NICOLA Sturgeon has updated the nation on the Government’s latest coronavirus policies amid a series of dramatic developments.

Several countries have banned travellers from the UK following the discovery of a new strain of Covid-19 which early analysis suggests spreads much more quickly than the original one. France also banned freight into continental Europe via its ports.

The First Minister, speaking at her coronavirus briefing, addressed this and several other key issues.

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She was joined by Chief Constable Iain Livingstone and interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith.

Vaccine

Nicola Sturgeon said there is “no risk” to supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine from the French ban on UK freight haulage.

She told the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing there is no “immediate concern” over medicine supply, because stocks had been built up ahead of Brexit.

Stockpiling

Sainsbury’s warned earlier that France’s ban on freight hauliers from the UK could affect food supplies, but the First Minister sought to reassure Scots.

She told people not to stockpile food and urged them to “shop responsibly”.

The National: Interim chief medical office Gregor smithInterim chief medical office Gregor smith

The SNP leader said: “We have been assured by supermarkets that they are well stocked for Christmas.”

Mutant strain

Dr Smith provided further details on the new Covid-19 strain.

He confirmed work is under way by Public Health Scotland to further establish the extent of the spread, with 18 cases confirmed so far (an increase of one from the weekend). The bulk of the cases are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with at least one traced to Lanarkshire. The interim CMO warned the overall estimate was likely to be an underestimate.

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He said it doesn’t matter if people are “in Melrose or Motherwell”, they should still assume they could come into contact with virus.

The medical chief urged the public to take simple steps to prevent infection and limit the ability of the new variant to spread across Scotland.

Level 4 restrictions

Sturgeon confirmed Level 4 restrictions to be imposed everywhere in Scotland apart from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles on Boxing Day will be reviewed after two weeks.

“If we don’t act now to curb its spread we run the risk of cases running out of control in the new year,” the FM said.

Schools

Schools Sturgeon said the decision to move school pupils to remote learning next month is in response to the new strain of the virus.

Smith added that there is no evidence to suggest children are more likely to transmit the new strain.

He described the move to remote learning a “precautionary approach” to help limit transmission.