Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland will BAN all social gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday to help the NHS deal with coronavirus cases as UK moves from contain to delay phase
Scotland is to ban social gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday to leave medics free to deal with coronavirus sufferers, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today.
The First Minister said that she was not taking the move to hinder the spread of the pandemic in Scotland, where cases today almost doubled from 36 to 60.
But banning larger events which might require ambulance cover or other resources frees them up to deal with the expected surge in sufferers.
She made the announcement as she stole Boris Johnson’s thunder by revealing the UK was moving from the ‘contain’ phase to the ‘delay’ phase following a Cobra meeting in London.
At a subsequent news conference in Edinburgh she said her government was telling organisers to cancel gatherings ‘that have the potential to have an impact on our frontline emergency services’.
‘This is not a move that we are making because the science has told us it will have a significant impact on the spread of the virus: on the contrary, the scientists tell us it will not have a significant impact on the spread of the virus – although no significant impact does not equate to no impact at all,’ she said.
‘But there are wider reasons that I consider and have judged that are important in reaching this decision.’
At a news conference in Edinburgh Ms Sturgeon said her government was banning gatherings ‘that have the potential to have an impact on our frontline emergency services’
At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said it is ‘inappropriate that we continue as normal’
‘Certain events, whether or not they need dedicated ambulance cover, we know that certain events have an impact on our policing and our front-line health services; accident and emergency and ambulance services.
‘At a time when pressure on those services is going to be considerable … it is incumbent on government to do what we can to remove unnecessary burdens on our public services.’
The Scottish Government said the latest daily figures, released at 2pm on Thursday, showed 2,892 tests have been carried out so far, with 2,832 tests confirmed negative.
There are 11 confirmed cases in the NHS Lothian area and 10 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with seven each in Grampian and Lanarkshire.
Six cases have been confirmed in Shetland, six in Forth Valley, four each in Tayside and Ayrshire and Arran, with three cases in Fife and two in the Borders.
At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said it is ‘inappropriate that we continue as normal’ and she will recommend the cancellation of gatherings of more than 500 people to protect front-line services.
The Scottish Government is not recommending that schools or universities close but Ms Sturgeon said it would be ‘kept under constant review’.
Meanwhile, Loganair has announced a reduction in the number of flights it will operate due to the impact of the virus.
A VisitScotland expo due to take place at P&J Live in Aberdeen on April 1 and 2 has been scrapped, while the Scottish Greens have cancelled their spring conference in Kirkcaldy on March 28.