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Covid in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon prepares to announce new restrictions Covid in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon prepares to announce new restrictions
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to outline new restrictions designed to limit the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to outline new restrictions designed to limit the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.
They could include curfews at pubs and restaurants, rules on households meeting and limits on travel. They could include curfews at pubs and restaurants and tighter rules on households meeting.
The first minister will address Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon following a Cobra meeting with Boris Johnson. The first minister will address Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon - shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined new measures in England.
Her counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland will also take part in the discussion in a bid to find a common UK-wide approach. The two leaders and their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland have held talks over a UK-wide approach.
It comes as the UK's Covid-19 alert level moved to 4, meaning the virus is "high or rising exponentially".It comes as the UK's Covid-19 alert level moved to 4, meaning the virus is "high or rising exponentially".
Downing Street confirmed on Monday night that Mr Johnson had spoken on the phone to the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The new restrictions in England include pubs and restaurants being forced to close at 22:00 from Thursday, with table service also required.
People are again being urged to work from home where possible, with face masks made mandatory in more places and the number of exemptions to the "rule of six" being reduced.
Tougher penalties will also be imposed on people who break the rules - but Mr Johnson stressed that this was "in no way" a return to full lockdown, with schools and businesses able to stay open in a "covid compliant way".
However, the prime minister warned: "If all these actions fail, we reserve the right to use greater fire power with significantly greater restrictions."
Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson had spoken on the phone to the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ahead of his statement, with a Cobra meeting being held on Tuesday morning.
They had all agreed to act "with a united approach, as much as possible, in the days and weeks ahead."They had all agreed to act "with a united approach, as much as possible, in the days and weeks ahead."
'Further and urgent action' Ms Sturgeon will set out Scotland's measures to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament parliament from 14:20, before making a televised statement at 20:05 on BBC One Scotland.
In England, restrictions will include a 22:00 closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants from Thursday. It will follow a live broadcast by Mr Johnson that has been scheduled for 20:00.
And in an extension of Covid curbs in Northern Ireland, households will not be able to meet indoors from 18:00 on Tuesday. At her daily briefing on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said additional lockdown restrictions would "almost certainly" be put in place in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon will set out Scotland's measures to MSPs in parliament from 14:20, before making a televised statement at 20:05 on BBC One Scotland. She said coronavirus was spreading in the country again and "further and urgent action" was needed to stop the increase.
It will follow a live broadcast by Boris Johnson scheduled for 20:00. And she warned that it would lead to more cases, people in hospital and deaths if it was left unchecked.
In a post on Twitter, Nicola Sturgeon said she would agree any new restrictions with her cabinet before making a statement to the Scottish Parliament.
At her daily briefing on Monday, she said additional lockdown restrictions would "almost certainly" be put in place in Scotland in the next 48 hours.
She said coronavirus was spreading in the country again and "further and urgent action" was needed to stop the increase warning that, if left unchecked, it would lead to more cases, people in hospital and deaths.
She said the Scottish government was prepared to introduce "a package of additional measures" but would aim to avoid a full-scale lockdown such as the one imposed in March.She said the Scottish government was prepared to introduce "a package of additional measures" but would aim to avoid a full-scale lockdown such as the one imposed in March.
On Monday, the number of cases in Scotland rose by 255, representing 6.3% of those newly tested, up from 5.4% on Sunday.On Monday, the number of cases in Scotland rose by 255, representing 6.3% of those newly tested, up from 5.4% on Sunday.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government endorsed the warning of UK chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance that new cases could rise daily by 50,000 by October.Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government endorsed the warning of UK chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance that new cases could rise daily by 50,000 by October.
"In my view, further and urgent action will now be needed to stop the increase in the number of cases," she said. The first minister added: "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.
'Move sharply'
She added: "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.
"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.
"If we wait it will take longer, potentially a lot longer, to come out of the other side.""If we wait it will take longer, potentially a lot longer, to come out of the other side."
What is happening and when?What is happening and when?