Scotland takes ‘firm’ steps to tighten restrictions before Christmas

SCOTLAND HAS FOLLOWED England in announcing stricter restrictions for Christmas on a new strain of coronavirus spreading in the UK.

Travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK will not be allowed during the Christmas and New Years period.

Visits to another home will only be allowed on Christmas Day, and the three-week closure will go into effect on December 26.

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the spread of the new strain in the UK meant that stricter restrictions were needed to prevent significant damage the strain could cause.

Sturgeon described the current situation as “probably the most serious and potentially dangerous juncture we have faced since the start of the pandemic in February and March.”

“We have to take this seriously and act accordingly and appropriately,” Sturgeon said.

“The good thing is that if we act now and act firmly now we can prevent this serious situation from materializing,” he said.

“The conclusion we are facing now is this: if we don’t act firmly and decisively now to stop the spread, it will take hold here.”

Sturgeon said it could mean the NHS would be overwhelmed in January and more people could die than would otherwise.

“We simply cannot risk more of this new strain entering the country if we can avoid it. That means people from Scotland don’t visit other parts of the UK and vice versa. “

In schools, the Christmas break will run until January 11 and learning will take place online until January 18 at the earliest.

An exception will be made for some students, such as the children of key workers, who will be able to return to schools as previously scheduled.

England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty confirmed today that the new strain of the virus may spread more quickly and called for greater public vigilance to reduce transmission.

Earlier tonight, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced stricter restrictions for London and the south-east and east of England that cut back on a previously planned relaxation of the rules for Christmas.