Scots could face stricter lockdown

Tayside and Fife could be forced into near - lockdown measures regardless of the number of Covid-19 cases recorded, the first minister has admitted.

Nicola Sturgeon said she would not be able to “ignore” offers of support from the UK Government that could place Scotland under stricter coronavirus restrictions.

Scotland ’s devolved government has set a fivelevel system of restrictions, with parts of the country currently sitting within Tier 2 including Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife.

Dundee and the central belt are subject to Tier 3 measures, which among other things prohibits the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants but lets cafés, eateries and shops to stay open under restrictions.

So far no council area is subject to Tier 4 restrictions, but this could change by the end of this week.

At her daily press briefing, Ms Sturgeon said Scotland “could not be blind” to what is happening south of the border, after the UK Government announced an extension to the furlough scheme in England as well as increased Cov id -19 restrictions.

Along with leaders of the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales, Ms Sturgeon met the UK Government yesterday morning.

She described the “dilemma” the Scottish Government faces, over whether to take advantage of the extended furlough scheme and go back into lockdown, despite some parts of the country seeing low infection rates.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I made clear last week, when I set out the levels that would apply initially, that we might yet have to go further and that we can’t rule out – and shouldn’t rule out – a move to level four for all or parts of the country.

“And while that decision would never be easy, there is no doubt that the availability of a more extensive furlough scheme of the kind that the prime minister announced on Saturday would make it slightly less difficult because workers would have more of their wages paid.

“The decision we have to weigh up in coming days is this one – should we take the opportunity of more generous financial support to step harder on the brakes now, to try to drive infection rates down faster and more firmly?” she continued.

“The potential benefit of that would be suppressing Covid further and faster, at a time when financial support is available and possibly – I don’t want to overstate this – but possibly opening up a bit more breathing space over the Christmas period.”

Scotland recorded 951 positive coronavirus tests in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 66,012, with a daily test positivity rate of 9.6%, up from 7% on Sunday.

Of the new cases, 385 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 268 in Lanarkshire, 76 in Ayrshire and Arran and 69 in Lothian.

No Covid deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours but Ms Sturgeon warned this figure should be treated with caution as registry offices are largely closed on Sundays.

The death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 2,849.

Ms Sturgeon said there are 1,225 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up by 32 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 93 are in intensive care, a rise of 12.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard called on the first minister to launch an emergency “goodwill summit to save Christmas”.

“It’s very welcome news that leaders from across the UK will work together on a plan for Christmas, as we need to give people hope.

“There are real concerns about loneliness and isolation for many Scots, particularly among senior c it izens and other vulnerable adults.

“With more restrictions coming into force this week and endless speculation about people being told they face a digital Christmas, we need to offer families more help than that.

“I want to put party differences aside and work with other parties at Holyrood, public health experts, charities, and the police to resolve this issue as soon as possible and get a workable plan.

“We need a goodwill summit, where we work with each other, to ensure that families can spend some time at Christmas together in a safe environment.

“If Nicola Sturgeon calls this summit, as Scottish Labour leader, I can promise the first minister that as a party we will constructively engage and work closely with her and others of goodwill to do everything we can to save Christmas for the people of Scotland.”

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford was at the UK Government meeting.

CHANGE: Nicola Sturgeon is considering a harder lockdown for some areas.

Richard Leonard has called for a “goodwill summit”.