively” as she said without new measures being introduced hospitals could run out of capacity to deal with coronavirus patients in three to four weeks.
She announced a legally-enforceable stay-at-home order will apply for all of January in all areas currently under Level 4 restrictions – mainland Scotland and Skye.
People will only be permitted to leave their home for an “essential purpose”, such as essential shopping, caring for someone or if they are part of an extended household.
In addition to this, schools will be closed to most pupils until February 1 at the earlies.
In a further tightening of restrictions on gatherings, Ms Sturgeon said it was now only possible for two people from two different households to meet outdoors – instead of the limit of six people from two households which had applied previously.
This, however, does not include children aged 11 and under, who can still “play outdoors in larger groups, including in organised gatherings”, the First Minister said.
She added that “with regret” churches and other places of worship are to close, apart from for broadcasting services, funerals, weddings or civil partnerships
People who had previously been advised to shield are now being told not to go into work at all.
Ms Sturgeon said the lockdown measures would be kept under close review but added: “However, I cannot at this stage rule out having to keep them in place longer, nor making further changes. Nothing about this is easy.
“I know how devastating restrictions like these ones are and I give an assurance that we will not keep them in place for longer than is absolutely necessary.” ■
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