[ad_1]
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are off limits to the English under new lockdown rules that urge people not to travel within the UK.
It comes after Wales banned visitors to England last month and Nicola Sturgeon told Scots today not to travel south unless it is for “essential purposes”.
Boris Johnson imposed a second lockdown on England last night that takes effect on Thursday and “discourages” travel within the UK, unless it’s for work or education.
Under the Prime Minister’s new rules, all non-essential businesses will close, however schools and universities will remain open.
Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots on Saturday not to travel to England due to the recent surge in coronavirus cases.
It has not specifically banned English visitors, as Drakeford did in Wales, but has previously suggested that it would consider banning visitors from certain “high risk” English counties.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing the new national lockdown for England last night in Downing Street
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, photographed here in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday October 29, has urged Scots not to travel to England as it was announced that England would enter a four-week lockdown on Thursday.
Sturgeon said the prevalence of the virus is lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK, after stricter measures were introduced north of the border in September.
Those saw Scots banned from entering other people’s homes, and the Scottish government also acted to close bars and restaurants in the central belt in early October.
In Scotland, a new five-tier restriction system takes effect on Monday, with Levels 1, 2 and 3 broadly comparable to the three tiers of restrictions currently in place in England.
In Level 3 areas, the second highest level in the New Scottish system and affecting the central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Ayrshire and Dundee, people are urged not to leave their own area of local authority .
All of Wales remains under a 17-day ‘firewall’ lockdown that began on October 23 and runs until November 9.
Similar to the new national lockdown in England, people can only leave their homes for work or essential services or supplies.
On Saturday, Drakeford said the Welsh restrictions would continue to end on November 9 despite any announcement from Johnson that he “relates to England.”
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants have been closed since October 16 when schools were closed for two weeks.
The stores have remained open, as have the gyms, but people have been advised to work from home whenever possible and not take “unnecessary trips”.
Prime Minister Arlene Foster has said schools will reopen on Monday and the current restrictions will remain in effect until November 13 as scheduled.
Johnson said the lockdown in England would end on December 2 when local restrictions would be reintroduced depending on the latest data on the spread of the disease.
But they could be extended beyond Dec. 2 if rates don’t drop significantly, a cabinet minister admitted on Sunday.
Sturgoen said in a tweet: “People should not travel to or from Level 3 areas in Scotland and for now we ask people not to travel to or from England except for essential purposes.”
Regarding the license extension announced by Johnson, Sturgeon said: ‘We hope to have more discussions in the coming days on the scope of the additional financial support available.
‘A crucial point for us is whether support on the advertised scale for English companies is available to Scottish companies now or if we need to impose further restrictions later, or if it is only available if Scotland has a full lockdown at the same time as a confinement in England.
‘However, despite the above, today’s events should be a reminder to people across Scotland of the need to follow the rules and not put their own spin on them.
“It is important that we all abide by the rules in our area if we are to successfully suppress the virus, protect the NHS and keep so many businesses and services open.”
In another tweet responding to the news, the extension to December would be for the whole of the UK, he said: ‘This is good and expected.
But one key question: is it only available during the English lockdown period?
“Or will it be available in case a delegated government deems it necessary to have stricter restrictions at a later stage?”
Scottish government ministers and SNP MPs have made repeated calls for the permit to be extended since Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in September the plan would end this month.
Sturgeon also previously warned that the new measures in Scotland represent the best chance of avoiding another national lockdown.
He added: ‘People in Scotland have faced significant restrictions since the end of September as we work to stop the rise in Covid cases across the country.
“The prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are some signs that those previous restrictions may be starting to slow the rate of increase.
‘We will not hesitate to increase the level of protection at the local or national level if necessary. Our approach to new levels, including a potential Level 4, allows us to respond quickly and flexibly as needed.
“Following today’s announcement from the Prime Minister, we also ask that people not travel to England, or from England to Scotland unless it is absolutely essential, just as we ask people not to go to Northern Ireland or Wales.
“We know that these restrictions are difficult, but public health and preventing the spread of the virus must come first.”
