Nicola Sturgeon will make clear lockdown in Scotland could get even worse today as she unveils a harsher ‘Tier’ system than in England.
The First Minister will give details of the scheme despite a furious backlash from restaurants and retailers over the prospect of heightened restrictions staying in place indefinitely.
A ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown has already been in force north of the border for a fortnight, with bars and restaurants restricted from serving alcohol and shut altogether in much of the country. It has been extended until November 2, when the new system comes into operation.
Ms Sturgeon has swiped at Boris Johnson for being too timid in setting the rules in England, pointing out that chief medical officer Chris Whitty does not believe the Tier Three curbs are tough enough.
Instead she will announce five Tiers for Scotland, with a top bracket that would be essentially the same as the brutal shutdown imposed across the UK in March.
The move comes after Ms Sturgeon was forced to make a bizarre promise to Scottish children that Santa would still deliver their Christmas presents – after her top medical advisor said hopes of a traditional festive gathering were a ‘fiction’.
The regime is set to be rubber-stamped at Holyrood next week before taking effect.
Nicola Sturgeon will give details of the five-tier scheme despite a furious backlash from restaurants and retailers over the prospect of heightened restrictions staying in place indefinitely
A ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown has already been in force north of the border for a fortnight, with bars and restaurants restricted from serving alcohol and shut altogether in much of the country
Speaking ahead of the briefing she said there would be a ‘detailed and intensive consultation’ on the Tiers: ‘Covid-19 continues to have a devastating impact on all of our lives.
‘Therefore it is vital now more than ever that we work determinedly, energetically and collaboratively to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level – and keep it there – while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible.
‘But suppressing the virus has to be a collective effort. We need to stick with it, support each other and learn from each other.
‘The more we all do in this moment to follow the rules and drive down the numbers, the more freedoms we can enjoy.’
Ms Sturgeon has already said the three middle tiers will be broadly similar to the English system, where areas are classed as either ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk.
But she insisted another level was needed above those introduced by Mr Johnson.
‘When England published their (system) the chief medical officer in England at the time said he thought the top level was not enough to necessarily, in all circumstances, get the virus down,’ she said.
‘So we think we need one above that which is closer to a full lockdown if things got to be that serious.’
There will also be a lower Tier in Scotland for areas with fewer Covid-19 cases – which national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch suggested would have ‘slightly more freedoms than other parts of the country’.
Earlier this month, temporary restrictions were brought in across Scotland and, although initially set to end on October 25, these were extended until the new tiered system comes into effect.
Since October 9, bars and licensed restaurants in five health board areas – Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley – have been forced to close for all but takeaways.
The First Minister has been hit with a wave of anger after it emerged she wants to take a harsher approach than the PM, with more levels of curbs to tackle the pandemic
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes elsewhere in Scotland are only allowed to serve indoor customers between 6am and 6pm with a ban on alcohol inside, although alcoholic drinks can be served until 10pm in outdoor areas.
Ms Sturgeon was left scrambling to quell an outcry yesterday after her national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said families should prepare to see loved ones over Zoom at Christmas because of coronavirus.
Prof Leitch told BBC Scotland that while there may be some ‘normality’ over Christmas, ‘we’re not going to have large family groupings with multiple families around, that is fiction for this year’.
After a question about Santas having to use Zoom in their grottos across the country, she turned to the camera and said: ‘On Santa, if there are any kids watching: Santa will not be prevented from delivering your presents on Christmas Eve, Santa is a key worker and he has got lots of magic powers that make him safe to do that.
‘If he is having to do Grotto appearances by Zoom, that is to keep you safe, it is not because he is at any risk. Santa will be delivering presents across the world as normal.’
She added: ‘Since I’m spending so much time responding to Jason’s comments today, I should make him dress up as the Grinch for Halloween and do a briefing to cheer everybody up.’