Ban on meeting indoors at home in Lanarkshire from MIDNIGHT after Covid cases spike
A BAN on meeting indoors at home in Lanarkshire will come into force at midnight after a spike in coronavirus cases.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced both North and South Lanarkshire – some 660,00 people – face the new restrictions.
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It means around 1.75million people in Scotland now face new localised lockdowns after restrictions were imposed in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.
The new rules for Lanarkshire will be place for at least a week and mean people will be barred from having visitors to their homes.
The only exemptions are for those within extended household group bubbles.
Since September 4, 205 positive cases of coronavirus have been identified by Test & Protect in Lanarkshire.
Ms Sturgeon described the new measures as “deeply regrettable” but said the data showed the Scottish government had to “act now”.
It comes after lockdown restrictions in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire were continued for a further week on Monday, having first been introduced on September 1.
The area covered by the rules was extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire on Monday.
Households are also prohibited from visiting homes in other local authorities not under the restrictions.
Indoor visits to hospitals and care homes are limited to essential visits only in these areas to protect the most vulnerable.
Britain is facing a surge in coronavirus cases as the R number creeped above 1 as cases hit a four month high today with 3,539.
The First Minister said: “It is clearly regrettable that these restrictions need to be extended to people living in Lanarkshire.
“I understand that this will not be welcome news for people living in these areas, especially ahead of the weekend, but we must act now to protect people and get more control over the virus in the area.
“Local public health teams have looked at where cases are being identified and, by restricting indoor meetings, we are helping to protect those who are most at risk from Covid-19 – as they are more likely to be meeting others in a household setting rather than in a public setting.
“I would ask everyone in the affected areas to be extra vigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms.
“Above all, I want to emphasise that getting a test – and even getting a negative result – is not a substitute for self-isolating. If you have symptoms, or if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team and told to do so, you will need to self-isolate.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed NHS Scotland will remain on emergency footing until at least the end of March in 2021.
It comes as health boards across the country are now working to reintroduce services that had to be halted at the height of the pandemic.
Ms Freeman said: “I am mindful of the challenges that winter is likely to bring over the coming months, including seasonal flu and bad weather.”
And while she said the NHS had now begun “safely and incrementally resuming some services”, the Health Secretary added that “the reality is coronavirus is likely to be with us for some time to come”.
She said the health boards would “continue to work on safely resuming services whilst protecting Covid-19 capacity”.
Yesterday, the government also unveiled its new tracing app called Protect Scotland which uses proximity sensors to alert people if they are at risk from the coronavirus.
The app uses Bluetooth technology to alert people if they have had prolonged contact with someone who has since tested positive for Covid-19.
The UK’s rise in coronavirus cases comes less than a week after the UK recorded more than 3,000 cases for two days running.
But the high number could be down to more tests being carried out each day as the government ramps up its programme.
The Department of Health figures also show six more deaths have been recorded in 24 hours – bringing the total death toll to 41,614.
The latest victims were aged between 79 and 88 with all having underlying health conditions.
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It comes ahead of new laws being imposed from midnight on Sunday banning more than six people meeting as the government tries to surpress the virus.
The “rule of six” means large groups will not be able to gather in private homes, parks, pubs and restaurants.
People caught breaking the rules will be slapped with £100 fines, doubling for each repeat offence up to £3,200.
Meanwhile, so-called “Covid Marshals” will also be brought in to enforce social distancing in city centres.