‘Circuit break’ restrictions on travel and pubs to be announced today in Scotland

Scotland is braced for new coronavirus restrictions to be announced today with speculation it could include restrictions on travel and the temporary closure of pubs.

Nicola Sturgeon is due to make an announcement on the measures in a statement to the Scottish Parliament – but has stressed it will not be another full lockdown. 

There has been speculation travel restrictions could be imposed in areas with higher levels of the virus and that some pubs, restaurants and other venues could see tighter controls – or even temporary closure.

The First Minister has admitted the situation is ‘the most difficult decision point we have faced so far’ amid a rise in Covid-19 cases and is expected to set out the details of the next steps the Scottish Government will take at around 2.50pm.

The move will follow a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning when details of the latest plan will be thrashed out.

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There is limited information on what Scots can expect but school closures have been ruled out, alongside Scotland-wide travel restrictions.

People will not be required to stay inside their homes most of the time, as was the case during the full lockdown in March, though some additional measures in ‘hotspot’ areas might be necessary.

Ms Sturgeon said she was receiving ‘very strong’ public health advice that new measures were needed in response to the growth in cases, at the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday. 

She added: ‘The situation is not out of control, but it is a cause of increasing concern.’

Infections are beginning to spread from younger sections of the population to older age groups, according to the First Minister.

The average number of daily cases rose from 285 two weeks ago – when the ban on indoor household visiting was introduced – to 729.

There has been speculation of further restrictions on the hospitality sector, which led to a trade body voicing deep concern on Tuesday evening.

Reports have a suggested that a two-week ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown is being considered and could come in on Friday. France has brought in similar restrictions in Paris, which has forced bars to shut. 

Emma McClarkin, of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said: ‘If the Scottish Government is to implement further harsh restrictive measures to our sector, it must include a dedicated package of support alongside it.

‘Without it, the Scottish Government will leave our pubs and thousands of jobs doomed to failure.’

Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, said a targeted approach would work better than bringing in ‘more draconian rules’.

‘At the moment we do not need to bring in any more rules that will hammer the hospitality sector, or the economy at large. There needs to be a razor-sharp focus on getting the current systems running smoothly and effectively,’ he wrote in The Sun.

‘We need to hold our nerve, rather than hitting the panic button.’

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