Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to avoid travel to England

NewsColony
Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to avoid travel to England

Nicola Sturgeon has told Scots not to travel to England unless it is for ‘essential purposes’.

The Scottish First Minister made the plea on Saturday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a second lockdown for England to curb the recent surge in coronavirus cases.

From Thursday, England will enter a second national lockdown expected to last until December 2. Under the new rules, all non-essential businesses will close however schools and universities will remain open. 

Sturgeon has also said she and the Scottish Government will seek clarity over the furlough extension announced by Johnson.

She said such support would make an impact on decisions previously taken north of the border, however added the devolved administration ‘will take considered decisions based on what is right for Scotland’.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pictured here in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 29 October, has urged Scots not to travel to England as it was announced England would go into a four-week lockdown on Thursday

On Saturday evening, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England would enter a second lockdown on Thursday which is expected to last until December 2

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 barred from going into other people’s homes, and the Scottish Government also acted to close bars and restaurants across the central belt in early October.

In Scotland, a new five-tier levels of restriction will come into 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 tier in the new Scottish system and which affects the central belt including Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Ayrshire and Dundee – people are urged not to go outside of their own local authority area.

In a series of tweets urging Scots to stick to the new rules, Ms Sturgeon also said people are being asked not to travel to or from England.

She said: ‘People should not travel to or from Level 3 areas in Scotland and for now, we are asking people not to travel to or from England at all, except for essential purposes.’

Sturgeon has also sought clarity on the extension of the furlough scheme, questioning whether the extension will last only until the end of the English lockdown  

With regards to the furlough extension announced by Johnson, Sturgeon said: ‘We expect to have further discussion in the coming days about the scope of additional financial support being made available.

‘A crucial point for us is whether support on the scale announced for English businesses is available for Scottish businesses now or if we needed to impose further restrictions later – or if it is only available if Scotland has a full lockdown at the same time as a lockdown in England.

‘However, notwithstanding the above, today’s developments should be a reminder to people across Scotland of the need to follow the rules and not to put their own twist on them.

‘It is important we all comply with the rules in our area if we are to successfully suppress the virus, protect the NHS and keep as many businesses and services open.’

Scots have been told not to travel to England unless it is essential after the territory announced new lockdown measures due to last from Thursday until December 2

In another tweet responding to news the extension until December would be UK-wide, she said: ‘This is good and expected.

‘But a key question – is it only available during the period of English lockdown?

‘Or will it be available in event a devolved gov thinks it necessary to have tougher restrictions at a later stage?’

Scottish Government ministers and SNP MPs have made repeated calls for furlough to be extended since Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in September the scheme would end this month.

Sturgeon has also previously warned the new measures in Scotland represent the best chance of avoiding another national lockdown.

She added: ‘People across Scotland have faced significant restrictions since late September as we work to stop the increase in Covid cases across the country.

‘Prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are some signs that those earlier restrictions may be starting to slow the rate of increase.

‘We will not hesitate to increase the level of protection either locally or nationally if required. Our new levels approach – including a potential Level 4 – enables us to respond quickly and flexibly as required.

‘Following today’s announcement by the Prime Minister we are also asking that people do not travel to England, or from England into Scotland unless absolutely essential, just as we are also asking people not to go to Northern Ireland or to Wales.

‘We know that these restrictions are difficult, but public health and preventing the spread of the virus must come first.’ 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE UK?

New lockdown restrictions announced for England on Saturday October 30 are the latest measures brought in for the UK.

Different rules are now in place in each of the four nations.

This is the picture in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

England

On Saturday, October 30 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures for the whole of England which are to come into force from Thursday.

Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close until December 2 and people will be told to stay at home unless they have a specific reason to leave, but schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.

People will be allowed outside to exercise and socialise in public spaces outside with their household or one other person, but not indoors or in private gardens, and will be able to travel to work if they cannot work from home.

 

Wales

The whole of Wales is currently under a 17-day ‘firebreak’ lockdown which started on October 23 and will last until November 9.

People can only leave their homes for limited reasons and must work from home where possible. 

Leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses are closed, along with community centres, libraries and recycling centres. Places of worship are shut other than for funerals or wedding ceremonies.

 

Scotland

The majority of Scots will be placed into Level 3 of a new five-tier system from Monday, with the rest of the country in either Levels 1 or 2.

The central belt – including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk – will be joined by Dundee and Ayrshire in Level 3.

Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Fife, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross and Angus will be in Level 2.

Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have been assessed as Level 1.

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are broadly comparable to tier system currently in place in England.

Despite ministers considering putting North and South Lanarkshire into Level 4 – equivalent to a full lockdown – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday, 29 October that no area will be placed into that highest tier at the moment.

She has told Scots not to travel to England unless it is for ‘essential purposes’.

 

Northern Ireland

Pubs and restaurants were closed for four weeks starting on October 16 with the exception of takeaways and deliveries. Schools were closed for two weeks.

Retail outlets remain open, along with gyms for individual training.

People have been told they should work from home unless unable to do so, and have been urged not to take unnecessary journeys.

 

Source: PA 

 

<!—->Advertisement

Source: Daily Mail

The post Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to avoid travel to England appeared first on NewsColony.
NewsColony

source https://newscolony.com/coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-urges-scots-to-avoid-travel-to-england/