PLANNED easing of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland is to go ahead despite cases “plateauing” rather than continuing to decline, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister was speaking during a Scottish Government Covid-19 briefing, which are no longer given on a daily basis since the Scottish Parliament election campaign began last week.
Sturgeon said the “stay at home” order would be removed from Friday and replaced with a “stay local” rule.
On Monday, hairdressers and barbers can reopen for pre-booked appointments, click and collect shopping will be permitted and homeware shops and garden centres can welcome back customers. University and college students can also return for in-person teaching and outdoor contact sports for 12 to17-year olds may resume.
The First Minister said she will give further updates in April but that Scotland is on course to ease restrictions further, with cafes, restaurants, shops and gyms due to open from April 26 and more people allowed to meet up outdoors.
The latest coronavirus figures show 12 deaths and 411 positive tests were recorded in the previous 24 hours. It brought the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 7596.
Sturgeon said: “There are still no grounds for complacency.
The First Minister said the new Stay at Home rule would be in place for at least three weeks.
Sturgeon also said SNP ministers who breached coronavirus rules are “mortified”. She insisted both John Swinney and Graeme Dey were “in the wrong” and noted they have “rightly apologised”.
Swinney had to say sorry after meeting up with four party activists to campaign for May’s election. Parliamentary Business Minister Graeme Dey was spoken to by police over a second Covid breach. It is believed he asked at least eight for a campaign picture.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here