NICOLA Sturgeon is set to announce a new two-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown to start on Friday.
There was speculation the First Minister could address Holyrood this afternoon, following a meeting of cabinet and discussions with advisors. However, that now looks unlikely.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that she will, instead, be holding her regular coronavirus briefing at 12.15pm.
*The First Minister has provided an update on the Government's plans*
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon rules out reimposing any form of lockdown in Scotland
Today’s Scottish Sun quotes an NHS source who claims to have been given notice of the new, mini-lockdown.
“We’ve been told to expect it from 7pm on Friday,” they told the paper.
It’s thought the First Minister’s new restrictions could see pubs and restaurants temporarily shut down, and may even include some form of travel ban.
A leaked Scottish Government document two weeks ago revealed the temporary return to a near-lockdown was being pencilled in to coincide with the tattie holidays, which have already begun.
Speaking at yesterday’s daily briefing, the First Minister said any restrictions would be “proportionate” but she warned that lives could be lost if no action was taken.
The First Minister added: “Given the numbers we are seeing, and I’ve been very open about this the last few days, it is possible that we will have to do more.
“There may well be a need for some further restrictions in the near future.”
She said: “If we do decide more restrictions are necessary, and no decision has been taken yet, I want to give an assurance that we will endeavour to give you the public and of course the Scottish Parliament as much notice as possible, as well as a clear explanation of our reasons and rationale.
“I want to promise you that we do not impose restrictions lightly. If we decide that extra restrictions are necessary, it will be because we deem it necessary and vital to get the virus back under control and avoid unnecessary loss of life.”
Part of the First Minister’s thinking is to have the mini-lockdown kick in before the end of the UK Government’s furlough scheme.
“We take these factors into account to come to a balanced decision,” she said at the briefing yesterday.
“But it’s got to be a balanced decision that has the desired effect of slowing down the spread of this virus, bringing it back under control, and trying to do it in a way that minimises economic impact.”
However, there are reports this morning that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a new financial support package for businesses affected by local lockdowns.
National clinical director Jason Leitch told BBC Scotland that a circuit breaker could push the course of the pandemic back by 28 days and "buy time" ahead of winter.
It would not, he added, be a full lockdown.
He said there might be "some choices in there about schools or about further education - but fundamentally a short, sharp shock to the R number.
"You get the R number down, you get the numbers down to a reasonable level and then you can begin to reintroduce some of the things that you've closed.
"So the idea is that a two-week, roughly, circuit-breaker, would buy you 28 days. You don't know that for sure, because it's not an exact science, but it would buy you about a month in the pandemic."
But any lockdown will likely be resisted far more than it was in March, especially from Scotland’s beleaguered hospitality sector.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) recently estimated that up to two-thirds of the country’s bars could be forced to close in the next few months, with 25,000 staff being made redundant.
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