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A strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK will be maintained over Christmas to try to prevent a new variant of the coronavirus from taking hold, Nicola Sturgeon announced.
The prime minister described the new strain as “the most serious and potentially dangerous juncture” since the start of the pandemic.
He said the travel ban would cover the entire festive period, while previously announced domestic bubbles will now only be allowed on Christmas Day.
Sturgeon added that he will speak with police and transportation operators to see how the ban on anything other than essential travel could be “strengthened”.
For three weeks starting on Boxing Day, all of mainland Scotland will undergo the most stringent measures: Level 4.
Non-essential stores will close, along with cafes, restaurants and hair salons.
Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles, and other island communities will progress to level 3.
There was a plan across the UK to ease the measures between December 23 and 27.
But Boris Johnson has also announced a tightening of measures to millions of people in the southeast of England.
Seventeen cases of the new variant of COVID-19 have been found in Scotland, and may be driving faster transmission in some hospitals and residences, the prime minister said.
“In order to reduce the risk of more of the strain being imported, we intend to maintain a strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK,” Sturgeon told a news conference.
He added that most schools in Scotland will not return until January 11, and online learning will run until January 18.
However, there will be an earlier return for the children of key workers.
Have your Christmas plans been affected by Scotland’s travel ban?
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