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Covid in Scotland: Tighter restrictions expected 'within days' Covid in Scotland: Tighter restrictions expected 'within days'
(32 minutes later)
Additional lockdown restrictions will "almost certainly" be put in place in Scotland in the next couple of days, Nicola Sturgeon has said.Additional lockdown restrictions will "almost certainly" be put in place in Scotland in the next couple of days, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Speaking at her daily briefing, the first minister said "fast and urgent action" was needed to tackle the growth of the virus.Speaking at her daily briefing, the first minister said "fast and urgent action" was needed to tackle the growth of the virus.
Ms Sturgeon indicated that a package of new restrictions would be announced within the next 48 hours.Ms Sturgeon indicated that a package of new restrictions would be announced within the next 48 hours.
A total of 255 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.A total of 255 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.
That represented 6.3% of those tested, the third day running the "positivity rate" has exceeded 5% - which the World Health Organization has said is a key benchmark for a virus to be considered under control.That represented 6.3% of those tested, the third day running the "positivity rate" has exceeded 5% - which the World Health Organization has said is a key benchmark for a virus to be considered under control.
While no new deaths were reported, the number of people treated in hospital rose to 73, an increase of 10.While no new deaths were reported, the number of people treated in hospital rose to 73, an increase of 10.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I need to be absolutely straight with people across Scotland, that additional restrictions will almost certainly be put in place in Scotland over the next couple of days.Ms Sturgeon said: "I need to be absolutely straight with people across Scotland, that additional restrictions will almost certainly be put in place in Scotland over the next couple of days.
"Hopefully this will be with four-nations alignment, but if necessary it will have to happen without that.""Hopefully this will be with four-nations alignment, but if necessary it will have to happen without that."
She confirmed that a meeting of the UK government's Cobra emergency committee would take place, and said she would be speaking to Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly after the briefing. She said a meeting of the UK government's Cobra emergency committee would take place, and that she would be speaking to Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly after the briefing.
She added: "In that call, I will impress upon the prime minister my view that we need decisive, urgent and as far as possible given our individual responsibilities, co-ordinated action across the UK. Ms Sturgeon added: "In that call, I will impress upon the prime minister my view that we need decisive, urgent and as far as possible given our individual responsibilities, co-ordinated action across the UK.
"I will be clear that I am willing to allow a bit more time for four-nations discussions to take place before making final decisions for Scotland, but I will be equally clear that the urgency of this situation will mean that we cannot, must not and will not wait too long.""I will be clear that I am willing to allow a bit more time for four-nations discussions to take place before making final decisions for Scotland, but I will be equally clear that the urgency of this situation will mean that we cannot, must not and will not wait too long."
The first minister said she would make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on either Tuesday or Wednesday.The first minister said she would make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
'Move sharply''Move sharply'
Ms Sturgeon gave no detail of what new restrictions would be introduced, but said the government was "very close to a point of decision".Ms Sturgeon gave no detail of what new restrictions would be introduced, but said the government was "very close to a point of decision".
"At the heart of this decision is a simple truth - the longer we wait to introduce new measures, the longer these measures are likely to be in place," she said."At the heart of this decision is a simple truth - the longer we wait to introduce new measures, the longer these measures are likely to be in place," she said.
"If we move sharply now to get the virus back under control we can minimise the time we all spend under any new restrictions.""If we move sharply now to get the virus back under control we can minimise the time we all spend under any new restrictions."
Public health expert Prof Linda Bauld said the likely options could include travel restrictions and curfews or restrictions on hospitality.
Ms Sturgeon added that there would be financial support for people required to self-isolate, particularly those on low incomes.Ms Sturgeon added that there would be financial support for people required to self-isolate, particularly those on low incomes.
While larger fines for non-compliance were under consideration, she said a better approach was to "remove barriers" to self-isolation.While larger fines for non-compliance were under consideration, she said a better approach was to "remove barriers" to self-isolation.
She said: "Nobody should be forced to choose between self-isolating for the collective good and paying their rent and feeding their families.She said: "Nobody should be forced to choose between self-isolating for the collective good and paying their rent and feeding their families.
"If that is the choice people face, then it shouldn't be a surprise to us that compliance levels will be lower than we need them to be.""If that is the choice people face, then it shouldn't be a surprise to us that compliance levels will be lower than we need them to be."
The UK government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance earlier warned that without further restrictions there could be 50,000 new coronavirus a day by mid-October. This could lead to about 200 deaths a day UK-wide by the middle of November.The UK government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance earlier warned that without further restrictions there could be 50,000 new coronavirus a day by mid-October. This could lead to about 200 deaths a day UK-wide by the middle of November.
Sir Patrick said the number of cases was roughly doubling every seven days, and that speedy action was necessary to slow the rate of increase.Sir Patrick said the number of cases was roughly doubling every seven days, and that speedy action was necessary to slow the rate of increase.