Scotland Goes Into Another Effective National Lockdown

 Scotland has announced another effective national lockdown from midnight tonight over the new strain of COVID-19. 

 

Scottish government leader Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament there will be a legal requirement for people to stay at home for the rest of January, with schools remaining closed to most pupils until the start of February at the earliest.

 

"It is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we face now than I have been at any time since March last year," Ms. Sturgeon said.

 

She announced the decision over the increased transmissibility of a new COVID-19 variant first identified in the UK.

 

"It is essential that we further limit interaction between different households to stem the spread and bring the situation back under control, while we vaccinate more people," the first minister said.

 

"In short, we must return for a period to a situation much closer to the lockdown of last March."

 

"In short, we must return for a period to a situation much closer to the lockdown of last March."

 

Failing to act further could see the NHS in Scotland overrun with coronavirus patients within "three or four weeks", Ms. Sturgeon added.

 

"We have an opportunity in Scotland to avert the situation here deteriorating to that extent," the first minister told MSPs.

 

"But we must act quickly."

 

"Just as the last places we ever want to close are schools and nurseries, so it is the case that schools and nurseries will be the first places we want to reopen as we re-emerge from this latest lockdown," Ms Sturgeon said.

 

"They remain our priority."

 

Giving an update on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines in Scotland, Ms. Sturgeon said one million people will have had a jab by the end of the month.

 

She added that it is hoped that the most vulnerable people in the country and those over the age of 50 will have had their first dose by the end of May.