Stephen Daisley Stephen Daisley

Nicola Sturgeon orders another lockdown in Scotland

(Getty images)

Nicola Sturgeon called it ‘not the New Year statement I wanted to give’. The SNP leader addressed the Scottish parliament earlier this afternoon to confirm reports of a new, March-style lockdown across mainland Scotland. It came as 1,905 positive cases were recorded yesterday, though this is likely to be a significant under-calculation as most registry services are closed on Sunday. The positivity rate now stands at 15 per cent, up from 10.1 per cent on New Year’s Eve, and since Christmas there have been 289 deaths recorded in relation to Covid.

Against this backdrop, Sturgeon’s government is taking Scotland into the most severe lockdown since the outset of the pandemic. Mainland Scotland was already in level four — the top tier north of the border — and Sturgeon described the new restrictions as ‘an enhancement to level four’.

From tomorrow, Scots will, by law, be required to stay at home and may leave only for care or healthcare, essential shopping and exercise. Working from home will be mandatory unless your work cannot be done remotely. Those in the ‘shielding’ category most at risk — generally older people, cancer patients and those with severe underlying conditions — must not go to work at all. The chief medical officer will be sending this category a letter that will count as a ‘fit note’ for employers.

The border between Scotland and England will remain closed, with entry and egress permitted only for essential reasons. Places of worship will be shuttered, though funeral services with up to 20 mourners and wedding services with up to five celebrants will be permitted. There will be additional limits on freedom of assembly. Currently, up to six people from two households can meet outside in Scotland, but from tomorrow that will be cut to two people from two households.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in